Fed most likely to cut rates by quarter percentage point next month, Daly says (Reuters) - San Francisco Federal Reserve President Mary Daly on Monday said "the time is upon us" to cut interest rates, likely starting with a quarter-percentage point reduction in borrowing costs. Asked if there is anything that could derail a rate cut at the U.S. central bank's Sept. 17-18 policy meeting, Daly told Bloomberg TV that it "would be hard to imagine at this point." She said the "most likely" path ahead is for inflation to continue to slow gradually and for the labor market to add jobs at a "steady, sustainable" pace - and if that projection plays out, "adjusting policy at the regular, normal cadence seems reasonable." The Fed usually adjust rates in quarter-percentage-point increments, though it pushed through four consecutive 75-basis-point hikes in 2022 and continued to tighten policy in 2023 in response to an inflationary surge. "We haven't seen any deterioration yet in the labor market," she said, but "if we should see deterioration, or any signs of weakness, then being more aggressive to ensure that we don't see that, would be appropriate." Using words that echoed those of Fed Chair Jerome Powell at a conference last week in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, she said, "the direction of change is down. And the time to adjust is now in my opinion." The Fed has kept its policy rate in the 5.25%-5.50% range since July 2023. Powell last week told the Jackson Hole global central bankers' meeting that "the time has come" to start cutting interest rates, given the progress on bringing down inflation and the extent of cooling in the labor market. By the Fed's preferred gauge, the year-over-year increase in the personal consumption expenditures price index, inflation rose 2.5% in July; the Fed's target is 2%. In 2022 it had peaked at around 7%. The U.S. unemployment rate in July was 4.3%, nearly a full percentage point higher than it was a year ago, but still low by historical standards. "We don't want to get ourselves into a situation where we're keeping policy highly restrictive into a slowing economy," Daly said. "Remember, every time inflation comes down, the policy gets more restrictive. And I think that's a recipe, if you will, for overtightening and injuring the labor market and growth."
July PCE reading bolsters outlook for Fed rate cut - Inflation continued to show signs of easing in the Federal Reserve's preferred pricing index, setting the central bank up to cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years next month. The personal consumption expenditures, or PCE, index for July came in at 2.5% over the same point last year, according to a report released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on Friday. Core PCE, which factors out food and energy, was up 2.6% year over year. Prices rose 0.2% from June in both indexes. Both the headline and core figures mirrored June's readings of 2.5% and 2.6%, respectively. Annualized core PCE inflation has now held steady or fallen every month for the past 15 months. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said this downward trajectory has bolstered his confidence that inflation is on a "sustainable path" to the Fed's 2% target. During his speech in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, earlier this month, Powell said the inflation picture has improved to the point that the Fed could begin easing monetary policy in the near future. "The time has come for policy to adjust," he said. "The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks." The Fed's target range for the federal funds rate has been between 5.25% and 5.5% since July 2023. During the past year, Powell and other members of the Federal Open Market Committee have said the decision to begin easing monetary policy will be based on economic data and they would rather risk waiting slightly too long to begin cutting rates than move too early. Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic, a current voting member of the FOMC, reiterated that point earlier this week during public remarks in Georgia. "I don't want us to be in a situation where we cut and then we have to raise rates again," Bostic said Wednesday. "So, if I'm going to err on one side, it's going to be waiting longer just to make sure that we don't have that up and down."
Central bankers reassured after Jackson Hole, but others are not Central bankers left their annual conclave at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, reassuring themselves that inflation is coming down and the way is open to start cutting interest rates as demanded by financial markets. The mood was summed up by the Financial Times (FT) in its report on the gathering last weekend at which “something many had considered all but impossible appeared to be in sight.” It said that after the worst inflation in four decades, those in attendance were “hopeful they were close to beating the odds and achieving a soft landing for the global economy.” Their objective is a reduction in inflation to their target range of around 2 percent without inducing a recession, or what is not so often spoken of, a major financial crisis. In an interview with the FT, the chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, said the share market sell-off at the beginning of the month was a “early taste” of a possible “risk-off” event if present slowing economic growth gave way to a more serious downturn. He said there could be “some volatility” while endorsing the move to lower interest rates. How far and how fast interest rates might come down, especially in the US, which to a great extent sets the agenda for the rest of the world, has yet to be determined. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell insisted that the decisions of the US central bank will be “data dependent.” Some, both within the Fed’s governing body and elsewhere, are looking for significant cuts, fearing that recessionary trends in the US may be more advanced than the present data indicate. The president of the Chicago Fed, Austan Goolsbee, has commented that, with inflation coming down, the maintenance of the rate in the 5.25-5.5 percent range for more than a year means monetary conditions are the tightest they have been in the present cycle. “You only want to be that tight—if you fear overheating—and this is not what overheating looks like,” he told the FT. Others have been more direct. Steven Blitz of the financial firm TS Lombard said the Fed was paying the price for what he termed its ridiculous policy of data dependence. “When the bad data shows up, policy is already late,” he told the global economics commentator for the London Telegraph Ambrose Evans-Pritchard. “There is a reason sharp downward revisions occur just before or during recessions.” Blitz was referring to the downward revision last week of the growth in US non-farm payroll numbers by 818,000 in the year to last March. Commenting on the data, Evans-Pritchard said the US economic boom had been overstated and he expected GDP numbers to be revised down as well. A paper presented to the Jackson Hole gathering presented a different slant on the labour market. Rather than focusing attention on the unemployment rate alone, two economists, Pierpaolo Benigno of the University of Bern and Gauti Eggerston of Brown University, directed attention to the ratio of job vacancies to the number looking for work. Their research concluded that a fall in this ratio is an indicator of recession and a rise in the jobless rate. Over the past two years the ratio has fallen from around 2 to 1.2 and appears to be on a downward trend. “Policymakers,” they wrote, “face two risks: being too slow to ease policy, potentially causing a ‘hard landing’ with high unemployment… or cutting rates prematurely, leaving the economy vulnerable” to higher inflation. Based on this analysis, they concluded “our current assessment suggests the former risk outweighs the latter.”
The Rate Cuts Powell Dangled in Front of Markets May Slam into Inflationary Fiscal & Economic Policies of Whoever Is in the White House Next Year - By Wolf Richter -For the Treasury market, Powell’s speech was a nothingburger. A Sep rate cut has been priced in since the Aug 2 jobs report.Powell re-confirmed at his Jackson Hole speech on Friday that rate cuts are coming but didn’t mention “September.” He said, “The time has come for policy to adjust. The direction of travel is clear…”But “the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks.”Powell presented a balanced message. There was no panic. The two sides of the Fed’s dual mandate (low inflation and full employment) have come roughly into balance.The Fed has been talking about rate cuts since its December 2023 meeting when it put three rate cuts on the table for 2024, which markets instantly turned this into six rate cuts. Now it’s August 2024, and we’re still waiting for our rate cuts. But we’re getting closer. At its September meeting, after nine months of wait-and-see, the Fed is likely to cut. That has become increasingly clear recently, including in the FOMC minutes of the July meeting, released on Wednesday, where “September” cropped up in terms of markets expecting a cut in “September,” and there was nothing in the minutes to dissuade markets from it.Powell pointed out that inflation has dropped a lot. Policy rates have not dropped at all since July 2023 and are high compared to inflation – “restrictive” came up three times in his speech. The upside risk of inflation heading higher from here has diminished. His “confidence has grown that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2%.” Inflation is just much less of an issue than it had been.The labor market has cooled from its red-hot pace, and risks to employment have risen, etc. etc., and “we do not seek or welcome further cooling in labor market conditions,” he said.But no panic: “So far, rising unemployment has not been the result of elevated layoffs, as is typically the case in an economic downturn. Rather, the increase mainly reflects a substantial increase in the supply of workers [from the huge wave of immigration] and a slowdown from the previously frantic pace of hiring.”“With an appropriate dialing back of policy restraint, there is good reason to think that the economy will get back to 2% inflation while maintaining a strong labor market,” he said.So no panic. Gradualism. If the economy plays out that way, a series of 25-basis point cuts.If the labor market suddenly tanks, the Fed would step in with bigger cuts: “The current level of our policy rate gives us ample room to respond to any risks we may face, including the risk of unwelcome further weakening in labor market conditions.”Everyone will be looking for inspiration at the August jobs report, to be released on September 6 – whether nonfarm job creation will bounce back from its moderate pace in July, which was likely the effects of Hurricane Beryl that hit Texas during the survey reference period. If nonfarm job creation bounces, rate-cut gradualism will prevail. If it tanks and turns negative – meaning the first job losses – then, bigger cuts.Before the September meeting, there will also be a PCE price index report for July (which won’t be a big surprise, given that we’ve already had the July CPI report) and a CPI report for August.The Fed will likely “look through” a bad CPI report for August. If inflation accelerates further month-to-month from the month-to-month acceleration in July, combined with a strong bounce of nonfarm jobs in August, then the Fed can decide to “look through” that acceleration of inflation, as it had “looked through” the spike of inflation in early 2021. With regards to the 2021 episode, Powell said, “it can be appropriate for central banks to look through a temporary rise in inflation.” So this time around, if the CPI report is bad, the Fed will likely cut anyway in September, perhaps with some dissenting votes.Markets are already lining up a bunch of rate cuts. The federal funds futures market on Friday saw a 77% probability of at least 200 basis points in cuts by the end of 2025, which would be 8 cuts of 25 basis points spread over 11 meetings, similar to December 2023, when they expected 150 basis points in cuts spread over 8 meetings in 2024.But this rate-cut trajectory might not happen as envisionedbecause of the inflationary effects of the economic and fiscal policies to be sought by whoever ends up in the White House – that’s what the president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Adam Posen, told MarketWatch.There is a good chance that the inflationary policies promised by both candidates – on top of the current fiscal fiasco – will reignite inflation, and then the Fed has the next problem on its hands and end up having to deal with it.
Solid 2Y Treasury Auction Prices At Lowest Yield In Two Years- After a sharp reversal in yields, which in August tumbled to a fresh 2024 low, some traders were eyeing today's 2Y auction nervously to see if the move higher in yields would lead to some indigestion. In the end, it turned out there was no reason to be worried because moments ago the Treasury sold $69BN in paper to stellar market demand.The auction stopped at a high yield of 3.874%, the lowest since August 2022 and down sharply from the 4.434% last month, a 56bps drop which was the biggest since the December recession scare (when we saw a 57bps drop), which in turn was the biggest since the March 2023 bank crisis. In short: any time you have a 50bps+ drop in sequential 2Y bond yields, you get a powerful recession scare. And yet, aside from March 2020 when the entire world shut down, the past two such recession scares ended up being a false start. We'll see if this latest one is the same. The auction also stopped through the 3.800% When Issued by 0.6bps, which was good but not as good as last month's 2.3bps stop through which was the biggest in the past decade.While the bid to cover dropped to 2.68 from last month's stellar 2.81, it was still one of the highest in the past year, and well above the six-auction average of 2.62. The internals were also on the meh side, with Indirects awarded 69.0%, down from 76.6% but above the recent average of 66.2%, and with Directs taking down 19.1%, the most since June, Dealers were left holding 11.9%, up from the record low 9.0% last month but above the recent average of 13.7%.Overall, this was a solid if not stellar 2Y auction, and one which helped push 10Y yields lower, toward 3.83% after rising as high as 3.86% earlier in the session. Still, with the Fed now on pace to cut rates by 25bps no matter what, the real catalyst will be the August payrolls report next week while tomorrow's NVDA earnings may also have some impact on where the US rates complex will trade.
Top US General Visits Northern Israel After Hezbollah Attack - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the highest-ranking US military officer, visited northern Israel on Monday, a day after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged their heaviest round of fire since October 7.Brown’s visit demonstrates strong US support for Israel in its fight against Hezbollah. The US provided Israel with intelligence for its strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday and helped track Hezbollah missiles and drones that were fired into northern and central Israel. Brown made the visit to the Israeli military’s Northern Command headquarters with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. According to The Times of Israel, the IDF said the two military leaders were “presented with the ongoing combat against Hezbollah during the war and the operational plans for the future.”They also “discussed security and strategic issues regarding the expansion of operational tools and the strengthening of regional partnerships as part of the response to threats in the Middle East.”The US has deployed additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East as a threat to Hezbollah and Iran and has pledged to defend Israel. The White House said on Monday that the US will continue to maintain the presence of two aircraft carriers in the region as it is still expecting Iran to launch an attack on Israel as retaliation for the Israeli assassination of Hamas’s political chief in Iran.According to Israel’s Channel 12, in some of Brown’s discussions with Israeli officials, the Israelis pushed for the US to establish a “credible military threat” against Iran or potentially launch strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities to prevent Tehran from acquiring a bomb. Despite claims from Israel, there’s no indication Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon, something that’s been acknowledged by US intelligence in this year’s “threat assessment.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also met with Brown and hinted at potential military action against Iran’s civilian nuclear program. “We are at a point where we must always be ready to fulfill the shared commitment of Israel and the US to prevent Iran from obtaining a military nuclear weapon,” he said.
US Helped Israel Track Hezbollah Rockets and Drones - A US official told Al Arabiya that the US helped Israel track Hezbollah rockets and drones that were fired into Israel Sunday morning.The official insisted the US assistance didn’t go beyond intelligence, saying that the US was not involved in the strikes on Lebanon and did not intercept any Hezbollah rockets or drones.After Israel began bombing Lebanon early Sunday, Hezbollah announced it was launching its retaliation for the assassination of Fuad Shukr, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on July 30.The attack came as the US and Israel are still preparing for Iran’s retaliation for the Israeli killing of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran on July 31. The US has deployed additional fighter jets and warships to the region to defend Israel from Iran or in the event that the conflict with Hezbollah turns into a major war.As part of the effort, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown made a surprise visit to the Middle East, arriving in Jordan on Saturday. Brown told Reuters that he planned to discuss with regional officials “the things we can do to deter any type of broader escalation and ensure we’re taking all the appropriate steps to (avoid) … a broader conflict.”While the US claims it’s seeking to ease tensions by continuing to provide Israel with military aid and pledging to defend it from any consequences of its actions, the US has emboldened Israel to continue its escalations.Back in April, the US intervened to intercept Iranian missiles and drones that were fired at Israel in response to the Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Syria. The Pentagon has vowed it’s willing to do the same thing in the event of another Iranian attack.
US Rushes Weapons Shipments To Israel - The US has been rushing weapons shipments to Israel since the end of July,Haaretz reported on Thursday, citing open-sourced aviation data.The report said that the spike in arms shipments made August the second busiest month at Israel’s Nevatim Airbase for US deliveries since Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza began back in October 2023 following the Hamas attack on southern Israel.Dozens of US military transport flights, as well as Israeli civilian and military and cargo planes, have landed at the base, mainly traveling from Qatar and the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.The Haaretz report appeared to attribute the rush in arms shipments to US preparations for a potential Iranian attack. The US has deployed additional fighter jets and warships to the region and is vowing to defend Israel from Iran’s response to the Israeli assassination of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, on Iranian territory. Following a major exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah on Sunday, the US is still expecting a reprisal attack from Iran.Besides helping Israel prepare for a potential attack from Iran, the US weapons shipments also help fuel the slaughter in Gaza and Israel’s operations in the West Bank, which significantly escalated on Wednesday. Israeli forces launched their largest attack on the Israeli-occupied West Bank since the Second Intifada in the early 2000s.The rush in arms shipments also shows strong support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been working to prevent a ceasefire deal with Hamas, and shows President Biden and Vice President Harris are not serious about ending the slaughter in Gaza.The Israeli Defense Ministry said on Monday that the US had delivered over 50,000 tons of weapons and other military equipment since October 7. The ministry said the US support was “crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war.”
Israel Says US Has Delivered 50,000 Tons of Military Aid Since Start of Gaza Slaughter - The Israeli Defense Ministry said Monday that the US has delivered over 50,000 tons of weapons and other military equipment since the start of Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza, demonstrating the Biden administration’s staunch support for the slaughter.Since October 7, 107 ships and 500 transport planes have brought US military aid shipments to Israel. The Israeli Defense Ministry said the deliveries have included “armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment.”The ministry added that the US support was “crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war.”Back in April, President Biden signed a bill into law that included $17 billion in additional military aid for Israel on top of the $3.8 billion the country receives each year. The State Department recently approved a series of major arms deals for Israel worth $20 billion, including a new fleet of F-15 fighter jets.Besides the military aid, the Biden administration has also provided intelligence for operations in Gaza and political support at the UN. The administration has also helped Israel by portraying Hamas as the obstacle to a hostage and ceasefire deal, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been working to sabotage the chances of an agreement.Over the past 10 months, the US-backed Israeli assault on Gaza has killed at least 40,435 people, including over 16,000 children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry’s latest numbers. The ministry’s figures are considered a low estimate since it doesn’t include the estimated 10,000 people who are missing and presumed dead under the rubble. Many more could have died from indirect causes as Israel has shattered Gaza’s infrastructure.
With US support, Israel extends Gaza genocide to the West Bank Israel has launched a new phase of its ethnic cleansing operation in Palestine targeting the West Bank. On Tuesday and Wednesday, hundreds of Israeli troops, along with armored vehicles and bulldozers, supported by drones and helicopters, launched the largest raid into the occupied West Bank in two decades, targeting the cities and camps of Jenin, Tubas and Tulkarem. The city of Jenin, with a population of 39,000, has been surrounded and sealed, and Israeli forces have blocked access to hospitals throughout the West Bank. Israeli media have reported that the attack on the West Bank will last for several days, with the death toll expected to continue to rise. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz made clear that the goal is the ethnic cleansing of the West Bank: “We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents.” The goal of this operation, like that of the Gaza genocide, is the killing of as many Palestinians as possible and their displacement from their homes and villages, with the aim of formally annexing the land Israel has illegally occupied since 1967. In July, the International Court of Justice ruled that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, is illegal. The Israeli assault on Gaza, now 10 months old, has created a nightmare for its population. According to the official figures, more than 40,000 people are dead, with another 10,000 presumed missing under the rubble. The official death toll includes 17,000 children. Once the victims of Israel’s deliberate famine and promotion of disease are added, the real death toll could be 186,000 or more, according to an estimate published in The Lancet medical journal last month. The remaining population of Gaza, most of whom have been forced to flee over and over, now face Israeli evacuation orders covering 89 percent of the territory. The land onto which the population is crammed is just 41 square kilometers, with no infrastructure to supply food, running water or sanitation. Israel has waged a concerted campaign to force international aid organizations to shut down their operations. The UN announced it was suspending food distribution this week after it was forced to evacuate its headquarters in Deir al-Balah, and its World Food Program said it had to shut down operations after one of its clearly-marked vehicles was fired on by Israeli forces Wednesday. Nine out of 10 people in Gaza are now forced to go 24 hours without food, with preventable diseases surging. Now, this nightmare is being brought to the West Bank. Israeli attacks on the West Bank have dramatically accelerated since the return to power of the far-right regime of Benjamin Netanyahu in 2022. The Netanyahu government has enabled and encouraged settler violence against Palestinians and has accelerated the construction of illegal settlements. There are now 517,000 settlers living in the West Bank, nearly double the total 20 years ago, and more than 200,000 in East Jerusalem. Netanyahu has appointed Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to control construction within the West Bank, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is responsible for policing it. Both of these right-wing extremist government ministers are themselves West Bank settlers and have repeatedly called for the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. In January, June and July 2023, Israel launched major assaults on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank. The July raid, which killed 12 Palestinians, was condemned by the United Nations for including “egregious violations of international law and standards on the use of force and may constitute a war crime.” These and other outrages preceded the October 7, 2023 attacks, of which the Netanyahu government had advance knowledge and which it facilitated by withdrawing security forces from the Gaza border. The Netanyahu regime seized the opportunity to initiate a genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Gaza Strip. The Gaza genocide has been accompanied by an upsurge of settler attacks and raids by the Israeli military on the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Over the past 10 months, 652 Palestinians have been killed in these areas. This massive crime is being funded, enabled and politically defended by the United States and its imperialist allies.
Ocasio-Cortez and the normalization of genocide as state policy (interview video) In a short, but highly significant video interview posted to X on August 25, New York Representative and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez justified the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by pointing to future attacks on democratic rights on Americans if Trump should return to the White House. In the interview with Democratic New York City Council member Chi Ossé, taken at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Ocasio-Cortez employed a variation of the tired “lesser evil” argument to excuse genocide overseas as a necessary trade-off for supposedly protecting democratic rights domestically. The DSA member began the interview by claiming that, while the slaughter of Palestinians would continue under a Harris-Walz administration, it would be more humane compared to Trump. “I don’t think either party right now is doing justice to Palestinians,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “That doesn’t mean that they are the same. I think that a Donald Trump presidency would be absolutely catastrophic. I mean he’s coming out here saying, ‘finish the job’ of a genocide.” Ocasio-Cortez apparently does not consider the Biden-Harris administration’s backing of Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza—which, as she acknowledged has led to the deaths of “over 40,000 Palestinians”—to be “absolutely catastrophic.” Even as she spoke, Israel was preparing the expansion of the genocide into the West Bank, precisely to “finish the job.” Passing over this extraordinary statement, Ossé replied with a question, noting that there are “a lot people with our politics” that are having a “hard time” supporting Kamala Harris. He asked: “How do you think we help them get there in November to beat Trump?” Justifying her support for US-Israeli war crimes, Ocasio-Cortez continued: To me, when I process this, I weigh through all of the people living under extreme levels of oppression, especially outside of places even like New York. I think about the women that are bleeding out in ER rooms because they live in red states. I think about trans kids that are living in places where their entire families are trying to figure out if they need to pack up their entire lives and move somewhere else. We have to hold all of those things at once. And so to me, the conclusion that I’ve come to, is having more people suffer to put on top of the already horrific suffering that’s going on in Gaza is not something that I think I’m comfortable with. According to this bloody calculus, workers and youth must accept genocide abroad in order to maintain certain democratic rights by backing a party and an administration that is dripping in blood. In this way, Ocasio-Cortez is attempting to normalize genocide among her followers as “just another issue” alongside campaign finance reform, Medicare for All, or the “Green New Deal.”
US Says It Killed Senior Member of Hurras al-Din in Syria - The US military said Friday that its forces launched a strike in Syria that killed Abu-Abd al-Rahman al-Makki, who was described as a “senior leader” of Hurras al-Din, an al-Qaeda offshoot that operates in northwestern Syria.“Hurras al-Din is an al-Qaeda-associated force based in Syria that shares al-Qaeda’s global aspirations to conduct attacks against US and Western interests,” US Central Command said in a press release.CENTCOM did not offer any details on the strike. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strike targeted al-Makki while he was on a motorcycle in the countryside of Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.SOHR described al-Makki as a Saudi national who was a “former commander in a jihadist organization and served as a religious official for various jihadist organizations.”Idlib is mainly controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), another al-Qaeda offshoot that is considered the most powerful of the remaining anti-Assad militant groups in Syria. HTS’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, previously led the al-Nusra Front, which was al-Qaeda’s main force in Syria.In an effort to gain international support, al-Julani and HTS have claimed they’re no longer affiliated with al-Qaeda. HTS has fought against Hurras al-Din, which includes fighters who were previously members of HTS and predecessor al-Qaeda-affiliated militant groups. HTS is tacitly backed by Turkey and has not been targeted by the US in recent years. HTS is included in the US State Department’s list of “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”
Iran's Khamenei Opens Door to Direct Talks With the US - On Tuesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei opened the door to talks with the US, telling the new Iranian government there was “no harm” in engaging with the “enemy.” Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, pledged during his campaign that he would work to get US and other Western sanctions lifted. He said he wanted direct engagement, as opposed to indirect talks the Biden administration has held with Tehran. Pezeshkian appeared to get Khamenei’s blessing to make the effort to negotiate.“This does not mean that we cannot interact with the same enemy in certain situations. There is no harm in that, but do not place your hopes in them. Do not trust the enemy,” Khamenei told Pezeshkian, according to Khamenei’s official website.While Pezeshkian is willing to talk with the US, it’s unclear if he will have a willing partner. The Biden administration is not expected to make any changes to its policy toward Tehran before the November election, as the Democrats are running on a new platform of being tough on Iran.The previous Trump administration was very hawkish toward Iran and tore up the 2015 nuclear deal by reimposing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Former President Trump and his vice president pick, JD Vance, have made hawkish comments on Iran and have accused President Biden of abandoning Israel. Khamenei’s comments came as the US is still expecting Iran to launch a retaliatory attack over the Israeli assassination of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, on Iranian soil. The US is pledging to defend Israel as it did in April when Iran launched its first-ever attack on Israeli territory in response to the Israeli bombing of its consulate in Damascus.
Iran Nuclear Deal 'Off the Table,' U.S. Affirms --Reviving the Iran nuclear deal remains off the agenda for the Biden administration, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on August 26, as Tehran called for “new negotiations” to update the agreement before it can be revived.Iran’s new foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said last week that the agreement “cannot be revived in its current form” due to sunset clauses that have expired and insisted that new talks are needed to resuscitate the agreement.However, a State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the 2015 nuclear accord is formally known, “is not on the table right now.” The United States unilaterally exited the deal in 2018 under then-U.S. President Donald Trump.“The United States will ensure one way or another that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and we are prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome,” the spokesperson said.Still, Washington views “diplomacy as the best way to achieve a sustainable, effective solution,” the spokesperson said.During a televised interview, Araqchi conceded that renegotiating the agreement would be challenging.“This document definitely needs to be reopened and parts of it needs to be changed. That is no easy task because once you reopen a document, putting it back together will be challenging,” he said in a live television interview.Complicating matters further are the November presidential election in the United States and ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.Araqchi said the Ukraine war had “deeply impacted how Europeans view security,” while the Gaza conflict has “completely upended the situation in the region.”The minister, who was one of the architects of the deal between Iran and six major world powers, said the format of talks since 2021 to revive the agreement can no longer work.“New negotiations are needed,” Araqchi added.The deal restricted Iran’s nuclear program and capped uranium enrichment at 3.67 percent. In return, the United States lifted sanctions that had suffocated Iran’s economy and energy sectors.But Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions that had been lifted under its terms. Iran retaliated by gradually scaling back its commitments and is currently enriching uranium at 60 percent.Araqchi, then a deputy foreign minister, led Iran’s negotiating team when Tehran and Washington started indirect talks in April 2021 to restore the agreement. Negotiations paused when hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi came to power in Iran and a new team of negotiators entered the fray. But talks were suspended in September 2022 in the wake of nationwide protests that rocked Iran for months. Hundreds were killed in the unrest as the authorities cracked down on demonstrations.Iran's new president, Masud Pezeshkian, who succeeded Raisi after he died in a helicopter crash earlier this year, has vowed to engage the West.But the ultimate decision-maker in Iran is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has praised efforts by conservatives to expand the country's nuclear program.
Russia Warns US Will Face 'Much Harsher' Consequences for Backing Kursk Invasion - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday that the US would face “much harsher” consequences for backing Ukraine’s offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.“The impression is that our colleagues [in Washington] have discarded the remnants of common sense and believe that they can do anything,” Ryabkov said, according to TASS.“The consequences [for the United States] could be much harsher than those they are already experiencing, they know where and in what areas we are reacting in practical terms,” Ryabkov added.The US claims it was not involved in the planning of the Kursk offensive, but it has allowed Ukraine to use US-provided armored vehicles, missiles, and bombs in the attack on Russian territory.Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Tuesday that the US would face “much harsher” consequences for backing Ukraine’s offensive in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.“The impression is that our colleagues [in Washington] have discarded the remnants of common sense and believe that they can do anything,” Ryabkov said, according to TASS.“The consequences [for the United States] could be much harsher than those they are already experiencing, they know where and in what areas we are reacting in practical terms,” Ryabkov added.The US claims it was not involved in the planning of the Kursk offensive, but it has allowed Ukraine to use US-provided armored vehicles, missiles, and bombs in the attack on Russian territory. [Military situation in Kursk on August 27, 2024 (map, SouthFront.press)]The New York Times reported that the US and the UK have also provided Ukraine with satellite imagery and other information about the Kursk region. Ryabkov said that US involvement in the Kursk offensive is an “obvious fact.”Ukraine is now pushing hard for the US to allow it to launch long-range strikes inside Russia using US-provided missiles. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly warned against this potential escalation and said the US should understand that if World War III breaks out, it wouldn’t be contained in Europe. “Americans unequivocally associate conversations about Third World War as something that, God forbid, if it happens, will affect Europe exclusively,”Lavrov said.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his Western backers are “naive” for worrying about escalation and called Russia’s red lines a “bluff.”On Monday, Russia launched massive missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, which was seen as retaliation for the Kursk offensive. Russia followed up with another heavy bombing on Tuesday.Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces continue to make steady gains, which have become more rapid since Ukraine launched its Kursk offensive on August 6. The New York Times reported that the US and the UK have also provided Ukraine with satellite imagery and other information about the Kursk region. Ryabkov said that US involvement in the Kursk offensive is an “obvious fact.” Ukraine is now pushing hard for the US to allow it to launch long-range strikes inside Russia using US-provided missiles. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov strongly warned against this potential escalation and said the US should understand that if World War III breaks out, it wouldn’t be contained in Europe.
Russian Ambassador Expects US Will Lift Restrictions on Ukraine's Use of Weapons - Russia’s ambassador in the US has said he expects the Biden administration to soon lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of US-provided weapons to support long-range strikes on Russian territory. “The current administration behaves like a person who extends one hand and holds a dagger behind their back with another one,” Ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on Friday. “They are, essentially, laying ground (for a decision) to simply remove all the existing restrictions at a certain point, without much thought,” he added. In May, President Biden gave Ukraine the greenlight to use US-provided weapons in attacks on border regions in the Russian mainland. A few months later, on August 6, Ukraine launched its ground invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast. Ukraine is using US-provided missile systems and bombs in its assault on Kursk, but the US says it won’t allow long-range strikes outside of the border areas. Ukrainian officials are now pushing hard to have all restrictions lifted. US officials told POLITICO that the White House is still not ready to support long-range strikes in Russia. But there is growing support in Congress for the restrictions to be lifted, and Ukrainian officials say they have reasons to think there may be a change soon.“There’s some indication now that Biden might want to do something big on Ukraine — maybe lifting some of the restrictions — before the election now that he’s not running,” a senior Ukrainian adviser told POLITICO. “There’s no guarantee, but we’re hearing that he’s thinking about it.”The use of US weapons inside Russia marks a significant escalation of the proxy war as it is, and the step to support long-range strikes would take things to another level and risk a serious response from Moscow.Antonov said Russian President Vladimir Putin will punish those responsible for attacking Russia. “I tell you sincerely that the president has made a decision,” he said. “I am firmly convinced that everyone will be severely punished for what has happened in Kursk region.”
Pennsylvania ammo plant boosts production of key artillery shell in Ukraine’s fight against Russia (AP) — A Pennsylvania ammunition plant that makes a key artillery shell in Ukraine’s fight against Russia has managed to boost production by 50% to meet surging demand, with more capacity set to come on line. Government officials revealed the increase in production this week as they showcased the historic factory’s ongoing, $400 million modernization. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant cuts and forges 2,000-pound (907-kilogram) bars of steel into 155 mm howitzer rounds that are then shipped to Iowa to be packed with explosives and fitted with fuses. From there, many of them make their way to the fight in Ukraine, where they are highly sought. The Scranton plant, along with two other ammunition plants in nearby Wilkes-Barre, recently increased production from 24,000 rounds per month to 36,000 rounds per month. Three new production lines are under development that will allow the Scranton facility to churn out even more of the critical munitions, the factory’s top official said. “Right now we’re concentrating on 155. That’s pretty much all we’re concentrating on,” Richard Hansen, the Army commander’s representative at the plant, said Tuesday while giving news outlets a tour of the sprawling factory grounds near downtown Scranton. “We’re working really hard to ensure that we achieve the goal that the Pentagon has established.” The U.S. has sent more than 3 million 155 mm artillery rounds to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2022, according to government figures. Earlier this month, the White House announced another $125 million in weapons to assist Ukraine in its military operations against Russia, including 155 mm shells. The Scranton factory began life as a locomotive repair shop at the beginning of the 20th century before the Army bought it and converted it into a production facility for large-caliber artillery for the Korean War. It’s been operated by General Dynamics since 2006 under contract with the U.S. government, which owns the plant. Officials are about halfway through one of the biggest modernization projects in plant history, with about 20 projects underway. Tuesday’s tour included a new production line with a sleek new machine that will do the job of three, helping maximize use of space at the 500,000-square-foot (46,452-square-meter) factory. The plant employs about 300 people, according to a General Dynamics spokesperson. Some of them have been there for decades running the equipment that cuts the steel, heats it to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,093 degrees Celsius), and forges, machines, washes and paints the finished shells. Each round is manually inspected at each step to ensure it meets specifications.
US-Made F-16 Crashes in Ukraine, Killing Ukrainian Pilot - A Ukrainian pilot was killed when a US-made F-16 crashed in Ukraine on Monday, CNN reported on Thursday, citing a Ukrainian military official.The crash is a blow to Ukraine, which just received its first batch of F-16s from NATO countries a few weeks ago. So far, Ukraine has only received a handful of F-16s, and this is the first confirmed loss of one.A Ukrainian official said the pilot, Oleksiy Mes, crashed while “repelling the biggest ever aerial attack” launched by Russia against Ukraine. The cause of the crash is unclear, but the Ukrainian military has described it as an “accident,” suggesting it wasn’t shot down by Russia.A US official told The Wall Street Journal that the crash was likely a result of pilot error, but the Ukrainian official told CNN that Kyiv doesn’t think that was the cause.According to CNN, Mes began training on the F-16 in the US last fall. While it can take years to complete F-16 training, Mes and the other pilots had to do it in six months.Ukraine is facing a shortage of pilots who can operate the F-16s and has been frustrated by the limited number of training slots available in the US. US officials told The New York Times this month that 20 Ukrainian pilots are expected to be capable of flying the jets this year.
Zelensky To Present 'Victory Plan' To Harris & Trump In September -Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet once again with US President Joe Biden, reportedly set for September. On Tuesday Zelensky revealed that he intends at that time to present the White House with a plan for victory against Russia. But more important is what happens after the US presidential election..He specified that his plan will also be directly presented to Vice President Kamala Harris as well as former President Donald Trump as the two candidates head into the November election."The plan is prepared. I think it’s right that I first present this plan to the US President." Zelensky was quoted in Ukrainian media as saying. "The success of this plan depends on whether we get what is outlined in it, or if we are free to use what is included.""Kursk region is part of our plan—Ukraine's victory plan. It may sound overly ambitious to some, but for us, it's an important plan," Zelensky continued. It has long been speculated since the Aug.6 Kursk incursion began, which has resulted in Kiev forces actually holding Russian territory, that part of the 'shock' nature of the operation is to gain more leverage in potential future negotiations with Moscow. Another stated reason for Kursk among Ukraine officials is to divert Russian manpower from the front lines in Donbass. Yet by all accounts, Russia is still gaining ground in eastern Ukraine.President Putin has since said that the Kursk invasion means that any and all opportunities for peace talks are definitely off at this point.Yet ironically Zelensky is describing that part of his 'victory plan' is to build enough leverage on the battlefield (with the help of the West) to be able to sit down with Moscow on equal footing:According to him, this is the first direction of the peace plan. The next steps include securing Ukraine's position in the strategic security infrastructure of the world and a package to compel Russia to end the war through diplomatic means.
Russia seizes $100M from Google to fund war propaganda: report --Russia seized more than $100 million from Google and used the money to fund its propaganda campaign in support of President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a report.Court documents obtained by the British newspaper Telegraph show that Google’s bank accounts in Russia were emptied out shortly after the invasion two years ago, leading to the bankruptcy of the tech giant’s Russian division.The confiscated cash was transferred to state-owned Russian channels including RT and Tsargrad, a network that pledged to use the money to back the war effort.Last week, Google filed suit against RT, Tsargrad and another Russia-based broadcaster, NFPT, in both US and UK courts.Russian courts ordered Google to pay the three television channels large sums as compensation for the company’s decision to remove them from YouTube and deleting their Google accounts to comply with sanctions against Moscow. In court filings from last week, Google said that Russia “levied unprecedented fines and arbitrary legal penalties against Google in an attempt to limit access to information on our services and as a punishment for our compliance with international sanctions against Russian individuals and organizations”.“The bailiffs seized more than $100 (million) of Google Russia’s assets, even though the amount purportedly due under the judgment at the time was less than $12.5 (million),” Google said in one of the court filings.“Tsargrad received one billion rubles from the seizure, which it said it would use to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.” Google wants courts to prevent the three Russian broadcast entities from pursuing its assets in South Africa, Turkey and Serbia. Tsargrad has sued Google in Turkey — claiming that the US-based tech giant owes it $360 million.Russian court rulings doubled the penalty every 24 hours — meaning the sum could exceed Google’s market capitalization.As of Monday, Google’s parent company had a market capitalization of $2.05 trillion — making it the fourth most valuable company in the world behind Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft.
Taiwan Building Five Bases for US-Made Anti-Ship Harpoon Missiles - Taiwan is building five new military bases to house US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles, The South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday. In 2020, the US approved a $2.37 billion arms sale to Taiwan for 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems and 400 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems. Taiwan is scheduled to receive the land-based Harpoon missiles from the US in 2026. Four of the new bases will be built in southern Taiwan counties, which are located on the Taiwan Strait and face China. Four separate contracts worth $148.7 million each have been awarded for the construction of each base. The other base will be built in Taitung, a county on the east coast.The Post said the initial plan was to build a sixth base in the southwestern county of Yunlin, but it was scrapped after facing opposition from locals who feared the base would make their area a target of the Chinese military.News of the construction comes amid growing tensions in the region between the US and China both over Taiwan and the South China Sea. In recent years, the US has been significantly increasing its support for Taiwan despite strong objections from Beijing.Last year, the US began providing military aid to Taiwan for the first time. Since Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979, the US has always sold weapons to Taiwan but never financed the purchases or provided weapons free of charge until 2023.
US Slams China on South China Sea as Sullivan Visits Beijing - On Tuesday, a US Coast Guard admiral criticized China’s activity in the South China Sea as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was in Beijing to meet with high-level Chinese officials.Rear Adm. Andrew Sugimoto, deputy commander of the US Coast Guard Pacific Area, said that the US “stands” with the Philippines in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels continue to have frequent tense encounters despite efforts to cool tensions.Sugimoto’s comments came after Chinese and Philippine vessels collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal twice within a week. On Monday, the Chinese and Philippine coast guards had another confrontation near the shoal, which is part of the Spratly Islands.Beijing and Manila traded blame for the collisions, and the US has taken the Philippines’ side. Sugimoto said the US “unequivocally” condemns China for allegedly ramming the Philippine vessels. (Map showing the overlapping claims to the South China Sea.)“China wants to be seen as a member of the world that has its set of rules and enforces it. But whenever they do things like ramming or water-cannoning unarmed vessels, it does not appear to be so,” Sugimoto said.The US has vowed that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, which means the US is pledging to intervene if the dispute turns hot. Sugimoto said the US Coast Guard, which has increased its presence in waters near China in recent years, would “stand” with the Philippines if the treaty is invoked.Over in Beijing, Sullivan began two days of talks with Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat. The Biden administration has taken a hard line on China and has framed its talks with the Chinese government as a way to “manage” the relationship rather than improve ties, and no breakthroughs are expected to be made.“President Biden has been very clear in his conversations with President Xi that he is committed to managing this important relationship responsibly,” Sullivan told Wang before the talks began. Wang noted the rocky state of US-China relations and said his goal is to move forward with “healthy and stable” ties. “The key is to keep the overall direction of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation,” he said.
US Military Open To Escorting Philippine Ships in South China Sea - Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command, said Tuesdaythat the US military was open to consultations with the Philippines on escorting Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, which would put the US in direct confrontation with China.The US has repeatedly vowed that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, which means the US is pledging to intervene and fight China if the maritime dispute turns hot.Philippine vessels often have tense confrontations with the Chinese Coast Guard near disputed reefs in the South China Sea, which sometimes end in collision. Chinese boats have frequently intercepted Philippine vessels as they were attempting to resupply a grounded warship on Second Thomas Shoal.(Map showing the overlapping claims in the South China Sea)Paparo was asked if the US military would accompany Philippine vessels resupplying Philippine forces in the South China Sea. “Certainly, within the context of consultations,” he said, according to The Associated Press. “Every option between the two sovereign nations in terms of our mutual defense, escort of one vessel to the other, is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty, among this close alliance between the two of us.”Paparo made the comments at a joint news conference with the head of the Philippine military, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who expressed more caution about the idea. “The attitude of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as dictated by the Philippine laws, is for us to first rely on ourselves,” Brawner said. “We are going to try all options, all avenues that are available to us in order for us to achieve the mission…in this case, the resupply and rotation of our troops. We will then seek for other options when we are already constrained from doing it ourselves.” The comments came amid a spike in tensions between China and the Philippines as two incidents near the disputed Sabina Shoal ended in collision, with the two sides trading blame.
Kamala Harris pledges no letup in genocide, war, attacks on immigrants in CNN interview -- On August 29, Vice President Kamala Harris held her first sit-down interview since replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic Party ticket. The short interview with CNN’s Dana Bash was a heavily edited piece of political theater aimed at concealing the right-wing character of a future Harris-Walz administration and the scale of the domestic and global geo-political crisis.Despite months of global protests attended by millions of people, Harris made clear that Palestinians will continue to be slaughtered under her administration. Questioned by Bash, who falsely claimed Biden was trying to “end the war,” would Harris do “anything differently,” such as withholding “some US weapons shipments to Israel?” Harris replied: Let me be very clear, unequivocal and unwavering in my commitment to Israel’s defense and its ability to defend itself. And that’s not going to change. Repeating Israeli war propaganda that was debunked months ago, Harris added: But let’s take a step back. October 7. 1,200 people are massacred, many young people who are simply attending a music festival. Women were horribly raped. As I said then, I say today, Israel had a right, has a right to defend itself. Bash, playing the role of a Zionist agent, did not raise the fact that several of those 1,200 killed on October 7 were victims of the Israeli military tank and helicopter attacks via the depraved Hannibal Directive. As of this writing, which follows a United Nations investigation, there has been no forensic evidence to substantiate claims of multiple “Hamas rapes” on October 7. However, there have been dozens of well sourced reports of mass, systemic sexual abuse and psychical torture of Palestinians held hostage in Israeli military prisons. The ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the IDF with US support was another topic that went unmentioned. When Harris briefly turned to the suffering of Palestinians, she refused to state how many had died, in the process erasing the deaths of at least 40,000 people and her culpability in it. Instead the war criminal offered the same phrases she has been using since March of this year: “Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, and we have got to get a deal done.” Pressed by Bash to confirm there would “no change in policy in terms of arms and so forth?” Harris quickly replied, “No.” Before delving into the rest of the contents of the interview itself, it is important to take note of what was not discussed. While Bash made time to ask Harris why she did not “explicitly talk about gender or race” in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, she did not raise the ongoing US-NATO war against Russia, which threatens all of humanity with a nuclear catastrophe. There was no mention of the fact that for the first time since World War II, German tanks have been deployed inside Russia. There were no questions posed to Harris about further US military support for Ukraine under her administration, including the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. The rising danger of global nuclear war, including pledges by a future Harris administration as outlined in the Democratic Party platform to “modernize” the US nuclear arsenal, were likewise omitted.This political fraud extended to the breakdown of democracy in the United States. At the Democratic National Convention, Biden warned that Trump was attempting to overthrow the election again and establish a dictatorship, though he did not indicate his administration was doing anything to stop it. In the interview, neither Harris nor Bash raised Biden’s warning and the threat of fascism in the United States. Instead, Bash asked Harris if she would “appoint a Republican to your cabinet.” Without batting an eye, Harris replied: Yes, I would. Yes, I would. … I think it’s very important. I have spent my career inviting diversity of opinion. I think it’s important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences, and I think it would be to the benefit of the American public to have a member of my cabinet who was a Republican. The fact that members of the increasingly fascistic Republican Party will apparently be welcomed to the Harris cabinet is not a surprise. In order to achieve their shared class objectives of global war abroad and suppression of the class struggle at home, Harris and the Democrats are willing to eviscerate the democratic rights and living standards of the working class to secure support from their “Republican colleagues.” This was perhaps most vividly expressed in Harris’s embrace of Trump’s anti-immigrant border agenda. Questioned by Bash why the Biden-Harris administration did not more quickly “implement sweeping asylum restrictions,” Harris blamed Trump for blocking the passage of a previously negotiated anti-immigrant bill, which includes nearly $20 billion to expand the border police apparatus.Harris boasted that the bill “would have put 1,500 more agents on the border” and was endorsed by the “Border Patrol,” which is led by Trump supporter Brandon Judd.The bill was initially proposed as a “compromise” from the Democrats in order to secure billions in military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The fact that the war funding was already passed without the anti-immigrant legislation has not deterred Harris from continuing to champion its passage.
Mike Johnson: Kamala Harris is only person US adversaries fear less than Biden --Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) took aim Monday at Vice President Harris’s foreign policy chops, saying Harris does not elicit fear in the country’s adversaries overseas. “The only person that our adversaries fear less than Joe Biden is Kamala Harris,” Johnson said in an interview on “Fox & Friends” with Brian Kilmeade, saying that’s true “whether you’re talking about domestic affairs or foreign affairs.” “Imagine her as the commander in chief of the U.S. military in these dangerous times,” Johnson continued. “This is the most dangerous time since World War II, Brian. We cannot afford to do that.” Johnson made the case that former President Trump, on the other hand, is feared on the global stage and is therefore fit to lead the country. “You’ve got to have Donald Trump in the White House,” Johnson said. “He’s the one they fear and respect.” The Hill has reached out to the Harris campaign for a response. Trump and his allies have frequently touted Trump’s aggressive and sometimes unpredictable approach to foreign policy. They say U.S. adversaries fear the consequences of crossing him. Trump in the past has asserted Russia would not have invaded Ukraine had he been president, and he has also signaled the conflict in the Middle East could have been avoided with him at the helm. Democrats, however, have repeatedly hit Trump for at times cozying up to autocratic leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, whom he hosted at Mar-a-Lago last month. U.S. allies have also expressed concerns about the former president’s embrace of isolationist policies. Trump has threatened to not defend European allies who don’t pay enough in defense spending, a point of contention in the Western security alliance NATO. He has also pledged to end the war in Ukraine before he takes office, sparking fear about how that could be accomplished without ceding territory to Russia. Recently, he said Taiwan should pay the U.S. for its defense.
Advocates pressure Pentagon to address 'moldy' and 'dangerous' conditions at bases -Advocacy groups for military personnel and families are pressing the Pentagon to handle moldy, infested or otherwise dirty and dangerous barracks on U.S. bases across the globe.Hots&Cots, the group leading the effort, said the “substandard” living conditions that many service members face are “unacceptable.” “From barracks with mold issues to outdated HVAC systems and water quality concerns, these aren’t just inconveniences — they’re serious issues that undermine the health of our service members,” Rob Evans, a former sergeant in the Army Reserve and National Guard and founder of Hots&Cots, told The Hill in a statement. Evans hopes the release of photographs collected by Hots&Cots — first reported by NBC News and showing mold covering the ceiling of an Army dining room in Korea and a faucet dispensing brown water at a New Jersey base, among others — will push the military to act quickly to fix the issues. “There are leaders who are truly committed to improving the quality of life for their service members. … However, I also recognize that some leaders are constrained by barriers beyond their control,” he said. “Hots&Cots aims to bring awareness to these issues while also highlighting the positive aspects of military life.”Evans created Hots&Cots — an app similar to Yelp that was launched in October — to help hold leaders accountable for troops’ living conditions after he saw reports about dirty and moldy barracks across the military.“I want soldiers to be heard because being a lower enlisted, sometimes you don’t feel like you’re heard,” he told Task & Purpose at the time. Evans also noted that he and a volunteer team of current and former service members evaluate the photos to verify them “to the best of our ability without actually being present in the situation.”He said as of now, no one from the Defense Department or any of the military branches have reached out to his organization.
Judge pauses Biden program offering legal status to spouses of US citizens - A federal judge in Texas on Monday ordered a pause on a new policy from the Biden administration that would make it easier for Americans’ spouses and children who lack necessary documentation to gain legal status. U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker issued an administrative stay on the program, known as “Keeping Families Together,” just days after Texas and 15 other GOP-led states sued the Biden administration for the policy. “The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Barker wrote in the order. Barker noted the order is not equal to “any ultimate conclusions about the success or likely success” of the plaintiff’s claims but rather is a “first-blush” review of the claims following a preliminary screening. The Department of Homeland Security began taking applications last week for the new rule, which allows spouses and children of U.S. citizens without legal status to seek to adjust their status without first leaving the country.The lawsuit, filed last Friday in coordination with former President Trump’s ex-aide Stephen Miller’s America First Legal, argues that the new rule violates immigration authorities and the Administrative Procedures Act, which lays the groundwork for federal rulemaking.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who led the suit, applauded the order while calling it “just the first step.”“Biden’s unconstitutional scheme would have rewarded over 1 million illegal aliens with the opportunity for citizenship after breaking our country’s laws—and incentivized countless more,” he wrote on X Monday. Paxton’s claim that those who receive the status change are unvetted is false, as applying to shift one’s immigration status kicks off such a process. The rule notes that applicants must submit biometrics and “undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.”Applicants also must not have any “disqualifying criminal history and otherwise [may] not [be] deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security.”The order lasts two weeks, though it could be extended. Baker, who was appointed by Trump in 2019 as a judge in Tyler, Texas, suggested a timeline that could bring a decision shortly before the Nov. 5 presidential election or before the newly elected president takes office early next year, the Associated Press noted.Each side was given until Oct. 10 to file briefs in the case. During the rollout of the plan, the Biden administration touted the rule would “bring peace of mind and stability to Americans living in mixed-status families” and “allow more young people to contribute to our economy.”
Federal Judge Blocks Biden-Harris Administration's "Parole In Place" Program For Illegal Aliens On Monday, a federal judge in Texas blocked the Biden-Harris Administration’s attempts to implement a “parole in place” program that would have awarded a pathway to citizenship to illegal aliens who are the spouses of American citizens. As reported by Just The News, the decision was the result of a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 16 Republican-controlled states, led by Texas.The lawsuit sought to block the program, due to its implementation being the result of illegally bypassing Congress for “political purposes.”U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ultimately agreed with the coalition of states, issuing his administrative stay on the program for at least two weeks while he hears the argument from the plaintiffs.“The claims are substantial and warrant closer consideration than the court has been able to afford to date,” Barker wrote in his opinion.The “Parole in Place” program had launched just last week, allowing illegal aliens who are married to American citizens to remain in the country legally so that they can apply for green cards. Requirements include having lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years, having no criminal history, and having been married to a citizen by June 17th.Previously, illegal aliens who had married Americans could still apply for green cards but had to leave the country during the application process, which would take several years.In addition to Texas, the 15 other states involved in the lawsuit are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wyoming.
Abbott Says Texas Has Purged Over A Million Ineligible Voters -- Purging voter registration rolls should not be controversial. The process is part of ensuring the integrity of the vote, making sure that ineligible voters are not allowed a ballot. But for some Democrats looking to make an issue of purging people from the voter rolls, it's a racist attempt to deny people of color the right to vote. Do states purge some eligible voters from the rolls inadvertently or by mistake? No doubt the answer to that question is yes. Perhaps someone who moved forgot to change their address. Perhaps they didn't notice the postcard that came in the mail reminding them to register with their new address. The fact is that the overwhelming number of people who are purged from voter rolls were either dead or moved without telling the local registrar. Gov. Greg Abbot (R-Texas) announced yesterday that Texas had purged more than one million voters from the registration rolls. “The Secretary of State and county voter registrars have an ongoing legal requirement to review the voter rolls, remove ineligible voters, and refer any potential illegal voting to the attorney general’s office and local authorities for investigation and prosecution,” Abbott said in a press release. “Illegal voting in Texas will never be tolerated. We will continue to actively safeguard Texans’ sacred right to vote while also aggressively protecting our elections from illegal voting.”
Proof-of-citizenship voting bill threatens government shutdown - A conservative-backed push for stricter proof-of-citizenship requirements for voting could complicate efforts to avert a government shutdown next month. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have acknowledged a stopgap of some kind, also known as a continuing resolution (CR), will be necessary to keep the government funded past Sept. 30. But calls are growing among House conservatives to use that must-pass measure to force consideration of a partisan bill aimed at barring noncitizens from voting — laying the groundwork for a clash with the Democratic-led Senate, which would likely reject such a package. The hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus took an official position this month urging Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to attach the measure, dubbed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, to spending legislation next month. Since then, the GOP conference’s right flank has only ramped up public calls for the move, which has also seen some pickup in the upper chamber and among prominent figures such as tech mogul Elon Musk, as the party looks to seize on immigration as a key campaign issue ahead of November. Deciding which approach to take on spending will be one of the most important decisions Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) makes before the end of the year, with implications not only for government funding but for whether he can keep the support he needs to lead the House GOP next year. Johnson has not dismissed the idea of attaching the SAVE Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), saying on a press call last week that discussions are ongoing to “build consensus to come up with the final decision.” “I can verify for you that the SAVE Act is a big part of this conversation,” Johnson also said. “And it is not just the Freedom Caucus — it is members across the conference who share the same concern that we do about this. And we believe it’s one of the — perhaps the most urgent issue, the most imminent threat facing the country, is the integrity of this election cycle.”
Supreme Court won’t reinstate Biden’s new student debt plan -The Supreme Court on Wednesday discarded the Biden administration’s request to temporarily reinstate its new student debt plan that would lower payments for millions of borrowers. The Justice Department’s emergency appeal asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court ruling currently halting President Biden’s plan as a legal challenge proceeds. The order had no public dissents. It is not a final ruling, and the legality of the plan could ultimately return to the high court. “The Court expects that the Court of Appeals will render its decision with appropriate dispatch,” reads one of the two orders declining to take up the cases at this time.For now, it drives a sword in the administration’s ability to implement its Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.“Our Administration will continue to aggressively defend the SAVE Plan – which has helped over 8 million borrowers access lower monthly payments, including 4.5 million borrowers who have had a zero dollar payment each month. And, we won’t stop fighting against Republican elected officials’ efforts to raise costs on millions of their own constituents’ student loan payments,” said White House Spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández. The first phase began last October, increasing the amount of income protected from loan payments to 225 percent of the federal poverty line and not letting unpaid interest accrue. The second phase, which was set to begin in July, decreases monthly payments from 10 percent of a borrower’s discretionary income to 5 percent. The plan also shortens the repayment period to 10 years for qualifying borrowers, after which their remaining balance would be forgiven. Roughly 7.5 million borrowers have already signed up for the SAVE plan, and 150,000 individuals have had their debt canceled under the new income-driven repayment plan. Two groups of Republican state attorneys general have challenged the plan, contending Biden doesn’t have legal authority to implement it and that it flouts the Supreme Court’s decision last year striking down one the president’s earlier student debt programs. “There is a reason the Final Rule is the Government’s backup plan for mass loan forgiveness: the Government’s statutory arguments are even weaker than in Biden v. Nebraska,” one group of states wrote in court filings, referring to that earlier case. The other group similarly wrote, “This current attempt to unilaterally cancel debt is every bit as unlawful as the first 12-digit effort this Court rejected.” Both lawsuits reached the Supreme Court in recent weeks on its emergency docket after conflicting rulings in lower courts. Last month, Alaska, South Carolina and Texas asked the justices to reinstate a district court ruling that blocks portions of the plan as the case proceeds. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the block at the Justice Department’s request. Soon after, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively halted the entire plan in response to the other challenge, which is being led by Missouri. It is joined by six other Republican state attorneys general: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma. The Biden administration then sought the Supreme Court’s emergency intervention to temporarily lift that order. “The States fail to justify allowing that extraordinary injunction to continue to harm millions of borrowers while this appeal is litigated,” U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in court filings. The justices rejected that request and the effort mounted in the other lawsuit by the three Republican state attorneys general. Both cases will now return to lower courts.
Declaring COVID-19 “endemic,” Biden administration oversees policy of forced mass infection -- The United States is currently mired in its ninth wave of mass infection since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the population now completely abandoned by the powers that be. A policy of forced infection has emerged, in which all public health measures have been scrapped and the most basic protection of mask-wearing is being criminalized in a growing number of counties and states. Wastewater data show that over 1.2 million Americans are being infected with COVID-19 every day. Hospitalizations are climbing, in particular among children and the elderly, while official deaths are approaching 1,000 per week. Excess deaths, a more accurate measure of the real death toll attributable to COVID-19, stand at over 500 per day, with the cumulative death toll in the US nearing 1.5 million. Long COVID, an array of symptoms which are often debilitating, now affects over 20 million Americans and over 400 million people globally. According to wastewater modeler Dr. Mike Hoerger, there have been over 1.1 billion cumulative COVID-19 infections in the United States alone, with the average American infected three or four times. With multiple studies showing that each reinfection compounds one’s risk of Long COVID and other adverse health events such as strokes or heart attacks, the current trajectory of the “forever COVID” policy is towards ever-broadening mass debilitation and death on a world scale. Under these conditions, on August 23 top officials from America’s leading public health agencies held an extraordinary press conference, which very explicitly outlined the Biden administration’s criminal “forever COVID” policy. Leading the event was Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, who bluntly declared that COVID-19 “is endemic, it is here with us.” This is the first time a top public health official has proclaimed COVID-19 to be “endemic,” after Drs. Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky and Ashish Jha repeatedly and falsely said that the virus was “in the process” of becoming endemic since the emergence of the Omicron variant in late 2021. An endemic disease is one which is largely contained, predictable and not disruptive to the basic functioning of society. None of this applies to COVID-19, which is spreading like wildfire almost year-round and causing widespread damage to the health of the population, as well as mass absenteeism and economic disruption to the tune of over $1 trillion annually. After claiming that COVID-19 is “endemic,” Cohen hastened to add, “We need to protect ourselves. And we have the tools to do it, we just need to use them.” The reality is that the public health “tools” necessary to mitigate the dangers of COVID-19, let alone stop the pandemic, have been systematically stigmatized, denied and even criminalized by the entire political establishment. The capitalist state, beholden to the profit interests of Wall Street and corporate America, has dismantled all pandemic surveillance and left the population to fend for themselves. Those who remain vigilant and seek to avoid infection are increasingly isolated and unable to protect themselves amid a sea of viral transmission. Over the course of the press conference, it became abundantly clear that the only “tool” advocated by the Biden administration are new vaccines designed for the KP.2 variant, which are currently being rolled out. The officials present covered up the fact that these vaccines are too little, too late, given that the KP.3.1.1 variant is now dominant, with KP.2 accounting for just 3.2 percent of cases nationally, and that the current wave appears to be just peaking. Furthermore, in the course of the press conference it became clear that the latest vaccines will not be guaranteed to everyone, with Cohen stating that uninsured Americans (over 26 million people) will have to try to navigate their local or county public health bureaucracy or pay upwards of $120 for the shot. No speaker seriously addressed the fact that vaccine uptake is abysmally low, the product of bipartisan anti-vaccine disinformation and propaganda portraying the pandemic as over.
Mark Zuckerberg regrets not being more outspoken about 'government pressure' --Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Monday that he regrets not being more outspoken about “government pressure” to take down COVID-19 related content. Zuckerberg said senior Biden administration officials “repeatedly pressured” Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to “censor” content in 2021. “I believe the government pressure was wrong, and I regret that we were not more outspoken,” he wrote to House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). “Like I said to our teams at the time, I feel strongly that we should not compromise our content standards due to pressure from any Administration in either direction — and we’re ready to push back if something like this happens again,” Zuckerberg added. The Meta CEO also said the company “shouldn’t have demoted” a New York Post story about corruption allegations involving President Biden’s family ahead of the 2020 election while waiting for fact-checkers to review it. The social media company has since updated its policies and processes, including no longer demoting content in the U.S. while waiting for fact-checkers, he noted. Zuckerberg also said in Monday’s letter that he does not plan to make contributions to local jurisdictions to support election infrastructure this cycle, like he did during the 2020 election. The contributions, which were “designed to be non-partisan,” were accused of being unfairly distributed between left-leaning and right-leaning areas and labeled “Zuckerbucks” by Republicans. “Still, despite the analyses I’ve seen showing otherwise, I know that some people believe this work benefited one party over the other,” Zuckerberg said. “My goal is to be neutral and not play a role one way or another — or to even appear to be playing a role.” House Judiciary Republicans touted the letter as a “big win for free speech” Monday night. “Mark Zuckerberg just admitted three things: 1. Biden-Harris Admin ‘pressured’ Facebook to censor Americans. 2. Facebook censored Americans. 3. Facebook throttled the Hunter Biden laptop story,” the panel wrote on X. “Mark Zuckerberg also tells the Judiciary Committee that he won’t spend money this election cycle. That’s right, no more Zuck-bucks. Huge win for election integrity,” it added. Meta and other social media companies have long faced accusations from Republicans of censoring conservative content on their platforms.
France Arrests CEO of Telegram Over Allegations Related to Content Moderation - French authorities have arrested Pavel Durov, the CEO of the messaging app Telegram, over allegations that the platform is not doing enough to moderate its content.The arrest, which has chilling implications for free speech in Europe, occurred on Saturday night when Durov arrived in France on a jet that left Azerbaijan. Durov was born in Russia but left in 2014 and now has citizenship in France and the UAE, where Telegram is based.According to reports, France is accusing Durov of not doing enough to curb criminal activity on the app. “It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform,” Telegram said in a statement on Durov’s arrest.Telegram also said that it abided by EU law. “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving,” it said.On Sunday, French judicial authorities extended Durov’s detention. According to AFP, the initial period of detention for questioning can last up to 96 hours. After that, the judge can decide to free him or pursue charges and keep him behind bars.Telegram has over 900 million users worldwide and is widely used in Russia and Ukraine, where it’s relied on as a source of information on the war.Durov told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in an interview earlier this year that he left Russia after the Russian government asked for personal information about users of VK, a social media site similar to Facebook that he founded in 2006. Durov said he was given the choice to hand over information when he was asked or sell the company and leave Russia, and said he chose the latter. Durov also said in the interview that he had faced pressure from the FBI during visits to the US. He said one of his engineers was approached by US government officials who wanted to hire him as part of an effort to give the US a back door into Telegram to access user data, similar to how US intelligence agencies have access to American tech platforms.
French Authorities Issue Preliminary Charges Against Telegram CEO - On Wednesday, French judicial authorities indicted Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on six preliminary charges relating to illicit activity on the messaging app.The case against Durov has sparked a global backlash since charging the head of a tech platform for the activity of its users has chilling implications for free speech.One of the preliminary charges is for “managing an online platform to allow illicit transactions by an organized group,” which could lead to up to ten years in prison and a 500,000 euro fine. Durov is also accused of not cooperating with investigations into illegal activity on Telegram.The investigation into Durov is expected to take months or even years, and if judicial authorities don’t find enough evidence, they could drop the preliminary charges.Durov, a Russian-born citizen of France and the UAE, was released on a 5 million euro bail on Wednesday. He is not allowed to leave France and must check in at a police station twice a week.The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that in 2018, Durov had lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron, who invited Durov to move Telegram, which is based in Abu Dhabi, to Paris. The report also revealed that in 2017, French spies targeted Durov in a joint operation with the UAE to hack his phone. Pavel has said he left Russia in 2014 due to pressure from the government to share information about users of VK, a social media platform he also founded. The Telegram CEO has also faced pressure from the US government.
Appeals Court Turns Down RFK Jr. Bid For Injunction Against Google -- A federal appeals court on Aug. 26 declined to block Google from removing Robert F. Kennedy’s videos, ruling that Kennedy has not shown that the California-based company was a state actor when taking down the videos.Kennedy’s lawyers said in a request for a preliminary injunction that Google was acting on advice from government officials when it removed multiple videos for allegedly violating the company’s medical misinformation policy. The lawyers requested an injunction blocking Google from removing additional videos from Kennedy’s YouTube page.“Americans may agree with Mr. Kennedy’s views. They may disagree with them. They may vote for Kennedy or reject him at the ballot box. Whatever the case, our Constitution requires that voters have an unfettered chance to hear Mr. Kennedy speak. That is the only way they can make an educated decision when exercising their right to vote,” they said in their motion.Google said it was merely applying its own policy and urged the court to deny the request.U.S. District Judge Trina L. Thompson in 2023 sided with Google, finding that Kennedy had not established Google as a state actor and, therefore, rights from the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment have not been implicated.Private entities can be treated as a state actor if shown to have acted under “coercive power” or “significant encouragement” from government officials, under court precedent.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Monday upheld the ruling. “Google asserts that it is a private entity with its own First Amendment rights and that it removed Kennedy’s videos on its own volition pursuant to its own misinformation policy and not at the behest of the federal government. Kennedy has not rebutted Google’s claim that it exercised its independent editorial choice in removing his videos,”a three-judge panel said in the unanimous decision. “Nor has Kennedy identified any specific communications from a federal official to Google concerning the removed Kennedy videos, or identified any threatening or coercive communication, veiled or otherwise, from a federal official to Google concerning Kennedy. As Kennedy has not shown that Google acted as a state actor in removing his videos, his invocation of First Amendment rights is misplaced,” the judges added.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Donald Trump endorsement deals political wild card - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sudden decision to suspend his campaign and support former President Trump is raising questions about whether he could actually tip the scales in key battleground states. Some Republicans say Kennedy’s move will help the GOP attract more votes in places where Trump is slightly behind Vice President Harris. Harris supporters don’t anticipate Kennedy giving Trump much of an advantage, but they aren’t stopping their counteroffensive against him, either. Kennedy’s third-party allies, meanwhile, are proud to pivot to Team MAGA and are optimistic that their influence will grow as a result. “Trump gonna get some momentum after this,” said one Kennedy source briefed on the conversations leading up to the decision last Friday. “Bobby has a dedicated and mobilized grassroots army. I’m genuinely excited.” Kennedy’s choice to end his campaign in states where polls showed him hurting Trump came after the two campaigns reached what they’re framing as a mutually beneficial agreement. While Kennedy encouraged his supporters to vote for him where he’s still on the ballot, his choice to remove his name from battlegrounds means he’s no longer looking to win the election. In what essentially amounted to a concession speech, Kennedy announced during an appearance in Phoenix, Ariz., last Friday that he was removing himself from states where he was considered a “spoiler.” “I no longer believe that I have a realistic path to electoral victory,” he said. A second Kennedy source directly familiar with his campaign strategy said he was planning to “bail on all the swing states” prior to him doing it. His goal was now to help Trump, whom he had talked to multiple times in recent months. Kennedy even predicted other Democrats will take a similar step to support Trump against Harris. “I think President Trump will make a series of announcements with other Democrats who are joining his campaign,” Kennedy said in an appearance on “Fox News Sunday.” His comments come after several Republicans spoke at the Democrats’ convention last week, urging others in the GOP to buck their party and vote against Trump. Republicans are happy to have Kennedy on their side as a surrogate, however flawed he might be. Looking past his policies — which run the gamut from fervent environmentalism against the GOP’s oil platform to antivax conspiracy theories — Republicans hope he can help Trump consolidate some support. “Could it impact the race? Yes, absolutely,” said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. “Every vote counts in this election.” In the early days of his switch to an independent, Democrats thought of Kennedy as more worrisome for President Biden. But the polling has shown different possible outcomes at different points in the cycle, including that he drags down the former Republican president the most. As of late July, Trump was leading by 4 points when up against Biden and Kennedy, according to averages from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill, with Kennedy drawing in nearly 9 percent support. With Harris now as the Democratic nominee, she’s on top by more than 5 points in a three-way race, with Kennedy at just under 3 percent support. In head-to-head polling, the averages show Harris up by 4 points nationally, and she boasts a similarly narrow edge in key swing states. Polling also suggests conservatives are more likely to see Kennedy favorably. “What if 1 or 2 percent of his support actually voted for Trump? That would make a huge difference and it really depends on the battleground states,” Bonjean added.
Kerry Kennedy says father would be 'terribly disappointed' with his son RFK Jr. supporting Trump -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sister on Monday lambasted his endorsement of former President Trump, saying his father would be “terribly disappointed” by the move.“I think that he would be terribly disappointed, and in the end, I imagine he would want to wrap his arms around Bobby and love him and say, ‘Everything’s okay. You know you are loved just for who you are,'” Kerry Kennedy said when asked on Sirius XM about how her father, former U.S. Attorney General, Robert F. Kennedy, would’ve reacted to his son’s support for Trump.“‘You don’t need power, you don’t need clapping hands. You just need to know that God made you in his image,'” she continued.Kennedy announced last week he was suspending his independent presidential campaign in swing states, while keeping his name on most red and blue state ballots. In doing so, he threw his support to Trump and ripped the Democratic Party and the media for what he claimed was an unfair treatment of his independent campaign. Kerry Kennedy expressed concerns her brother has a “desperate need for affection and esteem and political power.” These are “driving him in such a way that he’s choosing values” that are not his “core values,” she said. “It concerns me deeply, first of all, for my brother, but it concerns me also for our country,” she said. “Well, I think the stakes this November couldn’t be higher, which is exactly why my whole family will be fighting so hard to reelect Kamala Harris and ‘Coach’ Walz,'” she continued. Members of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s family, including Kerry Kennedy, spoke out Friday against his endorsement of the former president in a statement, saying that it was “a betrayal of the values that our father and our family hold most dear.” Trump is the “polar opposite” of the Kennedy’s family values, Kerry said, describing him as a “threat to the most basic rights and freedoms” for Americans.
In appeal to far right, Cornel West adopts Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine and bogus censorship platform On August 25, independent presidential candidate Cornel West released a short video statement affirming his support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine and pandemic denialist policies. In the video posted on his X account, West called for a “truth commission” to investigate “not just the vaccine but the role of the pharmaceutical companies in shaping public policy.” West added that his “truth commission” would also investigate alleged “censorship” of “various voices” that “would help us understand what’s really going on when it comes to healthcare policy vis-à-vis vaccines.” Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-vaccine zealot and Trump supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed that social media companies and the various intelligence agencies worked in conjunction with both the Trump and Biden administrations to unfairly “censor” him and his anti-vaccine propaganda. In reality, the anti-vaccine and profit-driven polices championed by Kennedy Jr. have been promoted in major newspapers, television shows and have, in fact, been adopted by virtually the entire ruling class. There is widespread censorship on the internet, and the billionaire-owned social media platforms. However, this censorship is not directed against the far-right and millionaires like Kennedy, but against left-wing workers and students voicing opposition to imperialist war, police violence, and capitalism. At the same time that socialist and Zero-COVID advocates have been banished from major programs, newspapers and censored on social media, RFK Jr. has been interviewed by Elon Musk on X and welcomed on popular television programs, podcasts, and even in Congress to promote his right-wing politics that increasingly overlap with the fascistic “Make America Great Again” agenda of aspiring dictator Donald Trump.Responding positively to West’s embrace of his right-wing talking points, RFK Jr. tweeted to West on August 25, “So grateful to you Cornell (sic), for commitment to ending the corruption.”The following day, Kennedy retweeted West’s video and commented that he was “So happy to see a prominent leftist say this.”Employing the identity politics organic to the Democratic Party Kennedy and West both supported in the very recent past, Kennedy said, “Medical mandates and lockdowns did the most harm to ... [t]he working class, small business owners, and especially Black people were devastated—41% of Black businesses closed, never to reopen.”Seeking to erase the class divide and encourage a “red-brown” alliance between workers and fascists, Kennedy added, “Traditionally, it is the left that resists corporate profiteering and authoritarian policies, but during the Covid era, such resistance was branded ‘right-wing.’ Entrenched powers try to split us into left and right in order to fragment our resistance.”
Tulsi Gabbard endorses Donald Trump in 2024 presidential race --Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), who left the Democratic Party in 2022, announced Monday she is endorsing former President Trump in November’s election.Gabbard, who has become a regular presence in conservative media, made the announcement during a National Guard Association gathering in Michigan where Trump was also speaking.“This [current] administration has us facing multiple wars on multiple fronts in regions around the world, and closer to the brink of nuclear war than we ever have been before,” Gabbard said. “This is one of the main reasons why I am committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House, where he can once again serve us as our commander in chief.” Gabbard ran an unsuccessful presidential campaign in the Democratic primary in 2020. In the years since ending her bid, she has exited Congress, left the Democratic Party and appeared at events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference. The former congresswoman has huddled with Trump in recent weeks as part of preparations for next month’s scheduled debate between the former president and Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee.Arguably the most notable moment of Gabbard’s unsuccessful 2020 White House bid was when she attacked Harris on the debate stage over her record as a prosecutor. Gabbard’s endorsement comes days after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspended his independent White House bid and backed Trump, which the former president’s campaign touted as a significant development in battleground states.
Donald Trump says Elon Musk likely too busy for Cabinet but could 'consult' - Former President Trump said Tesla CEO Elon Musk would probably be too busy to serve in his Cabinet if he wins the election in November but suggested the billionaire tech mogul could “consult.” “He wants to be involved. Now, look, he’s running big businesses and all that, so, he can’t really — I don’t think he’d be [free] for the Cabinet,” Trump said in an interview on the “Shawn Ryan Show.” “I’d put him in the Cabinet, absolutely, but I don’t know how he could do that with all the things he’s got going,” he continued. “But he could sort of, as the expression goes, consult with the country and give you some very good ideas.” Trump pointed to Musk’s knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI). Musk owns the AI startup xAI and has sought to incorporate the technology at Tesla. The former president previously suggested that he would consider the Tesla CEO for a role in his Cabinet. Musk, who also owns the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter, endorsed Trump in the presidential race and backed a super PAC supporting the former president’s bid. “He’s a very smart guy. I certainly would, if he would do it, I certainly would. He’s a brilliant guy,” Trump said of Musk in an interview with Reuters last week, when asked about appointing him to a potential Cabinet or similar role. During a two-hour conversation between Trump and Musk on X earlier this month, Musk also said he would be willing to serve on a government commission to study the national debt and congressional spending. “I think it would be great to just have a government efficiency commission that looks at these things to make sure taxpayer money is spent in a good way,” he told the former president. “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.”
Both Trumpism And Anti-Trumpism Are Fake, Decoy Revolutions --Caitlin Johnstone - There’s a fuzzbrained narrative going around “MAGA” circles right now that if re-elected, Donald Trump is going to appoint Robert F Kennedy Jr to the position of CIA director. This narrative has been extrapolated from some very vague comments made by Donald Trump Jr on a conservative podcast last week. It’s hilarious that anyone thinks this will happen, and it says so much about how perpetually gullible and confused Trump supporters are. Trump’s CIA directors have been Mike “We lied, we cheated, we stole” Pompeo and torture fetishist “Bloody Gina” Haspel, and these dopes think he’s going to suddenly give the job to RFK Jr? Come on. Trump isn’t going to drain the swamp. Trumpis the swamp.To this day, even after watching four years of evidence to the contrary, Trump supporters still believe he’s going to end the wars, drain the swamp, and take the fight to the Deep State. They believe he’ll be fighting the Deep State even after he imprisoned Assange. They believe he’ll be ending the wars even after he ramped up cold war aggressions against Russia, killed tens of thousands of Venezuelans with starvation sanctions, vetoed attempts to save Yemen from US-backed genocide, worked to foment civil war in Iran using starvation sanctions and CIA ops with the stated goal of effecting regime change, came inches from starting a full-scale war with Iran with by assassinating General Qassem Soleimani, occupied Syrian oil fields with the goal of preventing Syria’s reconstruction, greatly increased the number of troops in the Middle East and elsewhere, greatly increased the number of bombs dropped per dayfrom the previous administration killing record numbers of civilians, andreduced military accountability for those airstrikes. They believe he’ll drain the swamp after he packed his cabinet full of neocon swamp monsters like John Bolton and Elliott Abrams.Trump supporters are the most gullible people on earth. They’ll stare right at you as you look them in the eye and prove you lied to them in broad daylight, and then they’ll sign right up to let you do it again.Rightists who are discontented with the American political status quo have been herded into supporting a politician who embodies that status quo as much as any other president, wrongly thinking they are waging a battle against the establishment by doing so. And this is mirrored on the other side of the imaginary partisan divide in US politics, with people making entire identities out of despising Donald Trump and acting like this makes them brave revolutionaries.When Trump was first elected I had hope that the Democrats who’d fallen asleep at the wheel under Obama would become politically engaged again and start criticizing the evils of the US empire like they did during the Bush years. But what actually happened was that while Democrats did start paying attention to politics again, they were corralled like livestock by the mass media into opposing things that had no relation to the actual realities of the US empire and how it functions in the world. Instead of focusing on Trump’s many depravities listed above, Democrats wound up spending years shrieking about a completely fake conspiracy theorythat the executive branch of the US government had been taken over by the Kremlin, only to lose interest and pretend nothing happened after the Mueller investigation failed to indict a single American over any involvement with Russia. They spent all their political energy freaking out about Trump’s mean tweets and how rude he was to members of the press, while ignoring or even praising his administration’s reckless warmongering and tyranny around the worldSo Trump has been made the central figure in US politics around whom everything revolves, and whether the election is won by those who support him or those who oppose him, the imperial status quo is guaranteed to remain unchanged. As Americans become more and more discontented with the abusive nature of their nation’s government, a man has shown up who leads both Democrats and Republicans to believe that the best way to stick it to the man is to take a highly emotional position either for him or against him. When really whether he wins or loses couldn’t matter less to those with real power. Trump sucks all the oxygen out of the room for real discourse about real things. Under Biden at least we’ve been seeing some real opposition to real things like the US-backed atrocities in Gaza, but under Trump it was four years of both mainstream political factions screaming about made-up nonsense under the delusion that they were fighting the power.And that’s all mainstream electoral politics ever is in the US empire: a fake, decoy revolution staged for the public every few years so that they don’t have a real one. A symbolic ceremony where the public pretends to cast the abusive status quo into the sea so they feel like the battle against their oppressors has been won. And then their oppressors just keep right on oppressing them.Every few years the public gets to choose between two reliable lackeys of the oligarchic empire, and then all of the evils of that empire get pinned upon the winner. The public then directs their rage at the lackey rather than the actual power structure which has been oppressing them, after which they have another election to rid themselves of the scoundrel once and for all. They hug, they cry, they celebrate, and the oppression machine continues completely uninterrupted.
Questions grow about whether Donald Trump, Kamala Harris will debate --Questions are growing about if former President Trump and Vice President Harris will debate next month, with a clash over muting microphones fueling speculation regarding whether such a match-up will happen at all. The fight over mics started when Harris’s campaign began pushing for live mics throughout the broadcast, a shift from the rules previously agreed upon when President Biden was at the top of the ticket. Trump said Monday it didn’t matter to him whether the microphones were muted, even as he further bashed ABC News, the debate’s host, and raised questions about whether he would participate. Republicans argued that Trump, who has dismissed the idea that Harris is gaining ground in the polls, can ill afford to skip the Sept. 10 debate. Democrats, meanwhile, are eager to label the former president as scared to take on the vice president. “That debate becomes a decisive moment for the election,” one Republican strategist said. “Paid media doesn’t move numbers. I don’t know how much swing voters pay attention to daily news cycles. But these debates are just Super Bowl-level events in American politics.” John LaBombard, former communications director to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), argued Trump has been struggling with campaigning against Harris, and the back-and-forth over the debate shows fear caused by her candidacy. “Now comes the debate format, on which everyday voters are going to be left wondering why former President Trump — ostensibly an adult wanting to prove his competency to serve again as president — is so nervous about what will be picked up by live microphones,” said LaBombard, a senior vice president at ROKK Solutions. “It may be that he’s seen how much more skilled and capable Vice President Harris is on a debate stage than her predecessor, but no matter the reason, it betrays a sense of fear on the part of Trump’s campaign.” Trump himself told reporters Monday he would be fine having the microphones on throughout, seemingly resolving the issue. But he still left the door open to backing out, citing his displeasure with ABC. “We’re thinking about it,” Trump said during a campaign stop in Virginia. “They also want to change the rules. You know, the deal was we keep the same rules.” Harris spokesperson Brian Fallon argued it was the Trump team, not the vice president, who wanted the mics muted. “Our understanding is that Trump’s handlers prefer the muted microphone because they don’t think their candidate can act presidential for 90 minutes on his own,” Fallon said earlier Monday, adding that live mics mean Harris can fight back on the former president’s “lies and interruptions” during the debate.
Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein selects academic Butch Ware as running mateAt an online livestreamed event on X/Twitter August 16, Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein announced that her running mate will be Rudolph “Butch” Ware III, an associate professor in the Department of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Shortly after the announcement, the Green Party officially nominated both Jill Stein and Butch Ware as its candidates in the 2024 US presidential election. The nomination of Stein and Ware, a professor of “African History, African-American History, and Islamic Intellectual History” and a practicing Muslim, has been hailed as “historic” by layers of the upper middle class and pseudo left immersed in identity politics. A typical response from a Green Party supporter was, “I’m voting for the only presidential ticket that includes a Jew and a Muslim who will stop funding genocide.” Following the livestream announcement, Stein wrote on X/Twitter, “This is truly a historic ticket bringing together a Jewish woman and Black Muslim man against genocide, endless war, climate collapse, and rampant injustice, and for an economy that works for working people, a livable future for our children, and an America and a world that works for all of us.” The upper-middle-class left employs skin color and other aspects of personal identity to disguise the real issues of political program emerging from their class position. Parties and candidates must be judged on the basis of the class interests they represent, as demonstrated by their political program and history. Recent American history, in Democratic Party administrations in particular, have been full of such examples: the first black president, who ordered drone missile assassinations, including of American citizens; the first woman presidential candidate of a major party, who bayed for war with nuclear-armed Russia; and now the first African-American and Asian-American woman to be nominated by a major party, a firm supporter of Israeli genocide in Gaza and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, which risks the destruction of the planet. And that is to say nothing of the African American, female or gay corporate CEOs, mayors, governors, police chiefs and other wielders of authority and power on behalf of the capitalist billionaires, who are just as deadly enemies of the working class as their white, male or straight counterparts. Professor Ware is described loosely as an “activist,” an epithet employed by a range of middle-class pseudo-left and “progressive” political figures, generally aligned with the Democratic Party. He has no history of significant involvement in any social struggles. In listing Ware’s qualifications, Jill Stein wrote on X, “His personal experience overcoming systemic injustice, his deep knowledge of history and people’s movements, and his commitment to building a sustainable, just, peaceful world make Butch the ideal candidate.” What is clear is that Ware has spent the last several decades deeply immersed in the world of academia at several elite American universities, long the ideological center of anti-Marxist postmodernism and irrationalism. Ware earned his Ph.D. in history in 2004 from the University of Pennsylvania, and taught at Northwestern University and the University of Michigan before his current position at UC Santa Barbara. According to his online UCSB profile, Ware’s research and teaching focuses on “Islamic thought, anti-slavery movements in West Africa and the African Diaspora, and the broader intersection of Race, Religion, and Revolutionary Thought.”
Democrats deploy Bernie Sanders to con workers and youth into supporting Harris-Walz campaign - In an attempt to corral left-leaning workers and youth outraged over unending war and widening inequality into supporting the right-wing campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, in the last week the Democratic Party has repeatedly deployed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to provide a left fig leaf for the ticket. Playing a similar function as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the nominally independent, and sometimes “democratic socialist” senator from Vermont, is attempting to block the emergence of a genuinely independent socialist movement in the working class against both political parties by using what little “progressive” credibility he still retains to hoodwink his dwindling pool of supporters into supporting the Harris-Walz campaign. This is becoming an increasingly difficult prospect as Harris has long since shed all the “left” and “progressive” positions she briefly touted while running for president in 2019. As Harris reiterates her devotion to the military aggression of American imperialism and her support for capitalism, she continues to pile up campaign cash, garnering over half a billion dollars in the last month. Seeking to paper over this reality, in an extended interview Sunday with Jonathan Karl on ABC’s “This Week,” Sanders touted all the alleged “achievements” of the Biden-Harris administration, while deflecting from the genocide in Gaza, and Harris’ backtracking of all her 2020 policy proposals. Karl started the interview noting that in Harris’ convention speech she declared that the US military needed to be the “most lethal” in the world and talked “tough on Iran and China.” Karl noted that Harris did not support an arms embargo to Israel and instead pledged to give the Zionist state “everything” it needs to wage war, i.e., continue the genocide in Gaza and extend the slaughter elsewhere. Asked to comment, Sanders said he agreed “with the vice president, we want the strongest defense in the world.” Asked by Karl if he saw any “daylight” between Biden and Harris on the genocide in Gaza, Sanders replied: “Well, I hope so.” He added that, “in all fairness to the vice president, you know, she’s been the candidate for all of one month… So, they are still working through their policies.” Sanders’ disdain for viewers and his supporters is palpable. To claim that Harris is “too busy” to have articulated a policy on the genocide in Gaza is an obvious lie. The reality is, the Harris war policy will be the same, if not even more aggressive, than Biden’s. This is the reason why not a single Palestinian was allowed to speak at the Democratic National Convention, while dozens of Republicans, “former” military-intelligence officials and corporate CEOs were given ample opportunity to tout their support for Israel/Harris. Neither Sanders nor Karl deigned to raise the war against Russia and the continued incursion by Ukraine in Kursk, which threatens all of humanity with a nuclear catastrophe.
George W. Bush, John McCain, Mitt Romney aides endorse Kamala Harris - More than 200 former aides to the three GOP presidential nominees who preceded former President Trump in 2016 — former President George W. Bush, former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) — endorsed Vice President Harris on Monday. The majority of the group also endorsed President Biden in 2020. The group wrote a letter announcing the endorsement, USA Today first reported. The letter said it was a reunion of sorts from 2020, though it added that additional Bush alumni in particular were added to the group this cycle that are opposing Trump and backing Harris. “Of course, we have plenty of honest, ideological disagreements with Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz. That’s to be expected. The alternative, however, is simply untenable,” the Republicans wrote. They added, “At home, another four years of Donald Trump’s chaotic leadership, this time focused on advancing the dangerous goals of Project 2025, will hurt real, everyday people and weaken our sacred institutions. Abroad, democratic movements will be irreparably jeopardized as Trump and his acolyte JD Vance kowtow to dictators like Vladimir Putin while turning their backs on our allies.” The Republicans also called on friends and colleagues to “vote for leaders that will strive for consensus, not chaos,” arguing that “moderate Republicans and conservative independents” in swing states brought Biden his victory over Trump in 2020. The Harris campaign touted the endorsements Monday, weeks after it launched the Republicans for Harris coalition. The campaign included a handful of GOP speakers, including ex-Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and former aides to Trump, at the Democratic National Convention last week.
Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump by 7 points in new poll - Vice President Harris holds a 7-point edge over former President Trump nationally in a poll released Friday, marking the latest gain for the Democratic presidential candidate as the general election approaches. The survey from from Fairleigh Dickinson University found Harris leading Trump nationally with 50 percent support to 43 percent, while 7 percent of respondents said they will vote for someone else. Trump and Harris fare equally well with voters from their respective party’s, each having 95 percent support from their partisans, pollsters found. Pollsters noted race or gender played a large role in pushing Harris’s lead. When voters are asked to think about race or gender, Harris’s lead grows significantly, while support for her and Trump are virtually tied when they are not made to think about it, they said. With independents who do not lean toward either party, Harris still leads Trump, but by a smaller margin, 38 percent to 33 percent, the poll found. Harris holds a large lead among self-identified liberals, 87 percent to 10 percent, along with progressives, 93 percent to 5 percent, and moderates, 62 percent to 30 percent. The former president, meanwhile, leads among conservatives 76 percent to 19 percent, and MAGA voters, 95 percent to 4 percent. Trump saw his strongest support among men “who hold traditionally masculine identities,” while women and other men who reject these identities favor Harris, according to pollsters. “Trump has built his political career around a very specific performance of whiteness and masculinity,” Dan Cassino, a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson and the executive director of the poll, said in a release. “In the past, that’s been seen as a strength, but it’s no longer clear that it’s working.” “Race matters in elections, but it’s not inevitable that voters are thinking about it,” he added. “Trump does reasonably well among nonwhite voters so long as they’re not thinking about race: Once they are, we see a huge shift to Harris.”
Three Quarters Of Democrat Voters Don't Know What Any Of Kamala Harris' Policies Are - A new poll has found that around three quarters of Democrat voters have no clue what Kamala Harris’ positions on key political issues are.The survey, conducted by the Media Research Center, found that over 70 percent of “registered Democrats“ as well as Independents said they “either had not heard of Harris’s position or were unsure” on ten different issues.The poll found that 78% of voters surveyed were unaware that Harris promoted a fund that aided violent BLM agitators to be bailed out of jail during the 2020 unrest. Seventy-four percent said they were unaware that Harris supported decriminalizing illegal immigration, and 72 percent had no clue that Harris “never visited a conflict zone on the border as Border Czar.” Those surveyed stated that they get news information primarily from ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC.“This suggests that the knowledge gaps found by our poll reveal a failure of these outlets to report on radical positions once (and perhaps currently) supported by the now-Democratic nominee for President,” Media Research Center noted. Harris has yet to do any interviews outlining her stance on key issues, instead spending her time filming fake staged exchanges with Tim Walz about their favourite music and other matters that are completely devoid of substance.In each video they talk about ‘getting the job done’ and ‘doing the work’ without actually saying what any of those things entails. Harris devoted large chunks of her speech at the DNC complaining about everything that is wrong with America, prompting Donald Trump to ask why she hasn’t done anything about it for the past three and a half years.
Sunrise Movement plans pro-Harris outreach to 1.5M voters but stops short of endorsement -- Left-leaning environmental advocacy group Sunrise Movement said Wednesday it will conduct voter outreach on behalf of Vice President Harris’s presidential campaign, but it stopped short of an endorsement. In an announcement, Sunrise Communications Director Stevie O’Hanlon said the engagement initiative will target 1.5 million young voters about the environmental stakes of the 2024 election, using a combination of in-person, phone and digital outreach. Sunrise cited the large upswing in youth enthusiasm since Harris officially replaced President Biden as the Democratic nominee. The group also pointed to Hart Research polling on behalf of Climate Power indicating environmental issues are among those with the widest gap in trust between Harris and former President Trump. “The Harris-Walz ticket means millions more young voters are tuning in and considering voting. We’re going all-out to reach those voters and mobilize our generation to defeat Trump this November,” O’Hanlon said. “And it’s why we will continue to urge the Harris campaign to put forward a bold vision that will energize young voters.” Sunrise previously declined to make a presidential endorsement in the 2020 election, but the group has endorsed several candidates associated with the progressive wing of the Democratic Party who went on to win their primaries, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez(N.Y.) and Ayanna Pressley (Mass.) in 2018; Reps. Cori Bush (Mo.) and Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) in 2020; and Reps. Summer Lee (Pa.) and Greg Casar (Texas) in 2022. Bowman and Bush both lost their primaries to challengers earlier this summer.The coalition that contributed to Biden’s 2020 victory included a number of younger voters who rank climate and the environment as a top priority. However, during the lead-up to his July withdrawal from the race, polling indicated Biden bleeding support from many of those voters, due to both general flagging enthusiasm in the race and decisions like opening part of the Arctic to the Willow oil drilling project.
Jack Smith challenges Aileen Cannon's ruling in Donald Trump documents case --Special counsel Jack Smith asked an appeals court to revive the documents case against former President Trump, repeatedly accusing Judge Aileen Cannon of having “erred” in tossing the case after determining he was unlawfully appointed. The brief does not otherwise call for Cannon to be removed from the case — though the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is free to do so independently.The 58-page filing is the first word from Smith since he pledged to appeal a ruling from Cannonthat sided with Trump in questioning the legal basis for his appointment as special counsel, as well as his office’s funding.The July ruling surprised many legal observers, as challenges to special counsel authority have failed in court for decades, particularly in the wake of the 1974 Supreme Court ruling addressing the investigation into former President Nixon.“The Attorney General validly appointed the Special Counsel, who is also properly funded. In ruling otherwise, the district court deviated from binding Supreme Court precedent, misconstrued the statutes that authorized the Special Counsel’s appointment, and took inadequate account of the longstanding history of Attorney General appointments of special counsels,” Smith’s team wrote.Monday’s brief, filed a day ahead of the deadline, offers a lengthy review of the special counsel statutes. It also takes particular issue with Cannon’s conclusion that the Supreme Court’s review of special counsel authority was “dicta,” or a remark essentially made in passing while discussing other issues in the case.“Apart from the district court below, every court to consider the question has concluded that the Supreme Court’s determination that those statutes authorized the Attorney General to appoint the Watergate Special Prosecutor was necessary to the decision that a justiciable controversy existed and therefore constitutes a holding that binds lower courts,” prosecutors wrote.“The district court erred when it deemed that conclusion unpersuasive dicta.” Because the Nixon case “expressly addressed” the special counsel issue, they argued, “the district court was not entitled to cast aside carefully considered, unequivocal language from a unanimous Supreme Court.”The filing also points to bigger picture issues, writing that Cannon “erroneously disregarded [special counsel appointment] history as ‘spotty’ or ‘ad hoc,’” warning of the risks if her ruling is upheld.“The district court’s rationale could jeopardize the longstanding operation of the Justice Department and call into question hundreds of appointments throughout the Executive Branch,” prosecutors wrote. The filing spends just one paragraph addressing Cannon’s conclusion that the funding to Smith’s office was likewise unlawfully granted, arguing her decision on the legality of his appointment underpinned that determination. “Because its premise was wrong, so was its conclusion,” they wrote.
Special Counsel Smith Files Superseding Indictment In Trump Federal Election Case - Special counsel Jack Smith filed an updated indictment against former President Donald Trump in Washington on Aug. 27 following the Supreme Court’s ruling that he enjoyed some presidential immunity from criminal prosecution.“Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a superseding indictment, charging the defendant with the same criminal offenses that were charged in the original indictment,” an Aug. 27 filing from the special counsel’s office reads.“The superseding indictment, which was presented to a new grand jury that had not previously heard evidence in this case, reflects the government’s efforts to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings and remand instructions in Trump v. United States.”The new indictment narrows the allegations against the former president by removing allegations involving his interactions with the Justice Department.It no longer lists as a co-conspirator former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark. Trump’s co-conspirators were not named in either indictment, but they have been identified through public records and other means.Smith’s superseding indictment still contains four charges against the former president, including those from the financial reform law the Supreme Court addressed in Fischer v. United States.In Trump v. United States, a majority of the Supreme Court held that presidents enjoyed several tiers of immunity from prosecution: absolute immunity for acts that fall within their “conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority,” a presumption of immunity for their official acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts. Chief Justice John Roberts’s majority opinion grouped the allegations into three categories: those surrounding Trump’s work with the Department of Justice (DOJ); those involving his communication with state electors and his communications on Jan. 6, 2021; and his urging Vice President Mike Pence to not certify the election results in the Senate.Trump received absolute immunity from prosecution of the first category. For the second, the Court remanded the issue to the district court to determine whether his actions were official. His communications with Pence are “presumptively immune,” but the DOJ can rebut that presumption in court.It’s unclear how much of the superseding indictment will survive. D.C. Judge Tanya Chutkan will likely receive briefings from both the special counsel and former Trump’s legal team advocating their view of which charges should be dropped or maintained in the indictment.The Supreme Court has left her with the task of parsing former Trump’s actions and determining which were official and which were unofficial.
Jack Smith isn’t backing down: 5 takeaways from Donald Trump's new indictment for election interference case --Special counsel Jack Smith has refined his election interference case against former President Trump, keeping the bulk of his original indictment in the wake of a Supreme Court decision granting former presidents broad criminal immunity.The first words of Smith’s indictment no longer identify Trump as the 45th president of the United States and instead refer to him as a candidate for office.It’s the first of many shifts Smith said were designed “to respect and implement the Supreme Court’s holdings” after it determined that core presidential actions are protected from prosecution, and that other official actions are “presumptively immune.”But while Smith takes steps to account for numerous directives from the Supreme Court, his filing also shows prosecutors have preserved much of their case against Trump.Here are five takeaways on the filing.
- Jack Smith is not backing down - The filing shows Smith is not waving the white flag, despite the Supreme Court setback.The decision directed prosecutors to remove all references to Trump’s plot to topple leadership at the Justice Department while elevating a lower-ranking official willing to investigate his baseless claims of election fraud. Though a key part of the original indictment, the court said those moves reflected a president conducting official duties.But it left gray areas regarding whether some of Trump’s actions went beyond his core responsibilities as president and could be subject to prosecution, while complicating Smith’s job by stating that evidence related to an official act could not be used to support charges. Still, the superseding indictment filed Tuesday was not as heavily gutted as some may have expected, and it retained all four of the original charges brought against Trump.
- A pivot to private -The indictment recasts decisions made by Trump and people in his circle, with Smith attempting to distinguish actions taken by people acting in a private or campaign capacity.The filing accuses Trump of “us[ing] his campaign” to spread lies about the election and notes that all court challenges to the election were filed in his capacity as a candidate. Trump’s speech near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021, was characterized as him “giv[ing] a Campaign speech at a privately-funded, privately organized political rally.” It discusses his once-abundant activity on Twitter, the social platform now known as X, noting that he regularly used the account “for personal purposes–including to spread knowingly false claims of election fraud.”The indictment now refers to Trump’s unindicted co-conspirators as “private” attorneys or consultants, a clear effort to distinguish the crew as outside contacts with no official government role.
- Cuts and revisions abundant - Several allegations in the first indictment failed to make the cut for Smith’s superseding filing. The special counsel eliminated references to conversations with the House minority leader during the Capitol riot. The new charging papers also removed most references to federal officials and erased allegations Trump sought to leverage the Justice Department to convince swing state officials to overturn the election in his favor. Gone altogether is co-conspirator No. 4, unnamed in the charging documents but identified as former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark. Lengthy references to the scheme are removed entirely after the Supreme Court explicitly declared Trump “absolutely immune” from prosecution over his discussions with Clark and other Justice Department officials. The court’s majority found that overseeing the agency falls squarely in a president’s constitutional authority. The indictment similarly dumps conversations the then-president had with his White House advisers — including the simple fact that he “was notified repeatedly that his claims were untrue, often by the people on whom he relied for candid advice on important matters.”
- A second grand jury - Smith brought the superseding indictment after presenting the case to a second grand jury — a different set of at least 16 citizens from those who originally heard evidence in the case before charges were filed last August. That marks the second time that a group of jurors has heard evidence about Trump’s actions to block the transfer of power and concluded charges were warranted. Trump described the filing as “merely an attempt to INTERFERE WITH THE ELECTION.” “In an effort to resurrect a ‘dead’ Witch Hunt in Washington, D.C., in an act of desperation, and in order to save face, the illegally appointed ‘Special Counsel’ Deranged Jack Smith, has brought a ridiculous new Indictment against me, which has all the problems of the old Indictment, and should be dismissed IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote on his social media site Truth Social.
- Choices for Chutkan - The new indictment puts a series of big decisions in front of Chutkan, who officially resumed overseeing the case earlier this month following the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling. It’s now up to the federal judge to decide whether Smith’s allegations against Trump stand up to the justices’ new tests — and her findings could be ripe for appeals back up to the high court. Smith’s riskiest gambit is allowing Trump’s pressure campaign against then-Vice President Mike Pence to remain in the indictment. The Supreme Court plainly ruled that Trump has presumptive immunity for urging Pence to take some acts tied to the vice president’s official role overseeing the presidential election certification, but it left open the question of whether Trump’s specific actions as alleged are protected. The indictment also removes reference to “several private phone calls” between Trump and Pence in which Trump directly applied pressure to his vice president, but retains a Christmas Day call Trump made similar requests during. Chutkan has signaled her readiness to take on those challenges, initially scheduling the hearing on next steps within hours of the case returning to her court.
Trump Lawyers Urge Appeals Court To Disqualify District Attorney Over Speech At Atlanta Church - Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers on Monday submitted a court filing against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in the Georgia Court of Appeals, arguing that she should be removed from the case for committing a “severe violation” of the state’s legal guidelines.In a reply brief, the former president’s team wrote that Trump was “aggrieved by Willis’ church speech,” referring to comments she made in January that suggested there was a racial animus at play when a co-defendant filed a motion to have her disqualified over a relationship she had with her then-special prosecutor. The legal team said that her speech was “a severe violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct,” claiming that her comments at the church were allegedly designed to increase public condemnation of Trump and the other co-defendants in the eyes of potential jurors. On those grounds, according to the lawyers, Willis should be removed from the case.“Pretermitting fairness, President Trump was injured by Willis’ ... speech because national and local media outlets broadcast and reported Willis’ claim as an attack against the defense,” the filing said. Willis, it added, also asserted that “allegations against her stemmed from racism,” which his legal team said were unfounded.The Georgia appeals court will hear an appeal by Trump and several co-defendants on Dec. 5, it previously ruled, over whether Willis should be disqualified from the case due to her relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade.Earlier this year, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled that either Wade or Willis must leave the case, prompting Wade to leave and allowing Willis to stay on board. Trump and the other defendants quickly sought to appeal the case.In his March ruling, McAfee chided Willis for her church speech but said it is not grounds for her disqualification. He also said there wasn’t enough evidence to remove her based on the Wade relationship, although he signaled that an “odor of mendacity” was permeating the case.Fulton County prosecutors had said that her speech at the church was vague, and she was not speaking about anyone in particular.
Jim Jordan subpoenas company of Juan Merchan's daughter in Trump hush money case --The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed the company that employs the daughter of Juan Merchan, the New York judge who is overseeing former President Trump’s hush money trial. The subpoena escalates a brewing battle between the panel’s Subcommittee on Weaponization of the Federal Government and the company, Authentic Campaigns, which previously rebuffed lawmakers’ demands to turn over any communications the company had with Merchan, noting they simply don’t exist.The letter from Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asks CEO Mike Nellis to sit for a deposition with the company and sign a sworn affidavit that the company never communicated with Merchan.Nellis had previously mocked Jordan, calling it absurd to suggest that his company would have any dealings with an employee’s parent, while noting that the firm does not perform services for the campaigns of either President Biden or Vice President Harris, and its political work has no connection to the outcome of Trump’s hush money trial. Jordan nonetheless asked Wednesday for a sworn affidavit that the company combed its records for any relevant communications dealing with Trump’s prosecution. “If Authentic Campaigns indeed has no responsive records for the other requests made by the Committee on August 1, as you have asserted, the Committee requests a sworn certification under the penalty of perjury that Authentic Campaigns made a reasonable, diligent, and good faith search for responsive documents and was unable to locate any responsive documents,” Jordan wrote.Nellis shared a copy of the subpoena online Wednesday and called Jordan’s subpoena an intimidation tactic.“This is yet another abuse of power, aimed at promoting a baseless right-wing conspiracy theory that links our company, Authentic, to Donald Trump’s fraud trial,” Nellis wrote on the social platform X. “Let us be clear: these allegations against our company are completely false and purely politically motivated. This is a blatant attempt to intimidate us and divert attention from Donald Trump’s conviction. We refuse to be bullied, and we will not allow House Republicans or MAGA extremists to spread lies about our work.”
Court revives Sarah Palin’s libel lawsuit against The New York Times - (AP) — A federal appeals court revived Sarah Palin’s libel case against The New York Times on Wednesday, citing errors by a lower court judge, particularly his decision to dismiss the lawsuit while a jury was deliberating. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan wrote that Judge Jed S. Rakoff’s decision in February 2022 to dismiss the lawsuit mid-deliberations improperly intruded on the jury’s work. It also found that the erroneous exclusion of evidence, an inaccurate jury instruction and an erroneous response to a question from the jury tainted the jury’s decision to rule against Palin. It declined, however, to grant Palin’s request to force Rakoff off the case on grounds he was biased against her. The 2nd Circuit said she had offered no proof. The libel lawsuit by Palin, a onetime Republican vice presidential candidate and former governor of Alaska, centered on the newspaper’s 2017 editorial falsely linking her campaign rhetoric to a mass shooting, which Palin asserted damaged her reputation and career. The Times acknowledged its editorial was inaccurate but said it quickly corrected errors it called an “honest mistake” that were never meant to harm Palin. Shane Vogt, a lawyer for Palin, said in an email that Palin was “very happy with today’s decision, which is a significant step forward in the process of holding publishers accountable for content that misleads readers and the public in general.” “The truth deserves a level playing field, and Governor Palin looks forward to presenting her case to a jury that is ‘provided with relevant proffered evidence and properly instructed on the law,’” Vogt added, quoting in part from the 2nd Circuit ruling. Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesperson for the Times, said the decision was disappointing. “We’re confident we will prevail in a retrial,” he said in an email. The 2nd Circuit, in a ruling written by Judge John M. Walker Jr., reversed the jury verdict, along with Rakoff’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit while jurors were deliberating. Despite his ruling, Rakoff let jurors finish deliberating and render their verdict, which went against Palin. The appeals court noted that Rakoff’s ruling made credibility determinations, weighed evidence, and ignored facts or inferences that a reasonable juror could plausibly find supported Palin’s case. It also described how “push notifications” that reached the cellphones of jurors “came as an unfortunate surprise to the district judge.” The 2nd Circuit said it was not enough that the judge’s law clerk was assured by jurors that Rakoff’s ruling had not affected their deliberations. “Given a judge’s special position of influence with a jury, we think a jury’s verdict reached with the knowledge of the judge’s already-announced disposition of the case will rarely be untainted, no matter what the jurors say upon subsequent inquiry,” the appeals court said. In its ruling Wednesday, the 2nd Circuit said it was granting a new trial because of various trial errors and because Rakoff’s mid-deliberations ruling against Palin, which might have reached jurors through alerts delivered to cell phones, “impugn the reliability of that verdict.” “The jury is sacrosanct in our legal system, and we have a duty to protect its constitutional role, both by ensuring that the jury’s role is not usurped by judges and by making certain that juries are provided with relevant proffered evidence and properly instructed on the law,” the appeals court said.
Big Crypto, Big Spending: Crypto Corporations Spend an Unprecedented $119 Million Influencing Elections - Public Citizen - Key Findings:
- In 2024, crypto corporations have poured over $119 million directly into influencing federal elections, primarily into a non-partisan super PAC dedicated to electing pro-crypto candidates and defeating crypto skeptics.
- Crypto corporations are by far the dominant corporate political spenders in 2024 asnearly half (48%) of all corporate money contributed during this year’s elections ($248 million so far) came from crypto backers.
- Koch Industries is a distant second place in 2024. The privately held conglomerate owned by Charles and, formerly, the late David Koch, contributed $25 million to its Koch-controlled Americans for Prosperity Action and $3.25 million toward electing Republicans to Congress.
- Direct corporate election spending at this scale is unprecedented. Crypto corporations’ total spending in the past three election cycles – $129 million – already amounts to 15% of all known corporate contributions since the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United, which total $884 million. 92% of the corporate crypto spending is from 2024.
- Since Citizens United, the crypto corporations are now second in total election-related spending, trailing only fossil fuel corporations, which have spent $176 million over the past 14 years, including $73 million from Koch Industries.
- The crypto sector’s Fairshake PAC and its affiliates have received nearly $114 million directly from corporate backers, far more than any other outside spender this cycle. Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action, a hybrid PAC, is a distant second, having received nearly $26 million, primarily from Koch Industries.
- Fairshake’s corporate backing is unprecedented. Though unlimited corporate contributions have been enabled since 2010 by Citizens United, this newcomer is already second only to the super PAC dedicated to electing Republicans to the U.S. Senate in terms of corporate money received. That super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund, has received nearly $119 million directly from corporations over the past 14 years, largely from fossil fuel corporations but including many other sectors, including crypto, tobacco, and for-profit prisons.
Introduction: Cryptocurrency corporations are spending big to make crypto regulation a top issue for candidates in the 2024 elections.Crypto-sector corporations – primarily Coinbase and Ripple – have dumped over $119 million in real dollars into the 2024 elections so far, almost entirely into super PACs dedicated to elevating pro-crypto candidates and attacking crypto skeptics (see Table 1).The primary beneficiary of the corporate crypto cash is Fairshake PAC, a super PAC that has raised $202.9 million. More than half of Fairshake’s funding – $107.9 million, or 53% – came directly from corporations that stand to profit from the PAC’s efforts, mostly Coinbase and Ripple. The rest of the PAC’s funds mostly comes from billionaire crypto executives and venture capitalists, including $44 million from the founders of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, $5 million from the Winklevoss twins, and $1 million from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.This tsunami of corporate crypto cash is a brazen and unprecedented attempt by for-profit businesses to force their private, pecuniary priorities ahead of the public interest. “Money moves the needle,” Coinbase’s billionaire CEO Brian Armstrong told Axios. “For better or worse, that’s how our system works.”For Americans hopeful the federal government will prioritize their interest in a stable economy and crack down on Ponzi-like schemes and scams, crypto’s corporate influence corrupting our political process can only be for worse.
Crypto companies are pouring money into 2024 election: Public Citizen As the 2024 U.S. elections reach their home stretch, crypto companies are opening their wallets to try and influence the results.Nearly half of all the corporate money flowing into the election has come from the crypto industry, according to a report this week from the nonprofit watchdog group Public Citizen. The sum, approximately $119 million, was raised from a mix of contributors, with Coinbase and Ripple accounting for more than 80% of the donations.Most of the money is going to super PACs that are backing pro-crypto candidates running for office this year. The industry has faced heightened scrutiny during the Biden administration, andCoinbase and Ripple are two of the biggest players that have been engaged in legal battles with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, has tried to exploit the rift between the crypto industry and the Democrats by pitching himself as the pro-crypto choice and even keynoting a major bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, last month. But money is flowing into both parties, as the House, Senate and the presidency remain very much up for grabs. No other sector is keeping up with crypto. That includes oil companies and banks, which have historically been big political contributors.Since 2010, when the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling opened the door for limitless corporate money in U.S. elections, the crypto sector has accounted for 15% of all disclosed contributions, according to the report from Public Citizen. More than 90% of the corporate crypto cash that's been raised was brought in this election cycle.Rick Claypool, research director at Public Citizen, who authored the latest report, said the massive money poured in by crypto companies to "silence crypto's critics and elevate its backers embodies everything that is wrong with the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United decision." Claypool's research shows that crypto corporations are second only to fossil fuel conglomerates in total election-related spending since the 2010 ruling.The industry's strategy paid off in the primaries. Public Citizen's report found that of the 42 primary races that attracted money from crypto-backed super PACs, the candidate picked by the crypto industry won 36. But many of them aren't publicly promoting their stance on crypto. "When Fairshake and its affiliates spend money to influence races, either by attacking crypto skeptics or boosting crypto supporters, the ads don't mention crypto at all," said Claypool.In New York and California congressional races, the crypto-funded campaign ads attacked the targeted candidates with traditional political jabs, and no mention of crypto."The sole reason crypto is a hot-button topic in this election cycle is that crypto businesses are spending eye-popping sums to make themselves impossible to ignore," Claypool said.
Crypto firms made nearly half of corporate donations in 2024 election: report --Cryptocurrency companies have accounted for nearly half of all corporate donations during the 2024 presidential election – provoking critics to cry foul over the industry’s growing influence, according to a report. Crypto corporations dished out more than $119 million in political donations, mostly into a non-partisan super PAC focused on electing pro-crypto candidates, according to a report by nonprofit watchdog Public Citizen released Wednesday.Coinbase, the largest crypto exchange platform in the US, was the biggest donor in the industry – flooding PACs with $50.5 million, according to the report. Blockchain company Ripple came in a close second place, donating $48 million, the report said.The two crypto giants — both of which have been substantially scrutinized by the SEC — contributed 80% of the industry’s total donations.Crypto investors are hoping pro-crypto candidates across the political ectrum will win seats in the upcoming elections and relax the strict industry regulations enforced under President Joe Biden’s administration. Even oil companies and banks – typically some of the largest election donors – have been beaten out by crypto this year. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling in 2010 allowed corporations to donate limitless amounts of money into US elections. Rick Claypool, research director at Public Citizen and author of the report, told CNBC the outpouring of crypto donations used to “silence crypto’s critics and elevate its backers embodies everything that is wrong with the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision.” Crypto accounts for 15% of all the disclosed contributions made since 2010 – despite the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, being created just the year before.More than 90% of total corporate crypto donations were made during this election cycle.Most of the crypto donations funneled into Fairshake, a bipartisan pro-crypto super PAC focused on electing pro-crypto candidates across the spectrum to office.Fairshake is one of the top-spending PACs this year, the report said.Along with Coinbase and Ripple’s major contributions, venture firm Andreessen Horowitz donated $47 million and Jump Crypto gave $15 million to the PAC. Wealthy investors like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and the Winklevoss twins also donated millions of dollars to the crypto PAC, the report said
Crypto’s Shiny New Political Machine | WIRED -- AMONGST THE SEA of American flags and ubiquitous blue signs at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week prowled Jonathan Padilla, the “crypto guy”, talking crypto policy with anyone who would listen. In a selfie posted on Facebook, he posed with his arm around Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. “Senator Coons now knows about crypto,” reads the caption.Padilla is delighted with his new “crypto guy” moniker, assigned by fellow DNC delegates, which he sees as implicit recognition that cryptocurrency has arrived on the political agenda. “Four years ago, crypto was a nonissue and nobody talked about it,” says Padilla. “But now, you have President Trump talking about it at major conferences. And it’s being discussed by some of the highest-ranking Democrats.” Padilla is the founder of crypto marketing company Snickerdoodle Labs and was previously resident blockchain whisperer at PayPal. He is also one of the organizers of Crypto4Harris, a coalition of Democrat-supporting members of the crypto industry, whose aim is to encourage Kamala Harris to support crypto-specific legislation and demonstrate that the sector “is not monolithically Republican,” says Padilla.On August 14, Crypto4Harris hosted a virtual town hall attended by prominent Democrats, among them Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who said he “believed in the future of crypto.” The group has also “made headway,” Padilla claims, with “finance and policy folks” inside the Harris camp. The group’s access to the Harris team reflects a sea change in the attitude toward crypto among US politicians, who seem to have accepted that there exists a bloc of voters who will cast their ballot based exclusively on which candidate will send their investments to the moon. (You know, forget immigration, health care, and the rest.) Not to mention the hefty donations crypto businesses are throwing around. Flush after an upswing in crypto prices in 2024, crypto firms have invested an “unprecedented” amount in influencing the outcome of the US election this year, an analysis by consumer advocacy nonprofit Public Citizen suggests. Despite their comparatively diminutive size from a revenue perspective—and the continued paucity of use cases outside of financial speculation—crypto businesses account for 48 percent of all corporate contributions this election cycle.The crypto industry put some money behind the 2020 race. But there is fresh urgency and forcefulness in its attempted intervention in the 2024 campaign. “The industry believes this election is existential,” says Veronica McGregor, chief legal officer at crypto wallet company Exodus, speaking in a personal capacity as an industry veteran. “No matter who gets into office, changes need to happen for our industry to thrive like it should.”The majority of political donations from the crypto industry are being fed through a trio of affiliated super political action committees (PACs): Fairshake, Protect Progress, and Defend American Jobs. These organizations cannot donate directly to political candidates, but they can spend freely to promote those that make the right sort of cooing sounds about crypto.Under the Biden administration, crypto companies have been roughed up and dragged into court by US financial regulators, which they view as deeply unfair. But through the super PACs, crypto firms are hoping to bring into power politicians who will support bespoke crypto legislation that ends the debate over how crypto should be classified and which regulator’s rules should apply. The largest of these super PACs, Fairshake, has raised more than $200 million—a greater sum than any other super PAC, crypto-specific or otherwise. Its major donors include crypto businesses Coinbase and Ripple, pro-crypto venture capital firm a16z, and an investment firm started by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, founders of crypto exchange Gemini.The largest of the Fairshake donors, Coinbase, which has contributed $45 million to the pot, is the subject of a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission. Lodged jointly by Public Citizen and software developer Molly White, creator of Follow the Crypto, a project that traces crypto industry donations, the complaint alleges that Coinbase violated campaign finance laws by contributing to Fairshake while negotiating a deal to become a federal contractor. “To us, it looks like Coinbase is trying to find a loophole that doesn’t really exist,” says White. “The crypto industry has been historically very willing to ignore laws they don't like, and it would be nice to see some consequences for that,” she says “I don't like watching any big companies or very wealthy executives throwing money around in ways that most voters are not able to do. I'm just hoping to see that the spending is at least within the law.”The FEC will now decide whether Coinbase should be penalized. But in the meantime, the crypto super PACs are deploying their war chests to good effect against crypto nonbelievers. In California, Fairshakespent $10 million on ads attacking Katie Porter, a California Democrat running for the Senate, and who ended up losing her primary. The same fate befell Democratic congress members Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush—who Fairshake spent a combined $3.5 million smearing—in their respective primaries. None of the hostile ads made any mention of crypto.
Trump says plan to make U.S. 'crypto capital of the planet' coming within hours -On Thursday morning, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told his 90 million followers on X that they would hear his plan to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the planet that same day.But after a rally in Michigan and a town hall in Wisconsin, Thursday ended with no sign of Trump’s plan for digital assets.A campaign spokesman did not reply when CNBC asked what happened to the crypto plan rollout.Throughout the day Thursday, CNBC heard from several pro-crypto Trump supporters who were eagerly anticipating what the Republican nominee might say.A town hall Thursday night moderated by bitcoin supporter and former Congressman, Tulsi Gabbard seemed like the ideal setting.But Trump said nothing about crypto.Earlier on Thursday, the GOP pick pumped up the Trump Organization’s new crypto platform, which has just been rebranded from “The DeFiant Ones,” to “World Liberty Financial.”In a post on X, the former president shared a video of himself with voiceover: “This afternoon, I’m laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet. They want to choke you. They want to choke you out of business. We’re not going to let that happen.”It was unclear who Trump meant by “they,” and a Trump campaign spokesman did not respond to questions from CNBC about the announcement.In Trump’s post on Thursday morning, he tagged a verified X account called “World Liberty Fi,” or WLFI. The account has more than 32,000 followers and a handful of posts that began on Aug. 22.The project also involves Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.“Excited to announce the launch of @WorldLibertyFi! A new era in finance is here,” Eric said Wednesday in a post on X.The crypto project’s accompanying Telegram channel, which has also been renamed World Liberty Financial, had more than 57,000 subscribers as of Thursday evening, and climbing.The announcement came a day after Trump launched a new round of his NFT trading cards.Like the crypto platform, the nonfungible tokens are a private Trump family enterprise in the digital currency space, and are not officially connected to Trump’s presidential campaign.But the campaign and the private businesses dovetail, in that the NFTs and the crypto platform are promoted as part of Trump’s political brand, and they are marketed to his supporters.
Trump punts on promise to deliver plan to make U.S. 'crypto capital of the planet' -- On Thursday morning, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told his 90 million followers on X that they would hear his plan to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the planet that same day.But after a rally in Michigan and a town hall in Wisconsin, Thursday ended with no sign of Trump's plan for digital assets.A campaign spokesman did not reply when CNBC asked what happened to the crypto plan rollout.Throughout the day Thursday, CNBC heard from several pro-crypto Trump supporters who were eagerly anticipating what the Republican nominee might say.A town hall Thursday night moderated by bitcoin supporter and former Congressman, Tulsi Gabbard seemed like the ideal setting.But Trump said nothing about crypto.Earlier on Thursday, the GOP pick pumped up the Trump Organization's new crypto platform, which has just been rebranded from "The DeFiant Ones," to "World Liberty Financial."In a post on X, the former president shared a video of himself with voiceover: "This afternoon, I'm laying out my plan to ensure that the United States will be the crypto capital of the planet. They want to choke you. They want to choke you out of business. We're not going to let that happen." It was unclear who Trump meant by "they," and a Trump campaign spokesman did not respond to questions from CNBC about the announcement. In Trump's post on Thursday morning, he tagged a verified X account called "World Liberty Fi," or WLFI. The account has more than 32,000 followers and a handful of posts that began on Aug. 22.The project also involves Trump's sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump."Excited to announce the launch of @WorldLibertyFi! A new era in finance is here," Eric said Wednesday in a post on X.The crypto project's accompanying Telegram channel, which has also been renamed World Liberty Financial, had more than 57,000 subscribers as of Thursday evening, and climbing.The announcement came a day after Trump launched a new round of his NFT trading cards.Like the crypto platform, the nonfungible tokens are a private Trump family enterprise in the digital currency space, and are not officially connected to Trump's presidential campaign.But the campaign and the private businesses dovetail, in that the NFTs and the crypto platform are promoted as part of Trump's political brand, and they are marketed to his supporters.For Trump, these private crypto enterprises offer an opportunity to both lure crypto voters and donors, and to make money.The Republican nominee has been leaning into being the pro-crypto candidate for president, delivering increasingly bullish talking points on the industry.Donations and endorsements from the crypto voting bloc have followed. The latest tally from the Trump camp put the total crypto-related raise at $25 million. CNBC has not been able to independently verify that figure. As of Thursday, it was unclear what the World Liberty Financial platform would specifically do, and whether the project was operational.Two of Trump's sons, Eric and and Donald Trump Jr., have offered varying accounts of what the digital bank plans to provide to users. Trump's eldest son recently said the family was working to develop a crypto platform that would rival the traditional banking system. "I think there has been a lot of inequality in that only certain people can get financing [...] so this notion of decentralized finance is obviously very appealing to guys like me who have been debanked," Donald Trump Jr. said in the interview on Locals. Eric meanwhile told the New York Post the project involved digital real estate, which could mean tokenizing real-world assets or refer to selling digitized versions of assets in the metaverse.The former president described the project last week to his 7.5 million followers on Truth Social as a way to "take a stand — together.""For too long, the average American has been squeezed by the big banks and financial elites," Trump wrote.
FTC warns of increase in crypto ATM fraud scams – NBC news video - New data from the Federal Trade Commission shows a massive increase in the amount of money consumers report losing to scammers involving Bitcoin ATM machines. Since 2020, the amount consumers reported losing has increased nearly tenfold to more than $110 million in 2023. NBC News' Christine Romans speaks to one victim who says she lost tens of thousands of dollars.
Fed Warning: Bitcoin And Crypto On The ‘Cusp’ Of A Major Price Shock --Bitcoin has dropped back after Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell sent the price soaring last week (with major updates from China and Russia failing to rally the market). The bitcoin price climbed to $65,000 per bitcoin after Fed chair Powell signaled an interest rate cut is all but certain in September, setting up a "golden opportunity."Now, as the bitcoin price languishes at around $60,000 and one rival cryptocurrency suffers a huge crash, analysts are betting a fresh injection of liquidity by the Fed will put the bitcoin and crypto market on the "cusp" of a major move.U.S. Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell has primed the bitcoin price and crypto market for a ... [+] "We believe that any dip in equities (and crypto) will be short-lived," analysts at the Singapore-based bitcoin and crypto investment company QCP Capital wrote in a note."With Powell and the Fed ready to kickstart a rate-cutting cycle, increased liquidity will eventually push risk assets higher. We are finally on the cusp of a rate-cutting cycle."Last week, Fed chair Powell's speech during the annual economic symposium of central bankers at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, struck a dovish tone and cued up a September interest rate cut."The time has come for policy to adjust," Powell said, adding that the timing and pace of rate cuts would depend on data.Earlier in the week, the Federal Open Market Committee's (FOMC) July meeting minutes revealed policymakers are more dovish than thought, suggesting they're ready for rates to begin coming down after rocketing to 23-year highs at a historical pace through the Biden administration."Central banks, including the Federal Reserve, are adopting dovish stances, with rate cuts expected soon," Shubh Varma, the chief executive of Hyblock Capital, said in emailed comments."Liquidity cycles are increasing globally, suggesting a favorable backdrop for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. The dovish sentiment from the Jackson Hole symposium further reinforced this outlook, as evidenced by the substantial inflows into bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with $252 million net inflows reported on Friday alone."The bitcoin price rally so far this year has been turbo-charged by the long-awaited arrival of a fleet of spot bitcoin ETFs on Wall Street.The bitcoin ETFs from BlackRock and Fidelity have surged to become some of the fastest growing ETFs of all-time since their January debut.
Bitcoin ATM scams surge, disproportionately duping older adults -- Call it a diabolical new twist on an old scam: ATM fraudsters are turning to bitcoin. Data the Federal Trade Commission provided to NBC News show the amount of money consumers have reported losing to scams involving Bitcoin ATMS rose nearly tenfold since 2020, topping $110 million in 2023. And older people are getting roped in the most. The agency said consumers over age 60 were more than three times as likely as younger adults to say they were duped out of cash in these schemes. “Scammers are using these machines as a way to take money from people more than we’ve seen in the past,” Emma Fletcher, a senior data researcher at the FTC, told NBC News. Bitcoin ATMs look like traditional ATMs and operate similarly, in that they can be used for both deposits and withdrawals, but the transactions involve cryptocurrencies. The machines are banned in some countries, including the U.K. and Singapore, but they’re legal in the U.S. According to one estimate, there are nearly 32,000 nationwide today, up from just over 4,000 at the start of 2020. The kiosks can now be found in high-traffic locations like convenience stores, gas stations and supermarkets — something that has helped fuel the fraud uptick, federal authorities say. In many of the incidents the FTC identified, fraudsters contact a victim — or the victim inadvertently connects with them — claiming to be a customer service representative flagging an attempted identify theft or an account breach. They eventually text their targets a square-shaped QR code — like the ones diners frequently use to pull up restaurant menus — connected to a digital wallet. The victim is typically directed to scan the code and deposit cash into the Bitcoin ATM, which converts it into bitcoin that immediately gets transferred to the scammer — all while the victim thinks they’re protecting their assets. Scammers have a number of ways to concoct a successful ruse. There are sometimes multiple fraudsters in on a given heist pretending to be employees of a government agency or business, including major tech firms like Microsoft or Apple, according to the FTC. A scam often begins when bad actors get their hands on a victim’s phone number — many of which are increasingly available on the “dark web,” the part of the internet that typical browsers and search engines can’t reach, like certain chatrooms, and that has helped enable illegal activity. Fraudsters will often contact victims claiming to flag an urgent problem with an account, sometimes through a message that looks like a legitimate alert, like a pop-up notification. “They’re trying to create a situation that is really hard to ignore,” Fletcher said. “From there, people are convinced that the problem is actually extremely serious.” Indiana resident Marilyn LoCascio, 76, says she lost $31,500 to a fraud group that included people posing as an Apple tech support specialist, a bank representative and two government officials. It began when she received what looked like a security alert on her iPad, which led her to a fraudster who informed her she’d been hacked, with a payment to an online porn website from her account made in her name. “I just called the number without thinking. ... It would be anything other than Apple,” LoCascio said. “A gentlemen answered the phone who was supposedly a tech, and he even gave me a case ID, and then it just sort of mushroomed from there.” As her interactions with the scammers dragged on, LoCascio sensed something was wrong. But after being brought into a conference call with someone posing as a U.S. Treasury official, she was persuaded nothing was amiss. She added that she’d never even heard of Bitcoin, but the apparent urgency of the situation made it seem prudent to follow instructions to protect herself. Scams involving cryptocurrency have surged alongside the price of Bitcoin, which today is worth about $60,000, roughly double its value a year ago. But Fletcher said that while many of such frauds, like shady investment schemes, are more likely to victimize younger people, roughly $2 out of every $3 lost in a scam involving a bitcoin ATM belonged to someone near or over retirement age. “These Bitcoin ATMs seem to have opened up sort of a gateway for scammers who are after cryptocurrency to target older adults,” she said. Bitcoin ATM operators say they have guardrails to fend off fraud and illicit activity. “We provide numerous scam warnings at our machines in nearly every stage of a consumer transaction to prevent individuals from falling victim to frauds and scams,” Scott Buchanan, the chief operating officer of Bitcoin Depot, said in a statement. The company, which describes itself as the largest bitcoin ATM provider, said its operations are heavily regulated and involve extensive compliance and consumer protection policies. “We also have live customer support over email, chat, text and phone calls and encourage consumers concerned about a potential scam to contact our customer support team prior to transacting,” Buchanan said.
'Pig butchering' gains traction among crypto scammers, causing billions in losses - Crypto fraudsters are abandoning complicated Ponzi schemes in favor of “pig butchering” scams, which have seen a marked uptick in 2024, according to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. These schemes often combine romance scams and investment fraud to persuade victims to provide ever larger sums of crypto to scammers over a sustained time period. Fraudsters often view their victims as “pigs” to “fatten up” through romantic overtures, typically via dating apps or social media interactions. The ultimate aim is to “butcher” – or swindle – victims out of a significant level of money. The scams have gained popularity in China and Southeast Asia, and in recent years have been increasingly found across America.Last year, the government recorded $4.57 billion in losses from investment fraud, but this figure is likely an underestimate. Many victims are directed to fake investment platforms where they unwittingly divulge sensitive information, making fund tracing and recovery increasingly challenging. When fraudsters gain access to a victim’s funds, they often abscond after a series of escalating payments.“Many victims have assumed massive debt to cover losses from these fraudulent investments,” the FBI said about the rise of these scams.“Crypto-investment scams saw unprecedented increases in the number of victims and the dollar losses to these investors,” the FBI added."This macro trend is consistent with the continued pivot of scammers from elaborate ponzi schemes that cast a wide net to more targeted campaigns like pig butchering or address poisoning, driven in part by increasing enforcement efforts and stablecoin issuers blacklisting scam addresses," Chainalysis said.
Police bust crypto scammer who received plastic surgery to evade arrest --South Korean police said Thursday that they have arrested the leader of a cryptocurrency scam operation that defrauded investors of 16 billion won ($12 million) and who even underwent plastic surgery to avoid capture.The man, in his 40s, was apprehended earlier this month for deceiving 158 victims between November 2021 and June 2022 by promising a monthly return of 18 percent on investments in a so-called cryptocurrency mining business, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.Police said the victims lost amounts ranging from 1.2 million to 250 million won.The man has been on the run for 10 months after failing to appear at his pre-trial detention hearing last September. The court issued an arrest warrant and the police began tracking him down.Authorities said he managed to evade investigators by altering his appearance through plastic surgery on his eyes, nose and face contour -- costing about 21 million won -- and by wearing wigs.The police said they were able to capture the man in an apartment in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, through surveillance footage, phone records and internet search histories.
$12.1M fraud suspect with ‘new face’ arrested, crypto scam boiler rooms busted: Asia Express -South Korean police have apprehended 14 individuals involved in a fraudulent crypto mining scheme that pocketed 16 billion Korean won (about $12.1 million), according to reports citing an Aug. 29 press conference.Police identified the scheme’s mastermind only as “Mr. A,” a common practice for suspects before official conviction. From November 2021 to June 2022, Mr. A allegedly deceived victims by promising an 18% monthly return on investments in the fake crypto mining business. The investigation began after police received 21 complaints from across the country, leading to the arrest of Mr. A and three others in September 2023. However, Mr. A did not appear at a pre-trial detention hearing, starting a 10-month manhunt.He was finally arrested in July 2024 after undergoing multiple plastic surgeries, including procedures on his eyelids, nose and facial contouring to avoid detection.Mr. A’s facial reconstruction is estimated to have cost around 21 million Korean won (approximately $15,900).He reportedly used multiple burner phones and bank accounts while frequently changing his residence. To launder his criminal proceeds, Mr. A purchased cryptocurrency, which he then cashed out through an accomplice working as a manager at a law firm.During the investigation, police confiscated 100 million Korean won (about $75,500) in cash from Mr. A’s hideout and seized assets worth 1.3 billion Korean won (around $982,000).South Korea is home to one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency markets. In the first quarter of 2024, the South Korean won surpassed the US dollar as the most-traded fiat for crypto transactions.That comes with a high price as the country faces numerous frauds and scams, prompting some victims to take extreme actions.On Aug. 28, Hyungsoo Lee, the CEO of crypto yield platform Haru Invest, was stabbed during a court hearing by a man seated in the gallery. Lee was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.Lee is on trial for allegedly embezzling $826 million in cryptocurrency from 16,000 Haru users.Witnesses told local reporters that the attacker was a regular attendee at Haru’s court proceedings and is believed to have deposited approximately 100 Bitcoin with the firm.In another high-profile incident, following the 2022 Terra-Luna crash, the wife of Terraform Labs CEO Kwon Do-hyungcalled the policeafter a man entered their apartment building, which is secured by keypad entry systems, rang their doorbell, and fled.The man reportedly asked Kwon’s wife, “Is your husband home?” before disappearing.
Gift Card Scams Generate Billions for Fraudsters and Industry as Regulators Fail to Protect Consumers − Gift cards are just the latest in fraudsters’ seemingly unlimited arsenal of tools that help them steal money from people through deceptions like romance scams, fake IRS notices and phony investment schemes. In addition to consumer swindles like the one that targeted Mae, gift cards, including those that are reloadable, have also been hit with an epidemic of card draining, where criminals either steal barcodes from gift cards on the rack or swap in new barcodes they already control.When consumers put money on a compromised card, the criminals are alerted because they are monitoring the barcodes using automated online account balance inquiries. They can repeatedly check the balances on thousands of barcodes at a time. As soon as money hits a card, the criminals use the account number to purchase items online or in stores, using runners or “mules” to physically go into stores.The gift card draining problem is widespread enough that it attracted the attention of the Department of Homeland Security and sparked hearings in the U.S. Senate in April 2024. Two months later, Maryland passed the nation’s first law targeting card draining, which mandates secure packaging aimed at thwarting criminals who steal or tamper with the numbers on gift cards.People ages 18 to 49 are more likely than older adults to lose money in gift card fraud, but adults over the age of 80 lose three times as much as younger adults. The average reported amount lost is $1,000, but more than 100 consumers have reported gift card fraud losses to the Federal Trade Commission in excess of $400,000 each between 2021 and 2023, according to information provided by the FTC through a public records request.Falling victim to a financial scam ranks second in American fears about criminality, after identity theft, far exceeding concerns about violent crime, according to Gallup. Despite these fears, there doesn’t appear to be an accurate government number on exactly how much financial fraud is taking place. The gift card and reloadable card industry also doesn’t keep data on the amount of money consumers lose through the criminal use of its products.At the same time, many gift card companies are not publicly traded. As such, they aren’t required to file quarterly or annual financial reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which would indicate the size of the industry and might outline the amount of fraud, among other risks. Consequently, nailing down an exact figure for the total amount of fraud involving gift cards and reloadable cards is challenging.To track trends, regulators rely on victims self-reporting to gauge the scope of the problem.Yet the vast majority of people who fall victim to financial scams never report their losses to law enforcement. Most victims are too embarrassed or pessimistic about their chances of recouping losses and so don’t complain. And often they are concerned that their adult children, caregivers or authorities such as adult protective services might conclude that guardianship or institutionalization is necessary to protect them. While it is extremely difficult to know how many elders report financial fraud, a 12-year-old study that’s still commonly cited, including by federal authorities, estimates it at 4.2%.
BankThink: Tokenized account numbers are a serious threat to open banking | American Banker - During his recent congressional testimony, CFPB Director Rohit Chopra was asked whether his agency's rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act would bolster large financial institutions at the expense of smaller banks and nonbanks. Director Chopra assured members of Congress the rule will not entrench incumbents, promising to balance consumer privacy rights with the pro-consumer benefits that come from secondary data use. While Director Chopra's work on this score has been admirable and fintechs across the country await a final rule that permits pro-consumer secondary data use, there exists a significant risk that the CFPB's Section 1033 rule will unintentionally create a different kind of moat for large, incumbent financial institutions in non-card payments. As currently contemplated, the rule would allow banks — and not consumers — to control what types of payment account numbers can be shared via open banking. The CFPB's proposal contains a few lines on optional tokenized account numbers or "TANs" and opaque references to so-called consumer benefits. However, consumers, merchants and processors encountering TANs today have only experienced frustration from this new technology. The biggest source of this frustration comes from fraud. Some large banks are deploying TANs in a manner that allows fraudsters to present the TAN for ACH payment processing, and then immediately cancel the number before the ACH debit can be completed. Based on Trustly's own data, we estimate the market currently sees tens of millions of dollars in TAN-related fraud losses each year. This number will continue to grow as more large banks deploy TANs in open banking as currently contemplated by the CFPB's Section 1033 rule. While merchants and processors bear the brunt of this fraud, it also harms consumers. These consumers must be viewed by payment risk management systems with skepticism when they present TANs for ACH payments, which leads to lower transaction limits and, in some cases, denial of service.
NY regulator slaps Panama Papers-linked Nordea bank with $35M fine New York State's banking regulator fined the New York branch of a Finnish bank $35 million for its involvement in global money laundering schemes. The bank in question, Helsinki-based Nordea Bank, was named in the so-called Panama Papers, a 2016 leak of 11.5 million documents from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. that detailed how politicians, aristocrats and international criminals used shell companies and unscrupulous banks to exploit weak governance regimes, skirt taxes and avoid law enforcement.Nordea, through its operations banks in Eastern Europe, executed illicit transactions from Russia, Azerbaijan and elsewhere into the U.S. and Western Europe, according to a lengthy consent order issued Tuesday by the New York State Department of Financial Services, or DFS. The bank also helped hundreds of customers create bogus companies for the purposes of opening offshore accounts. The state regulatory agency accused Nordea Bank of failing to maintain effective money laundering controls, having poor oversight of its correspondent banks and inadequate transaction monitoring. DFS noted that the bank has taken numerous steps to mitigate these issues, but said work remains to be done. "International financial entities such as Nordea must safeguard against criminal activity in the global financial system, and for years Nordea failed in these respects," said DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris in a written statement. "It is critical that such institutions maintain robust compliance programs and conduct proper due diligence of their customers and banking partners." The New York DFS acted alone in the consent order. A representative from the agency declined to comment on the record about why federal regulators were not involved in the action.
Regulatory win whets British bank's appetite for U.S. loans --London-based digital business bank OakNorth announced Tuesday it has received permission from the Federal Reserve and New York Department of Financial Services to open a representative office. The grant allows the nine-year-old OakNorth to actively market its products and services to U.S. borrowers. OakNorth, which has operated in the U.K. since 2015, targets what it describes as lower-middle-market companies — those with revenues of $1 million to $100 million. Despite the outsize role they play driving overall economic growth, OakNorth believes lower-middle-market companies are underserved by U.S. banks. "Without doing any marketing, we've done about three times more business in the U.S. over the last year than we thought we would have done by this point," Rishi Khosla, OakNorth's founder and CEO, said Tuesday in a press release. "This is a clear demonstration of the demand from the lower middle market for a banking partner like OakNorth, which can provide the speed, flexibility, transparency and entrepreneurial approach these businesses need to succeed and scale." OakNorth has been lending in the United States since July 2023. Backed by little more than word of mouth, it has amassed $600 in loans, as well as a "very, very strong pipeline," Corporate Affairs Director Valentina Kristensen said Tuesday in an interview, adding the portfolio could reach $1 billion by the end of 2024. OakNorth applied to open a representative office in September. According to the Federal Reserve's August 26 order approving the application, OakNorth's new representative office can "act as a liaison with current and prospective U.S. customers of the bank. It [can] promote and market the bank's products and services, perform back-office functions, conduct market research, and facilitate lending to U.S. customers." Kristensen called the ability to promote itself "crucial" for OakNorth. "I don't know yet if we would look to have a dedicated marketing person or marketing team on the ground in the U.S. We could probably do quite a bit from here in the U.K., but we can actually do that marketing, which is something we couldn't do before. I think it is very significant." Indeed, OakNorth's U.S. loan production the past 12 months is double the amount of lending it did in its first year of business in Britain, where it possessed a charter and the right to advertise, according to Kristensen. "Hopefully, that's a very clear demonstration of the demand for the offering in the U.S., and the fact there are businesses that are looking for the types of lending we can provide," Kristensen said.
Fed's Waller pumps the brakes on faster cross-border payments -U.S.-based faster payments systems are being set up in dozens of countries around the world, but when it comes to the prospect of connecting those networks, at least one Federal Reserve official has significant reservations. Fed Gov. Christopher Waller, speaking at a financial technology conference in India on Wednesday, said he is "not entirely convinced" that interlinking will deliver the faster and cheaper settlements that consumers and businesses seek. "Not all frictions that slow payments down are bad," Waller said. "Certain frictions are purposely built into the global payment system for compliance and risk-management reasons." Faster cross-border payments could mean greater costs on banks and an uptick in undesirable activities such as money laundering, fraud and terrorism finance, Waller said. "There is no silver bullet that increases speed and efficiency without tradeoffs," he said. "Unless new solutions are found, interlinking fast payment systems might increase the risk-management burden for banks that participate in them." Waller said the technological innovations needed to enable cross-border instant payments would probably be the easiest hurdle to clear. The greater costs, he said, would come from the legal, compliance and operational considerations that come with interlinking instant payment systems. Despite the global push for faster payments, Waller said that the demand for instant settlement is not universal. While those who would receive payments — be they employees or merchants — have an incentive to pay up for immediate access to funds, those sending payments do not.
TotalEnergies Unit Fined for Trying to Manipulate Gasoline Futures Market --The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has fined a trading unit of French supermajor TotalEnergies for attempted manipulation of the gasoline futures market in 2018. The U.S. market regulator ordered TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA, formerly known as TOTSA Total Oil Trading SA (TOTSA), to pay a $48 million civil monetary penalty and cease and desist from violating the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations. According to the CFTC’s findings, Switzerland-based TOTSA, which is not registered with the CFTC, attempted to manipulate the market for EBOB-linked gasoline futures in March 2018 by selling physical EBOB gasoline at prices below what buyers indicated they would pay. While the trading unit was selling physical EBOB at cut-rate levels, TOTSA maintained a large short position in March-settled EBOB-linked futures, the U.S. regulator said. As the large short position was a bet that gasoline futures prices would drop, the sales of physical EBOB gasoline would increase in value if the reported price of EBOB declined. “Essentially, TOTSA’s traders were willing to accept less revenue from the company’s sales of physical EBOB, in an attempt to depress the reported price of EBOB, and increase TOTSA’s overall trading profits (by boosting the value of the company’s EBOB-linked short position),” the CFTC said in its ruling. This conduct was an attempt at market manipulation in violation of sections of the CEA and CFTC Regulation. “The scheme in this matter involved an attack on the market integrity of CFTC-regulated futures contracts on gasoline, and this settlement demonstrates such attacks will not be tolerated in any market,” said Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley. The CFTC has accepted TOTSA’s offer of settlement, recognizing that the company provided some cooperation during the investigation of this matter. However, TOTSA failed to timely produce WhatsApp communications the Division of Enforcement requested or adequately preserve these communications following DOE’s request, with the result that potentially relevant evidence was unavailable to DOE.
Will $1 Trillion In Treasury Basis Trades Blow Up The Clearinghouses -- Reading the excellent article by Brian Meehan of Bloomberg Intelligence, “Basis Trade Growth Is Massive”, I was reminded just how stupid clearinghouses really are. If you ever meet a head of a clearinghouse, I can assure it was not brains that got them to this key position in global finance.As the article points out, there is now a $1.1 trillion notional short position in US treasury futures. You should not read this as the market being bearish on treasuries. It is a levered trade to make a “risk free” return on the difference in price between off the run treasuries and treasury future positions. For every short position in the treasury futures, there should be a long position in the physical market.The size of the trade has been large for awhile. The Federal Reserve took a look at it and thought it was not a problem (uh oh!). It has the same data as above, just that Bloomberg has provided an up to date estimate. In the post GFC world, much of this trade has migrated from prop desks at banks to hedge funds. This is not a new phenomenon. BIS noted in 2019 reports that the Repo market has become bifurcated between banks and hedge funds. See dotted line in middle graph.This is a natural by-product of how clearinghouses work. The clearinghouses at the centre of repo trading (LCH and CME) are only concerned with how quickly trades can be liquidated. As they tend to settle on a daily basis, and hedge funds and other asset managers need to settle constantly, they tend to allow trades to grow in size much more than when investment banks were at the centre of repo market. Clearinghouses cannot go bust. So they pursue policies to grow volumes as much as possible. One such policy is compression trades. This is where very similar interest rates products can be compressed into a single product to allow more leverage to be used. Below show that a multiple of outstanding notional is being compressed every year.The problem is that when there is a shock in interest rate markets, then liquidity disappears and clearinghouse starts demanding more margin from all players, which then leads to spiraling weaker market. We saw just such a circumstance in the UK gilt market under the PM Truss. The sell off in gilts could only be contained by the Bank of England becoming a buyer of last resort.So how does this fit in with LTCM? Well LTCM focused on risk free arbitrage trades. The problem with most of the trades is that you need substantial leverage to make them work. Most banks would feel uncomfortable lending a hedge fund that much. The downfall of LTCM as it was told to me, and I did work at UBS, was that one day there were industry drinks and one trader mentioned how much business he was doing with LTCM - and another trader said, hang on a second, we are doing just as much business as well. The traders then worked out that LTCM had far more leverage than they had disclosed, and as they traders worked this out, sold their positions before LTCM could. This put downward pressure on their trades, eventually forcing them bankrupt and bringing about a bailout. In essence, LTCM became the market, and at that point, it was destroyed. But it only became so leveraged because it acted in secrecy.Under the new clearinghouse system, no such subterfuge is necessary. The clearinghouse actively wants you to borrow as much as possible, as long as you meet the liquidity and volatility seen over the look back period - typically 10 years. The problem, as the details above show, is that the hedge funds are all in. So are retail investors. Shares outstanding in TLT has skyrocketed.So what could go wrong? Well in the US, after the presidential election is out of the way, you could expect inflationary policies to be announced (higher minimum wage, more tariffs, more stimulus). This leads to inflation expectations rising. Physical treasuries are held in ETFs like TLT, which probably see redemptions. Treasuries fall, basis trade widen, margin calls are issued, which leads to more selling of treasuries, and more basis widening, until the Fed steps into buy treasuries. This seems likely to me: a long GLD/TLT trade should do well in that environment. Having gone sideways for a few months, a move higher looks overdue.The clearinghouse reform is failed reform - but it will take a crisis to change. Maybe this will be the one.
Fed sets final capital requirements for large banks -The Board also announced it would lower Goldman Sachs' capital requirements after the Board reviewed arguments that certain non-recurring expenses related to business divestitures should not influence the bank's stress test-related capital calculation.Large banks with $100 billion or more in assets are still required to maintain a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of at least 4.5% in addition to, in some cases, a stress capital buffer and — for the largest firms — a GSIB surcharge. The new capital requirements are effective October 1, 2024. Deutsche Bank's US counterpart DB USA Corp. received the highest CET1 capital requirement at 18.4% — up from 13.8% in 2023 — primarily due to its exceptionally high stress capital buffer of 13.9%. Citigroup saw a slight drop in its CET1 requirement of 12.1%, down from 12.3% the previous year. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley received CET1 requirements of 13.7% and 13.5%, respectively, up from 13% and 12.9% in 2023. JPMorgan Chase also requires a CET1 capital ratio of 12.3% up from 11.4% in 2023. The Fed also set JPMorgan's GSIB surcharge to 4.5%, up from 4.0% in 2023.This ratio represents the core equity of a bank — comprising retained earnings and common stock — and is the highest quality of capital that regulators can require banks to retain in order to absorb initial losses.The stress capital buffer is a capital requirement the Fed determines after considering each bank's stress test performance. The capital requirement — which must be a minimum of 2.5% — was introduced to streamline banks' funding rules by combining existing elements from stress tests and Basel III guidelines to reduce redundancy and simplify compliance for non-global systemically important banks.
Hsu's 'unprecedented' tenure at OCC and banking policy - — Michael Hsu has led the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for over three years without being nominated for the permanent job, an arrangement that is unprecedented in its duration. But some experts say it may also be an indicator that banking regulatory positions are more difficult to fill than they used to be because of heightened partisanship between parties and significant political disagreements even among members of the same party.Todd Baker, managing principal at Broadmoor Consulting and a senior fellow at Columbia University, said the high value of Senate floor time, the OCC's unique appointment structure and Hsu's own political baggage go a long way toward explaining Hsu's long term as acting Comptroller. "Michael Hsu has been an outstanding Comptroller, and it is a great pity that his appointment has not been made permanent," Baker said. "It is not clear how the politics shake out here, as the GOP has criticized him for his role in the removal of Jelena McWilliams as [Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.] leader and for some of his regulatory actions and some factions of the Democratic party consider him too moderate on bank regulatory matters in general."Hsu became Acting Comptroller of the Currency in 2021 after being appointed as the first deputy comptroller by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Hsu appears to be the longest acting comptroller on record, according to the OCC website, having spent more than three years in the temporary position. The OCC did not respond to requests for comment by press time.Hsu, a Democrat, has faced political headwinds from both sides of the aisle. His perceivedinvolvement in sidelining former Republican FDIC Chair McWilliams early in the Biden administration by using the agency's Democratic-appointed majority to drive the agenda would likely fuel GOP opposition to confirmation as permanent Comptroller of the Currency.He has also faced criticism from progressive Democrats. Senate Banking Committee member Senator Elizabeth Warren has criticized Hsu for what she sees as his too-permissive attitude toward bank mergers during his career. Warren has targeted Hsu for approving JPMorgan Chase's acquisition of First Republic Bank, arguing that it allowed the biggest U.S. bank to grow even larger while costing the FDIC $13 billion. She has also criticized Hsu's general approach to bank mergers, claiming it contradicts efforts to limit consolidation in the financial industry.Baker said polarization also has seeped into financial regulation, which could mean Hsu probably isn't the last long-term acting comptroller regulators are likely to encounter. "His situation is unprecedented — although other comptrollers, such as Brian Brooks under Trump, have had relatively long acting terms," he said. "The recent spate of 'acting appointments' is a problem stemming from the increasing politicization of bank policy, reflecting both ideological disagreements and an overall lack of comity in Congress and politics in general."
FDIC fights latest challenge to the use of in-house judges -Two months after the Supreme Court curtailed the ability of federal agencies to use in-house judges in enforcement cases, the ruling's fallout for banks are starting to come into sharper view.In response to the Supreme Court's ruling, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. recently pared down its ambitions in a case involving alleged violations of Small Business Administration loan regulations. The FDIC said it would waive civil fines but continue to seek restitution from the man it has accused of wrongdoing.But the two sides are continuing to battle over the implications of the Supreme Court's watershed decision. And the arguments being made on behalf of the defendant, John C. Ponte, offer a taste of the new ammunition that banks and bank employees will likely use in other enforcement cases.""Ït's absolutely a preview of what banks are going to argue in the future," said David P. Weber, a former enforcement official at the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Securities and Exchange Commission.One clear upshot of the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in SEC v. Jarkesy is that bank regulators can no longer ask administrative law judges to decide cases in which the agencies are seeking civil monetary penalties from either a bank or an individual banker. Such proceedings, the court found, violate a defendant's right to a jury trial under the Constitution's Seventh Amendment. Bankers accused of wrongdoing frequently argue that the in-house judges are biased in favor of the agencies that employ them, while defenders of the administrative law system contend that the specialized judges have banking expertise that most federal judges lack.Following the Supreme Court's decision in late June, experts predicted that individuals and companies accused of misconduct would test the boundaries of the ruling — including by seeking to determine whether it applies in situations where the agencies are seeking restitution or disgorgement of ill-gotten gains.That's now happening in Ponte's case. He is trying to prevent the FDIC from moving ahead with what he characterizes as an unconstitutional enforcement case — notwithstanding the agency's recent decision to forgo its claims for $74,000 in civil monetary penalties.
FDIC votes to outsource executive-conduct probes despite pushback — A disagreement over how to address allegations of misconduct against senior Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. staff came to a head after the FDIC board approved a resolution directing investigations of any FDIC senior leaders toward another federal agency. By a 3-2 vote — with all Democratic board appointees voting in favor — the FDIC decided on Wednesday to outsource the investigations without specifying which agency would take the lead. The likely candidates are the General Services Administration or the National Credit Union Administration. FDIC staff say such investigations could begin within a matter of weeks. On a call, FDIC staff said they already have memorandums of understanding with other agencies to conduct other kinds of investigations that could be revised or serve as models for new agreements. The resolution would apply to any board member or employee at the executive manager or corporate expert level. The board's decision follows the findings from Cleary Gottlieb's third-party review released in May. While the law firm's report compiled several allegations against FDIC leaders, it did not investigate these claims directly and much of the information was compiled under the agreement Cleary Gottlieb would respect the anonymity of respondents. That left the FDIC with the challenge of pursuing investigations without specific details, including the identity of the accuser or the context of the allegations. To address this, the FDIC on Thursday sent an email to all employees and former employees who provided information to Cleary Gottlieb, asking them to consent to having their information used in future investigations. If employees consent to the use of their information, it will be handed over to the third-party investigator retained under the FDIC board's resolution. The FDIC said this approach is designed to respect confidentiality agreements and ensure that only those who are comfortable with the process will have their information disclosed. The process outlined in the resolution, the agency said, would remain in place until the newly proposed Office of Professional Conduct can take over. Staff said the agency is in the process of setting up the OPC, which would handle investigations related to harassment, interpersonal misconduct and retaliation. This office will operate independently of other divisions and report directly to the FDIC board to maintain its autonomy. FDIC staff said they are interviewing candidates for the director position, hoping to have someone in place within weeks. Once hired, the new director, in collaboration with the board, will determine how quickly third parties can be retained to conduct these investigations.The resolution has not been without criticism. Board member Jonathan McKernan said in a statement following the closed board meeting that the measure is insufficient. McKernan had proposed establishing a committee to handle executive misconduct allegations — modeled after the previously established special committee on workplace culture co-chaired by McKernan and fellow board member Michael Hsu — to oversee an independent investigation into the agency's workplace culture following recent allegations of misconduct.
BankThink: Insuring all deposits would create a safer, fairer banking industry | American Banker - Ever since the 2008 financial crisis, and especially since the untimely 2023 demise of Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic and Signature Bank, there has been much gnashing of teeth among bank "experts" — regulators and their academic enablers — over how to best inoculate banks from the twin scourges of runs and bailouts. To me, the solution is both obvious and simple; we should explicitly extend Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. coverage to all deposits, including those exceeding $250,000. This solution is almost uniformly rejected by those previously mentioned experts, but their arguments are deeply flawed. Objections to full deposit insurance center on the problem of "moral hazard." Many experts allege that if all deposits are insured, depositors will make no effort to differentiate sound banks from troubled ones. This, they contend, will enable troubled banks to assume more risk, knowing that if they win, shareholders will profit; but if they lose, it is taxpayers who will pay for a government bailout. At first, this might sound logical. It appeals to our sense of fair play; those who make bad financial decisions should suffer the consequences and taxpayers should never pay for private mistakes. But to me, this view is mistaken on at least two fronts. First, to my knowledge, taxpayers have never paid for the bailout of a U.S. commercial bank. It is the banks themselves who have always (eventually) paid for bank bailouts, mainly through FDIC assessments. To be sure, the Federal Reserve does often lend to banks needing liquidity. But this is not a bailout. This is just the Fed doing its job. As MIT economist Deborah Lucas observes, "prospective costs to taxpayers are small, even during a severe financial crisis. The direct costs fall largely on strong banks, which through the system subsidize weaker ones." In its recent final report, the Congressional Budget Office revealed that the commercial bank rescue programs (TARP, etc.) undertaken in the financial crisis eked out a profit for taxpayers although losses were sustained on some mortgage programs and aid to AIG, General Motors and Chrysler. In fact, the whole "heads I win, tails you lose" argument is a big canard, at least when applied to U.S. banks. In a typical bailout, equity holders are wiped out — mainly through dilution — so the risk-takers don't really "win." A second, and far more important flaw in the "moral hazard" argument is the false premise that private depositors — even sophisticated ones — are capable of effectively differentiating between those banks that will fail and those that won't. After all, Silicon Valley's depositors were the definition of "sophisticated." Think about it for a minute. How could any depositor have been expected to foresee the run at Silicon Valley when an army of so-called experts whiffed? Wall Street equity analysts missed it. Moody's and S&P, always reliable lagging indicators of credit problems, missed it too.
Judge sides with CFPB on challenge to small-business lending rule - A federal judge has rejected claims by two bank trade groups and a private bank challenging a rule by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to collect data on small-business loans. The ruling marks a significant win for the CFPB, reinforcing its authority to enforce fair lending practices for small and minority-owned businesses. But the judge stopped short of issuing a final judgment to consider whether farm groups can intervene in the case with a new constitutional challenge to the bureau's funding. On Monday, U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane denied the three claims made by the Texas Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association and Rio Bank, an $864 million-asset bank in McAllen, Texas, under the Administrative Procedure Act. The act governs how agencies can be challenged when issuing regulations, typically for actions that are considered to be "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law." The judge had choice words for the banks' claims that the CFPB did not have statutory authority to issue the rule, and that the rule was arbitrary and capricious for failing to consider and respond to significant comments raised by banks and for failing to undertake a proper cost-benefit analysis."Plaintiffs' argument is convoluted and relies on a series of inferences which clash with the substance of the statutory text," Crane wrote. "The CFPB plainly has the authority to demand financial institutions to collect information which it might not otherwise collect during the application process."The plaintiffs said they will appeal the ruling.
CFPB cites retailer fees as it pushes access to cash -The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is focusing on the fees retailers charge for cash-back services as evidence of a decline in overall access for cash-reliant consumers. "Physical cash is still a critical component of a resilient financial system and dynamic economy. For many people, particularly older Americans and lower-income consumers, cash is the preferred way of paying for things. However, in many parts of the country, people can struggle to find easy and free access to their own cash," said Director Chopra in a blog post today. Consumers in small towns and rural areas have been particularly affected by branch closures and bank mergers, and retailers have stepped in to fill that void, Chopra said. But some of those same retailers are now charging a fee for cash-back services, he said. "Access to cash continues to be critical," he said. The blog post comes on the heels of a report released Monday by the CFPB's Offices of Consumer Populations and Markets outlining the fee practices of eight large retailers across dollar stores, grocery stores, drugstore chains and discount retailers. Albertsons, CVS, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Kroger, Target, Walgreens and Walmart were sampled. Three firms charged a fee: Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Kroger. Dollar General and Dollar Tree Co., which includes Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores, charged the highest cash-back fees for withdrawals under $50, according to the CFPB. The CFPB estimates that consumers are charged roughly $90 million annually in cash-back fees from those three retailers, with underbanked and low-income consumers disproportionately affected as more banks merge or close. "The geographic distribution of dollar store chains and their primary consumer base raises concerns that these fees may be borne by economically vulnerable populations and those with limited banking access," according to the report. "Dollar stores are prevalent in rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color; the same communities who may also face challenges in accessing banking services."
JPMorgan, Raymond James sued over cash sweeps -- In their latest lawsuit questioning firms' "cash sweeps" policies, plaintiffs' lawyers have come around to JPMorgan and Raymond James.A legal team that has already sued Wells Fargo, LPL Financial and Ameriprise filed a putative class action against JPMorgan in federal court in New York on Friday alleging the megabank doesn't look out for its clients' best interests with its handling of their uninvested cash. Meanwhile a separate group of law firms, already pressing suits against Morgan Stanley,UBS, LPL, Wells Fargo and Ameriprise, is now leveling essentially the same claims against Raymond James. All of the filings make the same general accusation: That large wealth managers use uninvested cash held in advisory and brokerage accounts to boost their bottom lines rather than benefit clients.The new suit against JPMorgan, for instance, contends the megabank takes "for itself and its affiliates the vast majority of the compensation earned from its customers' cash at the expense of its customers and principals, who receive only a minimal return on their cash deposits."A JPMorgan spokesperson declined to comment.The suit against Raymond James similarly alleges, "Raymond James makes more money when its clients' funds are invested in the Raymond James cash sweep programs rather than in similar cash options and equivalents because Raymond James' cash sweep programs offer unreasonably low interest rates." Raymond James did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Telegram bust highlights the app's role in rampant check fraud - The volume of check fraud on Telegram has reached an unprecedented scale, renewing concerns about the messaging app's role in the rise of check fraud over the past three years. The indictment of Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has added scrutiny to the ways in which messaging apps are facilitating check fraud, and what banks can do to stop them. In a report to be released Thursday, a Boston cybersecurity firm has found that nearly one million stolen check images were posted on Telegram in the first half of the year. The stolen check images were posted on more than 700 Telegram sources and tended to get reposted up to six times, a signal that check fraud is ubiquitous on Telegram, an encrypted messaging service whose users are difficult to track, experts said."That's the dilemma for banks," said Noah Nguyen, senior threat intelligence analyst at Recorded Future, who co-authored the report. "Telegram is this salient source of check data and it's difficult to take action at the volume and the scale — tracking one million checks — in a way that doesn't completely drain their budgets and resources."Unlike other messaging apps, Telegram does not ban illegal activity and its end-to-end encryption of messages allows criminals to coordinate among themselves without any oversight. On Wednesday, Durov was charged with complicity in crimes such as distributing pornography, drug trafficking and fraud. He also was charged with being unresponsive to judicial warrants for data.Telegram has played a key role in facilitating the sale of stolen checks and mail fraud. The app is used to advertise the sale of U.S. Postal Service universal arrow keys that criminals have been stealing and selling to unlock blue USPS mailboxes from Maine to California. "Telegram has three roles in facilitating fraud," said Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Risk Solutions' Government group. "They are advertising the universal USPS arrow keys, they are selling stolen checks online, and they are teaching people how to actually wash a check, which is really easy.""Mail fraud is a huge part of it because what people don't understand about criminals is they'll do what is the easiest thing to do," said Talcove, who added that fraud is, in his opinion, one of the biggest threats to national security.
Bank of America escrow case plaintiffs claim NY law is no 'impediment' -A dual banking case related to escrow rules is progressing for the first time since the Supreme Court remanded it to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in May.The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Cantero v. Bank of America, have resumed with claims that the institution has so far failed to show that New York's requirement to pay 2% interest on mortgage escrow accounts is a "significant practical impediment to exercising banking power." "If Bank of America believes it can substantiate its claims of significant interference, it is free to try and make that showing as the case proceeds to discovery," Jonathan Taylor, plaintiffs' attorney at law firm Gupta Wessler LLP, said in an August 26 court filing.Bank of America has not responded in the court record or to a request for comment at deadline.The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act does not mandate that national banks pay interest to borrowers on escrow accounts, but New York State laws do. The Dodd-Frank Act determined that the National Bank Act preempts state law only when the significant practical impediments exist, the plaintiffs argue. However, according to the Supreme Court's opinion in the Cantero case, which Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored, The National Bank Act as amended by Dodd-Frank does not draw a "bright line" when it comes to the questions of preemption. The plaintiffs' filing follows the Supreme Court directing the 2nd Circuit to rehear the case and to consider a "competitive nuanced analysis" of potential outcomes. Its previous decision favored the bank. The outcome is important to both banks and those in housing finance generally because escrow accounts can play a role in the valuation of mortgage servicing rights in the market and some lending considerations. Thirteen states have interest-on-escrow laws.The new filing in the Cantero case comes shortly after a new development in somewhat similar cross-litigation between certain Flagstar Bank customers and that financial institution in regard to a California law around 2% interest on escrow accounts. The Biden administration had called upon the Supreme Court to remand both lawsuits. The respective lower courts originally had reached different conclusions in each case.
New US rules try to make it harder for criminals to launder money by paying cash for homes (AP) — The Treasury Department has issued regulations aimed at making it harder for criminals to launder money by paying cash for residential real estate. Under rules finalized Wednesday, investment advisers and real estate professionals will be required to report cash sales of residential real estate sold to legal entities, trusts and shell companies. The requirements won’t apply to sales to individuals or purchases involving mortgages or other financing. The new rules come as part of a Biden administration effort to combat money laundering and the movement of dirty money through the American financial system. All-cash purchases of residential real estate are considered a high risk for money laundering. The Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, also known as FinCEN, will administer the rules. Money laundering in residential real estate can also drive up housing costs – and rising home prices are one of the big economic issues i n this year’s presidential campaign. A 2019 study on the impact of money laundering on home values in Canada, conducted by a group of Canadian academics, found that money laundering investment in real estate pushed up housing prices in the range of 3.7% to 7.5%. Under the new rules, the professionals involved in the sale will be required to report the names of the sellers and individuals benefitting from the transaction. They will also have to include details of the property being sold and payments involved, among other information. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a news release that the new rules address some of the nation’s biggest regulatory deficiencies. “These steps will make it harder for criminals to exploit our strong residential real estate and investment adviser sectors,” she said. Ian Gary, executive director of the FACT Coalition, a nonprofit that promotes corporate transparency, called the rules “much-needed safeguards” in the fight against dirty money in the U.S. “After years of advocacy by lawmakers, anti-money laundering experts and civil society, the era of unmitigated financial secrecy and impunity for financial criminals in the U.S. seems to finally be over,” Gary said. Some industry representatives welcome the new rules. Tori Syrek, a spokesperson for the National Association of Realtors, said FinCEN’s final rule is a pragmatic approach to combating money laundering and other crimes. “Bad actors are exploiting the current vulnerabilities,” Syrek said. “FinCEN’s final rule is a pragmatic, risk-based approach to combating money laundering and these other crimes.”
Fincen issues final rules on property transfers and asset advisors — The Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or Fincen, finalized rules Wednesday requiring industry professionals to report risky non-financed transfers of residential real estate and applying anti-money-laundering controls to certain investment advisors. "The Treasury Department has been hard at work to disrupt attempts to use the United States to hide and launder ill-gotten gains," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. "That includes by addressing our biggest regulatory deficiencies, including through these two new rules that close critical loopholes in the U.S. financial system that bad actors use to facilitate serious crimes like corruption, narcotrafficking, and fraud. These steps will make it harder for criminals to exploit our strong residential real estate and investment adviser sectors." Effective December 1, 2025, Fincen says parties involved in non-financed property transfers to legal entities or trusts must report detailed information to Fincen, including data on the property, transaction, parties involved and beneficial owners. The rule targets high-risk, all-cash transactions often used to obscure illicit activities and exempts certain low-risk transactions like those related to divorce or death. The rules also allow flexibility in compliance by letting real estate professionals designate who will file reports. The agent listed on the closing statement has the first reporting duty. If absent, the duty shifts to the professional who prepared the statement, and from there Fincen says it will continue "down the list" to determine responsible parties. The final rule incorporates changes to reduce the compliance burden based on feedback from various stakeholders. Fincen will allow a party to rely on information provided by another party, as long as the information is plausibly accurate and includes a list of professionals who would have the primary responsibility for filing reports. The rule also includes a flexible option allowing industry professionals to designate compliance responsibilities among themselves. These adjustments aim to balance the usefulness of reports to law enforcement with minimizing the compliance burden on businesses. As of January 1, 2026, the agency will also broaden the definition of "financial institution" under the Bank Secrecy Act to include new categories of investment advisors. That expansion would require those entities to report suspicious activities, maintain specific records and adhere to information-sharing procedures. Entities newly subject to AML rules include investment advisors registered with, or required to register with, the Securities and Exchange Commission — typically those managing over $110 million in assets. Exempt Reporting Advisors — investment advisors that are not required to register with the SEC but must report certain information because they either advise private funds with less than $150 million in U.S. assets under management or advise only venture capital funds — will also now be required to report suspicious activities and adhere to the new recordkeeping requirements. The final rule narrows the definition of "investment advisor" by excluding SEC-registered investment advisors who register with the SEC solely due to being midsize advisors, multistate advisors or pension consultants, as well as Registered Investment Advisors not required to report any assets under management to the SEC. It also limits the rule's application to overseas investment advisors, focusing only on their activities within the U.S. or those providing services to U.S. persons or entities.
Federal Home Loan banks rebuff Treasury, won't give 20% to housing -- Top executives of the Federal Home Loan banks have refused a request by the Treasury Department to set aside 20% of their profits for affordable housing, saying that any amount above the current 10% set aside required by law must be approved by Congress.The chairs of the boards of the 11 Federal Home Loan banks sent a letter Thursday to Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo rebuffing his request earlier this month to spend more on the system's affordable housing program. "We believe that simply raising the AHP and voluntary contributions to 20% of our pre-assessment net income will not address the underlying complexities of the housing crisis," the bank chairs said in the letter. "This increased funding level, which requires annual approval by each FHLBank's board of directors, is 50% more than what is required by statute. Consideration of a higher set aside should be undertaken by Congress."The response is the latest skirmish in a larger battle between the Home Loan Bank System, which is under scrutiny after three regional banks failed last spring and another self-liquidated, and the Biden administration, which is trying to fund more affordable housing. Vice President Kamala Harris also has big ambitions to supercharge the construction of more housing. The chairs of the Home Loan banks said they oppose any efforts to divert profits from its members, claiming that doing so would weaken the system's capital position. Last year, the Home Loan banks agreed to each voluntarily contribute 15% of their net income to the system's affordable housing program. That contribution is expected to reach $1 billion this year, making it one of the largest funders of affordable housing in the country.
BankThink: Rebuilding vacant homes has to be part of the housing agenda | American Banker -- The Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out a medium-bold proposal to boost the national housing supply by 3 million units, a down payment on ushering what she has dubbed "the opportunity economy" — an America in which working families can attain the comforts and privileges that come with generational wealth. Harris' vision is light on details, but as of right now her main responsibility is running a campaign, and details will have to wait. For now, it's notable enough that a major party candidate is talking about housing at all, even as it is a critical issue for voters. Harris' proposal includes expanding existing tax credits for apartment developers, rolling out new incentives for building smaller houses and a commitment to cut regulatory red tape, all goals developed by the Biden administration. Those are all good ideas and necessary components of any robust effort to build more places for people to live. But one missing component of that vision is an articulated plan to rehabilitate vacant housing in dense urban cores, which may be the fastest and most cost-effective way to actually bring new homes into the market. The topic of rehabilitating vacant housing is a well-known hobbyhorse of mine, so I thank you for your indulgence in advance. But the fact that so many metropolitan housing markets have both an overabundance of vacant housing and a lack of affordable housing in the same place at the same time is baffling to me, as is the reluctance of policymakers to see the opportunity that those vacant homes represent. Concentrated vacant housing — sometimes known as housing blight — doesn't appear out of nowhere. It is the worst-case scenario of localized housing market downturns that are reinforced by mass exodus. To borrow my own aphorism, the best way to think about vacant properties isn't that nobody lives there, but rather that everybody has decided not to live there. There is often a powerful stigma to these places that is sufficient to keep private investment out, and so reversing the cycle of investment and thus overcoming that stigma requires some careful thought. But as Manhattan, Washington, D.C. and the Bay Area can attest, those stigmas can be reversed, often ushering in an equally intractable problem of gentrification. If Harris is serious about creating more places for people to live that are priced within the means of working people, locating those new homes in places that need more people — and in proximity to the kinds of amenities that more people prefer — is a logical choice. Nobody really knows how many vacant homes there are in the U.S. because the kinds of homes that I'm talking about are lumped in with seasonal or vacation homes, homes that are vacant because they're on the market or are isolated in healthy housing markets where they don't have the kinds of impacts that we might term as housing blight. Even so, that top-line number issomething on the order of 15 million homes. Let's be extra conservative and say that only a quarter of those homes fit the kind of concentrated vacancy profile we're talking about here — that's almost 4 million homes right there, comfortably within Harris' 3 million target.More to the point, there are significant and tangible values in fixing up a vacant home — or a broken stereo — versus starting over from scratch. One is that it turns areas that have long been a drag on a local economy back into productive use. The other is that once people have a reason to change their minds about a place, they often do — and where people lead, capital will usually follow. But for that kind of effect to take root, the catalyst for that change in people's minds has to be sufficiently bold. Concentrated vacant housing did not happen overnight, and reversing it also will not happen quickly. But the communities that experience vacancy in most cases were once vibrant places for working people to live, work and raise their families, and with the right policies they could be again. That sounds like a win-win-win for a prospective Harris administration.
PAVE task force winds down, but the work has just begun -- Hearings were held, reports were written, an investigation was opened and closed, regulatory guidance was issued and new tools were rolled out. Much has happened since the White House put real estate appraisals under the federal government's microscope in June 2021. Its Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity task force — known as PAVE — has led to policy changes from more than half a dozen agencies, including major banking and financial regulators in Washington. "They've made a lot of progress in a number of areas," said Pete Mills, senior vice president of residential policy for the Mortgage Bankers Association. "Some of that progress will take time to actually see, but they've worked on strengthening the anti-discrimination provisions in [appraisal standards] and getting more training in that space."Recent developments suggest the task force is entering the closing phase of its coordinated activities. Last month, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the National Credit Union Administration jointly finalized new guidance on how to handle reconsideration of value, or ROV, requests on the grounds of appraisal discrimination. A week before that, the Department of Housing and Urban Development reached a settlement with the Appraisal Foundation — the private nonprofit organization tasked with setting the standards for the nation's appraisers — ending the agency's two-and-a-half-year long fair housing probe against the group.
US Home Prices Surged To New Record High In June (Graph Series Source: Bloomberg) Home prices in America's 20 largest cities rose for the 16th straight month in June (according to the latest data from S&P CoreLogic - Case Shiller - data today), up 0.42% MoM (hotter than expected and accelerating from May). On a YoY basis, prices rose 6.47%, but notably that is the third straight monthly slowdown in the pace of price appreciation... Overall, US home prices reached a new record high in June (as median new home prices continued to tread water)... Home prices continue to track Fed Reserves closely, but a turning point may come soon... Given the smoothing and heavy lag in the Case-Shiller data, it's hard to find a causal relationship between prices and mortgage rates... But, with prices reaccelerating and mortgage rates already back below 7.00% - in anticipation of The Fed - WTF does Powell think is going to happen when he actually starts cutting with prices at these record highs.
Sales of cheaper houses spiked in July: Analysis -- Sales of houses in the lowest price tier jumped in July, a sign the housing sector may be coming back to life after being bludgeoned with interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. Pending sales in the “starter home” category climbed 10.2 percent since July 2023 according to figures real estate company Redfin released Monday. That’s compared to a 6.5 percent drop in middle tier units, a 10 percent drop in expensive units, and a 7.9 percent drop within the “luxury” tier of units, defined as the top 5 percent. Lower mortgage rates may be the reason for the spike. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is now at its lowest monthly reading since May 2023 at 6.46 percent as the Fed has held interest rates at their current level of 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent over the last year. “One reason starter home pending sales may be strengthening is the recent fall in mortgage rates,” Redfin analysts wrote in a commentary. “First-time homebuyers, who make up a significant proportion of the starter-home market, are more sensitive to rate drops as they are less likely to have a large down payment, meaning rate changes have a greater impact on their monthly payments,” they wrote. The “typical U.S. starter home” sold for $250,000 in July, a record high for the tier. Low-priced houses are still 4.2 percent more expensive than they were last July, more than a full percentage point above headline inflation. The consumer price index (CPI) fell to a 2.9 percent annual increase in July, compared to 4.4 percent housing inflation. While housing inflation in the CPI fell sharply between February 2023 and February 2024, it has fallen less quickly over the remainder of this year. Shelter costs advanced 0.4 percent between June and July. Mortgage rates move in step with the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield, which has been falling since April. The 10-year has offered a lower yield relative to the two-year since 2022, though the inversion has been flattening in recent weeks as the Fed has signaled coming interest rate cuts. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Friday “the time has come” for the U.S. central bank to change its interest rate policy. Markets are expecting either a quarter-point or half-point interest rate hike from the Fed at its next interest rate-setting committee meeting in September.
S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index: Hits New Record High in June - Home prices continued to trend upwards in June as the benchmark 20-city index rose for a sixteenth consecutive month to a new all-time high. The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index revealed seasonally adjusted home prices for the 20-city index saw a 0.4% increase month-over-month (MoM) and a 6.4% increase year-over-year (YoY). After adjusting for inflation, the MoM was reduced to 0.1% and the YoY was reduced to 0.9%.The benchmark 10-city index rose for a seventeenth consecutive month to a new all-time high in June. The seasonally adjusted home prices for the 10-city index saw a 0.5% MoM, and a 7.3% increase YoY. After adjusting for inflation, the MoM dropped to 0.2% and YoY dropped to 1.8%.The benchmark national index rose for a seventeenth consecutive month to a new all-time high in June. The seasonally adjusted home prices for the national index saw a 0.2% increase MoM, and a 5.4% increase YoY. After adjusting for inflation, the MoM fell to -0.1% and YoY fell to -0.1%. Here is the analysis from today's Standard & Poor's press release: “The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices continue to show above-trend real price performance when accounting for inflation,” “Home prices and inflation continue to factor into the political agenda coming into the election season. While both housing and inflation have slowed, the gap between the two is larger than historical norms, with our National Index averaging 2.8% more than the Consumer Price Index. That is a full percentage point above the 50-year average. Before accounting for inflation, home prices have risen over 1,100 percent since 1974, but have slightly more than doubled (111%) after accounting for inflation. “Another popular theme is making housing more affordable to first-time homebuyers. We compared each of the 16 markets that the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices calculate on a tiered basis to evaluate historical performance of more affordable homes. Our tiered indices divide each market into three price tiers, which range based on the market. Looking at the last five years, 75% of the markets covered show low-price tiers rising faster than the overall market,” The chart below, which uses seasonally adjusted data, is an overlay of the Case-Shiller 10- and 20-City Composite Indexes along with the national index since 1987, the first year that the 10-city composite was tracked. The 20-city, which is probably the most closely watched of the three, dates from 2000. All three indexes are currently at their all-time nominal highs.
Conference Board Survey Signals Weakest Labor Market Since COVID Lockdowns (Graph Series Source: Bloomberg) After 8 of the last 9 months seeing consumer confidence revised lower, July's Conference Board data was revised significantly higher (from 100.3 to 101.9)... And August's headline print was considerably better than expected (103.3 vs 100.8 exp) with the expectations gauge adjusted significantly higher for July and higher still in August... The Present Situation remains languishing near COVID lockdown lows, which is perhaps explained by the fact that the overall trend in the labor market indicator remains weaker... ...and purchase plans for homes, cars, and appliances all plunged. But some good news is that inflation expectations tumbled back to pre-COVID levels... This soft survey data supports The Fed's dovish stance (if you look hard enough), but given the lack of buying interest, it seems the consumer is more than stretched.
If Everything Is So Great, Why Are Millions Of Americans Sleeping In Their Vehicles? --Have you noticed an unusual number of vehicles in the parking lots of major retailers in your area at night? If you look closely enough, you will see that many of those vehicles actually have people sleeping in them. At this point, millions of Americans are sleeping in their vehicles every night. This is happening even though we are being told that the economy is just fine. But of course the truth is that the system is failing all around us. So if you get to sleep in a very warm bed in a very warm home, you should consider yourself to be very blessed, because vast numbers of people are really struggling right now. The primary reason why so many people are living in their vehicles is because the cost of living has soared to unprecedented heights.In particular, the cost of housing has become extremely oppressive. In fact, housing in the United States has become more unaffordable than it has ever been before. This week, I was stunned to read about a 33-year-old man named Ishan Abeysekera that is paying $2,100 a month to share a house with 23 other people…In a city as notoriously expensive as New York, it’s common to see people in their late 20s and early 30s living with roommates to help manage the high cost of living.But Ishan Abeysekera has taken that to the next level with his current living situation in Brooklyn: a communal building that he shares with a whopping 23 other people.“When I say I have 23 housemates, people are like ‘What? That sounds wild,’” Abeysekera tells CNBC Make It. “But actually, it’s quite nice.”That is nuts! Who would pay that much to live with 23 total strangers? Of course most Americans can’t afford to pay $2,100 a month for housing.For example, it is being reported that some flight attendants that work for American Airlines are “sleeping in their cars” because the pay is so low…Most new flight attendant hires are required to live in cities like Dallas, Miami, and New York, which have high costs of living that they cannot afford, Hedrick noted. American flight attendants are sleeping in their cars, she said. Some of them fight for trips just for the chance to eat the plane meals, if the pilots don’t take their meals first.“Our new hire flight attendants are struggling,” Hedrick said, adding that new hires most strongly rejected the 17% hike.When I was growing up, I always thought that those that were selected as flight attendants had very good jobs.But In this economy, many flight attendants can’t even afford a place to live.Of course there are millions of others in a similar position. In recent years, “van life” has become quite trendy, and more than 3 million Americans now fall into this category…
Hearing into death of Baltimore sanitation worker reveals medieval working conditions Members of the Democratic Party-controlled Baltimore City Council held the first of a series of hearings into working conditions at the Department of Public Works on August 21, following the death of Ronald Edward Silver II. On August 2, Silver collapsed while working in extremely unsafe heat when temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), triggering a Code Red heat advisory. Deputy Inspector General Matt Neil provided a devastating overview of DPW facilities in his portion of the hearing. The Office of the Inspector General visited 10 facilities over several weeks and found conditions at all of them resembling medieval dungeons. At Silvers’ site in Cherry Hill, OIG inspectors found ice machines not working for over a year, with no working air conditioning or fans in the employee locker room. Hot water came out of the cold-water faucets. Moreover, the trash trucks had no working air conditioning. Other site visits in June and July, including trips during trash collection routes, found employees were not given water, ice or Gatorade during their 10-to-12-hour shifts. One so-called “cooling station,” set up outside the facility after an earlier OIG visit, had thermostats reading between 83 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit (28-29 Celsius) at 6:00 AM in the morning before the sun even rose. The temporary air conditioning units installed were not working. While DPW said it was providing bottled water and Gatorade to workers, in reality supervisors kept the water in locked areas rather than making it freely available. This prompted a council member to state that DPW was “rationing” water. In the washrooms and shower areas, the OIG found toilet paper withheld by supervisors as a form of punishment or bullying. Filthy shower areas were oftentimes used as storage space. DPW officials at the hearing said there are no regular deep cleans of the facilities and could not remember the last time they had occurred, if ever. Silver is not the only DPW worker to die on the job in recent years. Almost exactly four years ago, in August 2020, DPW employee Donald Savoy, a 12-year veteran of the solid waste division, died while working his route. Two other city employees have died on the job since 2018. At the hearing, DPW Director Khalil Zaied blamed the agency’s internal “culture” for the state of working facilities and negligence that led to Silver’s death. This formless claim was used to distract from the obvious, that increased funding, worker safety regulations or resources might address the situation. The agency is severely understaffed and employees like Silver have been called to work for double and triple overtime for years, going back to before the COVID pandemic. It is not unusual for sanitation workers in Baltimore to be out past midnight completing their routes. Sanitation workers in Baltimore have the lowest pay among DPW workers on the East Coast, earning less than McDonald’s workers, making the words “wage slavery” vividly spring to mind. For reference, the city approved a budget of almost $600 million for the Baltimore City Police Department in fiscal 2024. Various other officials offered phony gestures of “shock” at the conditions, while providing mealy-mouthed commitments to review procedures, improve facilities, and provide training for workers. When Zaied told council member Odette Ramos that he visits DPW facilities “regularly” and more than any of his predecessors, she said it was “disturbing” that the director did not care to notice the lack of air conditioning or cold water, as well as the rationing of water and Gatorade by supervisors, which was found to have happened at every DPW facility.
The political issues in the fight to defend public education in the US - As the 2024-25 school year begins in the United States, a season of struggle is opening up for teachers and school workers. Educators and all sections of the working class face an unprecedented assault on basic social rights, including jobs, access to healthcare and decent living standards. Democratic rights, including freedom of speech and the right to strike, are being stripped from the population. Both parties of American capitalism, the Republicans and Democrats, lurch towards dictatorship at home and global war abroad. These are the essential issues that confront educators in the defense of public education. Moreover, these are the same driving forces that are propelling educators into struggle all over the world. The very existence of public education is at stake, the signs of which are visible everywhere. Schools are being shuttered by the dozens in communities across the US, and thousands of educators and other essential staff, such as librarians, school counselors and mental health workers, are losing their jobs. Those who remain eke out a living with low pay, high healthcare premiums and ever-increasing workloads. A Pew Research Center survey confirmed this nationally. Seventy percent of teachers reported understaffing, 98 percent said they had too much work, 77 percent said their job was “extremely stressful,” and over half (52 percent) said they would not advise young people to become teachers. Poverty was cited as the single greatest “major problem” in schools, with chronic absenteeism and anxiety/depression of students close behind. Precisely! The growth of poverty throughout the United States translates in a million different ways, including absenteeism and mental health crises, into a Sisyphean struggle for school workers. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans even make the pretense of claiming they will reverse the decades-long degradation of schools. This requires fighting for social equality and socialism. Additionally, the bipartisan destruction of public health continues to imperil our own health and lives and those of our students. The school year starts amid a massive COVID-19 surge, already forcing schools to close. Two weeks into the semester, the coronavirus was detected in the wastewater of two-thirds (29 out of 45) of schools in Houston, Texas. After four years, virtually nothing has been done to ensure that clean indoor air is provided to stop airborne transmission in the vast majority of America’s schools. As Dr. Amy Proal, a leading researcher on Long COVID, told the World Socialist Web Site: We’re seeding children, from a young age, with viral RNA in their tissues, with a virus that people are getting multiple times a year as it continues to mutate, and we ... see that reinfection seems to up the chances of developing chronic symptoms. It’s absolutely unsustainable and a complete crisis. The de-funding of public education and public health does not reflect an overall lack of resources in our society. On the contrary, the wealth of the financial oligarchy has ballooned, up 88 percent since 2020. The 737 billionaires in the US alone control a combined wealth of $5.53 trillion. The source of all this near-unimaginable wealth is the labor of the working class, but we have no say-so on its distribution. Trillions of dollars are flowing upwards from the working class into the pockets of a handful of corporate oligarchs and into a war machine to promote their interests. We are living in the midst of a barbaric redivision of the world between global billionaires.
Ohio near bottom in preschool spending compared to other states -Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine used his recent State of the State speech to proclaim the importance of child care and education, but a national report released last week ranks Ohio near the bottom of the country in preschool spending.The National Institute for Early Education Research’s annual “state of preschool” report showed nationwide disparities in access, quality and funding for preschool, with Ohio sitting at 43rd in total reported spending on the early education.“Most states have not committed to serving all children, and even those states that have often fall short,” W. Steven Barnett, senior co-director and founder of NIEER at Rutgers University, said in a statement. “Most states need to increase funding per child substantially to enable providers to meet minimal standards for a high-quality, effective program.”The report called inadequate funding “a near universal problem.”Barnett did praise a 2023 increase in state-level funding of $122 million over two years as part of the most recent state budget, as well as a $250 increase in per-pupil funding, the first in the state since 2009. Ohio ranked 36th in state-specific spending on preschool in the new report, which specifically studied the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s publicly funded Early Childhood Education program for the 2022-2023 school year.That boost followed a reduction in the 2022-2023 school year, when state spending dropped $268 per child from the 2021-2022 year.“We encourage Ohio to keep up the progress, as much work remains to provide access to full-day, adequately funded early learning opportunities that will help children develop and parents earn a living,” Barnett wrote in a release on the new data.Ohio has a total of 18,000 children enrolled in pre-K education, with 35% of the school districts offering a state-funded program. The federally funded Head Start program for ages 3 and 4 has a state enrollment of 24,649. No state contributions go to the Head Start program for 3 or 4 year olds, according to the study.Nationally, preschool enrollment rose to 35% of 4-year-olds and 7% of 3-year-olds, with overall state expenditures increasing by 11% compared to 2021-2022 data. “However, despite this notable progress, most states still fell short of their pre-pandemic preschool enrollment,” NIEER stated. Last year’s report saw Ohio ranked 36th for 4-year-old enrollment, but slightly lower at 27th for three-year-old enrollment.In the 2024 research, Ohio only met half of the 10 benchmarks noted in the report. Benchmarks met by the state in the most recent NIEER report included early learning and development standards; curriculum supports; specialized training for teachers; screening and referral; and its continuous quality improvement system. Researchers found the state hadn’t met benchmarks in teacher degrees, assistant teacher degrees, staff professional development, maximum class size and staff-to-child ratios. This data was identical to last year’s met and unmet benchmarks for Ohio. An associate degree is required in the state for pre-K teachers, but the NIEER benchmark is a bachelor’s degree. For assistant preschool teachers, the Ohio requirement is a high school diploma, though the NIEER sets a benchmark of a child development associate credential or equivalent credential. Maximum class size set in Ohio is 24 for 3-year-olds and 28 for 4-year-olds, though NIEER recommends 20 or lower.
Massillon elementary schools cancel classes due to heat -- ‒ Whittier, Gorrell and Franklin elementary schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday because of the excessive heat.District officials are hopeful this is the last time they will have to cancel classes. The district's two new K-3 elementary schools are set to open next fall. Both will have central air conditioning.Washington High School, the Massillon Intermediate and Junior High School and the preschool will remain open.Superintendent Paul Salvino has been watching the humidity rates, which have been on the rise this week.According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Wednesday's high temperature will hit 92 degrees with a heat index as high as 98 degrees. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature, the NWS said.Schools across Ohio have canceled or altered class schedules because of the sweltering conditions.Heritage Christian School in Canton dismissed students early on Tuesday and Wednesday. St. Thomas Aquinas canceled classes and after-school sporting events and practices Tuesday and Wednesday."It's definitely warm (Tuesday)," Superintendent Paul Salvino said. "In our old buildings, the air can not flow. Even if we leave the windows open we just can't cool it down." "It's in the best interest of our students that we do cancel," he said. "It's really exciting that we are a year away from opening our new elementaries and putting this topic to rest." Over the past few years, Salvino has canceled classes during extreme heat spells. They have looked for solutions but putting air conditioning units in each classroom was not feasible as the older buildings were unable to handle the electrical load. The high school and middle school have central air and air conditioning units are used to cool preschool classrooms housed at the former Smith Elementary School, he said. They are using fans in the elementary schools but it is not enough to make it comfortable for students.
Minnesota’s ‘trans refuge’ law harms youth, weakens parents’ rights --Last year, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed so-called “trans refuge” legislation, joining California and several other states in passing measures that harm vulnerable youth. The Washington Post recently came to Walz’s defense, claiming that “conservatives” were “falsely accusing him of allowing the state to terminate parental custody if parents prevent their trans children from receiving gender-affirming care.” But the reality is there’s nothing false about that accusation. This law can indeed separate kids from loving parents’ custody. Every parent in America should be concerned about it and laws like it. Imagine a teenage girl in Ohio who regularly visits her rather woke aunt in Minnesota. The aunt thinks that her teenage niece’s parents aren’t sufficiently “affirming” of the girl’s desire to adopt a male identity. The parents know the devastating and irreversible harm puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones would cause their daughter, and so they’re not about to consent to them. The aunt files a lawsuit in Minnesota to gain custody of the girl and start her on a regime of the drugs. Normally, Minnesota courts would dismiss the suit, recognizing that Ohio is the proper venue for the case. After all, that is where the niece and her mom and dad live, and where the girl’s pediatrician and counselor (who would have information about the girl’s physical and mental health) are located. Out-of-state attempts to get custody are usually decided based on the child’s home state.And that makes sense. Custody challenges should be heard in the state where the parents, child, and relevant evidence are located. And they should be decided based on the laws of the home state.But the Minnesota law and its ilk throw out this commonsense rule. If anyone — a parent, close relative, or even an unrelated adult — seeks custody of a child “for the purpose of obtaining gender-affirming health care,” then that person can take the child to Minnesota, where state courts now have exclusive jurisdiction to hear the case. Those courts will decide custody of the child — and ultimately whether the child will be put on harmful puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones — based on Minnesota law.In other words, as soon as the teenage girl crosses the Minnesota state line with her aunt or to visit her aunt, Minnesota courts are now armed to strip custody away from the girl’s caring parents in Ohio and award it to the aunt, who can immediately start the vulnerable child on dangerous transition drugs.Indeed, in Walz’s Minnesota, putting kids on a one-way street toward the irreversible damage caused by puberty blockers, hormones and sterilizing surgeries is the official policy of the state.Let’s not forget, just weeks before signing the law, Walz issued an executive order declaring that Minnesota is “committed to protecting access to” and establishing the state as “a refuge for those who seek and provide” transition drugs and surgeries that growing international evidence confirms cause irreversible harm to a child’s body and brain development.And it isn’t just woke relatives that receive a “get out of jail free” card when they abscond to Minnesota with a child who has been ripped from the arms of her parents, who are her best advocates and defenders. This law will allow Planned Parenthood and other gender clinics to push life-altering transition drugs on children with no meaningful oversight or accountability.Under the Minnesota law, Planned Parenthood could easily encourage and even pay expenses for a teenager to travel to the state for harmful transition drugs. And it would do so with assurances that state law shields it, should the parents try to intervene to save their child from the lifelong consequences of these drugs.What the Minnesota law and others like it really do is deprive our children of the one true shield and refuge against pervasive, damaging gender ideology: namely, parents. Parents love and know their children best. They alone have the right and responsibility to raise their children and protect them from harm.That is why more families are standing up when government officials, schools and even medical providers push dangerous, life-altering gender ideology on their children. Minnesota had the chance to stand with these courageous parents and their children. Instead, it chose to declare them an enemy of the state.
Surgeon general warns of parental stress --The U.S. surgeon general warned Wednesday that parenting can be harmful to mental health. Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an advisory that while he feels blessed to be a father, being a parent has been the “toughest and most rewarding” job he has ever had. “The stresses parents and caregivers have today are being passed to children in direct and indirect ways, impacting families and communities across America,” he said. Murthy said in the advisory that 41 percent of parents admit to being so stressed most days they can’t function, and 48 percent say their stress is completely overwhelming. He added that parents today are facing different challenges compared to previous generations in the form of things like social media, an increasing youth mental health crisis and the “epidemic of loneliness” impacting younger Americans and their parents. Parents should be supported through policy changes and community programs that would make child care care more affordable, the surgeon general said, and make it easier to take time off from work to take care of sick children. Earlier this year, Murthy also pushed to require social media platforms to have labels warning users of their possible mental health impacts on children and young adults. “In my conversations with parents and caregivers across America, I have found guilt and shame have become pervasive, often leading them to hide their struggles, which perpetuates a vicious cycle where stress leads to guilt which leads to more stress,” he said.
Parents Fight Back With Rising Use Of Religious Vaccine Exemptions For Their Children --Summer has officially come to a close. Families wrapped up beach and/or mountain vacations last weekend as kids now sit in the classroom, hopefully learning non-woke math and critical reading skills. A notable trend this school year is the increasing number of parents choosing to circumvent government-enforced vaccine requirements for their children through non-medical religious exemptions. Local non-profit media outlet Maryland Matters cited new data showing an increasing number of parents have opted their children out of vaccination requirements through non-medical religious exemption. The trend surged after draconian requirements pushed by an overreaching government during the Covid era. Here's more on the data from Maryland Matters: The number rarely rises above a percent or two of an incoming kindergarten class, typically accounting for no more than a couple hundred children per year. But that means that in the years since 2002, a total of more than 10,000 kindergartners have attended public and private schools without vaccination records, according to historical data from the Maryland Department of Health.The rising percent of religious exemptions in recent years may point to increasing rates of vaccine hesitancy among families, said Daniel Salmon, a professor and director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health."We've seen a post-COVID increase," Salmon said. "With COVID … things got really polarized with more misinformation and disinformation. Vaccinations became a very political topic. And that's not helpful."Maryland law requires doctors to inject children with several big pharma vaccines before they enter kindergarten (and many more after) to protect themselves and their classmates from transmissible diseases, such as polio, measles, and chickenpox, among many others.Tracking vaccine hesitancy through the Maryland health data suggests parents are becoming increasingly aware of the potential concerns surrounding increasing government-mandated vaccinations for their children. Here's a straightforward breakdown of the vaccine hesitancy rise of Maryland parents via the media outlet:
- The earliest data readily available from the state is from the 2002-2003 school year, in which 0.2% of kindergartners got a religious exemption, or about 126 kids out of roughly 63,000 entering kindergarten that year.
- The rate increased steadily over the years: Ten years later, for example, about 0.6% of kids had religious exemptions, resulting in about 419 kids not receiving vaccinations in 2012-2013.
- Religious exemptions spiked in 2019-2020 when 2.7% of kindergartners, or 1,641 kids, opted out of vaccination requirements. The COVID-19 pandemic went into full swing in the spring of 2020, so those families would have opted out prior to the the rise in cases in the United States.
- Since the 2021-2022 school year, at least 1 percent of kindergartners in Maryland had a medical exemption – a couple hundred a year.
Students speak on mass spread of COVID on college campuses as semester begins - The fall semester on college campuses across the United States begins amid a massive surge of COVID-19. Just days into the new school year, and with some campuses yet to open, reports of mass infections have already begun to circulate on social media. Despite the surge on campuses, there has been no mention of it anywhere in the mainstream media. A post to Reddit on the r/ZeroCovidCommunity subreddit described the current spread of COVID-19 on college campuses. The post’s author wrote, “[W]ithin less than two weeks of people being back, covid is spreading like wildfire.” Noticing the increase of cases, the student described concerning symptoms among classmates: “I struggle to even describe the type of coughing I’m hearing—it’s this deep hacking that sounds like it should be in a period drama tuberculosis ward instead of a lecture hall.” In an interview with the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), the Reddit poster, who asked to remain anonymous, explained that they are a second year wildlife science major at a large college in the southeast U.S. with a student body of approximately 40,000. They noted that their college does not protect students nor do they offer any guidance to students who get sick. “There are no institutional protections for students who test positive, and they instead have to work out missing classes with their professors,” said the student. On a popular social media app called Yik Yak, many students have posted that they have tested positive for COVID-19 since returning to classes from summer break. Students also reported that some of their lectures were canceled after the professors called out sick due to “colds” or “allergies,” when, in reality, it was in all likelihood a result of undiagnosed COVID-19, with the culprit probably being the K.P.3.1.1 (FLiRT) variant. The latest mass infection among college students refutes, yet again, the lie of the Biden administration that the “pandemic is over.” The student, whose father died from COVID-19 in 2021, told the WSWS, It’s definitely frustrating to me, especially when that proclamation has been alongside President Biden alone having COVID, if I remember correctly, three times in the past two years. Ending the COVID national emergency didn’t change the fact that COVID is still surging horrendously and causing a lot of harm. I feel like it’s also allowed this erosion of public health that’s happening because this ensuing “COVID is over” rhetoric means that it’s become normalized to not quarantine or to go about life while potentially being actively sick. I feel like it’s opened a lot of doors to what feels like a complete regression in public health programs, societal perception and expectations. Being sick or going around sick has become more accepted since the pandemic “ended.” Another student, a linguistics major studying in the University of California system, also voiced concerns over hearing students with “horrible wet coughs everywhere,” along with the lack of any protocols to stop transmission. In an interview with the WSWS, the student described the lack of protections, estimating that in a lecture hall of more than 100 people, only one or two people would be masking. In this context, the University of California’s recent directive to ban face masks on campus under certain conditions is a dangerous precedent. While the ban was issued as part of an attack on democratic rights in response to protests by students against the genocide in Gaza, it is a step toward banning masks under all circumstances and constitutes a significant assault on the right to public health. In instituting these measures, the university administration worked closely together with the Democratic Party and the Biden administration. Recalling the violent crackdown on student protesters, the UC student said, “On my campus, we had only a small, extremely peaceful, protest encampment for Gaza.” In response to this encampment, the university called out “police in riot gear as a response to clear it out. There were snipers and students were arrested.” The WSWS also spoke with a recently graduated Fine Arts student from Canada who reported that after their university’s mask mandate ended in 2022, “there was rarely anyone masking after that. Maybe 1 out of 70. I don’t think I ever saw a professor mask.” The student explained that in Canada, the dismantling of COVID-19 protocols has been undertaken very quietly. Institutions simply discontinued mask mandates. This also included hospitals, which directly affected this student who had to go to a hospital to receive immunosuppressive therapy. They commented, “Since we don’t talk about COVID at all anymore, the general public does not have any information on vaccine boosters, high quality masks, proper ventilation and air quality, or even how or when to test for COVID. My government just went silent on the issue.”
Instagram shuts down accounts of anti-genocide student groups before start of fall classes - One week before fall semester classes resume, the social media platform Instagram has permanently shut down the accounts of pro-Palestinian organizations on two college campuses in New York City. On Monday, at Columbia University, Instagram banned the account of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) without notice or explanation. Columbia is one of the main campuses where mass protests against the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza took place during the previous school year, including the establishment of the first of many student Palestine solidarity encampments. In a post on X, Columbia SJP said, “As the school year is just about to begin, Columbia SJP has been permanently banned from Instagram. Our account was permanently deleted at 124k followers at the same time as our backup account, and when we made a new page it was deleted within 2 days.” The group published a graphic of the message received from Instagram about the ban which said, “We disabled your account. You no longer have access to sjp.columbia.” It also asserted that the action was taken because “Your account, or activity on it, doesn’t follow our Community Guidelines.” The Instagram message concluded by stating, “All of your information will be permanently deleted. You cannot request another review of this decision.” A subsequent statement by the group on X indicated that attempts by the organization to create a new account were taken down by Instagram within hours. SJP Columbia encouraged supporters to post activity on their Telegram account t.me/SJPColumbia. At New York University (NYU), another center of student protest activity last year against the Gaza genocide, the account of the campus People’s Solidarity Coalition (PSC) was terminated by Instagram. NYU PSC, a coalition of 44 campus student organizations, was at the center of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on the NYU campus in Manhattan last school year. Instagram is a photo and video sharing social media service owned by Facebook-parent Meta Platforms. It has 2 billion worldwide active users, 160 million of whom are in the US. The largest age group of Instagram users, 71 percent or 113 million, is between 18 and 29 years old. The censorship by Instagram is being carried out against pro-Palestinian student groups alongside of the rollout across the country by university administrations of new campus policies aimed at clamping down on the freedom of expression by students. Anticipating a renewal and broadening of the student protests, colleges and universities are imposing rules that eliminate the fundamental right to political expression and to place demands upon administrations and impose criminal penalties if the rules are violated. The criminalization of protest is also being combined with an intensification of the slander that pro-Palestinian demonstrations are “antisemitic.” At Columbia University, encampments have been totally banned, and fencing has been installed on the grassy areas of the campus quad. At NYU, the administration has updated its discrimination and harassment policy to include a ban on criticism of Zionism by conflating the racist and apartheid political ideology of the state of Israel with Jewish identity. The right-wing, pro-Israeli hysteria that has been whipped up against protests on college campuses has led to the resignation of university presidents after they came under attack for failing to put a stop to the student movement.
University of Michigan institutes authoritarian attacks on due process and free speech rights --As the campus reopens this week at the University of Michigan (UM), the position of the university administration is very clear: Those who protest against genocide are criminals. While tens of thousands of Palestinians are being slaughtered by US-backed Israeli attacks, university officials want to suppress any expression of outrage or condemnation by students, faculty or other campus workers. On August 20 a committee associated with the Faculty Senate at UM exposed these plans for repression, issuing a letter to its 7,300 members and alerting the entire campus population. The letter warned that the university administration has utilized thoroughly anti-democratic means to implement sweeping attacks on policies that previously protected core democratic rights on campus. The letter was accompanied by recent reports that at least 11 UM student protesters against US-Israeli genocide in Gaza now face a hiring ban on campus. One protester has apparently been fired from a student job for taking part in protests.Also, the Michigan Daily published a letter last week denouncing a university attack on a student, Salma Hamamy, who had her January 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award rescinded by the university on May 21, 2024 for her pro-Palestinian activism. The letter was signed by 65 of the previous MLK Spirit Award Recipients, who returned their awards in protest of this attack. The August 20 faculty letter was issued by the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) to the University of Michigan Faculty Senate. SACUA warned of key revisions to UM’s “Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities” (SSRR) that took place on July 18 and August 6, with chilling implications:“These new policies were adopted without input or advice from faculty, staff, or students. We believe they were written by the Office of the General Counsel, at the request of the Regents, and then discussed privately by a select few before being adopted without public discussion. Taken together, they deprive students of the right to due process and fair hearings with faculty oversight, curtail freedom of speech and expression, and radically increase administrators’ power to prosecute students and limit inconvenient forms of free speech.”The recent revisions extend a previous authoritarian policy announced on March 27 which pledged to ban protest on campus. Collectively the new policies: Allow the “university” to file a complaint against a student. Previously all complaints about misconduct had to come from UM staff members, faculty or students. The new policies now appear to provide legal cover to allow for outside consulting firms to gather information and file complaints and sanctions against students on behalf of the university. Prior to the policy change the anti-genocide student group Tahrir Coalition contended that a member of the consulting firm Grand River Solutions, Omar Torres, had been brought on to pursue and file complaints against student protesters in violation of university policy. Considerable resources are being devoted to enforce the repressive policies. The university now employs Torres in the Human Resources Department and has hired Grand River Solutions through a no-bid $750,000 contract.
- Assign unilateral and unchallengeable authority to a “Resolution Coordinator” (RC), who can apply punishing sanctions against “student misconduct” without prior discussion with the student being accused of misconduct. This was previously a university protocol. This new policy includes giving the RC arbitrary power to determine whether to allow a student appeal.
- If an appeal is granted by the RC, the Vice President for Student Life is the final arbiter of the merits of the appeal. Previously, students had the right to appeal all such misconduct decisions through an Appeals Board with representation from faculty, students and administration. The new policy eliminates that appeals process.
- The university can ban almost any form of protest on campus. The policies adopt deliberately vague language regarding university facilities and misconduct, which state that individuals and groups may not “disrupt University activities or operations”; neither may people “obstruct human or vehicle traffic, ways of ingress and egress, paths, stairs, aisles and the like.”
Supreme Court won’t reinstate Biden’s new student debt plan -The Supreme Court on Wednesday discarded the Biden administration’s request to temporarily reinstate its new student debt plan that would lower payments for millions of borrowers. The Justice Department’s emergency appeal asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court ruling currently halting President Biden’s plan as a legal challenge proceeds. The order had no public dissents. It is not a final ruling, and the legality of the plan could ultimately return to the high court. “The Court expects that the Court of Appeals will render its decision with appropriate dispatch,” reads one of the two orders declining to take up the cases at this time.For now, it drives a sword in the administration’s ability to implement its Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.“Our Administration will continue to aggressively defend the SAVE Plan – which has helped over 8 million borrowers access lower monthly payments, including 4.5 million borrowers who have had a zero dollar payment each month. And, we won’t stop fighting against Republican elected officials’ efforts to raise costs on millions of their own constituents’ student loan payments,” said White House Spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández. The first phase began last October, increasing the amount of income protected from loan payments to 225 percent of the federal poverty line and not letting unpaid interest accrue. The second phase, which was set to begin in July, decreases monthly payments from 10 percent of a borrower’s discretionary income to 5 percent. The plan also shortens the repayment period to 10 years for qualifying borrowers, after which their remaining balance would be forgiven. Roughly 7.5 million borrowers have already signed up for the SAVE plan, and 150,000 individuals have had their debt canceled under the new income-driven repayment plan. Two groups of Republican state attorneys general have challenged the plan, contending Biden doesn’t have legal authority to implement it and that it flouts the Supreme Court’s decision last year striking down one the president’s earlier student debt programs. “There is a reason the Final Rule is the Government’s backup plan for mass loan forgiveness: the Government’s statutory arguments are even weaker than in Biden v. Nebraska,” one group of states wrote in court filings, referring to that earlier case. The other group similarly wrote, “This current attempt to unilaterally cancel debt is every bit as unlawful as the first 12-digit effort this Court rejected.” Both lawsuits reached the Supreme Court in recent weeks on its emergency docket after conflicting rulings in lower courts. Last month, Alaska, South Carolina and Texas asked the justices to reinstate a district court ruling that blocks portions of the plan as the case proceeds. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the block at the Justice Department’s request. Soon after, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals effectively halted the entire plan in response to the other challenge, which is being led by Missouri. It is joined by six other Republican state attorneys general: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma. The Biden administration then sought the Supreme Court’s emergency intervention to temporarily lift that order. “The States fail to justify allowing that extraordinary injunction to continue to harm millions of borrowers while this appeal is litigated,” U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in court filings. The justices rejected that request and the effort mounted in the other lawsuit by the three Republican state attorneys general. Both cases will now return to lower courts.
Is AI 101 on the timetable as kids go back to school? Yes, say teachers but with some guidelines. School is, essentially, about empowerment and personal growth. And since we live in the era of the metaverse and artificial intelligence, it’s only natural that they feature heavily on the schools’ agenda for the new term. “AI continues to dominate discussion in the education community and rightly so. It represents one of the most disruptive innovations in the field of learning since the advent of the Internet. We’re definitely blessed to work here in the UAE where innovation is fostered and thrives. It allows schools like JESS to keep ahead of the curve and ensure students are ready for a future where AI will permeate their daily lives more than we can even conceive yet,” says Steve Bambury, Head of Digital Learning & Innovation at JESS Dubai. The generations Z and Alpha truly are digital natives; a November 2022 survey by Statista found that almost 40 percent of Gen Z in the US spent more than four hours on social media platforms daily. And children of the younger generation are so invested in their screen time that it’s becoming a real issue for parents — and their attention spans. So, when is the right time to introduce them to the disruptive force of AI? Grade 12 student Zuhair Mujeeb believes they should be introduced to the new tech as soon as they are able to digest the information. The Indian expat says: “I use AI almost every day nowadays, whether it be to find out something, or maybe help me with the project I'm working on. There's no point in hiding things from children because of the fear that they will use it for bad reasons, because this is knowledge which will get to them anyway, so the sooner they’re taught about it and how they should use it and how they should not use it, the better. I feel as soon as a kid is able to, as soon as a kid starts using devices in school, they should be taught how to deal with different AI.” Bambury, meanwhile, suggests keeping an eye on the platform’s suggested age bar. “A factor schools need to take into account, which is currently not always the case, is the age that students should be before they even start interacting with AI tools like Chat GPT or Copilot. These platforms almost always state that users should be aged 13+ and schools need to bear this in mind before using them in classrooms. It is also important that students, and indeed staff, are taught the art of crafting effective prompts as poorly designed prompts will result in lower quality, irrelevant or even inaccurate outputs from these fledgling AI platforms,” he adds. A quick background
Paid family leave tied to fewer acute-care respiratory tract infections in infants - New York state's paid family leave policy was associated with reduced acute-care visits for infants with respiratory tract infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to a study yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics.Respiratory tract infections, including RSV, are the leading cause of hospitalization for newborns in the first 2 months of life: Hospitalizations for lower respiratory tract infection among infants 2 months or younger are 4.5 times as high as among 6- to 11-month-olds (17.9 vs 3.9 per 1,000, respectively).New York enacted a paid family leave law in 2018, which provided 8 weeks of paid leave for parents with an infant 12 months or younger, or to residents who needed to provide care for an ill family member."Young infants commonly acquire respiratory tract infections in the daycare setting. Out-of-home care has consistently been associated with 2- to 3-times higher risk of infection compared with in-home care," the authors wrote.
Obesity raises risk of COVID infection by 34%, study estimates --Obese patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2 are 34% more likely to be infected than their non-obese counterparts, indicating that obesity is an important risk factor for COVID-19 disease and transmission, a study of more than 72,000 patients seen at Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests.For the case-control study, the researchers compared the susceptibility to infection of 72,613 obese and non-obese adult and pediatric patients who tested positive for COVID-19 or reported exposure to the virus from March 2020 to January 2021. The team used the World Health Organization definition of obesity as a body mass index of greater than 30 kilograms per square meter for adults and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's definition of a growth curve greater than the 95th percentile for children.Participants were predominantly teens and adults (13 to 19 years, 3.5%; 20 to 39, 24.7%; 40 to 64, 9.7%; and older than 64, 30%) but also included children younger than 13 years (2.2%). In total, 58.8% were women, 72.4% were White, 12.3% were Hispanic, 6.7% were Black, and 3.4% were Asian.The results were published today in PNAS Nexus."While the evidence has linked obesity with severe symptoms of COVID-19, the effect of obesity on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear," the investigators wrote. "Identification of intrinsic factors, which increase the likelihood of exposed individuals succumbing to productive SARS-CoV-2 infection could help plan mitigation efforts to curb the illness." Of all participants, 33.7% were obese, a finding that aligns with the prevalence in the United States (42.2%) and Massachusetts (23.0%). Obesity rates were similarly distributed across age-groups, with the highest rates in middle-aged patients, and sex (34.2% and 32.9% for women and men, respectively). By race, Black and Hispanic participants had the highest obesity rates (46.3% and 43.8%, respectively), while Asians had the lowest (15.4%).During all waves of the pandemic, obese patients were 34% more likely to develop COVID-19 than their healthy-weight peers, regardless of age or sex, a corrected logistic regression model showed."The presence of large amounts of adipose tissue in obese individuals could explain the increase in severity and susceptibility to infection," the investigators posited.The odds ratio for SARS-Co-2 vulnerability in obese patients was lower in older patients and those with diabetes and hypertension. "This variation can be associated with a compromised immune response, thereby increasing vulnerability to infections," the authors wrote. "In such contexts, the impact of obesity on susceptibility is less pronounced due to the influence of these factors."Expected obesity rates among younger people are expected to reach nearly 50% by 2030, they noted. The findings indicate "that obesity is not only a risk factor for worsened outcomes but also increases the risk for infection upon exposure," the authors wrote. "Identifying such populations early will be crucial for curbing the spread of this infectious disease."
Myocarditis complications more common after COVID infection than vaccination, 18-month data suggest A study today in JAMA suggests that hospitalized patients—primarily previously healthy young men—have considerably fewer cardiovascular sequelae by 18 months if they develop myocarditis after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination than after COVID-19 infection. French researchers mined data from the French National Health Data System on all 4,635 residents aged 12 to 49 years hospitalized for myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, from December 2020 to June 2022. Participants had postvaccination myocarditis (within 1 week of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination; 588 patients [12%]), post-COVID myocarditis (within 30 days of infection; 298 [6%]), or conventional myocarditis (3,779 [82%]). The team also compared medical management in the three groups after hospital release. Low rates of myocarditis after vaccination with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been reported, mainly in young adults after receipt of their second dose, the vast majority with a favorable outcome. "Although vaccination resulted in a significant decrease in hospitalization and mortality from COVID-19, it is crucial to evaluate the consequences of postvaccine myocarditis, particularly in young people, who are less likely to have serious illness after SARS-CoV-2 infection and could thus be less inclined toward vaccination," the study authors wrote. Two thirds of cases of postvaccine myocarditis (67%) occurred after a second COVID-19 vaccine dose. Patients diagnosed as having postvaccination myocarditis were younger than those with post-infection and conventional myocarditis (average age, 25.9, 31.0, and 28.3 years, respectively) and were more often male (84%, 67%, and 79%). Nearly all patients with postvaccination myocarditis (97.5%) had no history of myocarditis in the past 5 years, compared with 97.0% of those with post-infection myocarditis and 93.5% of those with the conventional type. During follow-up, 3.2% of patients with postvaccination myocarditis, 4.0% of those with post-COVID myocarditis, and 5.8% of those with the conventional type were readmitted for myopericarditis (myocarditis and inflammation of the fluid-filled sac surrounding the heart). After standardization, postvaccination myocarditis was tied to lower rates of hospital readmission for myopericarditis, other cardiovascular problems, all-cause death, and a composite of all three outcomes than those with the conventional type (weighted hazard ratio [wHR], 0.55), while those with post-infection myocarditis had comparable outcomes as patients with conventional myocarditis (wHR, 1.04). Hospitalization for other cardiovascular conditions occurred in 2.7% of patients with postvaccination myocarditis, in 7.4% of those with post-infection myocarditis, and in 7.3% of patients who had conventional cases. One patient (0.2%) died after postvaccine myocarditis, 4 (1.3%) died after post-COVID myocarditis, and 49 (1.3%) died after the conventional condition. Patients with postvaccine myocarditis were hospitalized for any cause less often (wHR, 0.69) than those with the conventional disease, with no difference seen with post-COVID myocarditis compared with conventional disease. Findings were similar when hospitalizations for any cause were also considered in the composite outcome (wHR for postvaccine myocarditis, 0.64; wHR for post-COVID myocarditis, 1.03).
Study finds COVID's impact on youth mental health varied in US -- A new study suggests the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young Americans' mental health may not have been as significant as many have feared, but the impact varied. The study, published this week in JAMA Network Open, found that the pandemic was associated with only minor changes in youth mental health overall. And while certain groups of US children saw increases in feelings of distress, symptoms of depression, and externalizing behaviors (such as acting out), some children who entered the pandemic period with documented mental health issues actually saw some improvement. "Our research shows that the pandemic's impact on children varied depending on their individual characteristics, and average changes in the youth population do not fully capture these differences," first author Courtney Blackwell, PhD, of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a study press release. Researchers with the National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded Environmental influences on Child Health Outcome (ECHO) program say their findings, which add some nuance to the widespread narrative that the pandemic and related containment measures exacerbated mental health issues in US youth, could help future efforts to support youth during social disruptions. The study included a socioeconomically diverse cohort of US children ages 6 to 17 from nine ECHO Cohort study sites in the United States who had a Child Behavior Check List (CBCL) School Age assessment conducted before the pandemic (January 2015 to March 12, 2020) or during the pandemic (March 13, 2020, to August 31, 2022). The CBCL is a widely used questionnaire to assess behavioral and emotional problems. Of the 1,229 children included in the study, 51.7% identified as White, 31.6% as Black, 12.0% as multiracial, 9.6% as Hispanic, and 3.3% as another race. Just over half (50.9%) were girls, and 18.7% came from households at or below 130% of the poverty level.Using the CBCL data, researchers measured prepandemic to midpandemic changes in internalizing, externalizing, depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) scores. They also analyzed differences in outcome trajectories by children's sociodemographic characteristics and prepandemic mental health problems. They hypothesized that the pandemic was associated with increases in youth mental health problems. But overall, the analysis found that youth experienced minor decreases in externalizing problems, anxiety, and ADHD, and minor increases in depression. When the researchers looked at mental health changes by sociodemographic characteristics, they found that Black children from lower-income families experienced small declines in internal distress, depression, and ADHD compared with higher-income White youth, girls showed a slight increase in externalizing behaviors compared with boys, and children older than 12 saw increased feelings of distress and symptoms of depression compared with younger children. Most surprisingly, the researchers found that youth with borderline or clinically meaningful prepandemic CBCL scores experienced decreases across all measured outcomes, with the biggest decreases seen in externalizing problems and ADHD."It may be that, for these children, a break from school-related stressors and demands benefited their mental health,"
COVID still on the rise in parts of US -- As the United States heads into the Labor Day holiday weekend and with schools resuming, COVID-19 activity continues to rise in many areas, but it's showing early signs of decline in others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its data updates.Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 detections are still at the very high level and are highest in the South. Though levels are dropping in the West, they are rising in the South, Midwest, and Northeast, the CDC said. Meanwhile, wastewater tracking from WastewaterSCAN shows that detections nationally are still at the high level, with no clear trend up or down over the past 3 weeks. The group, however, noted an upward trend in the Midwest. WastewaterSCAN is a national wastewater monitoring system based at Stanford University in partnership with Emory University. In updated variant proportion estimates today, the CDC said the level of KP.3.1.1—a JN.1 offshoot thought to more easily evade immunity from earlier infection and vaccination—continues to rise sharply and is at 42.2%, up from 29.5% 2 weeks ago. Among the CDC’s other COVID indicators, national test positivity is at 17%, down a hair since the previous week. Positivity is higher in Texas and surrounding states and in the lower Midwestern states than in other parts of the country. Emergency department visits declined from the previous week and are highest in parts of the South and Southeast. Hospitalizations from COVID remain elevated, especially in seniors and in children younger than 2 years old, the CDC said in its weekly respiratory illness summary. Deaths from COVID-19, though still low, rose last week and were at the highest level in Kentucky.
Declaring COVID-19 “endemic,” Biden administration oversees policy of forced mass infection -- The United States is currently mired in its ninth wave of mass infection since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the population now completely abandoned by the powers that be. A policy of forced infection has emerged, in which all public health measures have been scrapped and the most basic protection of mask-wearing is being criminalized in a growing number of counties and states. Wastewater data show that over 1.2 million Americans are being infected with COVID-19 every day. Hospitalizations are climbing, in particular among children and the elderly, while official deaths are approaching 1,000 per week. Excess deaths, a more accurate measure of the real death toll attributable to COVID-19, stand at over 500 per day, with the cumulative death toll in the US nearing 1.5 million. Long COVID, an array of symptoms which are often debilitating, now affects over 20 million Americans and over 400 million people globally. According to wastewater modeler Dr. Mike Hoerger, there have been over 1.1 billion cumulative COVID-19 infections in the United States alone, with the average American infected three or four times. With multiple studies showing that each reinfection compounds one’s risk of Long COVID and other adverse health events such as strokes or heart attacks, the current trajectory of the “forever COVID” policy is towards ever-broadening mass debilitation and death on a world scale. Under these conditions, on August 23 top officials from America’s leading public health agencies held an extraordinary press conference, which very explicitly outlined the Biden administration’s criminal “forever COVID” policy. Leading the event was Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Mandy Cohen, who bluntly declared that COVID-19 “is endemic, it is here with us.” This is the first time a top public health official has proclaimed COVID-19 to be “endemic,” after Drs. Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky and Ashish Jha repeatedly and falsely said that the virus was “in the process” of becoming endemic since the emergence of the Omicron variant in late 2021. An endemic disease is one which is largely contained, predictable and not disruptive to the basic functioning of society. None of this applies to COVID-19, which is spreading like wildfire almost year-round and causing widespread damage to the health of the population, as well as mass absenteeism and economic disruption to the tune of over $1 trillion annually. After claiming that COVID-19 is “endemic,” Cohen hastened to add, “We need to protect ourselves. And we have the tools to do it, we just need to use them.” The reality is that the public health “tools” necessary to mitigate the dangers of COVID-19, let alone stop the pandemic, have been systematically stigmatized, denied and even criminalized by the entire political establishment. The capitalist state, beholden to the profit interests of Wall Street and corporate America, has dismantled all pandemic surveillance and left the population to fend for themselves. Those who remain vigilant and seek to avoid infection are increasingly isolated and unable to protect themselves amid a sea of viral transmission. Over the course of the press conference, it became abundantly clear that the only “tool” advocated by the Biden administration are new vaccines designed for the KP.2 variant, which are currently being rolled out. The officials present covered up the fact that these vaccines are too little, too late, given that the KP.3.1.1 variant is now dominant, with KP.2 accounting for just 3.2 percent of cases nationally, and that the current wave appears to be just peaking. Furthermore, in the course of the press conference it became clear that the latest vaccines will not be guaranteed to everyone, with Cohen stating that uninsured Americans (over 26 million people) will have to try to navigate their local or county public health bureaucracy or pay upwards of $120 for the shot. No speaker seriously addressed the fact that vaccine uptake is abysmally low, the product of bipartisan anti-vaccine disinformation and propaganda portraying the pandemic as over.
FDA approves use of Novavax's updated COVID vaccine | CIDRAPThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that it has granted emergency use authorization for Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine. Approval of the protein-based vaccine comes about a week after the FDA green-lighted the two updated mRNA vaccines—made by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech—which target the KP.2 variant. The Novavax vaccine targets JN.1, the parent of KP.2.Novavax's updated vaccine is authorized for people ages 12 and older. In a statement, Peter Marks, MD, PhD, who directs the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said COVID vaccines continue to have a major positive impact on public health and that vaccination continues to be the most effective method for COVID prevention. "Today's authorization provides an additional COVID-19 vaccine option that meets the FDA's standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization."
Survey reveals growing American distrust in vaccines for COVID, other infectious diseases - A growing proportion of Americans believe COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and are unwilling to be vaccinated or to recommend it to others, according to the latest national health survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The findings from the third Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) knowledge survey are based on responses from 20 survey waves of a nationally representative sample of 1,496 adults empaneled in April 2021. The July 2024 survey was conducted amid the ongoing surge of US COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and before last week's Food and Drug Administration approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines. As of July, 28% of survey respondents mistakenly believed that COVID-19 vaccines have caused thousands of deaths, up from 22% in June 2021, while the proportion who know this is untrue fell from 66% to 55% over the same period. Twenty-two percent of Americans believe the falsity that it's less risky to get infected with COVID-19 than to get the vaccine, more than double the 10% with the belief in the months following the 2021 vaccine rollout. The proportion of respondents who mistakenly think that COVID-19 vaccines change human DNA reached 15%, nearly double the 8% who believed it in 2021."Belief in these three misconceptions is associated with increased reluctance to vaccinate," Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of both Annenberg and the survey, said in an Annenberg news release. "With the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] reporting that COVID-19 infection remains an ongoing threat and [with] an updated vaccine available, now is the time to ramp up awareness both of the value of vaccinating against COVID-19 and of the risks of contracting the disease." As of July, only 20% of those surveyed were somewhat or very worried that they or a family member will contract COVID-19, down from 25% in February 2024 and 35% in October 2023. In February 2024, 44% of respondents said they were "somewhat likely" or "very likely" to get a yearly COVID-19 vaccine if the CDC recommended it, a drop from 52% in June 2023. While 66% of respondents said in July that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks, higher proportions believe that is true for other vaccines (70% for mpox vaccine in July; 74% for respiratory syncytial virus [RSV] vaccine for adults 60 and older in October 2023, and 89% for the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in August 2023). In October 2023, fewer Americans said they thought COVID-19 vaccines were safe (66%) and effective (65%) than thought the same about other vaccines: MMR (81% safe, 83% effective), flu (81%, 75%), shingles (78%, 73%), and pneumonia (74%, 69%).In July, 49% of participants said they would likely receive a combined single-shot mRNA vaccine to protect against COVID-19, flu, and RSV, if one were developed and the CDC recommended it, while 27% said they would be "not at all likely" to get the vaccine.In February 2024, 45% of respondents said they received a seasonal flu shot, compared with 50% in January 2023, findings that align with CDC data showing flu vaccine uptake of 47% in January 2024, down from 50% in December 2022. Likewise, 55% of adults say they would likely recommend that an older family member or friend discuss the RSV vaccine with their clinician, a decrease from 61% in August 2023.The skepticism extends to other vaccines as well, with 32% unsure of the effectiveness of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine aimed at young people, 23% uncertain about the pneumonia vaccine, 19% doubting the shingles vaccine, and 47% unsure about the RSV vaccine during pregnancy or at age 60 and older (37%).
Top 6 questions answered about fall vaccines by Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist - (several graphicss) We received many follow-up questions after the last YLE email about options for fall vaccines. Here are the answers to your top questions! The bottom line is: Get your fall vaccines—it will cut your risk of diseases by half.
1. How long after a Covid-19 infection/vaccination should I wait? We have frustratingly scarce scientific guidance on timing. What we do have tells us this:
- Minimum wait: 2-3 months. A Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t add much benefit within 2-3 months of infection. We don’t have to wait 2-3 months after infection—we won’t “exhaust” or “overwhelm” our immune system. But waiting will reinforce our B cells (our antibody factory that stores some long-term memory).
- Maximum wait: 8-12 months. The longer we wait, the more we get out of the vaccine. One study found that waiting 8 months increased neutralizing antibodies 11 times more than waiting 3 months after infection, which would increase the likelihood of preventing infection. Another study found that a 12-month interval improved vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization. But, of course, waiting is a gamble, especially for high-risk people.
- Try not to overthink it. 4-6 months is usually the sweet spot. Your healthcare provider is an excellent resource for discussing timing!
3. Can I get the flu and Covid-19 vaccine at the same visit? Yes! This is called co-administration, and it’s recommended for convenience—you don’t have to visit the pharmacy or doctor twice. Studies have been conducted on the safety and effectiveness of co-administration with Covid-19 vaccines. In one database, about 454,000 people got the flu and Covid-19 vaccines. Both worked great. The rate of side effects was the same or a little higher among those who co-administered; however, no specific safety concerns were identified.
4. Is it worth it for kids? What do other countries do? In the U.S., everyone 6 months and older is eligible for Covid-19, similar to other countries (like Canada or Japan). Kids in the U.K. or Australia qualify for the Covid-19 vaccine if they have a pre-existing condition. (Note: Not all kids get the flu vaccine in these countries either mainly due to the cost—the government pays for the vaccine, so they must consider this.)
- Death: Covid-19 is about as deadly as the flu among kids but far less risky than for older adults (or those under 6 months old). Covid-19 is more risky for those under 6 months, which is why it’s important to get the vaccine during pregnancy.
- Effectiveness: They work for kids. Last season, the pediatric vaccines provided ~60% additional protection against going to urgent care for Covid-19, compared to not getting the vaccine.
- Safety: Unfortunately, the public hasn’t seen myocarditis (i.e., inflammation of the heart muscle) data for last season yet, but there’s no reason to think it’s changed—while there is a safety signal among young men, the risk dropped dramatically for boosters. An analysis last year showed that the benefits still outweigh the risks. The most common causes of myocarditis are viral infections, where it’s typically much more severe.
- Missed school days: I’m frustrated that we don’t have robust data for other outcomes, such as reduced sick days. Since vaccination prevents ~20% of infections in the first few months, we can assume vaccines reduce sick days “a bit.” But other than that, we don’t know, which is unhelpful for parental decision-making.
6. Free antigen tests will be available again this season. The U.S. government plans to give each household four free at-home Covid-19 tests again this season. This should open in late September. I will be sure to update you when you can order your tests. There are flu/Covid-19 combined at-home antigen tests now. There isn’t one for RSV yet.
UK studies highlight prevalence, severity, and impact of long-COVID symptoms --Two new studies conducted in the United Kingdom describe the prevalence, severity, and impact of long COVID. One of the studies found fatigue, tiredness, and shortness of breath were the most common persistent symptoms among UK healthcare workers (HCWs) and had a significant impact on their work and life. The other suggested that pain is the most prevalent and severe symptom among long-COVID patients and that demographic factors such as age and ethnicity play a role in symptom severity. In the first study, published yesterday in the Journal of Infection, researchers from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Public Health Scotland analyzed data collected through the SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection Evaluation (SIREN) study, a large prospective cohort study of UK HCWs participating in frequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 since June 2020. Because HCWs in the UK and elsewhere have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, the researchers wanted to determine the prevalence of persistent symptoms in SIREN participants and the impact of those symptoms on work and life. An electronic survey was sent to SIREN participants who had reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection by September 12, 2022. The survey provided a list of 35 symptoms and asked about the severity of the initial infection, number of infections, prevalence of and healthcare consultations for persistent symptoms (lasting more than 12 weeks), impact on work-related and daily activities, and days absent from work.Of the 16,599 participants eligible to complete the survey, 6,677 responded and 5,053 (median age, 49 years; 84.3% female; 90.7% White) were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of persistent symptoms differed by infection episode but was highest for first infections (32.7%) compared with second (21.6%) and third infections (21.6%). The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue and tiredness, shortness of breath, and difficulty concentrating. A higher prevalence of persistent symptoms was reported during the wild-type variant period than in the other variant periods (52.9% wild-type vs 20.9% Omicron for any symptom reported), and in general, almost every reported persistent symptom became less prevalent from the wild-type to Delta to Omicron periods. A higher prevalence of persistent symptoms was also found among those who were unvaccinated (38.1%) than among those who were vaccinated (22.0%). Multivariable analysis showed that participants were less likely to report persistent symptoms in infections occurring after vaccination compared with those with an infection before vaccination in the Alpha/Delta and Omicron periods (Alpha/Delta adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51 to 0.87; Omicron aOR, 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.65). Of the participants who reported persistent symptoms, 51.8% and 42.1% said those symptoms impacted their day-to-day and work-related activities "a little," respectively, and 24.0% and 14.4% reported that the impact was "a lot." When asked about work adjustments, 8.9% said they had reduced their working hours, and 13.9% reported changing their work pattern. The median number of days taken off from work due to persistent symptoms was 14. In the second study, published yesterday in JRSM Open, researchers from University College London (UCL) analyzed self-reported symptoms from 1,008 people in England and Wales who had been referred to a National Health Service post-COVID clinic and had reported their symptoms on an app—the Living with COVID Recovery Digital Health Intervention—from November 30, 2020, to March 23, 2022. Their aim was to identify the prevalence of self-reported symptoms and the relationship between demographic factors and symptom intensity, which app users ranked on a scale of 0 ("not at all intense") to 10 ("extremely intense"). Of the 1,008 participants, 77% reported symptoms multiple times, and 23% reported symptoms only once. A total of 1,604 unique symptoms were reported, which researchers grouped into 109 symptom categories. The most prevalent symptoms reported were pain (26.5% of all symptoms reported), neuropsychological issues (18.4%), fatigue (14.3%), and dyspnea (shortness of breath, 7.4%). The intensity of the symptoms increased by 3.3%, on average, each month since participants initially registered on the app. Participants aged 68 to 77 and 78 to 87 experienced higher symptom intensity (32.8% and 86% higher, respectively) than those aged 18 to 27, women reported 9.2% more intense symptoms than men, and non-White individuals reported 23.5% more intense symptoms than White individuals.
Report details COVID-related healthcare worker attacks, injuries, deaths around the world - During the first 3 years of the pandemic, at least 255 healthcare workers (HCWs) around the world were attacked, 18 were killed, 147 were injured, and 86 facilities were damaged, finds a report published last week in Health Security.Led by researchers in the Netherlands, the study extracted data on global COVID-related attacks against HCWs from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition database from January 2020 to January 2023. The team included incidents related to COVID-19 public health measures or interference with COVID-19 care, including attacks related to conflict."During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence targeting healthcare reportedly increased," the researchers wrote. "Attacks against healthcare can severely hamper the public health response during a pandemic."During the study period, 255 COVID-19-related attacks on HCWs were reported, with 18 killed and 147 injured, in addition to damage to 86 facilities. Attacks were most common at the beginning of the pandemic and primarily consisted of "stigma-related" attacks on HCWs. Incidents in 2021 included those against vaccination campaigns and conflict-related attacks that interfered with COVID-19 care. Such incidents were reported in heterogeneous contexts throughout the pandemic."Due to underreporting, the data presented are a minimum estimate of the actual magnitude of violence," the study authors wrote. "The findings of this study emphasize the importance of public education campaigns, improved coordination between healthcare organizations and law enforcement, and the possible need to bolster the security of medical facilities and health workers."
Southern Hemisphere flu season similar to past years, with high levels in some countries Southern Hemisphere flu activity is winding down, and data show that the 2024 season was similar to the region’s earlier flu seasons, a reminder that the virus can cause significant public health impact, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an overview yesterday. Though it's important to consider Southern Hemisphere flu activity ahead of the upcoming US flu season, the CDC emphasized that patterns there don't always predict how the season will unfold in the United States. Differences in predominant flu viruses and population immunity can contribute to regional variations, it added.In the Southern Hemisphere, flu activity this season varied by virus strain, severity, and timing. In South America, H3N2 was the main strain, and Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay had an early start to their seasons. Chile's activity was very high, and Chile, Ecuador, and Uruguay had high levels of severe disease. In contrast, H1N1 was dominant in the African region, with Zambia reporting an early start to the season and very high levels of illness and severe disease. Activity continues—now mostly from influenza B—in South Africa and Zambia.H3N2 was predominant in the Oceania region. The timing of Australia's season was similar to pre-COVID years and similar to its 2023 flu season. Flu activity reached the moderate level and has been decreasing in recent weeks, though several areas are seeing upward trends.The Southern Hemisphere's flu season typically runs from April through September, but it can sometimes extend into October or November, the CDC said."Vaccination remains the best defense against flu and even if vaccination does not prevent the risk of flu entirely, it can help reduce the severity of flu illness in people who get flu despite being vaccinated," the CDC said "In the United States, September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu."
Minnesota measles outbreak rises to 30 cases -- A measles outbreak in Minnesota's Twin Cities metropolitan area has sickened 30 unvaccinated children so far, prompting a new push from state health officials for parents to ensure that their kids are vaccinated. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)yesterday said the outbreak is mainly affecting unvaccinated children in the state's Somali community. The first cases were reported in May and June, but the pace of infections increased in July. Patient ages range from 7 months to 10 years, with one infection reported in an adult. About one third of the patients were hospitalized. Though the outbreak is centered in a specific population, anyone who is unvaccinated is at risk for illness with the highly contagious virus that spreads easily and can remain in the air for up to 2 hours after an infected person leaves a room, the MDH said.Along with school starting, two big events will occur in September that will draw many people, the Islamic Association of North America Annual Convention and the Annual Minnesota Muslim Convention. The MDH urged attendees of those and other big events to be vaccinated and for people to stay home if they are unvaccinated and have been exposed to measles. Also, Sheikh Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of Islamic Association of North America, urged attendees to consider their vaccination status and for parents to ensure that children have received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Reports of measles cases have continued over the summer, part of a global rise this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its latest weekly update reported 8 more cases, raising the national total to 227 from 29 jurisdictions, the most since 2019. Of the cases so far, 155 were part of 13 outbreaks.
WHO releases plan to combat mpox outbreaks - The World Health Organization (WHO) released a six-month plan to help stop outbreaks of human-to-human transmission of mpox, which includes adding staff in affected countries, increasing surveillance and ramping up prevention and response strategies. WHO officials expect the plan will begin in September and end in February and require $135 million in new funding to build off standing recommendations like to advance access to diagnostic tests and vaccines and to help communities participate in outbreak prevention and control. Vaccination efforts will work to interrupt transmission chains by focusing on people at the highest risk of contracting the virus, such as close contacts to recent cases and health care workers, the agency said in a statement. “The mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries can be controlled, and can be stopped,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Doing so requires a comprehensive and coordinated plan of action between international agencies and national and local partners, civil society, researchers and manufacturers, and our Member States.” Mpox is a disease caused by the formerly named monkeypox virus and is part of the same family as smallpox. People with mpox often develop a rash, fever, headache and muscle aches. Germany announced Monday that it will donate 100,000 mpox vaccine doses from its military stocks to help mitigate the outbreak of the disease in Africa, according to Reuters. The German government will also give WHO “flexible financial resources” to fight mpox outbreaks and help the organization’s public health partners in Africa through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a spokesperson told Reuters. WHO declared the recent surge of mpox cases a public health emergency earlier this month, in part, due to rapidly increasing cases in Congo. As of Aug. 22, there have been a total of 3,326 confirmed and 17,979 suspected cases of mpox, along with 590 deaths from the disease across 12 African countries so far this year, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Survey: Third of specialized health workers hadn't heard of mpox in 2022 before it hit their country --A survey of 725 healthcare workers (HCWs) across 41 previously unaffected countries in August, September, and October 2022 shows 30% had never heard of mpox before the outbreaks and over 25% said they misdiagnosed the disease once it appeared, according to a new preprint study from a team of global researchers led by scientists from Queen Mary University of London.Among the 725 HCWs recruited for the study, 91% were physicians who specialized in sexual health or infectious disease.The global mpox outbreak in 2022 was primarily spread by sexual transmission of the zoonotic illness among men who have sex with men (MSM) in countries that had previously seen no or little monkeypox, or mpox, activity. Any infections in countries outside of Africa were most often travel-related and not linked to large outbreaks.Following surveys of HCWs given during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers were trying to assess preparedness, burnout, and difficulties facing HCWs who encountered mpox cases. Workers were recruited through social media and were eligible if they lived in a region that had not seen endemic mpox activity."This analysis was restricted to individuals residing in the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), the Caribbean, Central America, South America, the United States (US), and Canada, because the purpose of the survey was to evaluate pandemic preparedness and the clinical confidence of clinicians dealing with an existing pathogen emerging in a new context," the authors wrote.The online survey included 87 questions on topics ranging from demographics, outbreak preparedness, vaccination status, moral distress. and psychological unease. Thirty percent of respondents said they had never heard of mpox before, with only 2% of US and Canadian physicians saying they had heard of the virus before the outbreak, compared with 4% in Central and South America and 24% in Europe.Overall, 41% of those surveyed reported working longer hours during the mpox outbreak, and more than 25% said they had misdiagnosed someone initially.Roughly half of all HCWs surveyed said they felt not at all or only a little bit confident in managing suspected or confirmed clinical cases of mpox when the outbreak began. Similarly, 53% said their institution provided clear, timely, and authoritative information about mpox.Fifty-five percent said they felt the term "moral distress" resonated with their experiences at work managing suspected or confirmed clinical cases of mpox.
Africa’s mpox cases continue steady rise; first vaccine doses arrive in Nigeria - About 4,000 more mpox cases were reported in Africa last week, mostly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said yesterday. In another development, Nigeria yesterday received 10,000 mpox vaccine doses, becoming the first country to receive the vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria office said in a statement. At a telebriefing yesterday, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH, said the outbreak is increasing, with 22,863 cases reported since the first of the year, up about 4,000 from the previous week. Deaths rose by 81 last week, putting the region’s fatality count at 622. One more country—Gabon—recently reported its first case, lifting the number of affected countries to 13. Earlier this week, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that the expanding mpox outbreak could be devastating for refugees and displaced communities in the DRC and other African countries. At a briefing, the group said at least 42 suspected cases have been reported in refugee populations in the DRC’s South Kivu province. The group said conflict-affected provinces in the DRC host most of the country’s 7.3 million internally displaced people, which may mean the groups are cut off from humanitarian assistance.Kaseya said cases are still increasing, but officials know that surveillance is still weak and that the case counts likely underestimate the disease burden. He also said officials know there is a data quality issue and said Africa CDC is deploying 72 epidemiologists to affected countries to get a better idea of where and how mpox is spreading.Over the past week, Africa CDC officials have met with government heads from the DRC, as well as with international response partners, Kaseya said, adding that the DRC’s commitment to battling the outbreak is clear and that the group is heartened by mpox vaccine donations that have already come from Europe; the United States; Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; and other partners. Talks are under way with other donors. The WHO’s Nigeria office said the mpox vaccine doses it received, Jynneos made by Bavarian Nordic, will be rolled out in five states with the highest mpox burden. Nigerian regulators had already granted emergency use authorization for the vaccine.Nigeria has reported mpox for several years, with cases that peaked in 2022. As of August 10, the country this year has reported 786 cases, 39 of them confirmed. None were fatal.
Confirmed polio case in Gaza leads to vaccine drive - A vaccine-derived polio case recently confirmed in Gaza has led to a two-round vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 kids set to begin this weekend in the war-torn region.Israel and Hamas have agreed to a phased, limited 3-day pause in fighting to facilitate the vaccinations, beginning September 1.According to this week’s report from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), one circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case was identified earlier this month in Gaza, the first case in 25 years. Six cVDPV2-positive environmental samples have been reported in Gaza this year.Today, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros NAME said on X, "We welcome the commitment to humanitarian pauses in specific areas, and suspension of evacuation orders for the implementation of the campaign. But the only lasting medicine is peace. The only way to fully protect all the children of Gaza is a ceasefire."Tedros said today during WHO’s weekly briefing that more than 1.2 million doses of vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, and 2,180 healthcare workers and community outreach workers have been trained in vaccination strategies. Tedros said the goal is 90% vaccination coverage during each round of the campaignIn other polio news, the GPEI noted more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.In Afghanistan, four WPV1 cases were reported in Kandahar, raising this year’s total to 17 cases. In Pakistan, two WPV1 cases were reported in Balochistan and Sindh, with 16 cases reported so far this year. Chad, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan also recorded cases, all cVDPV2.
Listeria outbreak tied to deli meats grows; death toll reaches 9 --Since August 8, officials have reported 14 more illnesses in on an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to tainted deli meats, bringing the total to 57, and 6 new deaths are now confirmed, raising the death count to 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted yesterday in an update.The current outbreak is now the largest listeriosis outbreak in the United States since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe, the CDC said in a press release.The deli meats are produced by Boar's Head Provisions Co, Inc, of Sarasota, Florida, which has recalled several products, including liverwurst, hams, bolognas, and salamis. The meats in question have expiration or sell-by dates ranging from July 2024 through October 2024."Everyone should check their homes for any remaining recalled Boar's Head products since they can have long a shelf-life. Look for "EST. 12612" or "P-12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Some of the products have sell by dates into October 2024," the CDC said.Signs of illness from the bacteria—which is especially dangerous for pregnant women, people who have a weakened immune system, and those 65 and older—can take up to 10 weeks to develop."Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces, like meat slicers and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures,” the CDC said. Of the 57 case-patients, 17 live in New York state, 8 live in Maryland, and 5 live in New Jersey. In total 18 states have reported cases. The age range of patients is 32 to 95 years."Of 57 people with information available, all 57 have been hospitalized. One person got sick during their pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering," the CDC said. Of the nine deaths reported, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, New York, have each recorded one fatality, while two people have died in South Carolina.During epidemiologic interviews 93% of 44 participants reported eating deli meats before falling ill. Of the 41 people who said they ate liverwurst, 25 (61%) reported deli-sliced liverwurst before getting sick, and 19 (46%) reported Boar's Head brand.The CDC said people who are at higher risk for getting sick with Listeria, should always avoid eating meats sliced at deli counters, unless the meat is heated to an internal temperature of 165°F.
Chinese researchers warn of rise in Acinetobacter strains carrying multiple carbapenemase genes -- A study by Chinese researchers indicates a global rise inAcinetobacter species carrying multiple carbapenem-resistance genes. In a letter published yesterday in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, a team led by researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine said analysis of 30,713Acinetobacter genomes from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pathogen Detection Database revealed that 1,409 (5.1%) of 27,487 A baumannii isolates and 216 (6.7%) of 3,226 non-baumannii Acinetobacter spp. (nAB) isolates co-harbored at least two carbapenemases, with notable increases from 2018 through 2023. Multiple carbapenemase-positive Acinetobacter genomes were detected in 61 countries across six continents, with the highest prevalence found in the United States (33.7%), India (13.3%), and China (8.6%). Carbapenem-resistant A baumannii is already considered an urgent public health threat by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because it's so difficult to treat. Some studies have found mortality rates as high as 72% in patients with carbapenem-resistant A baumanniiinfections.But among the 54 distinct combinations of double carbapenemases identified, the analysis also found the co-existence of metallo-beta-lactamase and tetracycline-inactivating genes, which confer resistance to many of the recently approved beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (such as ceftazidime/avibactam and meropenem/vaborbactam) and tigecycline, all of which have been considered potential treatments for carbapenem-resistant A baumannii infections. These combinations, the study authors said, further restrict the antibiotic treatment options for Acinetobacter infections.While nearly all the A baumannii strains originated from clinical settings, 33.5% of the nAB strains were isolated from environmental or livestock sources, the researchers added."In summary, the prevalence of Acinetobacter species co-harboring multiple carbapenemases is increasing globally, and the emergence of novel combinations of carbapenemases and their coexistence with Tet(X) enzymes requires further investigation" they wrote. "Moreover, the global emergence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter species in diverse sources emphasizes the critical importance for a One Health approach for the investigation and control of its spread."
Study describes epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in South Africa - Data collected from hospitals in South Africa's third most populous province highlight the patients who are bearing the burden of rising rates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in the country, researchers reported yesterday in PLOS One. Using routine clinical and laboratory datasets, researchers from Stellenbosch University analyzed all CRE episodes (including clinical episodes and carriage) at hospitals in Western Cape province from 2016 through 2020. With CRE becoming an increasing problem at hospitals across the country but little local data on it, they wanted to describe the epidemiology of CRE carriage and infection, examine patient demographics and resistance phenotypes, and identify factors associated with mortality.A total of 2,242 CRE episodes (70.5% clinical episodes and 29.5% carriage) were identified over the study period. Among the 2,281 CRE isolates identified, the most common species were Klebsiella spp (72.1%),Enterobacter cloacae (15.1%), and Escherichia coli (5.5%). Affected patients were mostly male (52%) and had a median age of 31 years. Most CRE episodes occurred in hospitalized patients (93%) and were recorded in central hospitals (70%).The proportions of CRE isolates that were non-susceptible to imipenem and meropenem were 77.6% and 74.6%, respectively, and resistance to other beta-lactam antibiotics exceeded 98%. Among the 2,109 CRE episodes with available outcome data, 20.4% of patients died; crude in-hospital mortality rates were significantly higher for CRE clinical episodes (26.9%) than for CRE carriage episodes (6.4%).
German study finds concerning rate of resistant E coli in cats and dogs ,--An analysis of veterinary data from Germany found that about 12% of Escherichia coli isolates from the country's dogs and cats are resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, researchers reported yesterday in PLOS One.In the study, a team led by researchers from Germany's Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics analyzed antimicrobial susceptibility test results obtained from 3,491 veterinary practices in Germany (33% of all practices nationwide) from 2019 through 2021 through GERM-Vet, Germany's monitoring system for resistant pathogenic bacteria in animals. Out of 175,171 samples, they evaluated 25,491 E colistrains for resistance to several antibiotic classes, focusing on cefovecin, the only third-generation cephalosporin approved for veterinary use. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E coli is considered a significant health threat in both people and animals, and the study authors note that cefovecin resistance can be reasonably compared to resistance to other third-generation cephalosporins. Third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E coli in companion animals is a particular concern because of the potential for transmission to owners."Due to the close contact between pet animals and their owners, information on resistance-carrying pathogens in companion animals is crucial for human health as well," the study authors wrote. "Knowledge about the occurrence and distribution are needed to gain further understanding and contribute to the One Health aspect of AMR [antimicrobial resistance]."The proportion of E coli isolates that were resistant to cefovecin was 11.6%, with a similar proportion found in dogs (11.6%) and cats (11.7%). But there was notable local variation, with some regions showing resistance proportions around 15%. In addition, cefovecin-resistant E coli showed higher resistance levels to other antibiotics, specifically 30% for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 28% for chloramphenicol, 18% for enrofloxacin, and 14% for gentamicin.
Officials detail H5N1 clusters in Colorado poultry cullers - Earlier this summer health officials described nine H5N1 avian flu infections in Colorado poultry cullers, and today a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their partners at the Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPH) spelled out full investigation and response details and the lessons they learned during the response.The culling teams—mainly Spanish-speaking migrant workers—were hired as contractors following two H5N1 outbreaks at massive layer farms that occurred within a week of each other in July in Weld County, which has been the state’s hot spot for outbreaks in dairy cows. The team published its findings today in the latest edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.In the first outbreak, confirmed on July 8, a team of about 250 contract workers began culling the following day. Two days later, Colorado agriculture officials were notified that several workers were sick, prompting testing and empiric treatment with oseltamivir by a state health department field team. The CDPH delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) and distributed oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to all workers, regardless of symptoms.On July 14, poultry at another large layer farm tested positive for the virus, and the following day a team of about 400 contract workers began culling operations as the CDPH distributed goggles and N95 respirators. Health officials observed high compliance with PPE use and offered routine screening and empiric oseltamivir over six visits.Between the two locations, 109 of the 663 workers reported symptoms and agreed to testing. Of those, 9 (8.3%) were positive for H5 avian flu and 19 (17.4%) were positive for COVID-19. Five of the infected workers were women. All nine had conjunctivitis and other mild symptoms. Investigators said the symptoms were similar to those reported by workers who got sick after exposure to H5N1-infected dairy cows. Though they couldn’t rule out environmental contamination—such as noninfectious viral particles carried in the nose or eye—they said the evidence leans toward actual infections. Which is especially likely because four of the nine people who tested positive were swabbed in the morning, before exposure to environmental or occupational contamination that day. Also, virus was isolated from the clinical specimens of five patients.Exposure risks included having to catch and handle each live bird and inconsistent or improper PPE use in a setting where hundreds of workers were urgently hired for poultry depopulation. Extreme heat also added to PPE compliance challenges. The clusters in poultry workers emphasize the ongoing threat of H5N1 to people who have close contact with infected animals, the team wrote, adding that early response with multilingual teams were crucial for building trust, conducting screening, and providing treatment.
Avian flu virus confirmed in Michigan dairy herd -Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has been confirmed in a dairy herd in Van Buren County, Michigan—the nation's first detection for almost 2 weeks. The last detection in Michigan was on July 26, also in Van Buren County.The detection brings the number of affected dairy herds in Michigan to 28, and samples have been sent to the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories for additional confirmatory testing, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. According to state rules, the detection will now prohibit the exhibition of all lactating dairy cattle, and those in the last 2 months of pregnancy, until there are no new cases of HPAI in Michigan dairy cattle for at least 60 consecutive days.In the past 30 days, 5 states have reported 20 cases of HPAI in dairy cattle, according to the USDA. The most recent previous detections were in Colorado and Idaho.In other avian flu news, a preprint study of raptors from the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center and the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth during the 2022-23 H5N1 avian flu outbreak finds that 69.1% of bald eagles were seropositive for influenza virus, and 52 of 67 (77.6%) of them tested positive for antibodies to both H5 and N1.The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, offers new insight on the seroprevalence of influenza viruses in wild birds. According to the authors, the prevalence of influenza antibodies observed in this study was higher than reported from raptors sampled in this same region in 2012
New Mexico reports more H5N1 in dairy cows as California probes possible outbreaks on 3 farms The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) todayconfirmed another H5N1 avian flu outbreak in a dairy herd in New Mexico, the state’s first since the middle of April.The outbreak pushes the nation's total confirmed outbreaks in dairy facilities to 194 in 13 states.Though the pace of H5N1 outbreaks on dairy farms has slowed over the summer months, federal officials said at a briefing earlier this month that it was too soon to say if the virus was ebbing in cattle. They noted that cattle movement between states, which played a role in initial spread, picks back up in the fall due to greater demand for milk, partly due to schools resuming.The California Department of Food and Agriculture yesterday announced that it is investigating the possible introduction of the virus into three dairy farms in the state’s Central Valley. It said samples have been sent for testing to California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory. If positive, they will be considered "presumptive" and submitted to the USDA for confirmation. In early June, WastewaterSCAN launched an H5 wastewater dashboard to help track undetected H5 spread, and, since then, traces of the virus have been found in nine states, seven of which have reported H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cows. California and Arkansas were the only two states with positive H5 wastewater findings that hadn't reported recent outbreaks on dairy or poultry farms. California is the nation's top milk production state and accounts for one fifth of the nation's supply. The state has about 1,100 dairy farms, and herds in Tulare, Merced, and Stanislaus counties make up just more than half of the state's milk output.
Gene editors are modifying cow guts to stop their planet-warming burps -- There are approximately 1.5 billion cows on the planet. Their digestive systems are nothing short of miraculous — they can survive on grass, corn and alfalfa but also the battered byproducts of human crops: almond hulls, corn husks, even sawdust. The cows have help. A rich microbiome in the largest chamber of their stomach, known as the rumen, dismantles these foodstuffs and transforms them into usable energy. But the rumen has a dark side. The porous, fleshy chamber hosts single-celled organisms called archaea, which break down hydrogen and carbon dioxide, producing methane. Unable to process the gas, cows burp it up. The average cow produces around 220 pounds of methane per year, or around half the emissions of an average car; cows are currently responsible for around 4 percent of global warming, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Partial solutions abound. Companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat have developed plant-based beef products that look, smell and taste like real meat. Environmentalists have urged consumers to cut back on beef and opt for lower-emissions chicken and fish instead. But as countries grow richer, beef production continues to rise — in the past 15 years, by 13 percent globally. Adding seaweed, oregano, or garlic to cow diets can cut methane emissions, sometimes by up to 80 percent. But only about 1 in 10 cattle in the United States — largely those producing milk — are fed every day by humans. The ratio is similar globally. The rest, mostly beef cattle, range free on pastures, surviving on grass and forage. Getting those billions of free-ranging cattle to eat seaweed or garlic is logistically almost impossible. Enter a team of gene editors. Scientists envision a kind of probiotic pill, given to the cow at birth, that can transform its microbiome permanently. Using gene editing tools, researchers have already bredcattle without horns, or with special slick coats that help them stay cool amid rising temperatures. The current project doesn’t target only a particular cow species — it takes aim at the microbiome itself, offering a solution that could apply to all of them. Brad Ringeisen, executive director at the genomics institute, cut his teeth running biotechnology at the U.S. defense research agency DARPA, which helped pioneer transformative innovations including the internet, miniaturized GPS, stealth aircraft and the computer mouse. “I’m taking the DARPA mentality here,” he said. “Let’s solve it for all cows, not just a fraction of the cows.”Unlike the human stomach – which uses acid to break down food – in the cow rumen, the microbes do all the work. They ferment feed, much like a brewer makes beer.Bacteria break down sugars into fatty acids, which provide energy for the cow, and two byproducts: hydrogen and carbon dioxide.Archaea gobble up H2 and CO2 and combine them into methane, or CH4.The cow burps methane out into the atmosphere, warming the planet and helping spur heat waves, flooding, and powerful storms.But scientists point out that it doesn’t have to be this way. There is nothing inherent to cows that requires them to release planet-warming gases — it’s just the build-up of hydrogen and the microbes that have evolved to consume that volatile gas.“There’s no reason a cow has to produce methane,” Ringeisen said.So what if scientists could just … turn it off? The Innovative Genomics Institute — co-founded by Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel-prize-winning chemist who helped pioneer CRISPR gene editing — occupies a tiered glass building in downtown Berkeley, Calif., just across the street from the main campus. Down in one of the laboratories, Brady Cress, the institute’s head of microbiome editing, was playing an AI-generated country song about transforming the cow microbiome. The song’s chorus came out in a tinny twang from his phone speakers: “Cow rumen, stop fumin’.” CRISPR — clustered interspaced short palindromic repeats — is a set of DNA sequences found in bacteria and archaea. When combined with an enzyme known as Cas9, CRISPR can be used like a guided pair of scissors: slicing and dicing pieces of DNA before replacing them with new segments. Today, scientists at the institute are attempting to use gene editing tools to solve societal problems. Much has been made of how CRISPR could help solve human health problems, such as sickle cell disease, cancer or HIV. But some scientists here think the tool’s most powerful application might be for methane. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, stays in the atmosphere for seven to 12 years, while carbon dioxide can persist for hundreds of years. Curbing those emissions, which come from livestock, oil and gas, and land-use change, could also dramatically slow the rate of warming.
Mosquito-borne disease: Massachusetts towns set voluntary curfew amid EEE case — A voluntary evening lockdown has been enacted in four Massachusetts towns amid a potentially fatal mosquito-born disease.The towns of Webster, Oxford, Sutton and Douglas made the decision following confirmation of the first human case of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Worcester County since 2020.Massachusetts health officials said 12 cases of EEE in 2019 resulted in six deaths, and one death from five cases the following year. Oxford Board of Health voted in favor of the recommendation that residents should stay inside from 6 p.m. local time until Sep. 30.The guidance came into effect with immediacy earlier this week. Once October begins the advised curfew starts an hour earlier at 5 p.m.While the lockdown is not mandatory, CBS News reports that school districts will comply with the measures, meaning sports practices will be halted or moved inside during curfew.Bodies wishing to continue with outdoor activities are required to file paperwork acknowledging the risks.Oxford Board of Health voted in favor of the recommendation that residents should stay inside from 6 p.m. local time until Sep. 30. The guidance came into effect with immediacy earlier this week. Once October begins the advised curfew starts an hour earlier at 5 p.m. While the lockdown is not mandatory, CBS News reports that school districts will comply with the measures, meaning sports practices will be halted or moved inside during curfew.
Massachusetts to start spraying for Eastern equine encephalitis Massachusetts officials over the weekend announced plans to start spraying for mosquitoes in two counties to reduce the risk from eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Officials from the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources said they will conduct aerial spraying in parts of Plymouth County and truck-mounted spraying in parts of Worcester County to target mosquitoes carrying the virus. On August 16, the DPH reported the state's first EEE case since 2020, in a man in his 80s who was exposed in Worcester County.EEE is a rare but serious mosquito-borne illness that can lead to severe neurologic complications and potentially be fatal. In the 2019-20 EEE outbreak in Massachusetts, 17 cases and 7 deaths were reported."We have not seen an outbreak of EEE for four years in Massachusetts," DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, said in a DPH press release. "This year's outbreak and activity raise the risk for communities in parts of the state. We need to use all our available tools to reduce risk and protect our communities."DPH officials are also advising residents of high-risk areas to schedule outdoor activities to avoid dusk-to-dawn hours to minimize exposure to the mosquitoes most likely to carry EEE.In a separate press release, the DPH said eight municipalities are now to be considered at high risk from another mosquito-borne illness—West Nile virus (WNV). The first WNV-positive mosquitoes in Massachusetts were announced on July 2. "We are finding evidence of West Nile virus in mosquitoes in multiple parts of the Commonwealth," Goldstein said. "While most people do not get severely ill from WNV, it is still important to take it seriously." The elevated risk level applies to Boston in Suffolk County and Abington, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Whitman in Plymouth County.
New Hampshire reports fatal EEE case -- The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services this week reported a fatal eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) infection in an adult from Hampstead, its first case in 10 years. The rare but serious mosquito-borne illness can cause severe, potentially deadly, neurologic complications. The patient had been hospitalized because of severe central nervous system disease before death.New Hampshire reported its last EEE case in 2014 when it reported three infections, two of which were fatal.Along with the human case, officials reported EEE virus (EEEV) detections in one horse and seven mosquito batches this summer. They also note that neighboring states Massachusetts and Vermont have reported recent human EEE cases. In a statement, New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Benjamin Chan, MD, MPH, said, "We believe there is an elevated risk for EEEV infections this year in New England given the positive mosquito samples identified. The risk will continue into the fall until there is a hard frost that kills the mosquitos. Everybody should take steps to prevent mosquito bites when they are outdoors." In its latest update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had received four reports of EEE cases, all involving the neuroinvasive form of the disease, in four states: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The nation averages about 11 cases each year.
CDC snapshot details Oropouche virus infection in 21 travelers to Cuba - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state partners from Florida and New York yesterday reported their clinical findings on 21 imported Oropouche virus cases reported this summer. The team's early online report appears in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).The disease, spread by biting midges and perhaps some mosquito species, has been spreading beyond endemic areas of South America since the end of 2023, fueling outbreaks and reports of severe fetal outcomes following infection during pregnancy. Earlier this month, the CDC issued Oropouche virus alertsfor clinicians and travelers. Of the 21 cases confirmed in the United States, 20 were in Florida and 1 in New York state. All of the patients had traveled to Cuba. Three people were hospitalized, but no deaths were reported. Similar imported cases have been reported in European travelers. Cases continue to rise in Florida, which has now reported 30 imported Oropouche cases, according to the latest vectorborne illness report from the Florida Department of Health. Most patients had a self-limiting febrile illness with headache and muscle aches, a clinical picture that is similar to other arboviral disease, including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. Some Oropouche patients reported gastrointestinal symptoms. At least three patients, however, sought care when they had relapsing symptoms, which the authors said is a unique feature of Oropouche virus infection. The CDC said the risk for sustained local transmission is low, and it urged people who have been in Oropouche-affected areas, including those experiencing symptoms, to take steps to avoid insect bites for 3 weeks after returning home. Studies are under way to see of US biting midge and mosquito species are capable of carrying the virus, and the CDC said it working with the Pan American Health Organization and other partners to learn more about infection risks during pregnancy.
India reports largest Chandipura virus outbreak in 2 decades -India has reported a surge in Chandipura virus infections this summer, with 245 acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases reported since July, with 82 of them fatal. So far, polymerase chain reaction testing has confirmed the virus in 64 cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an August 23 outbreak announcement. Chandipura virus is endemic in India, and it is known to trigger sporadic cases and outbreaks of AES in western, southern, and central part of the country, especially during monsoon season. Outbreaks typically occur every 4 to 5 years in Gujarat state. The virus—a member of the Rhabdoviridae family—is transmitted by vectors that include sandflies, mosquitoes, and ticks. The disease mainly affects children ages 15 and younger. The main symptoms are fever, with coma and convulsions that can occur within 48 to 72 hours of symptoms onset. Cases began rising in early June, and 43 of 806 districts in India have reported AES cases. Of the 64 confirmed cases, 61 were in Gujarat state and 3 in Rajasthan state. The WHO said cases have been declining since the middle of July. Though authorities have deployed control strategies, further transmission is possible in the coming weeks, given favorable conditions from the monsoon season in affected areas. India's last large Chandipura virus occurred in 2003, when 329 suspected cases, 183 of them fatal, were reported in Andhra Pradesh state. The virus has been detected only in India, but the WHO said it may be present in other countries in Asia and Africa. The sandfly vector is present in Southeast Asia.
Don’t let mosquitos drain the last of summer fun – by Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist - (several graphs) There is a lot of news about mosquitos and diseases right now:
- West Nile Virus was highlighted by Dr. Anthony Fauci's hospitalization.
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)—a rare but severe viral illness—led to a death in New Hampshire.
- Oropouche (aka “sloth fever”) has caused a new travel advisory urging pregnant women to avoid travel to areas with outbreaks, such as Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Cuba.
- A dengue fever emergency continues to ravage Puerto Rico.
Mosquito-borne diseases are not new to the U.S. They’ve remained relatively low in the mainland since the mid-20th century due to a nationwide campaign that effectively eradicated malaria through widespread insecticide spraying and other control measures, like draining swamps, using air conditioning, and providing quality healthcare. West Nile is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. It is a fairly new disease—25 years ago, we didn’t have it around. But this year isn’t particularly bad. So far, in 2024, 235 cases have been reported to the CDC, which is similar (if not less) than in previous years. Same with EEE—the rare disease that caused a death in New Hampshire. In the U.S., we’ve had 4 cases this year, which is about on par compared to previous years. Mosquito-borne diseases are most common during August and September. Mosquitos are cold-blooded, so transmission is a bit like a chemistry experiment. If it’s too cold (below ~16°C, or ~60°F), the mosquito life cycle slows down too much to spread disease. Closer to the “magic temperature” of ~25°C (77°F), mosquitos are happier—and diseases spread a little more easily from mosquito to human. With warming temperatures and changing climates, evidence shows that the habitat of some mosquitos is migrating, thus increasing the number of cases in the U.S. There is also more global travel (humans bringing disease and mosquitos) and more land being developed. For example, this year, there have been 2,782 locally acquired dengue fever cases in the U.S. (specifically in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Florida). While cases have slowly increased in the U.S., globally, they have exploded 8-fold since 2000. We also see an increase in travel-related malaria cases over time. (See the previous YLE post on what drives this.) While the spread of mosquito habitats is concerning, and there is much in the news, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- In the U.S., severe disease is rare in the grand scheme of “things trying to kill you every day.” Each year, they cause about 35 to 70 deaths combined and millions of infections (most of which are asymptomatic). In the rest of the world, however, mosquitos are the number one killer—more than one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases yearly.
- Risk is not uniform. For West Nile, the most impacted by severe disease are older adults (like Dr. Fauci) and immunocompromised. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to certain mosquito-borne diseases like Zika virus because it can be transmitted from mother to fetus, potentially causing birth defects. The biggest risk for Dengue is a second infection of dengue, causing a potentially deadly disease.
- Also, geographic risk is not uniform. This is because many different types of mosquitos; not all carry the same diseases. EEE is mainly found in the Eastern U.S. (hence the “east” in its name). West Nile virus is most commonly reported in the Central and Western U.S. Dengue fever is primarily a concern in tropical and subtropical regions.
Walmart recalls apple juice due to arsenic levels --Walmart is recalling nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice as a result of inorganic arsenic levels that exceed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard set last year.A spokesperson for Walmart said in a statement that the company has removed the affected products from its shelves.“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the spokesperson said. “We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.”The FDA updated its recall classification on Friday to “Class II,” which means the food products“may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, or the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”The recall, which was initiated Aug. 15, includes 9.535 cases of Great Value apple juice. The apple juice is packaged in six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles, with UPC barcode 0-78742-29655-5. The products have a “best used” date of Dec. 28, 2024.The apple juice cases were sold in 25 states in the central and eastern half of the country, as well as in the District of Columbia and in Puerto Rico.The product has been sold in retail stores in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia. The apple juice is manufactured by Refresco Beverages US Inc, which is located in Tampa, Fla. A Refresco spokesperson noted the products were recalled voluntarily and said that, as of Monday afternoon, there have been no reported cases of illness caused by the apple juice.
Great Value Apple Juice sold at Walmart stores voluntarily recalled over arsenic levels -A voluntary recall for 9,535 of the eight-ounce Great Value Apple Juice sold at Walmart stores in a six-pack with PET plastic bottles (UPC 0-78742-29655-5) has been issued, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the recall number F-1746-2024 issued on Aug. 15, the federal agency said that the apple juice “contains inorganic arsenic above the action level set in industry guidance.” On Aug. 23, the recall was upgraded to Class II, which is defined by the FDA as a product that "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.” The FDA says that “current research indicates that inorganic arsenic is more dangerous than organic arsenic.” The federal agency also says that long-term exposure in adults to inorganic arsenic has been affiliated with skin disorders, increased risks of skin, bladder, and lung cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Short-term exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause nausea, vomiting, bruising, and numbness or burning sensations in the hands and feet, the FDA says. Inorganic arsenic is a confirmed carcinogen, something that can cause cancer, and is a “chemical contaminant in drinking-water globally,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The intergovernmental organization says that inorganic arsenic compounds, which are typically found in water, are very toxic. However, organic arsenic compounds, which are found in seafood, are less harmful.
New Study Finds A 'Scary' Amount of Microplastics in Brain Tissue: 'Pretty Alarming' -The brain has become “one of the most plastic-polluted tissues yet sampled," said the study's lead author, Matthew Campen. "There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined.”
- Microplastics have been found in an alarming number of human organs, including the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys
- The increase in microplastics in the brain parallels that of microplastics in the environment
- Researchers recommend reducing exposure to microplastics by avoiding the use of plastic in food preparation
Microplastics are being found in crucial human organs, including the brain, according to various scientific studies.Researchers are calling for more urgent and actionable measures to reduce plastic pollution after several studies detected tiny microplastics (typically around 5mm in diameter) in a wide range of human organs, including the lungs, reproductive organs, liver, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels and bone marrow.“It is now imperative to declare a global emergency” in reference to the growing rate of plastic pollution, said Sedat Gündoğdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey, per The Guardian.While the exact health consequences in humans are not yet fully known, studies have found that microplastics can lead to oxidative stress, which can result in cell damage, inflammation, or cardiovascular disease.And through recent animal studies, researchers have discovered that microplastics can also cause fertility issues, impaired learning and memory, various cancers, and a disrupted endocrine and immune system. The apparent build-up of the tiny pieces in multiple human organs is “scary,” said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, The Guardian.Researchers advise people to reduce their exposure by avoiding the use of plastic in food preparation (ie. microwaving) and the accumulation of dust. Additionally, some researchers advise eating less meat, especially processed products. Concerns have grown since the National Institutes of Health published a study in May finding that, on average, 91 brain samples contained roughly 10 to 20 times more than other organs (e.g., the liver and kidneys), making the brain “one of the most plastic-polluted tissues yet sampled." The study’s lead author, Matthew Campen, a toxicologist and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico, said the findings are “pretty alarming… There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with.”“I don’t know how much more plastic our brain can stuff in without it causing some problems,” Campen added. Another one of Campen’s studies examined 12 brain samples from people who had died with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease — and found that the brains contained up to 10 times more plastic, by weight, than healthy samples. Additionally, over an 8-year period, from 2016 to 2024, the brain samples showed a 50% higher total of microplastics — which reflected a similar increase in the rate of microplastics found in the environment. “You can draw a line – it’s increasing over time. It’s consistent with what you’re seeing in the environment,” Campen said. Additionally, in a July 2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials study, microplastics were found in all 16 of the bone marrow samples examined. Each sample contained polystyrene — the plastic used to pack peanuts and electronics — and almost all contained polyethylene, which is used for clear food wrap and detergent bottles. Similarly, microplastics were found in all 45 samples for a study examining patients with knee or hip surgery. Yet another study examined 312 patients who had fatty deposits, or plaques, removed from their carotid arteries. Of those, almost 60% of the samples contained microplastics — and those subjects were 2.1 times more likely to experience a heart attack, stroke, or die. At this time, the United States does not have established government standards for plastic particles in food or water. The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement: “Current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”
Plastic Is Building Up in Our Brains — Scientists Say It’s a Global Emergency - A growing body of scientific evidence shows that microplastics are accumulating in critical human organs, including the brain, alarming findings that highlight a need for more urgent actions to rein in plastic pollution, researchers say. Different studies have detected tiny shards and specks of plastics in human lungs, placentas, reproductive organs, livers, kidneys, knee and elbow joints, blood vessels, and bone marrow. Given the research findings, “it is now imperative to declare a global emergency” to deal with plastic pollution, said Sedat Gündoğdu, who studies microplastics at Cukurova University in Turkey. Humans are exposed to microplastics — defined as fragments smaller than five millimeters in length — and the chemicals used to make plastics from widespread plastic pollution in air, water, and even food. The health hazards of microplastics within the human body are not yet well-known. Recent studies are just beginning to suggest these particles could increase the risk of various conditions such as oxidative stress, which can lead to cell damage and inflammation, as well as cardiovascular disease Animal studies have also linked microplastics to fertility issues, various cancers, a disrupted endocrine and immune system, and impaired learning and memory.There are currently no governmental standards for plastic particles in food or water in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency is working on crafting guidelines for measuring them, and has been giving out grants since 2018 to develop new ways to quickly detect and quantify them. Finding microplastics in more and more human organs “raises a lot of concerns,” given what we know about health effects in animals, studies of human cells in the lab, and emerging epidemiological studies, said Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. “It’s scary, I’d say.” In one of the latest studies to emerge — a pre-print paper still undergoing peer-review that is posted online by the National Institutes of Health — researchers found particularly concerning accumulation of microplastics in brain samples. An examination of the livers, kidneys and brains of autopsied bodies found that all contained microplastics, but the 91 brain samples contained on average about 10 to 20 times more than the other organs. The results came as a shock, according to study lead author Matthew Campen, a toxicologist and professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico. The researchers found that 24 of the brain samples, which were collected in early 2024, measured on average about 0.5 percent plastic by weight. “It’s pretty alarming,” Campen said. “There’s much more plastic in our brains than I ever would have imagined or been comfortable with.” The study describes the brain as “one of the most plastic-polluted tissues yet sampled.” The pre-print brain study led by Campen also hinted at a concerning link. In the study, researchers looked at 12 brain samples from people who died with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. These brains contained up to 10 times more plastic by weight than healthy samples. “I don’t know how much more plastic our brain can stuff in without it causing some problems,” Campen said. The paper also found the quantity of microplastics in brain samples from 2024 was about 50% higher from the total in samples that date to 2016, suggesting the concentration of microplastics found in human brains is rising at a similar rate to that found in the environment. “You can draw a line — it’s increasing over time. It’s consistent with what you’re seeing in the environment,” Campen said. When it comes to these insidious particles, “the blood-brain barrier is not as protective as we’d like to think,” Almroth said, referring to the series of membranes that keep many chemicals and pathogens from reaching the central nervous system. Adding to the concerns about accumulation in the human body, the Journal of Hazardous Materials published a study last month that found microplastics in all 16 samples of bone marrow examined, the first paper of its kind. All the samples contained polystyrene, used to make packing peanuts and electronics, and almost all contained polyethylene, used in clear food wrap, detergent bottles and other common household products.Another recent paper looking at 45 patients undergoing hip or knee surgery in Beijing, China, found microplastics in the membranous lining of every single hip or knee joint examined. A study published May 15 in the journal Toxicological Sciences found microplastics in all 23 human and 47 canine testicles studied, finding that samples from people had a nearly three-fold greater concentration than those from dogs. A higher quantity of certain types of plastic particles — including polyethylene, the main component of plastic water bottles — correlated with lower testicular weights in dogs. Another paper, which appeared June 19 in the International Journal of Impotence Research, detected plastic particles in the penises of four out of five men getting penile implants to treat erectile dysfunction. “The potential health effects are concerning, especially considering the unknown long-term consequences of microplastics accumulating in sensitive tissues like the reproductive organs,” Meanwhile, a Chinese group published a study in May showing small quantities of microplastics in the semen of all 40 participants. An Italian paper from a few months prior reported similar results. A handful of studies have also now found contamination in human placentas. A study that appeared in the May issue of Toxicological Sciences reported finding micro- and nanoplastics in all 62 placental samples, though the concentration ranged widely. The Food and Drug Administration says in a statement on its website that “current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”
How much microplastic are you drinking? New tool can tell you in minutes - Micro- and nanoplastics are in our food, water and the air we breathe. They are showing up in our bodies, from testicles to brain matter. Now, University of British Columbia researchers have developed a low-cost, portable tool to accurately measure plastic released from everyday sources like disposable cups and water bottles.The device, paired with an app, uses fluorescent labeling to detect plastic particles ranging from 50 nanometers to 10 microns in size—too small to be detected by the naked eye—and delivers results in minutes.The method and findings are detailed inACS Sensors."The breakdown of larger plastic pieces into microplastics and nanoplastics presents significant threats to food systems, ecosystems, and human health," said Dr. Tianxi Yang, an assistant professor in the faculty of land and food systems, who developed the tool. "This new technique allows quick, cheap detection of these plastics, which could help protect our health and ecosystems."Nano and microplastics are byproducts of degrading plastic materials such as lunchboxes, cups and utensils. As very small particles with a large surface area, nanoplastics are particularly concerning to human health due to their increased ability to absorb toxins and penetrate biological barriers within the human body.Detecting these plastics typically requires skilled personnel and expensive equipment. Dr. Yang's team wanted to make detection faster, more accessible and more reliable.They created a small, biodegradable, 3D-printed box containing a wireless digital microscope, green LED light and an excitation filter. To measure the plastics, they customized MATLAB software with machine-learning algorithms and combined it with image capture software. The result is a portable tool that works with a smartphone or other mobile device to reveal the number of plastic particles in a sample. The tool only needs a tiny liquid sample—less than a drop of water—and makes the plastic particles glow under the green LED light in the microscope to visualize and measure them. The results are easy to understand, whether by a technician in a food processing lab or just someone curious about their morning cup of coffee.
Texas city flooded with mountain of plastic recycling that hasn’t been touched in a year - A Texas city has been flooded with mountains of plastic waste that hasn't been touched in a year and a half as the facility continues to fail fire inspections. Wright Waste Management, located 20 miles outside of downtown Houston, has hundreds of pounds of plastic trash just sitting behind a locked gate. The garbage hasn't been touched in more than a year and a half, according toCBS News. To tackle the ongoing plastic pollution problem, the Houston Recycling Collaboration - made up of the City of Houston, ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, Cyclyx International and FCC Environmental Services - was born. It was supposed to be able to take any plastic and either recycle it mechanically - the traditional way - or burn it chemically into a new plastic or fuel. However, 20 months into the program, environmental groups found that the plastic dropped off by residents has yet to be chemically recycled, according to CBS News. Cyclyx International is supposed to open another sorting plant in mid-2025, but for now, the pollution is piling up at the Wright facility, which has failed to pass several fire safety inspections, the outlet said. The facility does not have the operational permit it needs to hold hazardous materials, flammable and combustible liquids, LP gas, and miscellaneous combustibles. It also failed its fire inspection through Harris County Fire three times, CBS and Inside Climate News discovered. Wright Waste Management, located 20 miles outside of downtown Houston, has hundreds of pounds of plastic trash just sitting behind a locked gate. The garbage hasn't been touched in more than a year and a half The company lacked fire lanes and had no means to control a blaze if it started,documents said. More drama ensued after FCC Environmental Services pulled out of the project because it 'does not want its reputation and image involved in such irregular and risky practices,' CEO Inigo Sanz said in a letter. It said it was against solely chemically recycling plastic and that the Houston Recycling Collaboration was meant to 'promote both mechanical and chemical recycling.' It also said it couldn't support just storing hundreds of pounds of plastics at a facility while it waits for chemical recycling to exist. The Wright facility submitted a notice of intent to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to operate as a solid waste recycling facility from just a cardboard recycler in September 2023. When CBS asked about the fire inspections, the owner, Stratton Wright, referred them to Cyclyx, which said Wright 'doesn't represent us, and they are currently a temporary solution before we can get [our] facility operational.' However, Exxon Mobil's chemical recycling plant in Baytown has been operational and it claims to have processed 60million pounds of plastic waste and hopes to hit one billion pounds. Despite that, the US Environmental Protection Agency said chemical recycling should not be considered recycling at all. Critics argue that chemical recycling is just a promise to keep plastic production high and to avoid actually fixing the pollution problem, according to CBS News.
Antidepressant pollution is rewiring fish behavior and reproduction, biologists reveal --An international study led by biologists from Monash University and the University of Tuscia has revealed how long-term exposure to pharmaceutical pollutants is dramatically altering fish behavior, life history, and reproductive traits.The five-year investigation, focusing on wild-caught guppies exposed to the widely prescribed antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac), highlights the profound and interconnected effects of this pollutant on aquatic ecosystems.The study, led by Dr. Upama Aich from the Monash University School of Biological Sciences and Assistant Professor Giovanni Polverino from the University of Tuscia, ispublished in the Journal of Animal Ecology.Pharmaceutical pollutants, especially antidepressants like fluoxetine, have become a pervasive issue in water bodies worldwide. These pollutants, often introduced through wastewater discharge, persist at low levels in rivers, lakes, and oceans.Despite their widespread presence, the full impact of these chemicals on aquatic wildlife, particularly on behavior and reproductive success, has remained unclear."Even at low concentrations, fluoxetine altered the guppies' body condition and increased the size of their gonopodium, while simultaneously reducing sperm velocity—an essential factor for reproductive success," said Dr. Aich, from the Monash University School of Biological Sciences."Fluoxetine exposure also significantly reduced the behavioral plasticity of guppies, leading to a lower capacity of the individuals to adjust their own activity and risk-taking behaviors across contexts,"
The Coming Pollen Storms - Breathe in. Pause. Now — the tricky part — out. You trail off halfway through into a high-pitched wheeze. In again. Angle your body to make it easier. Concentrate. Surely, it’s not this hard. Babies can do it. Jellyfish do it without brains. Out. Grab the inhaler again; suck in the medicine. Hold it until your pulse thuds in your head. Out. Wheeze. Gasp. Cough. The air is sweaty, the sky is bruising to indigo and the wind is whipping up dust. It’s springtime, but it smells fruity and dense — like the hot late-summer storms that roll here regularly from the Pacific Islands. I’m driving from my home in rural Raglan to the city of Hamilton to get some better asthma meds, but my fingers and toes are tingling, and the corners of my vision are going dark. I pull over on a side road just before the “divvy,” a hill that marks the halfway point, where the road curls around cliffs and there’s no safe place to stop. It’s an overtaking zone and cars whoosh past beeping. I think about flagging someone down — I’m scared I’ll pass out, scared to be alone — but I feel hesitant about pulling a stranger into my crisis. I call 111 and wait for the ambulance instead. Weird weather is just about everywhere now. Floods, storms, wildfires and droughts come quicker and harder. Hibernating animals wake up at odd times; migratory ones get lost. People are moving their homes to higher ground as coastlines crumble and riverbanks burst. Inside my body, a more intimate climate-related disaster appears to be unfolding. I’ll explain. The Waikato is wide, flat and green: dairy country rimmed by ranges and ocean. Lolium perenne, a type of ryegrass, is one of the main pasture crops grown here: a tall, tough colonizer from temperate Europe. At my place in springtime, it grows supple and silver on the steep bank beside the outdoor bath, flowering in November and then dying back before the heat peaks in late summer, fawn-brown and crisp. That’s when the tropical storms tend to arrive. But the rhythms are changing. Events that used to syncopate are now in sync. Lately, these storms and flower blooms have collided. And when they do, something strange sometimes happens. The storm’s warm updrafts suck the ryegrass pollen into its thunderclouds, smashing it into smaller pieces. Cold downdrafts then drag these finer pollen particles downward and outward. In places with high populations, this phenomenon can cause a very particular kind of emergency. That’s because a lot of people are allergic to ryegrass, but many of us — myself included — aren’t aware of it unless we take an allergy test that involves pricking skin with the allergen in question and waiting for a red circle and an itch. Ryegrass pollen particles are relatively large: about 25 to 30 microns, or thousandths-of-a-millimeter — up to 10 times the size of other pollen types. When we breathe them in, they stick to mucus in our noses and throats, sometimes prompting sneezes and snot. But when those particles are smashed down to smaller than ten microns — as happens after some thunderstorms — they can travel deep into our lungs, causing inflammation and constriction, or symptoms of asthma, including in people who’ve never experienced it before. The ambos arrive, all calm efficiency and fluoro vests. I’m kind of embarrassed, especially when the oximeter shows I’m getting plenty of oxygen; it makes me wonder if I’m just freaking myself out and making it up. I get the sense the ambos are thinking something similar. One tries to get me to do “box breathing,” a meditation technique. I like meditation techniques as much as the next millennial, but I feel infuriated. Lots of people have told me over the years that I can will my way out of asthma or heal it with herbs. I’ve tried plenty of things, but none of them work as well as the red, plastic, greenhouse-gas-emitting inhalers. I sit on the shaking gurney as the ambulance trundles over the divvy, leaning forward against the rough seatbelt. What’s wrong with me? I think about the life insurance application languishing on my laptop and wish I’d submitted it already. Mostly, though, my brain is taken up with breath.
Lack of pollinators limits worldwide food production, crop yield analysis finds -A team of researchers led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick scientists has analyzed crop yields of more than 1,500 fields on six continents, and found that production worldwide of important, nutritionally dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes is being limited by a lack of pollinators.The results, detailed in Nature Ecology & Evolution, showed that across diverse crops and locations, one-third to two-thirds of farms contain fields that aren't producing at the levels they should be due to a lack of pollinators. The phenomenon of a low crop yield because of insufficient visits by insects is known as pollinator limitation.The study is especially timely given recent concern about global declines in insect abundance."Our findings are a cause for concern and optimism," said Katie Turo, an author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources in the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences."We did detect widespread yield deficits. However, we also estimate that, through continued investment in pollinator management and research, it is likely that we can improve the efficiency of our existing crop fields to meet the nutritional needs of our global population."The scientists reached their conclusions by conducting a statistical analysis of more than 200,000 "bee visitations" to crop flowers, contained within one of the most comprehensive databases on crop pollination in the world. Rachael Winfree, the senior author on the study and a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources, collaborated with several colleagues from Europe and South America to compile the most comprehensive database ofcrop pollination studies in the world.The open-source database incorporates three decades of field observations of bees and other pollinators visiting plants.The recent Rutgers study doesn't apply to major food crops, such as rice and wheat, which don't require pollinators to reproduce. But pollination by bees and other animals is critical to the proliferation of what Turo describes as "nutrient-dense and interesting foods that we like and are culturally relevant," such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.
Are Earth's missing millions of undescribed insect species extinction-prone? --In new research, Griffith ecologists have highlighted the millions of insects that remain undiscovered and unnamed by scientists were likely to be more vulnerable to extinction than named species. Professors Emeriti Nigel Stork and Roger Kitching from Griffith's Center for Planetary Health and Food Security worked with international researchers on a study that looked at insect species and prevalence in Australia's wet tropics. The study "What can an analysis of Australian tropical rainforest bark beetles suggest about the missing millions of Earth's insect species?" has been published in Insect Conservation and Diversity. In the wet tropics of Australia, Professor Stork and co-authors found that among the 107 species of bark beetles identified, 58 were undescribed by science. As hypothesized, the undescribed species were significantly smaller, less abundant and less widespread than described species, making them harder to find and more extinction-prone than named species. "In recent years, estimates of how many species of insects there might be on Earth have varied from 100 million or more to as low as 2 million," Professor Stork said. "A consensus figure of 5 million species published by myself is now frequently used, supported by four different methods of calculating global species richness. "Since only 1 million of these species have been named and described so far in the past 240 years of Linnaean taxonomy, the puzzling question is: Where are the other 4 million species that have yet to be found and named? "What are they like, what is the likelihood of their discovery and description, and are they more vulnerable to extinction? Our studies reveal that they are smaller, rarer and more difficult to find as well as being more extinction prone." Only 20% of the estimated 5 million species of insects on Earth are named and yet insects are poorly represented in protected area assessments, and insect declines are of concern globally. To increase species description rates and to avoid most species becoming extinct before being named, Professors Stork and Kitching are calling on taxonomists to use new character systems provided by DNA methods and advances in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence. "The unknown components of tropical insect biodiversity are likely more impacted by human-induced environmental change,"
Urban wildfires disrupt streams and their tiny inhabitants—losing these insects is a warning of bigger water problems --A tiny, vibrant world thrives along the rocky bottom of most streams. As sunlight filters through the water, mayfly nymphs, no larger than your fingernail, cling to algae-coated cobbles. Their brushlike mouthparts scrape the greenish coating, leaving faint trails as they feed. Six spindly legs anchor them against the current, while feathery gills wave gently, drawing oxygen from the flowing water.This scene is common in well-maintained creeks and streams that flow through populated areas. But when wildfires sweep through, the toxic materials left behind can devastate this ecosystem.When you think of urban wildfires, you might picture charred trees and houses. But beneath the surface of nearby streams, fires can also cause a silent upheaval—one that affects populations of creatures that are important indicators of the water's health.Wildfires are a natural part of many ecosystems. They rejuvenate landscapes by clearing out dead brush and releasing nutrients from vegetation and soils.When fires move from nature into neighborhoods, however, they encounter a drastically different set of fuels. Urban conflagrations consume a mix of synthetic and natural materials, including homes, vehicles, electronics and household chemicals. This creates a unique set of problems that can have far-reaching consequences for waterways and the creatures that call them home. These tiny creatures, which include mayflies, stone flies and caddis flies, are not only food sources for fish and other stream life but also serve as nature's own water quality monitors. In November 2018, the Camp Fire devastated the town of Paradise, California, destroying over 18,000 homes and other structures. In the aftermath of this tragic event, my colleagues and I examined the effects of large-scale urban burning on the chemistry of nearby watersheds.The results were alarming: Metal concentrations in affected watersheds increased dramatically—up to two-hundredfold compared with prefire levels. Concentrations of these metals exceeded EPA aquatic habitat acute criteria, recommended levels that indicate when a metal has reached the threshold of "toxic" for organisms in the water.These elevated metal levels can pose risks to both ecosystems and human health.For humans, contaminated watersheds can compromise drinking water sources by requiring extensive water treatment or even making some water supplies temporarily unusable.Wildlife, particularly sensitive aquatic species such as fish and amphibians, face immediate threats from these pollutants. The toxic metals can disrupt their reproductive cycles, impair growth and destabilize ecosystems. Tiny benthic macroinvertebrates provide early warnings of the harm.
São Paulo wildfires shatter records with 1 886 hotspots in a single day, surpassing Amazon region, Brazil - A record-breaking surge in wildfires swept across São Paulo on Friday, August 23, 2024, with satellite data revealing 1 886 hotspots, nearly double the historical average for August. The fires accounted for 38 % of Brazil’s total hotspots that day, surpassing even the Amazon region. This figure is double the historical average for August. Brazil reported 4 928 hotspots on the same day, with São Paulo accounting for 38 % of the country’s total. The number of fires in São Paulo on Friday exceeded that in the entire Amazon region, which registered 1 659 hotspots. The previous record for the most fires in August was set in 2010, with 2 444 hotspots recorded throughout the entire month. On Friday alone, the st In Urupês, in the interior of São Paulo, two firefighters from a power plant died while combating a fire in vegetation, as confirmed by the Civil Defense. According to the Public Security Department (SSP), the victims, aged 30 and 48, were in a truck when the driver lost control, causing a fuel leak that resulted in the vehicle catching fire. The government of São Paulo established a crisis office to coordinate an emergency response. The operation, part of the ongoing “SP Sem Fogo” initiative, will involve monitoring and control actions throughout the weekend. The effort includes collaboration between the State Civil Defense, the Public Security Secretariat, and other key government departments. According to the Civil Defense Emergency Management Center (CGE), 30 cities are currently on high alert for major fires, with active outbreaks reported. These areas are particularly vulnerable due to low humidity levels and a heatwave that has gripped the state. The situation is exacerbated by gusty winds, which can quickly spread fires. The São Paulo government reported that some state and concession highways are closed due to large fires. These closures, ranging from total to partial, are significantly disrupting traffic in several regions. “It is important that drivers avoid these routes until things return to normal and that they seek safe alternatives for their journeys. In addition, it is essential that everyone remains attentive to constant updates on traffic conditions monitored in real-time by emergency teams and responsible concessionaires,” said the government in a statement. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States provided a satellite image at the request of MetSul Meteorologia, showing the extent of the smoke spread across São Paulo. The image from the GOES-16 satellite showed smoke originating from fires in São Paulo and surrounding regions, including the Amazon and Pantanal. This smoke, carried by pre-frontal north winds, moved from north to south, covering large parts of the state. As a result, the skies over most cities in São Paulo turned orange or gray due to the dense smoke. This phenomenon was particularly noticeable in the capital and Greater São Paulo, where the late afternoon sky was tinged orange, with a red sun. Air quality deteriorated significantly in many areas. Several monitoring stations operated by the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb) recorded poor air quality in Greater São Paulo, as well as in Rio Claro, Piracicaba, Bauru, Jaú, Araraquara, Ribeirão Preto, Catanduva, and Araçatuba. MetSul Meteorologia issued a warning that August 24 could also be a critical day for fires in São Paulo. While a cold front is expected to bring rain to some areas in the south and east, and near Paraná, the interior of São Paulo is forecast to remain hot and dry with strong winds, heightening the risk of more fires.
Emissions from Canada's 2023 wildfires higher than all but 3 countries: Study -- Last year’s Canadian wildfires, which blanketed much of the eastern U.S. in smog, released more carbon emissions than all but three countries worldwide, according to research published Wednesday.Not only did the fires burn nearly 4 percent of the country’s forests, but they also generated 647 million metric tons in carbon emissions, quadruple that of the emissions from fossil fuel consumption the same year.The study, published in the journal Nature, found that only China, the U.S. and India produced more carbon emissions than the fires in 2023. Those three countries are the three leaders in carbon emissions worldwide. Canada is the No. 10 emitter, producing just under 2 percent of worldwide emissions. Large boreal forests like those affected by the Canadian fires have long been considered a major carbon sink, or a location that absorbs more carbon than it emits, but the data in the study suggests that if a fire is big enough, the forests may not reliably absorb the damage. Canada is the site of nearly 9 percent of forestland worldwide. Last year was also the hottest year on record worldwide, creating conditions like extreme heat, early snow melt and dry conditions that made it easier for forest fires to rage out of control in the first place, potentially contributing to a feedback loop, the study noted. “Climate models project that the temperatures of 2023 will become normal by the 2050s. Such changes are likely to increase fire activity, risking the carbon uptake potential of Canadian forests,” the study authors wrote. “This will impact allowable emissions for reaching warming targets, as reduced carbon sequestration by ecosystems must be compensated for by adjusting anthropogenic emissions reductions.” The results are more ominous than those reached by the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service in December, which used different methodologies to estimate the fires generated about 480 megatons’ worth of emissions.
Heat deaths in 2023 hit record high, study finds --Extreme heat killed more Americans in 2023 than any other year over nearly a quarter century of records, according to research published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. At least 2,325 people died from the heat last year, according to the study, which included deaths with heat as both an underlying and contributing factor. The study, which used records dating back to 1999, found that annual deaths mostly remained steady, including a low point in 2004, until the mid-2010s, when an upward trend began. The increases culminated with the last year, which was also the hottest year on record. The researchers also found that the age-adjusted rate of heat deaths per capita was on the rise during the same period. While they found an adjusted rate of 0.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, the rate increased to 0.63 last year.“These results align with site-specific data analyzed in a global study that suggest increases in heat-related mortality,” the authors wrote. “As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the recent increasing trend is likely to continue.”The study comes as the Biden administration has introduced the first-ever proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration protections from extreme heat for workers, which include mandatory breaks and shaded or indoor rest areas. However, at least two states, Texas and Florida, have passed legislation barring local and municipal governments from imposing their own heat protections.n Earlier this month, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the Democratic nominee for his state’s open Senate seat, called on the administration to take further action, including for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to add extreme heat to the list of “qualifying events” for major disaster declarations. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra recently called extreme heat a “public health emergency” during a visit to Arizona in August.
Largest US Grid Faces Tough Test As Heat-Wave Hits Midwest --The operator of the biggest U.S. power grid has issued hot weather and maximum generation alerts for the areas in the Midwest and East it serves as a heat wave that has settled on large parts of the Midwest and parts of the South. PJM Interconnection, which coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity and ensures power supplies for 65 million people in all or parts of 13 eastern and Midwest U.S. states and D.C., has issued a Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert for August 27. The alert was issued ahead of expected hot weather across many parts of the Eastern Interconnection, including the region PJM serves. “PJM is issuing the alert as a precautionary measure after all PJM resources are committed and exports of electricity outside of the PJM footprint may need to be curtailed in order to maintain reserve requirements,” the grid operator said in the Monday alert, adding that no customer actions are required.The alert is targeted at transmission and generation owners, who then determine if any maintenance or testing on any equipment can be deferred or canceled, in order to maintain the availability of all resources.Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia are all expected to see temperatures rise to the mid to high-90s Fahrenheit on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport forecast to reach 97 F today, a record-high for August 27, according to weather forecasters cited by Bloomberg. With demand for air conditioning spiking in the heat wave, PJM’s grid could face a test of resilience.Further south in Texas, the state used a record amount of electricity on August 20, the Electric Reliability Council has reported, noting that the data has yet to be made official after calculating meter readings.Earlier in the year, ERCOT forecast that electricity demand in the Lone Star State could double in six years, necessitating the urgent addition of more generation capacity.
Late-summer heat wave threatens record highs from Chicago to D.C. - A blistering late-summer heat wave that is moving east across the Midwest and toward the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast could set scores of records through Thursday. In the Midwest and Ohio Valley, many locations could see their hottest weather of the year during the last days of climatological summer, which spans June to August. Temperatures could also approach 100 degrees east of the Appalachians by Wednesday. An excessive-heat warning is in place for Chicago, where Tuesday’s temperatures will be near 100 and heat index values, which take into account humidity, will be closer to 110. Other cities under heat warnings include Minneapolis; Sioux City, Iowa; Madison, Wis.; and Peoria, Ill. Heat advisories cover a larger region, running from the western shores of Lake Superior to northern Oklahoma and eastward into the lower Great Lakes. Additional alerts in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast are likely to be issued through at least Thursday. This heat wave — mercifully short-lived — will produce many record-hot days and warm nights, while intense thunderstorms form on its northern periphery. The National Weather Service says large parts of nearly two dozen states will experience major to extreme HeatRisk levels over the next several days. The intensity of the heat is predicted to reach at least Level 3 of 4, meaning it could cause adverse health effects. Advertisement “ Extreme heat scorched Texas and parts of the Southwest last week before shifting northward over the weekend. Now it’s heading east. The heat wave was responsible for an all-time record high of 113 in Abilene, Tex., on Wednesday and set numerous calendar-day and monthly records in the Lone Star State into the weekend. Amarillo, in the Texas panhandle, posted record highs every day from Tuesday through Sunday, reaching 102, 104, 108, 107, 105 and 104 degrees during the six-day stretch. On Sunday, record or near-record highs around 100 to 105 degrees expanded into the central Plains and western parts of the Midwest, in addition to locations farther south. High temperatures are forecast to be 10 to 20 degrees above normal over much of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region Monday afternoon. Highs near and above the century mark are anticipated in all of Kansas and across the Missouri River. Maximum temperatures from the mid-90s to around 100 degrees are forecast from Iowa to Indiana and then southward through Gulf Coast states. Record highs are predicted in eastern Iowa, southwest Wisconsin and northwest Illinois. Chicago is forecast to reach 96 degrees, or 1 degree shy of a calendar-day record. Heat index readings are forecast to stay above 80 degrees even through the overnight hours. A toasty Tuesday in the Midwest The heat wave’s geographic footprint on Tuesday will stretch from the Upper Midwest to the Gulf Coast. Chicago is forecast to break a record high by soaring to 98 degrees. Other cities that will threaten records include Indianapolis; Springfield, Ill.; Louisville; and Vicksburg, Miss. High temperatures — 15 or more degrees above average — will be around 100 in St Louis, with mid- and upper 90s in much of the surrounding region. Brutal heat indexes near and above 110 are likely around Chicago and most of northern Illinois and adjacent areas.
‘Corn Sweat’ and Climate Change Bring Sweltering Weather to the Midwest | Scientific American -- Hot weather—along with extreme humidity levels that are usually associated more with the sultry U.S. Southeast—has enveloped much of the Midwest and will move into the mid-Atlantic states over the course of this week. The phenomenon will bring some of the summer’s hottest conditions and will potentially smash more records. The soaring temperatures reach into the mid- and upper 90s Fahrenheit (upper 30s Celsius), as much as 10 to 15 degrees F (5.6 to 8.4 degrees C) above normal for this time of year. They come courtesy of an atmospheric high-pressure area that has moved into the region from the Southwest. Such areas are called ridges because of their appearance on air-pressure maps, and they block storms that could bring cooler conditions. The clear skies associated with high-pressure areas also let more of the sun’s rays beat down on and heat up the ground. This is “a strong ridge even for midsummer” and even more so for the tail end of the season, says Andrew Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s (NWS’s) Lincoln, Ill., office.* That strength is what could cause some daily temperature records to be tied or broken. The heat is accompanied by humidity from two sources: moist air that is streaming up from the Gulf of Mexico and a phenomenon that is sometimes called “corn sweat.” The latter happens when corn, soybeans and other crops release moisture as the temperature climbs. This process, known technically as evapotranspiration, is akin to how humans perspire in the heat. Steamy contributions from those crops mean “we can see some of our higher moisture values of the year at this time of year,” Taylor says. This influx of moisture is pushing dew points as high as the 60s and 70s F (upper teens and low to mid-20s C). (The dew point is the temperature that the air would have to be cooled to in order to let water vapor start condensing out of the atmosphere.). In some places dew points are even reaching the low 80s F (mid- to high 20s C). Those below about 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) can feel reasonably dry and pleasant, but things start getting sticky at around 60 degrees F (16 degrees C)—and downright miserable if this measurement reaches the 70s F. When temperatures and humidity are both high, the risks for heat illness rise considerably. Elevated humidity makes it harder for the body to cool itself via sweating because the air is already so full of moisture that perspiration doesn’t evaporate. Heat indices—which give a sense of how much hotter the temperature feels because of the humidity—will reach 105 to 115 degrees F (41 to 46 degrees C) in some of the worst-affected areas of the Midwest. (It will feel even hotter in direct sun because the heat index is calculated for shade.) HeatRisk—an experimental new tool from the NWS that incorporates temperature, humidity and data on when heat-related hospitalizations tend to rise in a given area—is in the “extreme” and “major” categories, the two highest, for much of the region. Prolonged exposure to such conditions can result in heat exhaustion, the signs of which are fatigue, dizziness, nausea and a cessation of sweating. If a person with this condition doesn’t get to a cooler location or receive prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke: in the latter, the body loses its ability to cool itself, an extremely dangerous situation.
Summer scorcher: Dangerous heat hits Northeast - The hottest weather of the season is spreading across the eastern half of the U.S. -- with cities in the Northeast in the bull's-eye on Wednesday -- after baking the Midwest with extreme temperatures early in the week. Chicago's actual temperature hit 99 degrees on Tuesday, breaking the city's daily record of 97 degrees. The heat index -- what temperature it feels like with humidity -- soared to a scorching 115 degrees in Chicago on Tuesday. On Wednesday, heat advisories are in effect from St. Louis, Missouri, to New York City. An excessive heat warning was issued in Philadelphia, where the heat index could hit 105 degrees. The heat index is forecast to rise Wednesday to 106 degrees in Baltimore, Maryland; 103 in Washington, D.C.; and 97 in New York City. The final tennis major of the year, the U.S. Open, which is underway in New York City, is operating under an "extreme weather policy," with stadium roofs partially closed and extended breaks for players. More than a dozen cities could shatter their record high temperatures, including Washington, D.C., if it reaches 100 degrees. The extreme temperatures will end in the Northeast on Thursday, but will linger in the Ohio Valley and Tennessee Valley through Friday. On Thursday, the heat index is forecast to climb to 104 degrees in Nashville, Tennessee, and Columbia, South Carolina; 102 degrees in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky; and 105 degrees in Greenville, Mississippi. Record highs are possible Thursday in cities including Nashville and Louisville. There are hundreds of deaths each year in the U.S. due to excessive heat, according to CDC WONDER, an online database, and scientists caution that the actual number of heat-related deaths is likely higher. Last year marked the most heat-related deaths in the U.S. on record, according to JAMA, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association.
Heat dome brings extreme temps and humidity to the East, prompting early school dismissals -- A massive heat dome will continue to bring record heat to large swaths of the country on Wednesday, including sweltering temperatures across the Eastern U.S. that has prompted early dismissals in some schools. Fifty-one million people are under heat advisories and heat warnings Wednesday from eastern Missouri to Long Island, New York, as the dome's high pressure brings hot and humid air from the south up north.High temperatures today will stretch from St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, eastward up and down the coast from Raleigh, North Carolina, up to New York City and Washington, D.C.Temperatures are forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees higher today, likely leading to spotty record highs.New York City is forecast to hit a high of 91 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, with a max heat index of 98, and Washington D.C. a blazing 100 with a max heat index of 104. It comes after much of the Midwest baked under scorching temperatures Tuesday that were also 10 to 15 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. Chicago hit 99 degrees and Indianapolis 94 on Tuesday — marking the hottest day of the year for both cities.In Philadelphia, dozens of schools that lack adequate air conditioning had early dismissalson Tuesday that will continue Wednesday to avoid keeping kids in hot classrooms.In New York City, the U.S. Open is preparing to give players additional breaks as they play in the heat.In Washington, D.C., a heat emergency has been declared starting at noon ET. And a Code Orange air quality alert has been issued over air quality concerns.
Massillon elementary schools cancel classes due to heat -- ‒ Whittier, Gorrell and Franklin elementary schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday because of the excessive heat.District officials are hopeful this is the last time they will have to cancel classes. The district's two new K-3 elementary schools are set to open next fall. Both will have central air conditioning.Washington High School, the Massillon Intermediate and Junior High School and the preschool will remain open.Superintendent Paul Salvino has been watching the humidity rates, which have been on the rise this week.According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, Wednesday's high temperature will hit 92 degrees with a heat index as high as 98 degrees. The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature, the NWS said.Schools across Ohio have canceled or altered class schedules because of the sweltering conditions.Heritage Christian School in Canton dismissed students early on Tuesday and Wednesday. St. Thomas Aquinas canceled classes and after-school sporting events and practices Tuesday and Wednesday."It's definitely warm (Tuesday)," Superintendent Paul Salvino said. "In our old buildings, the air can not flow. Even if we leave the windows open we just can't cool it down." "It's in the best interest of our students that we do cancel," he said. "It's really exciting that we are a year away from opening our new elementaries and putting this topic to rest." Over the past few years, Salvino has canceled classes during extreme heat spells. They have looked for solutions but putting air conditioning units in each classroom was not feasible as the older buildings were unable to handle the electrical load. The high school and middle school have central air and air conditioning units are used to cool preschool classrooms housed at the former Smith Elementary School, he said. They are using fans in the elementary schools but it is not enough to make it comfortable for students.
Mass power outages as severe storms sweep through Michigan and the Great Lakes region, U.S. - Severe storms battered Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, leaving more than 400 000 utility customers without power — approximately 1 million people. The storms brought hurricane-force winds, and large hail that caused extensive damage, including uprooted trees, downed power lines, and blocked roads. In Southeast Michigan, large trees were uprooted, blocking streets and damaging power lines, though no injuries have been reported. DTE Energy has responded to power outages affecting more than 100 000 customers in the area, as of 19:20 local time (LT) Tuesday. The company advised residents to maintain a safe distance of at least 7.5 m (25 feet) from downed power lines and warned against using portable generators indoors due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. The Midwest and Great Lakes region experienced similar severe conditions. Over 400 000 utility customers were left without power as thunderstorms brought hurricane-force wind gusts and tennis ball-sized hail. This is about 1 million people — given the average household size in the U.S. of 2.5. Detroit International Airport recorded a wind gust of 122 km/h (76 mph), matching the strength of a Category 1 hurricane. Similar wind speeds were reported across the region, including 122 km/h (76 mph) at Oakland County International Airport and 101 km/h (63 mph) in Flint, Michigan. In Illinois, wind gusts between 80 – 96 km/h (50 – 60 mph) hit the Chicago area, with an unofficial report of a 129 km/h (80 mph) gust in Wauconda. These winds caused significant damage, toppling trees, bringing down electrical lines, blocking roads, and damaging homes and businesses. Large hail was also reported, with the largest being 6.4 cm (2.5 inches) in diameter in Woodstock, Illinois. As of 15:00 UTC on August 28, nearly 304 269 customers in Michigan remained without power, alongside 15 614 in Illinois, and 25 717 in Minnesota. By 07:00 UTC on August 29, there were still 125 155 customers without power in Michigan, 6 009 in Illinois, and 5 116 in Minnesota.
Severe flash flood in Havasu Creek, Grand Canyon National Park, claims the life of one and leaves 200 stranded - -- Havasu Creek, located in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona saw intense flooding due to heavy rain on Thursday, August 22, 2024. The flood claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman and stranded 200 hikers in the area. Heavy rains caused severe flash flooding in Havasu Creek on Thursday. The flooding stranded 200 hikers within the national park and near Havasupai Falls. According to hikers present in the area, rainfall began around 11:00 local time (LT) and intensified over the following minutes. Flooding began within 30 minutes, prompting people to warn each other to evacuate as water levels continued to rise. The region received between 25 – 50 mm (1 – 2 inches) of rain within one to one and a half hours, according to officials from the National Weather Service (NWS). “In that area, there are narrow canyons where the water can accumulate. In these situations, heavy rain falls, accumulates in the canyons, and then rushes downstream in a flash flood,” said Brian Klimowski, a meteorologist with NWS in Flagstaff. The body of a 33-year-old woman who was swept away by the flood on Thursday was found on Sunday, August 25, by the Arizona National Guard. The flooding washed away several bridges, making it difficult for the stranded hikers to reach safety. However, the 200 stranded hikers managed to cross the waters and reach a Havasupai tribe building where they were safely lodged. Officials with the Arizona National Guard stated that a Blackhawk helicopter was used from August 23 to the afternoon of August 24 to evacuate 104 tourists and tribal members. Resupply drop-offs of water and food were also conducted. The damage to the Supai Falls campground was extensive, and the trails between the falls and the campground were impassable. With damage assessments underway, the Havasupai area is closed to tourists until further notice, according to the Havasupai Tribe Council, which has declared a state of emergency for the area.
Emergency declared in Ketchikan as landslide damages homes, claims one life and leaves 3 injured, Alaska - A deadly landslide struck the city of Ketchikan, Alaska at 16:00 LT on Sunday, damaging multiple homes and powerlines. The landslide claimed one life and left three people injured, prompting a mandatory evacuation in the region. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared an emergency for Ketchikan, while Borough Mayor Rodney Dial and City Mayor Dave Kiffer issued a separate emergency declaration. A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for homes in the affected areas and surrounding neighborhoods due to concerns about a potential “secondary landslide south of the original slide area,” according to an official statement. “In my 65 years in Ketchikan, I have never seen a slide of this magnitude. With the slides we have seen across the region, there is clearly a region-wide issue that we need to try to understand with the support of our State geologist,” said Mayor Kiffer. Schools in Ketchikan were scheduled to start on Monday, August 26, but will not be opening due to the landslide. An emergency shelter has been set up for people in the affected regions. Power was restored across most of the city at around 20:00 LT, except in the affected areas where power will remain shut off until the area is cleared and the broken power poles are replaced. “The low and associated front impacting the area will continue to hang over the southern panhandle for Sunday evening. Right now, the heaviest rains remain along the southern side of the front, where we are still seeing heavy rain and strong winds. These conditions will start to diminish as we head into the evening, allowing for improved conditions. However, some wind and rain are expected through tomorrow morning,” said the National Weather Service (NWS) on Sunday.
Large landslide hits Phuket, severely damaging 200 homes and claiming at least 13 lives, Thailand - A deadly landslide hit the island of Phuket in southern Thailand on Friday, August 23, 2024, following very heavy rain. The landslide claimed 13 lives and caused severe damage to more than 200 homes, prompting authorities to declare nine villages as disaster zones. A destructive landslide struck Thailand’s popular resort island of Phuket on Friday following heavy rains on Thursday. Weather stations recorded around 200 mm (7.8 inches) of rain falling in the evening alone. The landslide claimed a total of 13 lives confirmed Sophon Suwannarat, the governor of Phuket on Saturday, August 24. It also left 19 injured and caused severe damage to 209 houses in the affected regions. The following nine villages in three subdistricts have been declared as disaster zones by the authorities: In Chalong Subdistrict, Villages 8, 9, and 10 are impacted, affecting 40 households or 123 people. In Rawai Subdistrict, Villages 1 and 2 are affected, impacting 55 households or 174 people. In Karon Subdistrict, Villages 1, 2, 3, and 4 are affected, impacting 114 households or 382 people. Search and rescue missions are currently underway.
11 dead and 14 missing as torrential rains strike northeast China’s Liaoning - Torrential rains struck Liaoning Province in northeast China on August 23, 2024, leaving 11 people dead and 14 missing in Huludao city. The floods damaged or destroyed 187 bridges, caused 40 powerlines to be shut off, and disrupted communications. Heavy rainfall over the past few days caused severe damage in Huludao City, particularly in Jianchang County and Suizhong County. The flooding left at least 11 people dead and 14 missing in the city of Huludao, and forced tens of thousands of people in several regions of Huludao to evacuate, with an ongoing search for missing persons, according to CCTV. State broadcaster CCTV reported that an official also died while attempting to save people. Nine major national and provincial roads and 210 rural roads have been disrupted due to the downpours, that have damaged or destroyed 187 bridges. 40 powerlines were also shut down due to the heavy rains. Preliminary statistics say that 188 757 people in Huludao were affected, with losses amounting to 10.3 billion yuan (about 1.44 billion U.S. dollars). Over 50 000 people in Huludao fell under evacuation orders due to the heavy rains, according to state media reports from August 22.
Flash floods and landslides claim 13 lives in Indonesia, 6 people remain missing - (video) - Flash floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall struck Indonesia’s eastern province of Maluku on Sunday, August 25, 2024. The disaster claimed 13 lives and 6 people remain missing, with search and rescue operations currently underway. Triggered by heavy rainfall on Saturday, August 24, flash floods and landslides hit Ternate City in the eastern province of Maluku on Sunday morning, according to the locality’s disaster management and mitigation office. The flooding and landslides have claimed 13 lives so far, and 6 people remain missing. According to Fatur Rahman, head of the Search and Rescue Office in the province, eight people survived the natural disaster in Ternate City. All survivors were treated for their injuries in three local hospitals. The deluge cut off the main road and access to the village of Rua in North Maluku Province, the hardest-hit area, and buried dozens of houses and buildings under mud. A total of 1 000 personnel from a joint team of soldiers, police officers, local rescue workers, disaster agency staff, and volunteers from various institutions are currently engaged in the search and rescue mission. The operation is planned to continue for seven days and could be extended if necessary. Heavy rain is still possible in the Ternate City area and its surroundings in the coming days, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency.
Severe floods in Conakry claim 2 lives and leave 1 missing, Guinea - Conakry, the capital of Guinea, experienced severe flooding on August 24, 2024, following unusually heavy rainfall. The floods claimed two lives, left one person missing, and caused substantial damage. This was the first major flood in Conakry in 2024.
Arbaat dam collapse in Sudan wipes out 20 villages, over 130 reportedly killed - **The Arbaaat dam in Sudan’s Red Sea State collapsed on August 25, 2024, resulting in severe flash floods in the surrounding regions as the reservoir was fully drained. Reports from Agence France Presse (AFP) indicate 132 casualties while local authorities have confirmed only 30. The floods destroyed 20 villages while the homes of 50 000 people have either been destroyed or damaged. Arbaaat Dam, located approximately 38 km (24 miles) northwest of Port Sudan in Sudan’s Red Sea State, collapsed after heavy rains on August 25. Preliminary reports suggest that the breach caused the dam reservoir to be fully drained. According to a government delegation inspecting the affected regions, 70 villages in the surrounding areas have been impacted by the flash floods, 20 of which have been destroyed. The homes of roughly 50 000 people have either been destroyed or damaged on the western side of the dam, while access to roads on the eastern side has been completely cut off. Local authorities have confirmed 30 fatalities. However, the number of casualties could be much higher, according to UN OCHA. Meanwhile, reports from Agence France Presse (AFP) indicate 132 casualties. They also reported that 70 schools have either been damaged or destroyed, 84 boreholes have collapsed, and 10 000 heads of livestock are missing.
Floods and landslides claim 33 lives in Yemen’s Al-Mahwit Province, bringing the death toll to 119 – (video) Severe floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains have claimed at least 33 lives in Yemen’s Al-Mahwit Province, as of Thursday, August 29, 2024. This brings the total number of fatalities since the start of the kharif rainy season to 119. Major floods and landslides hit Al-Mahwit’s Melhan Province on Tuesday night, August 27, killing at least 33 people, destroying 28 homes, and damaging 200 others, according to Ali al-Zikam, secretary-general of the local council of Al-Mahwit Province. The flooding also swept away livestock, five cars and left several people missing. On August 29, Yemen’s Red Crescent reported that 38 people in the district were still missing. What you see here is the devastating impact of floods in #Yemen. Heavy rains have ravaged Hajjah and Hodeidah, displacing families and deepening the crisis. Our Emergency Flood Response, funded by @startnetwork, is supporting households with cash, food, shelter, and support. pic.twitter.com/CBmUPZXyym — Relief International (@ReliefIntl) August 29, 2024 Heavy rains have battered the highland provinces for a week and have also heavily affected neighboring Hodeida Province on the Red Sea coast. An official statement released on Wednesday, August 28 said that 86 people have lost their lives in Hodeida, Reema, and Hajjah provinces since mid-July. This brings the total number of fatalities, since the start of the kharif rainy season (July – September), to at least 119. An unknown number of people is missing. Over 300 mm (12 inches) of rain is forecast in the coming months for the central highlands, Red Sea coastal areas, and the southern uplands, according to the World Health Organization.
Tropical Storm “Hone” moving just south of Hawaii, Tropical Storm Warning in Hawaii County - Tropical Storm “Hone” formed in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, August 22, 2024, as the 8th named storm of the 2024 Pacific hurricane season. The system is moving W just south of Hawaii, bringing strong winds and heavy rains.
- The potential for excessive rainfall and flash flooding on portions of the Big Island of Hawaii persists through Sunday as a large area of moisture associated with Hone moves through. The heaviest rainfall will likely occur over windward and southeast facing slopes.
- Tropical Storm conditions are expected on the Big Island beginning this evening (Saturday, LT) and continuing through early Sunday, August 25. Winds are expected to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.
- Swells generated by Hone will continue through Sunday as this system continues westward. Expect dangerous conditions with life-threatening surf and rip currents.
At 06:00 UTC on August 25, the center of Tropical Storm “Hone” was located about 168 km (105 miles) SSE of Hilo and 467 km (290 miles) SE of Honolulu, Hawaii.The system had maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h (70 mph) and minimum central pressure of 991 hPa, moving W at 24 km/h (15 mph).A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Hawaii County.A westward motion is expected to continue into Monday, August 26, with slight slowing expected early next week. Moderate strengthening is possible over the next 24 to 36 hours, with Hone holding near hurricane intensity. Tropical storm conditions are expected on the Big Island tonight through early Sunday, with winds anticipated to be strongest downslope of higher terrain, over headlands, and through passes.
Typhoon “Shanshan” slows down as it nears Japan, landfall expected in Kyushu on August 29 - Typhoon “Shanshan” has slowed down as it neared Japan on August 26, 2024. The system is projected to approach western Japan and the Amami region from Tuesday through Wednesday, August 27 and 28, bringing strong winds and heavy rain, particularly along the Pacific coast. JTWC forecast places the landfall point south of Sasebo at approximately 15:00 UTC on August 29 with maximum sustained winds of around 150 km/h (92 mph). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), has warned of violent winds, high waves, landslides, flooding, and swollen rivers, urging residents in affected areas to take precautions. According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), the center of Typhoon “Shanshan” was located about 430 km (267 miles) ENE of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan at 15:00 UTC on August 26. The system had maximum sustained winds of 167 km/h (104 mph) and was moving WNW at 15 km/h (9 mph) over the past 6 hours. Significant wave height is reaching 10 m (33 feet). JTWC forecasters expect the system to turn poleward over the next 48 hours, then round the axis of the steering ridge and turn eastward toward Kyushu thereafter. The current JTWC forecast places the landfall point south of Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture just after 72 hours — approximately 15:00 UTC on August 29. “During the extended forecast period, the system will move inland and slowly accelerate poleward and eastward ahead of a developing mid-latitude trough. Extratropical transition is expected to begin by 15:00 UTC on August 31 as the system interacts with the mid-latitude trough, although it remains too early to tell whether the transition process will continue or if the system will dissipate over land beyond 120 hours, as a fair proportion of the available deterministic and ensemble model guidance indicates.” The current intensification trend is expected to continue for the next 24 hours, supported by passage over very warm water and favorable equatorward outflow. However, intensification will be limited as vertical wind shear increases due to persistent northeasterly flow aloft and as upper-level outflow decreases, partially due to the filling of a tropical upper tropospheric trough cell to the south that is currently supporting the system. The passage over land will lead to steady weakening after 72 hours, JTWC said.
Powerful Typhoon “Shanshan” makes landfall in Japan, forcing millions to evacuate - Typhoon “Shanshan” made landfall near Satsumasendai City in Kyushu, Japan on Thursday, August 29, 2024. The powerful storm, with wind gusts reaching 198 km/h (123 mph), triggered severe flooding and landslides, prompting evacuation orders affecting millions in southwestern Japan. The typhoon peaked as a Category 4 hurricane equivalent before making landfall at around 08:00 local time (LT) on Thursday. Shanshan struck near Satsumasendai City on Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands, with wind gusts reaching up to 198 km/h (123 mph), according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Over the past 48 hours, some areas have been hit with more than 700 mm (27.5 inches) of rain. Some areas could still see 1 000 mm (39 inches) of rain over the next couple of days, according to the JMA. #Shanshan continues to intensify beyond expectations. JMA is now predicting that its central pressure could drop to 925hPa and approach Kyushu. This is an extraordinary #typhoon. Since records began in 1951, the lowest pressure at landfall was 925hPa (Nancy, 1961). pic.twitter.com/Fy3EbvvbM4 The storm’s impact led to the closure of factories and the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Authorities issued evacuation orders for 5.2 million people across several prefectures, warning that this could be one of the strongest storms to hit the region in recent years. At least three people were killed as Shanshan approached Japan on August 28 when a landslide in Gamagori City, central Japan, buried a home. A total of 74 people were injured, and one person remains missing as of Thursday evening (LT), with reports of injuries from broken glass, collapsed walls, and flying debris. A man in his 60s fell into the sea in Kagoshima City and remains missing. In Miyazaki City, over 160 buildings were damaged, including 69 residential properties and 35 commercial structures, according to Japan Times. The storm left around 236 000 households without power late Thursday (LT), with Kyushu Electric Power Co. reporting that seven prefectures were affected. Search and rescue operations are ongoing but have been temporarily suspended in some areas. A level 4 evacuation order is currently in place for parts of Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Ehime, Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, and Mie due to the risk of heavy rainfall, flooding, or landslides. The maximum strength of the orders is level 5. The typhoon also disrupted transportation and daily activities across the region. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways canceled flights, and rail services, including the Shinkansen network, were suspended across Kyushu and other parts of western Japan. Airlines, including ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines, have already announced the cancellation of more than 600 domestic flights. The JMA issued emergency warnings for Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday, indicating the potential for a large-scale disaster, although these warnings were later downgraded. Despite weakening, the storm continues to pose a risk of landslides and floods as it moves slowly northward. Toyota paused production at its factories, extending the suspension through Friday, August 30, to ensure worker safety. The typhoon is expected to approach central and eastern Japan, including Tokyo, in the coming days. The current forecast track takes Shanshan northeastward then eastward along the edge of a shallower reflection of a receding steering STR, and mostly over land as it drags across the islands of Kyushu into Shikoku, and Honshu, according to the JTWC. The highly unfavorable environment will rapidly erode the system to dissipation by 09:00 UTC on September 1. However, there is a possibility, as indicated by a few numerical track models, that the system will make a tight U-turn back into the Pacific Ocean and re-intensify.
Cyclonic Storm “Asna” forms in the Arabian Sea; Gujarat reports 32 dead, more than 32 000 evacuated - The Watcherstropical cyclone 02a at 1030 utc on august 30 2024 The Saurashtra-Kachchh region of Gujarat has been severely impacted by heavy rains caused by a deep depression in the Arabian Sea since August 25, which intensified into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” today. The resulting floods have claimed 32 lives and forced the evacuation of more than 32 000 people. The severe flooding has also led to the unusual sight of crocodiles taking over parts of the city of Vadodara. Asna is the second named storm of the 2024 North Indian Ocean cyclone season. The Saurashtra-Kachchh region in Gujarat has been battered by heavy rains due to a deep depression off the Kachchh coast, which is likely to strengthen into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” on Friday, August 30, 2024. Rain-related incidents have claimed 32 lives in the state so far. The Gujarat government reported casualties in several districts: one each in Aravalli, Dwarka, Panchmahal, Dang, Bharuch, Morbi, and Vadodara; six in Anand; five in Ahmedabad; three each in Mahisagar and Jamnagar; and two each in Gandhinagar, Kheda, Dahod, and Surendranagar. More than 32 000 people have been evacuated, and around 1 200 have been rescued from flood-impacted regions in Gujarat. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, helicopters were used by security personnel in some instances to transport people to secure areas. Severe flooding has also led to crocodiles leaving the river waters and spreading across the city of Vadodara, with several sightings reported across the city. At 08:30 local time (LT) on Friday, the deep depression over Kutch and adjoining areas of Saurashtra, the northeast Arabian Sea, and Pakistan was centered over the Kachchh coast and adjoining areas of Pakistan and the northeast Arabian Sea, 160 km (99 miles) west of Bhuj, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The system was moving westwards at a speed of 8 km/h (5 mph) during the past 6 hours. According to the advisory issued by the Tropical Cyclone Warning Center in Karachi, Pakistan, at 16:26 LT (11:26 UTC), the depression intensified into Cyclonic Storm “Asna” and was centered approximately 170 km (106 miles) south-southeast of Karachi and 88 km (55 miles) south of Kati Bandar. The system is likely to keep moving west-northwestward.
Palisades Tahoe, California sees rare snow in August, causing the closure of Highway 89 - Palisades Tahoe Resort in California, USA, experienced a rare August snowfall for the first time in 20 years on Saturday, August 24, 2024. Rare snowfall occurred over Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe on Saturday, while some lower-elevation regions of the Sierra Nevada saw mild rainfall. The snow was limited to the higher elevation areas of the resort, with snow visible at Mammoth Mountain’s McCoy Station at 2 936 m (9 630 feet). Mammoth’s forecast had predicted a slight chance of snow, followed by a slight chance of rain, with temperatures dipping into the low 30s °F (around -1 °C) on Saturday morning. Snow would be highly unusual in the normally warm temperatures of August, according to resort officials. The snow was visible even from the main lodge at Mammoth Mountain on Saturday, which hasn’t occurred before October since 2017, according to the resort’s website. This was the first August snowfall for the resort since 2004. Due to overnight snowfall farther north, part of Highway 89 was closed as approximately 10 cm (4 inches) of snow was expected to accumulate on the road, according to the National Park Service. Very light snow was seen at the top of Palisades Tahoe’s Siberia Express at 2 652 m (8 700 feet), with temperatures in the low 30s °F (around -1 °C). The National Weather Service had previously indicated that 2.5 – 5 cm (1 – 2 inches) of snow could accumulate at Palisades Tahoe’s summit.
South Australia experiences record-breaking winter temperatures two days in a row - South Australia broke its previous winter temperature record for the second consecutive day, with Oodnadatta recording an unprecedented 39.4 °C (102.9 °F) on Saturday. This new record surpassed the previous day’s high of 38.5 °C (101.3 °F), which had already exceeded the former winter temperature record by 2 °C (3.6 °F). Typically, such records are exceeded by much smaller increments, making this 2 °C (3.6 °F) leap, followed by nearly another degree increase the next day, an extraordinary event. Other towns in South Australia also experienced record-breaking temperatures during this unusual heatwave. Marree reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) on Saturday, surpassing its previous winter high of 34.9 °C (94.8 °F). Similarly, Roxby Downs set a new record at 36.1 °C (97 °F), overtaking its previous winter peak of 34.6 °C (94.3 °F). These record-breaking temperatures have been attributed to an unusually hot air mass moving over Central Australia and northern South Australia. The heatwave is driven by a stream of northwesterly winds flowing between a low-pressure system centered over the Great Australian Bight and a high-pressure system positioned over Queensland. australia temperature anomaly august 24 2024 Image credit: ECMWF/WeatherBELL While the extreme heat was expected to moderate starting Sunday, August 25, temperatures in Oodnadatta are still forecast to remain significantly above average. Sunday’s expected maximum of 32 °C (89.6 °F) in Oodnadatta, while lower than the record-setting highs, will still be 10 °C (18 °F) above the long-term August average of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F). Extreme temperatures aren’t rare in Oodnadatta. It shares the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in Australia at 50.7 °C (123.3 °F), along with Onslow in Western Australia. The heatwave’s impact was not limited to South Australia. On Saturday, minimum temperatures across large parts of the Northern Territory, northern Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland were reported as being 10 – 15 °C (18 – 27 °F) above average for this time of year. Alice Springs in the Northern Territory recorded a minimum temperature of 20.9 °C (69.6 °F), 15 °C (27 °F) above the August average. Birdsville in Queensland experienced a minimum of 23.2 °C (73.8 °F), 14.4 °C (25.9 °F) above the monthly average, while Coober Pedy in South Australia recorded 19.3 °C (66.7 °F), 11.7 °C (21.1 °F) higher than the usual August minimum. The hot air mass responsible for these temperatures is expected to persist, with temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F) forecast for the Northern Territory, northern South Australia, western New South Wales, and much of inland Queensland. While a cold front is anticipated to bring cooler conditions to much of South Australia starting Sunday, the heat is likely to continue affecting northern and eastern Australia into the new week.
Scientists reveal two previously unknown mechanisms for Antarctic ice shelf melting --Two papers published in Nature Geoscience in June indicate that Antarctic ice shelves are melting more rapidly than previously anticipated. The papers detail two distinct mechanisms for melting that had not been incorporated into previous models for the breakup of the ice shelves. The ice shelves that surround most of the Antarctic coast, together with the ice sheet that covers most of the continent, have an area of 14 million square kilometres. At the thickest point, the ice sheet is 4.9 km deep. The combined shelves are estimated to hold 30 million cubic kms of ice. If they were to melt completely, they would raise sea levels by 58 meters. This would completely inundate coastal cities, and many low-lying islands would be completely submerged, affecting a large portion of the world’s population. Major cities such as Shanghai and New York would be inundated.The paper, “Tipping point in ice-sheet grounding-zone melting due to ocean water intrusion,” indicates that the ice sheets are being undermined at their grounding zone where the continental ice meets the sea ice, by warming sea water underneath the ice sheet. It was produced by Alexander Bradley, postdoctoral researcher in the Modelling Group of the Ice Dynamics and Paleoclimate team at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, and Ian Hewitt, applied mathematician at Oxford University. The scientists used modelling techniques that determined that small temperature increases in the sea water due to global warming can undermine the iceshelf, contributing to its collapse. The process is that the warmer water underneath the shelf produces cavities in the ice, allowing more water to seep in and further increasing the melting, producing a feedback loop. The paper identified this as a new tipping point for the breakup of the ice shelves.The study stated: “Marine ice sheets are highly sensitive to submarine melting in their grounding zones, where they transition between grounded and floating ice. Recently published studies of the complex hydrography of grounding zones suggest that warm ocean water can intrude large distances beneath the ice sheet, with dramatic consequences for ice dynamics.”This work means that the current models for the breakup of the ice shelves may involve a very serious underestimate.An earlier study in February 2022 by climate change and glaciology scientist Alexander Robel and his team, published in the journal The Cryosphere, “Layered seawater intrusion and melt under grounded ice” predicted that the sea water intrusion could double the rate of the ice shelf collapse. The second Nature Geoscience paper was produced by Assistant Professor in Glaciology Rebecca Dell, at the Scott Polar Research institute at Cambridge, under the title, “Substantial contribution of slush to meltwater area across Antarctic ice shelves.” It used artificial intelligence to examine satellite images taken between 2013 and 2021 by NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite to detect sludge pools on the ice shelves. The sludge pools are formed by melt water that also exists as pools of water. The sludge consists of waterlogged snow. The researchers observed the pools monthly.“We can use satellite imagery to map meltwater lakes across much of Antarctica, but it’s hard to map slush, because it looks like other things, such as shadows from clouds, when viewed from a satellite. But using machine learning techniques, we can go beyond what the human eye can see and get a clearer picture of how slush might be affecting ice in Antarctica,” said Dell.The researchers found 17,000 square km of such pools and in January at the height of the Antarctic summer over half (57 percent) of all meltwater on Antarctica’s ice shelves is held in slush, with the remaining 43 percent in meltwater lakes.They found that the slush pools transition to water pools. The lakes are often found in areas where Antarctic ice becomes sea ice. Scientists think that the pooling of water can fracture the ice leading to the fracturing and collapse of the ice shelf.Importantly, the researchers identified another warming effect as sludge reflects less heat back into space than does ice thus increasing the melting of the sludge into water and further undermining the sea shelves. This is not currently incorporated into models for the breakup of the ice shelves.“This slush has never been mapped on a large scale across all of Antarctica’s large ice shelves, so over half of all surface meltwater has been ignored until now. This is potentially significant for the hydrofracture process, where the weight of meltwater can create or enlarge fractures in the ice,” said Dell.
Sulfur dioxide emissions from volcanic eruption in Iceland reach Europe - Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions produced by the new eruption in Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland have reached Europe. The forecast and measured SO2 concentrations are currently below the recommended exposure threshold with no major impact on air quality and health. This year’s sixth eruption in Reykjanes Peninsula began on August 22, producing significant SO2 emissions that crossed the North Atlantic and reached NW Europe on August 24, before moving further east. According to Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), satellite observations of the plume height indicate that the highest concentration is between 5 – 8 km (3 – 5 miles) in the atmosphere, but forecasts and surface measurement sites have also shown some increased concentrations of SO2 (up to 20 μg/m³) at ground level. “The Reykjanes Peninsula has been experiencing increased volcanic activity and eruptions, resulting in large plumes of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere,” said CAMS Senior Scientist Mark Parrington. “In CAMS, near-real-time satellite observations of the plumes allow us to track the SO2 in the atmosphere and analyze the possible impacts on air quality. The emissions from this episode have not been severe enough to significantly impact global atmospheric processes or human health, but documenting and monitoring each episode is important.” According to the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) report issued on August 26, all data suggest that this eruption is the largest in the area since the unrest period began in the autumn of 2023.Starlink 2382 creates bright fireball over Europe - (videos) An unexpected atmospheric re-entry of the Starlink 2382 satellite at 19:29 UTC on August 27, 2024, created a stunning fireball over France, Switzerland, and northern Italy. The event was seen by thousands of people from France and Belgium to Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. Videos of the fireball have gone viral across social media: Starlink 2382 was a part of SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which aims to provide global broadband internet coverage from low Earth orbit (LEO). It was launched on March 11, 2021, from Cape Canaveral, United States. The satellite was one of many in the large network designed to deliver high-speed internet, especially to remote and underserved areas.
India’s lunar lander unearths evidence the moon once had a magma ocean -- Long ago, the moon was molten. It was covered by a magma ocean. The moon had just formed, accreting from the debris spewed into space by the violent collision of Earth with a Mars-size planet. Ever since scientists studied moon rocks retrieved by Apollo astronauts, that has been the consensus hypothesis about the moon’s formation. Now comes a new batch of hard data to support the molten moon scenario, delivered by a rover that India deposited last year near the lunar south pole. In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers in India offered their first scientific results from the mission, reporting that the rover found lunar soil matching that from previous missions to more equatorial regions of the moon. This is consistent with the Lunar Magma Ocean hypothesis — known as the LMO — which holds that the moon’s crust formed as magma cooled roughly 4.4 billion years ago. The moon was much closer to Earth then and would have loomed large in the sky had anyone been around to see it. “The Moon would have looked like a hot reddish ball,” lead author Santosh Vadawale, a professor at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad, India, said in an email. The moon is arguably the most studied object in the universe that is not of this Earth, having been subjected to a series of robotic and boots-onthe- ground examinations during the past six decades. Although there is consensus about its origin in a catastrophic impact, the fine details of its evolution remain the subject of scientific scrutiny by researchers across the planet. Finding new evidence for the moon’s evolution is salutary for any country with a lunar science program. The moon lacks plate tectonics, and unlike Earth its surface has not been reworked and recycled through time. As a result, the moon is a vintage world, its cratered surface preserving its battered history. For scientists, it is a Rosetta Stone for the processes that formed the inner solar system.
Stranded ISS astronauts to return home in February 2025 using SpaceX Dragon - NASA has postponed the return of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) due to safety concerns over Boeing’s Starliner aircraft. The mission, originally planned for September 2024, has been postponed to February 2025. Astronauts Butch Wilmore, 61, and Sunita Williams, 58, were supposed to return to Earth on the Starliner, but the mission has been pushed back until February 2025. Instead, the astronauts will return in a SpaceX spacecraft, extending their time in space from a planned week to more than eight months. The Starliner, designed to represent Boeing’s heritage in space exploration, has encountered technical challenges, most notably thruster failures and helium leaks. These issues prompted NASA to decide against using the Starliner for the astronauts’ return. Despite comprehensive testing, including extensive rocket tests in orbit and on the ground, the spacecraft’s propulsion system failed many times. Given these outstanding difficulties, NASA decided it was too hazardous to use the Starliner for the return voyage. Instead, Wilmore and Williams will stay on the ISS until February 2025, when a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will return them to Earth. NASA’s decision to postpone the astronauts’ return is driven mostly by safety concerns. The Starliner’s propulsion system concerns, particularly thruster faults and helium leaks, created unacceptable risks to the crew. Drawing on lessons from previous space shuttle disasters, NASA adopted a more cautious approach, prioritizing astronaut safety over the projected mission timeline. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson stressed that the decision reflects a commitment to crew safety, stating that “A test flight by nature is neither safe nor routine. The decision is a result of a commitment to safety.” Boeing has reported a $125 million loss for the Starliner program through June 30, 2024, bringing the total cost overrun to more than $1.5 billion. Despite these hurdles, NASA remains dedicated to the Starliner, hoping that the spacecraft can overcome these obstacles and conduct a successful crewed trip shortly. The stakes are high for Boeing, whose brand has already been tarnished by prior accidents like the 737 Max tragedies. Although the Starliner program accounts for a minor amount of Boeing’s income, it is indicative of the company’s aerospace past. As NASA and Boeing work through these obstacles, the Starliner’s future will be closely watched by both the industry and the public.
SpaceX delays Polaris Dawn launch after helium leak is detected --SpaceX’s historic Polaris Dawn mission was delayed by at least 24 hours on Monday after a helium leak, the aerospace company announced Monday night. The capsule, carrying four citizens, was expected to lift off early Tuesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but a helium leak pushed the launch until no earlier than Wednesday.“Teams are taking a closer look at a ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical,” the company wrote on X. “Falcon and Dragon remain healthy, and the crew continues to be ready for their multi-day mission to low-Earth orbit.”Those expected on the mission include retired Air Force Lt. Col Scott “Kidd” Poteet, SpaceX engineers Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon and Jared Isaacman, a billionaire adventurer who chartered the first commercial flight to orbit aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon in 2021.“We’re officially scrubbed for today, but the @SpaceX team is doing awesome work to ensure all systems are 100% ready for launch!” Gillis wrote on X Monday.Polaris Dawn is the first of three planned missions in the Polaris Program, a human spaceflight project funded by Isaacman. In the first mission, the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit in hopes of reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown and conducting a spacewalk.The spacewalk is expected to occur on the third day, during which two crew members will exit the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a tether in newly designed suits, per NBC News, while about 700 kilometers above Earth.The mission is “designed to advance both human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights,” per the program’s website. This includes using ultrasound to detect “venous gas emboli,” along with gathering data to better understand the effects of space radiation on human biological systems, along with other goals.It will also mark the first to test Starlink laser-based communications in space, according to the program website.
Facing natural disasters, more lawmakers look to make oil companies pay for the damage - Vermont is the first state trying a new approach to climate policy: charging fossil fuel companies money to cover the damages caused by natural disasters worsened by climate change.Other states could be close behind. New York lawmakers passed their own measure in June, though it’s unclear if Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul will sign the bill. And legislators in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey have introduced similar bills, which environmental advocates in those states have identified as a top priority for upcoming sessions.“We’re certainly hoping that Vermont will be in good company soon,” said Ben Edgerly Walsh, climate and energy program director with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, an environmental nonprofit.The so-called climate Superfund measures are based on the “polluter pays” concept of the 1980 federal Superfund law, which covers the cleanup of toxic waste sites. Under the proposals, states would determine how much to charge fossil fuel companies based on their historical role in producing the emissions responsible for climate change.The proposals could bring in billions of dollars to deal with disasters such as the flooding that has ravaged Vermont in the past year. Other states could use the cash to address the damages caused by sea level rise, wildfires or droughts.But such measures are likely to face stiff legal challenges from the oil and gas industry, making some state leaders wary of an expensive courtroom battle. And some lawmakers fear the bills will be linked to threats of higher gas prices, although advocates argue they won’t raise costs for consumers.Legislators and advocates say the efforts in Vermont and New York are emboldening leaders in other states. But a veto from Hochul, they warn, could raise doubts elsewhere and slow that momentum.The new law in Vermont, which took effect July 1, tasks the state treasurer with calculating the damages from climate change-caused disasters, as well as the expenses the state is incurring to adapt to changing conditions such as increasing precipitation.The state will then collect money to cover those costs from any company responsible for more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the past 30 years, proportional to its share of global emissions.The law and similar measures are underpinned by an emerging field known as attribution science, which uses computer modeling to determine whether climate change caused or intensified a natural disaster.“There’s a wealth of information out there dating back before 1995 indicating that the [oil] industry knew of the risks associated with its products,” said Elena Mihaly, vice president of Conservation Law Foundation Vermont. “It is wholly fair and reasonable to apply retroactive liability to those parties, given what they knew and when.”The bill passed 93-39 in the Vermont House and 26-3 in the Senate, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed it to become law without his signature. Scott said the state has been hit hard by climate change but expressed concern about the legal costs of taking on oil companies.Oil industry groups have disputed the credibility of attribution science and claim states have no grounds to punish them for extracting, refining and selling a legal product. The American Petroleum Institute did not grant a Stateline interview request, nor did Energy In Depth, a research, education and public outreach campaign of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. Both instead issued statements decrying climate Superfund policies.Mandi Risko, a spokesperson for Energy In Depth, wrote that the bills are “based on shoddy attribution science which arbitrarily picks winners and losers according to an ideological agenda.” Risko also claimed the bills would raise energy costs.While no lawsuits have been filed against Vermont yet, advocates are preparing for a battle. They’re hoping they won’t have to fight alone.Soon after Vermont’s bill became law in May, New York legislators voted to pass their own measure. The New York bill would apply to roughly three dozen fossil fuel companies, collecting $3 billion per year over 25 years to help cover the costs of climate change. Advocates say climate change-caused damages are likely to far exceed that figure.“Don’t you think the people who are responsible for a significant share of what’s happening ought to be on the hook for some amount of the costs we are facing?” said Democratic state Sen. Liz Krueger, who sponsored the bill. “This bill is an attempt to get polluters to at least pay part of it.”
Global Warming Nutters Get More Shrill with Predictions of Doom - Marcellus Drilling News - As we often point out when discussing the fugitive methane issue, the number one source of fugitive methane emissions, at 40%, is Mom Earth herself (i.e., “natural”). The number two source, at 24%, is agriculture. The number three source, at 21%, is oil and gas operations. Yet global warming nutjobs ONLY focus on emissions from O&G and ignore the other 79% of sources, including natural. Every now and again the nutters will mention other sources to try to protect their tattered reputations. Even then, they twist the science. Get this latest howler: Burning fossil fuels, which supposedly causes global warming, “may” be causing Mom Earth to emit even more fugitive methane that she otherwise would emit. So, we all must stop using fossil fuels right now or risk obliterating all life on earth. Or something like that.
States Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Emergency Block EPA Methane Reg --Marcellus Drilling News --EPA Administrator Michael Regan used a considerable amount of fossil energy and emitted tons of carbon dioxide to jet over to Dubai last December to participate in the COP28 confab, where he released a final rule that was “two years in the making” to force the U.S. oil and gas industry to cut methane emissions by using budget-busting new technologies and onerous (frequent) inspections (see Bidenistas Unleash Hellscape of U.S. Methane Regs at COP28). A group of 26 states asked the swamp-dwelling judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit) to temporarily block the EPA rule while a lawsuit by the states (and others) plays out. Unsurprisingly, the swamp-dwelling judges turned the states down in July, allowing the EPA’s onerous new reg to commence (see DC Circuit Allows EPA Attack on O&G Via Methane Reg to Commence). Yesterday, the states suing to end the regulation filed an emergency stay request with the U.S. Supreme Court.
China Shuts Down Speculation That It Has Reached Peak Emissions - China has yet to see its carbon dioxide emissions peak as it is a developing nation and has a massive population.The message comes from the country’s National Energy Administration in response to speculation that China had achieved peak emissions before its own deadline.“We should not forget that China is still a developing country, pursuing modernization for a huge population,” the head of law and institutional reform at the NEA, Song Wen, told media. “Great efforts are still needed to achieve the goals of peak carbon and carbon neutrality,” Song also said, as quoted by Bloomberg.China has been at the forefront of the energy transition, accounting for most of the world’s total spending on things such as wind, solar, and EVs, and turning into the biggest producer of all three. However, this has not changed its status as one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide either. Beijing is working to change this, however. Earlier this month media reported that the country planned to build 11 new nuclear reactors to boost the share of the zero-emission electricity source in its energy mix. China is building more nuclear power plants than any other country in the world—just like its coal power plants—and based on those record approvals, it plans to build even more, becoming the world’s biggest nuclear generator by 2030, according to BloombergNEF.There are 26 nuclear reactors under construction in the country, set to add over 30 GW in generation capacity to the country’s total when completed.At the same time, Chinese authorities reduced significantly the number of approvals for new coal capacity. The total approved during the first half of the year was as much as 80% lower than the new coal capacity approved during the same period in 2023.The question here, however, is whether the approvals are down because after last year’s push the country will have all the coal capacity it needs or because of efforts to reduce the dominance of coal in the energy mix.
EPA watchdog says top air official worked on rule despite having ‘disqualifying financial interest’ --An internal watchdog criticized the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) top air official for participating in the development of a rule that regulates an industry in which he reportedly had financial holdings. The EPA’s inspector general said in a report issued Wednesday that Joseph Goffman “failed to meet his ethical obligations under the federal conflicts-of-interest prohibition.”It noted that Goffman, the EPA’s assistant administrator for air and radiation, “participated” in a rule regulating toxic emissions from the medical device industry despite holding a “disqualifying financial interest.” Specifically, it cited Goffman’s holding of more than $25,000 in Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic, which together owned 10 percent of the facilities directly impacted by the rulemaking, according to the watchdog.The rule in question requires sterilizer companies to reduce their emissions of cancer-causingethylene oxide by 90 percent. Health and environmental advocates have described the rule as a positive step, but criticized what they described as a loophole that excludes offsite warehouses from the regulation. The inspector general report said Goffman, a Biden appointee, worked on the rule and failed to assess a potential conflict of interest between February 2021 and April 2022. That April, he requested a “conflicts-of-interest screen” from the EPA’s Office of General Counsel, which “erroneously advised Goffman that he could participate in the rulemaking,” the report released Wednesday said. The report did not contain a formal response from Goffman or the EPA. However, it noted that the official “disagreed with our conclusions and asserted that he committed no violation of any kind.”Goffman told the inspector general’s office his outreach to the general counsel showed he didn’t have prior knowledge of a potential conflict and demonstrated his “rigorous adherence” to his screening arrangement. EPA spokesperson Nick Conger told The Hill the agency was reviewing the report.
Hungry for Clean Energy, Facebook Looks to a New Type of Geothermal - Big tech companies across the United States are struggling to find enough clean energy to power all the data centers they plan to build.Now, some firms are betting on a novel solution: harvesting the heat deep beneath the Earth’s surface to create emissions-free electricity, using drilling techniques from the oil and gas fracking boom.On Monday, Meta, the company that owns Facebook, announced an agreement with a start-up called Sage Geosystems to develop up to 150 megawatts of an advanced type of geothermal energy that would help power the tech giant’s expanding array of data centers. That is roughly enough electricity to power 70,000 homes.Sage will use fracking techniques similar to those that have helped extract vast amounts of oil and gas from shale rock. But rather than drill for fossil fuels, Sage plans to create fractures thousands of feet beneath the surface and pump water into them. The heat and pressure underground should heat the water to the point where it can be used to generate electricity in a turbine, all without the greenhouse gases that are causing global warming.“It’s basically the same fracking technology,” said Cindy Taff, an oil industry veteran who worked at Shell for 36 years before becoming Sage’s chief executive. “The difference is that we’re going after clean heat instead of hydrocarbons” such as oil and gas.Sage has already drilled a test well in South Texas to demonstrate its approach. The startup now aims to build its first large-scale power plant at a yet-to-be-determined location east of the Rocky Mountains, with the first phase coming online by 2027.
Argentina Plans to More Than Double Lithium Revenues by 2027 -Argentina plans to double its mining exports from $4 billion to $10 billion as soon as 2027 on the back of new lithium projects set to come online soon, combined with a renewed effort to expand copper output and exports, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing the Argentine Ministry of Mining. Newly installed Mining Secretary Luis Lucero told Reuters on Wednesday that Argentina is preparing to become a key lithium and copper supplier for the world, with electric vehicle demand poised to put the country at the top of the mining beneficiaries list. For lithium, the country–now governed by free-market libertarian President Javier Milei–Argentina is currently the world’s fourth-largest producer, after Chile and China, but hopes that a lineup of new projects will project it to the top spot. "Argentina has an important window of opportunity with lithium and copper to be a supplier in the international trade of these metals," Lucero said in written responses to Reuters. Lucero told Reuters that Argentina is gunning for an annual output of 200,000 tons of lithium carbonate equivalent either by late 2025 or early 2026, ramping up to 250,000 tons annually beyond that and turning lithium into its biggest mineral export. Questions have remained about global lithium demand, particularly amid a ramp-up of production in China that has created large stockpiles. Analysts continue to caution that technology may not be developing as rapidly as lithium stockpiles, and new battery technology may end up overriding lithium as a key element.
Tesla’s Rivals Still Can’t Use Its Superchargers -- Scarce and finicky public chargers are among the biggest reasons people hesitate to buy electric cars. So when Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, agreed last year to open the company’s well-regarded Supercharger network to vehicles from other carmakers, many drivers and industry experts celebrated the decision.But more than 12 months later, Tesla’s network, with nearly 30,000 fast-charging plugs in the United States and Canada, remains largely inaccessible to most people who don’t drive Teslas because of software delays and hardware shortages.The delays have fueled speculation that Mr. Musk was having second thoughts about opening up Tesla’s network, possibly because he was worried that access would help other automakers sell battery-powered models and lure customers from Tesla, which has suffered from declining sales.Tesla eased those fears a bit on Friday when the company’s charging unit posted on X that it had stepped up production of a crucial piece of hardware: adapters that drivers of Ford, Rivian and other car brands need to connect to Tesla chargers.A Tesla factory in Buffalo is producing 8,000 of the adapters per week, the company said, noting that outside suppliers are also producing the part. Still, it is unclear how fast those adapters would reach electric vehicle owners.Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, and the other automakers have been reluctant to speak in detail, apparently because they do not want to antagonize Tesla and Mr. Musk.
Connections confirmed between ‘grassroots’ Ohio solar opposition and dark-money natural gas group The leader of a local anti-solar energy group admitted to Ohio regulators last week that a well-connected natural gas executive is among the group’s largest donors.The testimony by Jared Yost, founder of Knox Smart Development, offered the fullest view yet of the group’s ties to fossil fuel interests, undercutting its claims to be a “grassroots” advocate for local farmers and other residents.“It changes the story quite a bit,” said David Pomerantz, executive director of the Energy and Policy Institute, a watchdog group that recently published a report on the fossil fuel industry’s long history of using money and misinformation to stoke local opposition to renewable energy projects.Knox Smart Development emerged late last year as a high-profile local opponent of the proposed 120 megawatt Frasier Solar project, located near Mount Vernon, Ohio. Questions emerged about its funding source after it hosted a town hall meeting at a local theater with complimentary food and drinks for approximately 500 attendees. Yost disclosed during an Ohio Power Siting Board hearing last week that one of its largest donors is Tom Rastin, the former vice president of Ariel Corporation, which makes compressors for the oil and gas industry. The Washington Post reported last year that Rastin is also a leader of The Empowerment Alliance, a dark money nonprofit that advocates for the natural gas industry.Yost said he did not have knowledge about Rastin’s work with The Empowerment Alliance, but said the fossil fuel group provided “non-financial” resources to Knox Smart Development to help oppose the Frasier Solar project.Yost denied being swayed by corporate interests and said his group has not received corporate funding. “The Empowerment Alliance has nothing to do with me or [Knox Smart Development],” he told the Energy News Network via email. “I have reached out to them and asked questions on a couple of occasions, as can anyone, and as I have done of others.” When asked in his hearing testimony if Knox Smart Development was “funded by any individuals or entities having any interest or providing any goods or services to the fossil fuel industry,” Yost answered, “No, not directly to the best of my knowledge.” On cross-examination, however, Yost admitted Rastin was one of the group’s largest funders. Yost is a former IT specialist at Ariel Corporation, and his work supported Rastin’s department. Rastin’s wife, Karen Buchwald Wright, is a former president and CEO of Ariel and continues as board chair. Her son Alex Wright succeeded her in 2021 as CEO. A July 2024 report from the Energy and Policy Institute includes links to recently produced public records. A September 2023 email shows Rastin was slated to speak to the Ohio General Assembly’s Business First caucus in October. The email attached a copy of Rastin’s biographywith The Empowerment Alliance logo on top. Mitch Given, who was identified in a meeting with Ohio lawmakers last year as The Empowerment Alliance’s Ohio director, spoke at a Knox Smart Development town hall meeting last November. There he was introduced as someone who travels across the state to help farmers and others “find their voice” and push back against solar projects. The emcee for that town hall event, Tom Whatman, is a chief strategist for Majority Strategies. The Empowerment Alliance’s Form 990 filing for 2023 shows it paid the political consulting firm more than $620,000 that year, making it the group’s highest paid contractor for five years in a row. Yost last week also discussed a dinner meeting last summer about the Frasier Solar project where the attendees included Rastin, Given, Whatman, Ariel employee Trina Trainor, and Lanny Spaulding. Spaulding is listed as a contact person for The Empowerment Alliance on an Ohio lobbyist registration form. Yost’s dad and others also attended. Yost had earlier said he did not organize the meeting..
Negative Power Prices Hit Europe as Renewable Energy Floods the Grid --European power markets are experiencing a notable shift as renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar, become a larger part of the energy mix. On Wednesday, power prices in several European markets, including Germany, dipped below zero due to a surge in green electricity production.In Germany, wind generation is expected to hit 22.7 gigawatts, the highest level in four months. This spike in renewable output has overwhelmed the grid, leading to negative prices during six separate hours on Tuesday, as recorded by Epex Spot SE. Negative pricing occurs when there is more electricity supply than demand, a scenario becoming more frequent as Europe continues its aggressive push toward renewable energy.The rapid expansion of wind and solar capacity is reshaping the continent's energy landscape. On days when both sources are generating at high levels, the market can become saturated with inexpensive power, driving prices down to the point where they even turn negative. While thisbenefits consumers in the short term, it also highlights the challenges of managing an energy grid increasingly reliant on intermittent renewable sources.On the flip side, when wind and solar are lacking, it can starve the grid of needed energy.In the long term, integrating battery storagesystems is crucial to addressing these fluctuations. By storing excess energy generated during periods of high wind and solar output, batteries can release power when renewable generation is low, stabilizing prices and ensuring a consistent supply of electricity.As Europe continues its transition to green energy, the frequency of negative pricing events is likely to increase, showcasing the need for energy storage investments as a way to manage a grid dominated by renewables while ensuring energy security.
Low Hydro Storage Forces New Zealand to Boost Fossil Fuel Power Generation --Low hydro storage following months of dry weather has forced power generators in New Zealand to boost fossil fuel electricity output by 67% so far this year, according to data from energy think tank Ember.As hydro storage slumped this year, hydropower generation fell to the lowest level in about a decade, per the data reported by Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire.At the same time, power generation from the backup coal and gas power stations jumped by 67% between January and July 2024 compared to the same period last year.Hydropower is the single largest source of electricity supply in New Zealand, accounting for around 60% of all power generation.In 2022, New Zealand saw one of the highest renewable electricity generation in recent decades, as autumn and winter rain ensured hydro inflows remained high. As a result, renewable sources generated 95% of electricity in the fourth quarter of 2022 — the highest quarterly share from renewables since 1980, the government said in estimates last year.However, dry weather in recent months has lowered the levels of water storage at hydro dams, and July hydro output accounted for only 48.6% of all power generation in New Zealand, the lowest hydropower share in at least a decade, per Ember’s data.The power supply crunch was one of the reasons why New Zealand’s government announced on Monday that it intends to pass legislation by the end of 2024 to reverse a ban on offshore oil and gas exploration that has been in place since 2018.The cabinet has committed to act with urgency to reverse the ban and remove regulatory barriers to the construction of critically needed facilities to import Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a stopgap.New Zealand also plans to ease restrictions on electricity lines companies owning generation and improve electricity market regulation, the government said in measures outlined in an urgent action plan to boost energy security.
AI demand could strain electrical grid in coming decade - Artificial intelligence could strain the U.S. electric grid, as power demand from data centers is poised to surge in the coming decade just as supply is falling due to the rapid retirement of coal-fired plants. Data centers in the U.S. alone could consume as much electricity as some major industrialized economies produce by 2030, as they proliferate not just in number but also in the scale of their power needs.The computer warehouses that power the Internet and increasingly AI could require up to 400 terawatt hours of electricity by 2030, according to an August report from Mizuho Securities. That’s more than the total electricity production of the United Kingdom in 2022, according to data from the International Energy Agency. Data center developers are knocking at the door of the nation’s utilities at the same time many of these power companies are retiring coal plants as part of the transition away from fossil fuels. But the waiting list to bring clean energy, primarily solar and wind, onto the grid to replace coal is long and renewables are less reliable.PJM Interconnection, the largest grid operator in the U.S., warned in July that the reliability of the system is a growing concern as coal plants close faster than new power generation is built. PJM serves 13 states primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region, including northern Virginia, the largest data center market in the world. Resources in areas of Virginia are insufficient and the transmission system is constrained, limiting the ability to import power from elsewhere, according to PJM.Yet data center “growth is accelerating in orders of magnitude, driven by the number of requests, the size of each facility and the acceleration of each facility’s ramp schedule to reach full capacity,” Dominion Energy CEO Robert Blue told investors on the company’s earnings call on Aug. 1.In addition to data centers, manufacturing is returning to the U.S. and the broader economy is electrifying. Recent auction prices to bring new power capacity to the PJM power pool have surged more than 800% as a consequence of rising demand and limited supply.“The market has already made one transition from coal to gas,” Susan Buehler, a spokesperson for PJM, told CNBC. “We see this energy transition is here. We just see that the forces around it are happening faster than the renewable energy transition is happening.”“So we see a potential gap, and that’s what the market is signaling,” Buehler said.PJM has forecast that electricity demand surge will surge nearly 40% by 2039 in its 369,000-square mile service area. Meanwhile, 40 gigawatts of existing power generation is at risk of retirement by 2030, or about 21% of PJM’s current installed capacity.While there are 290 gigawatts of renewable projects waiting to get connected to the grid, in the past only about 5% of such projects have actually been built, according to PJM.About 38 gigawatts of renewable energy have been approved for connection and another 72 gigawatts are coming in the first quarter of 2025, Buehler said, but the projects are not being built quickly enough due the challenges developers are facing on the ground. Buehler said developers “can’t get their projects sited, there are supply chain delays, and there are financing issues.” Utilities that operate in PJM have disclosed at least 50 gigawatts of potential data center demand during their recent earnings calls, though CEOs have cautioned there could be some duplication in the numbers.About 29% of current data center electricity demand in the U.S. is located within PJM’s territory, according to Mizuho. Some 25% of data center power demand in the nation is in Virginia.American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S., has commitments for more than 15 gigawatts of demand from data centers through the end of the decade, interim CEO Benjamin Fowke told investors on the company’s second-quarter earnings call earlier last month.That level of demand is equivalent to more than 40% of the peak electric load of 35 gigawatts across AEP’s entire system at the end of last year, according to Fowke. AEP serves 5.6 million customers in 11 states in the Midwest and South.“These are far from just inquiries,” Fowke told investors. “These are serious customers that want to get on the grid and are willing to financially commit to do what it takes to get on the grid.” Fowke testified to Congress in May that demand for electricity in some parts of the U.S. is already outstripping available capacity on the grid. The former CEO of Xcel Energy said that requests from large customers would more than double the current peak demand on the utility’s system. In the past, a large manufacturing facility might need 100 megawatts of electricity — equivalent to about 100,000 homes, Fowke told Congress. It is now increasingly common for a single data center to need anywhere from three to 15 times that amount of power, the CEO said. Dominion Energy regularly gets requests to support data center campuses that require as much as several gigawatts of power, Blue said in May. That’s larger than the average capacity of a nuclear reactor in the U.S. As a result, tech companies that are building data centers are increasingly looking at directly connecting their facilities to large power resources, such as nuclear plants, rather than waiting to access the grid. But that approach is already facing controversy. Amazon Web Services purchased a data center campus in March from Talen Energy for $650 million that will be powered directly by the Susquehanna nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. It was viewed by some in the industry as a landmark agreement that could pave the way for more nuclear-powered data centers.But AEP has challenged the agreement before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, warning that such arrangements could further constrain supply on the electric grid.
Regulatory battle over network of gas pipes enters final rounds - Chicago Tribune --A regulatory battle over the subterranean network of century-old gas pipes buried beneath the streets of Chicago is entering the final rounds, with billions of dollars, safety concerns and the future of the city’s energy infrastructure riding on the outcome. Filings last week in the ongoing Illinois Commerce Commission investigation into the paused Peoples Gas pipeline replacement program heated up arguments over the scope of the massive undertaking, ranging from just repairing leaks to upgrading the whole system. The ICC put the slow-moving pipeline replacement program on hold last fall, with a decision on its future expected after the investigation wraps up in January. Consumer groups have long argued that the utility should focus on repairing and replacing the most vulnerable leak-prone pipes, while Peoples has been looking to replace 2,000 miles of aging iron pipes and upgrade from a low- to a medium-pressure gas system. The complete system upgrade has taken years longer and cost billions more than originally projected. During the yearlong investigation, Peoples proposed a slight refinement of its existing program by eliminating the replacement of 49 miles of large cast-iron pipe, ostensibly saving about $330 million. It dubbed the option the “preferred alternative approach” for continuing the systemwide pipeline upgrade. Brett Seagle, an ICC staff engineer, filed testimony last week in support of the refined Peoples proposal, which would cost a projected $7.2 billion and take until 2040 to complete. “Upgrading the company’s low pressure system … is both reasonable and prudent,” Seagle said. “A medium-pressure system offers significant safety features that are not available in a low-pressure system.” The utility touted the ICC engineer’s findings in a news release Thursday. “The conclusions by ICC experts confirm what prior research showed and what our own construction teams have been seeing underground for years,” said Bill Mastoris, who became interim president of Peoples Gas in June. “It is critical this very old system be modernized. We must work together.” Mastoris, a longtime executive with Peoples’ parent company, Milwaukee-based WEC Energy Group, replaced Torrence Hinton, who left after two years in the role to become president of electric utility operations in Ohio for FirstEnergy. Peoples Gas, which serves 891,000 customers in Chicago, was acquired by WEC Energy Group in 2015. Launched in 2011, the Safety (formerly System) Modernization Program was plagued from the outset by delays and budget overruns. More than a decade later, the pipeline program is 38% complete. Peoples Gas said it would take until 2040 and cost upward of $8 billion to complete at the time it was paused. The pipeline replacement program was originally projected to cost $2.6 billion and take 20 years to complete. Peoples Gas filed for a record $402 million rate hike for 2024, in large part to continue funding its pipeline replacement program after a 10-year legislative surcharge enabling it to automatically pass the costs along to customers expired at the end of last year. In November, the ICC issued an orderpausing the pipeline program and reducing the rate increase.The replacement program was driven by pressure from the administration of former President Barack Obama to hold utilities across the U.S. accountable for aging pipeline systems following a 2010 explosion in San Bruno, California, that killed eight people, injured 58 and destroyed 38 homes.But consumer advocates have argued for years that gas pipelines may be obsolete by the time Peoples completes the systemwide infrastructure upgrade, as the shift to electrification and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar gain traction.
Ohio Supreme Court clears way for NEXUS settlement payments to begin, Stark to get $5.6 million --The Ohio Supreme Court has cleared the way for a 2022 settlement agreement between Ohio's tax commissioner and the owners of the NEXUS Gas Transmission pipeline to take effect.The court's recent 4-3 decision determined the Lorain County auditor could not appeal the property tax valuation of the NEXUS pipeline that was set by a 2022 settlement agreement between Ohio’s tax commissioner and the pipeline’s owners, Detroit-based DT Midstream and Enbridge, a Canadian company.The natural gas transmission pipeline crosses 13 counties – Stark, Columbiana, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Huron, Lorain, Lucas, Medina, Sandusky, Summit, Wayne and Wood – and 37 school districts in northern Ohio."Nexus is pleased by the decision which supports the finality of the settlement agreement, providing additional revenue and certainty to local school districts," wrote NEXUS spokesperson Kristen Henson in a statement. Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass had objected to the tax commissioner’s settlement, which set the taxable value of Ohio’s portion of the 256-mile interstate NEXUS pipeline at $950 million for 2019. The subsequent years’ values would be set by taking the 2019 valuation and subtracting for depreciation. Snodgrass sought to enforce the commissioner’s 2019 assessment that set the pipeline’s value at more than $1.4 billion before settlement negotiations began. He appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court when the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals denied his request.Justices Patrick DeWine, Michael Donnelly, Jennifer Brunner and Joseph Deters ruled that county auditors do have a statutory right to appeal tax valuations, but that right does not allow county auditors to void a settlement approved by the tax commissioner who is using his or her authority to compromise tax claims.Stark County Auditor Alan Harold supports moving forward with the settlement. “This decision by the Ohio Supreme Court reflects what was sought by the majority of county auditors and school districts involved,” Harold said. “We patiently wait its finality, subject to any additional rights of reconsideration by the Lorain County auditor.”Harold, along with seven other county auditors and two school districts, filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court asking the court to uphold the settlement agreement reached by the tax commissioner and NEXUS owners.They said the Lorain County auditor’s appeal has significantly impacted the other 12 counties, as well as the school districts and other local governments located along the pipeline, because it has delayed the payment of millions of dollars in property-tax distributions.While NEXUS’ valuation was under review, its owners paid taxes based on the value they believed the pipe was worth, not the state’s assigned taxable value, as they were permitted to do. The payments are the difference between the amount the pipeline owners have paid and the amount they should have paid under the settlement terms. The county auditors told the supreme court that the delay in payments has halted school construction projects and led to budget deficits. NEXUS owners have paid $23.4 million in property taxes to Stark County and the taxing entities in Washington, Nimishillen, Marlboro and Lake townships, according to the county auditor’s office.If the court’s decision stands, Stark County would receive an estimated $5.6 million in additional payments from NEXUS owners to cover the five years' worth of payments where NEXUS was paying only the amount it thought the pipeline was worth.The combined amount still is far less than the projected $41.7 million that Stark County initially expected to receive over the first five years of the pipeline’s operation.
Ohio Says It Can Pursue Rover Pipeline's Builders for Spills - Bloomberg Law News -
- State asks appeals court to revive environmental lawsuit
- Companies say Ohio waived claims and that federal law wins out
Ohio should have another chance to prove it can hold the builders of an interstate natural gas pipeline responsible for discharging millions of gallons of diesel fuel-laced drilling fluids into wetlands, an attorney for the state told an appeals court Tuesday.
Fracking is being forced onto some Ohio property owners' land: Here's why it's legal -- Jill Hunkler is a seventh-generation Ohio Valley resident who says her home was affected by fracking well unitization. Hunkler's three-acre property at the headwaters of the Captina Creek Watershed was one of hundreds in the area that she said became a magnet for fracking. Her property sits on the Utica and Marcellus Shales in the Appalachian Basin, geologic formations known to hold large reserves of oil and natural gas. As of April 2024, the Marcellus Shale contained about 120 million barrels of oil, while the Utica Shale contained 2.3 million barrels, according to the United States Geological Survey. There are 1,625 fracking wells in Belmont Country this year, which marks a 25% increase from 2023, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which oversees unitization orders in the state. Hunkler said when oil and gas representatives called "landmen" came knocking on her door, calling her home and sending repeated notices, she learned of the state's unitization laws. The fate of her land was largely out of her hands, she said. "To be perfectly honest, it makes me cry even now," Hunkler said. Unitization is the consolidation of multiple land parcels into a single operational unit for fracking, according to ODNR. Because it's multiple properties, 65% of property owners in a project area must sign an application to lease their property for drilling before going forward, according to ODNR. This leaves a population of dissenting or "non-participatory" landowners forced into fracking in the area, even if it's not on their property. Unitization has been legal in Ohio since 1965, however, the last decade has seen unitization orders surge to meet fracking demands.The ODNR enacted 112 unitization orders in 2022 and nearly 100 in 2023, according to ODNR records. Before 2021, which saw 73 unitization orders, ODNR enacted less than 50 orders per year between 2012 and 2020, according to records. Proponents believe fracking brings jobs back to the region, which historically relied on coal and steel manufacturing, and gives residents the opportunity to make passive income by leasing land."Natural gas production has been tremendously profitable for Ohio," state Sen. George Lang and two researchers said in a 2023 press release posted on the Ohio Senate website. "The shale revolution has been the greatest driver of the state's economic progress since the late 1990s. Ohio now ranks sixth among states in natural gas production, exporting to our neighbors and the world."Ohio law states landowners must make "just and reasonable" compensation for leasing sites, which can vary based on location, under state law. In 2024, some local drillers reported paying landowners an average of $500 per acre, but lease bonus payments in southeast Ohio can range from $3,000–$6,000 per acre, according to McCleery Law Firm, which provides consultation and legal services to landowners considering entering, or impacted by, a leasing agreement. "It is also an area where landowners are chronically exploited," the firm says in their "Landowner's Guide." "This is because landmen usually offer significantly less per acre if they suspect you lack knowledge of the market. Without knowledge of fair market value, an increase of two thousand dollars per acre might seem advantageous, when in reality, the starting offer was simply egregiously low," the firm claims.Researchers found that companies used persistent and personal strategies to overcome landowner reluctance, such as repeated in-person visits, calls and in some cases, contacting their family members and neighbors. "When their calls go unanswered, they send letters. When those are returned with 'REFUSED' handwritten across them, landmen drive to her house. When she refuses to answer the door, they speak to her neighbours and family members," according to the study.When property owners refused all requests, the study found widespread use of compulsory unitization."In roughly 40% of the wells drilled in Ohio, compulsory unitization applications were used because voluntary consent from landowners was not obtained," according to the study. In a statement to ABC News, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said the role of the agency is "to follow and administer the law, as written." "The Division does not have jurisdiction to regulate landmen," ODNR said. "People that don't live in southeast Ohio have no concept of what it's like," Randi Pokladnik, a lifelong resident of the Ohio River Valley and retired research chemist, told ABC News about fracking in the area."It sounds like a jet engine in the middle of the night and you can smell the emissions. It's a constant barrage of sand trucks and fracking trucks with brine in them," Pokladnik said.She unaffectionately calls the nightly traffic the "brine truck parade."Pokladnik and her husband own property in Tappan, Ohio, and despite denying leasing requests from oil and gas representatives for over a decade, in February, Pokladnik's property was "force pooled" to participate without their consent."It made me sick to my stomach when I first got the notice in the mail that they were going to be doing this," Pokladnik said."This is like the ultimate slap in the face for somebody who's an environmentalist," she added.
“Who’s gonna want to move here?” How fracking around Ohio’s Salt Fork State Park is changing area - Terri Sabo has a breathtaking view of Salt Fork State Park from her dining room window in Guernsey County. She and her husband Rick Sabo have lived in their ranch home since 1983 — three years after they moved to Cambridge from Canton. Terri loves the dark night skies the park provides, but more recently she sees the occasion flare from a fracking injection well about 14 miles away while standing on her front porch.“We thought we would always have beauty, but Cambridge is so different than the ’80s,” Sabo said. “I mean, it’s so industrialized now and every, every other pickup truck has an Oklahoma or Texas plate. And it’s, it’s very, very different than it used to be.” The presence of the oil and gas industry around Salt Fork and ongoing fracking have turned the Sabos into advocates trying to protect the land around Ohio’s largest state park. Well pads, injection wells and a couple of drilling rigs dot the area around Salt Fork and its winding roads. “I’m past the sadness,” Sabo said, as she drove around Salt Fork on a recent Friday morning. “I’m into acceptance now. And it’s gonna happen.” Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a law allowing drilling companies to frack in state parks back in 2011. Under the law, potential drillers had to get permission from the newly created Oil and Gas Commission, but Kasich never appointed members to the commissions — effectively preventing anyone from drilling in parks. Then in 2022, an amendment to speed up the process for oil and gas companies to get a fracking lease in state parks was added to House Bill 507, which was originally written to reduce the number of poultry chicks that can be sold in lots from six to three. The bill (dubbed the “chicken bill”) made it to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk and he signed the bill into law in January 2023. The law — which requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to allow fracking for natural gas in Ohio’s public lands and state parks — went into effect in April 2023. Within the same week DeWine signed the bill into law, the Sabos got a letter from Texas-based company Encino Energy asking to buy their mineral rights — which they still haven’t done. “You work all your life to build something and then they frack it,” Sabo said. Encino Energy, the largest oil producer and second-largest producer of gas in Ohio, did not respond to questions sent by the Ohio Capital Journal. There were more than 1,400 fracking incidents associated with oil and gas wells in Ohio between 2018 and September 2023, according to FracTracker Alliance — a nonprofit that collects data on fracking pipelines. About 10% of those incidents were reported as fires or explosions. During that same time period, there were 56 total incidents in Guernsey County (where Salt Fork is located), according to FracTracker.“When the activities first started moving into the town, we were concerned with explosions and exposures,” Sabo said. Encino Energy had five incidents during that time frame, and Washington County was the county with the most incidents in the state with 73, according to FracTracker. The Sabos first started coming to Salt Fork in the late 1960s and early 1970s, before they lived in Cambridge. Fracking in the area has brought increased truck traffic, new power lines, and additional cell towers. In particular, it has brought brine trucks and Halliburton trucks that haul fracking sand. “Who’s gonna want to move here?” Sabo said. “I mean, who’s gonna want to raise their kids here?”
Ohio senator’s company off the hook for $1.3M cleanup for leaking fracking fluid as commission dismisses appeal - cleveland.com– (from May) The Ohio Oil and Gas Commission dismissed an appeal Friday in a case involving whether to hand the $1.3 million bill to clean up leaked hydraulic fracturing wastewater to a company owned by a Republican state senator and former commissioner.State Sen. Brian Chavez, a Marietta Republican, owns Deeprock Disposal Solutions, which has two Noble County wells that store brine – the toxic, sometimes radioactive byproduct of fracking operations. Before his December appointment to the Ohio Senate, Chavez served on the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission for about 2.5 years and starting about five months after the leak was discovered.The leak was discovered when it surfaced at an oil and gas production well owned by another company, West Virginia-based Genesis Resources. On Jan. 24, 2021, brine at rates reaching 42 gallons per minute began spewing from Genesis’ production well, as reported by cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer.State workers and contractors spent two days plugging the leak. They had to remove 362,000 gallons of liquid from a nearby stream. About 450 fish, salamanders, frogs and other nearby animals died.Genesis maintains Chavez’s wells were the source of the brine and believes the water traveled from Chavez’s injection wells to Genesis’ production well. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources agreed in an order suspending Deeprock’s operations about two years after the blowout at the Genesis well. But ODNR stuck Genesis with the $1.3 million cleanup costs in January 2023. Genesis had appealed the ODNR matter to the commission in February 2023.In the four-page order allowing ODNR to dismiss the appeal on Friday, the commission noted a state law that says ODNR must order the owner of a well pay the actual documented cost of corrective actions when there’s an incident at the wellsite. In this case, the incident was at the Genesis production wellsite, even though the source of the brine was from the Deeprock injection well miles away. “In particular, the Commission recognizes that Genesis believes and alleges that the brine and other liquids that were released from the Gant Well originated from nearby-operating brine injection wells of which Genesis is not the owner,” the order states. “Assuming this fact to be true does not change the legality of the Chief’s Order or Genesis’ responsibility to comply with it. Whether any other entity may also have liability for the releases from the Gant Well does not eliminate or mitigate Genesis’ liability as established by the undisputed facts and the law applicable to the Chief’s Order.” Genesis’ well hasn’t produced oil or gas at least since 2012. Yet despite this, Genesis did not plug the well, which is the industry standard.
The Utica Shale Academy celebrates project completion - — State and local officials along with community members and staff of the Utica Shale Academy in Salineville came together Friday afternoon for a luncheon and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Connecting Communities Through Workforce Training Project.Speakers at the event included William Watson, superintendent, Utica Shale Academy; U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli; state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel; state Sen. Al Cutrona; Julie Needs, director, Salem Area Sustainable Opportunity Development (SOD) Center; Cathy Hergenrother, Mahoning Valley Pathways HUB; and John Carey, director of the Office of Appalachia.Rulli and Blasdel both presented Watson with proclamations for the academy.Watson said The Governor’s Workforce of Appalachia had $500 million to spend in the Appalachian Region and they broke it into two categories, with a first and second round. Utica Shale Academy was one of four applicants in the first round and the first first-round applicant to reach completion and received $2.35 million which led to Utica Shale and the SOD Center creating training centers and partnering with Mahoning Valley Pathways HUB for certified health workers for a holistic approach to education.The Utica Shale Academy has been in Salineville for four years. Before that, they were tied with the Southern Local School District.According to Watkins the academy, which started in their current location with one building, now has four buildings and will soon be building a second welding facility next door to their outdoor welding lab.Rulli said The Utica Shale Academy is bringing back and protecting the American dream by making it easier for kids to get into the workforce and be trained and certified, which will benefit Ohio. He also noted that the local area has large companies, but the area doesn’t have people to staff them.Rulli also said that in a meeting in Washington D.C. where Columbiana Gas was present, Columbiana Gas said that they need to build a pipeline from this area to the Columbus area within 10 years and he questioned how they were going to build a gas line if they don’t have a workforce to do it. He told Watson they have the solution with the academy, and they were going to bridge a gap in Ohio that hasn’t happened before.
Why the Biden-Harris EPA Methane Rule is a Disaster for PA, PJM - Marcellus Drilling News -- Yesterday, MDN brought you the news that two dozen states have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to place a temporary block on new EPA regulations that will put all coal plants out of business and block most (if not all) new gas-fired power plants from getting built (see States Asks U.S. Supreme Court to Emergency Block EPA Methane Reg). The EPA wants to force the U.S. oil and gas industry to cut methane emissions by using budget-busting new technologies and onerous (frequent) inspections (see Bidenistas Unleash Hellscape of U.S. Methane Regs at COP28). PA State Senator Greg Rothman published an excellent analysis of how the EPA’s new regs would negatively impact Pennsylvania and the PJM electric grid.
34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Aug 19 – 25 | Marcellus Drilling News - For the week of August 19 - 25, a total of 34 permits were issued to drill new shale wells in Marcellus/Utica. The Keystone State (PA) had 16 new permits. PA's top recipient was Chesapeake Energy, with six permits in Bradford County. Coterra Energy was a close second, with five new permits issued in neighboring Susquehanna County. The Buckeye State (OH) received 13 new permits, with Encino Energy (EAP) receiving eight and Ascent Resources five. OH's permits were spread across Guernsey, Harrison, and Noble counties. Finally, the Mountain State (WV) received five new permits, all of them for Northeast Natural Energy in Monongalia County. ASCENT RESOURCES | BRADFORD COUNTY | BUTLER COUNTY | CHESAPEAKE ENERGY | CNX RESOURCES | COTERRA ENERGY (CABOT O&G) | ENCINO ENERGY | EQT CORP | GREENE COUNTY (PA) | GUERNSEY COUNTY | HARRISON COUNTY | MONONGALIA COUNTY | NOBLE COUNTY | NORTHEAST NATURAL ENERGY | PENNENERGY RESOURCES | SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY | WESTMORELAND COUNTY
E&P Permitting Activity Showing Summer Slump in U.S. Natural Gas Plays - Permit approvals for U.S. onshore oil and gas drilling slowed in July versus June, dropping 8% to 1,538, according to new data compiled by Everus and Evercore ISI. The decline was driven by the Permian Basin, which saw approvals overall drop by 9% or 64 permits to 666. In the Appalachian Basin, the largest source of U.S. natural gas supply, permit approvals in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays totaled 162 in July, down from 171 in June. In the Haynesville Shale, the tally dipped to 26 from 29.
Analyzing Monthly New Permit Trends for PA, OH, WV Shale | Marcellus Drilling News -- We spotted an article on the always-excellent NGI website (the Daily Gas Price Index) that said exploration and production (E&P) permitting activity shows a "summer slump" in natural gas plays, including in the Marcellus/Utica. The information in the article is from data compiled by Enverus and Evercore ISI. So, we decided to review our weekly new permit reports for the M-U to see if our data shows a slump over the past three months. Our data shows no slump in permitting but rather the opposite.
WV Judge Blocks Class Action in Diversified Old Wells Lawsuit - Marcellus Drilling News - MDN has an exclusive update on a lawsuit by several West Virginia surface landowners who are suing Diversified Energy over Diversified’s failure to plug their unproducing conventional wells. At the prompting of the Sierra Club, the landowners attempted to turn the lawsuit into a class action. Yesterday, a federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of WV struck down the class action request, meaning a couple of surface owners from the original lawsuit can proceed with their lawsuit. The outcome won’t affect anyone else. However, a second related case and a second request for a class action are still alive.
Jay-Bee Paying $42M to Settle WV Post-Production Deduction Lawsuit -Marcellus Drilling News - Here’s a lawsuit that flew under our radar — until now. Several landowners in West Virginia sued Jay-Bee Oil & Gas, alleging “improper royalty deductions” were made from royalty checks for post-production work from 2010 to 2023. The landowners (their lawyers) convinced a court to turn the lawsuit into a class action. Jay-Bee denies the claims in the lawsuit but has agreed to settle the dispute to avoid additional litigation by paying $42.6 million into a settlement fund established to disburse payments to participating class members.
West Virginia NatGas Production Hits New Highs with MVP Startup | Marcellus Drilling News --Earlier this month, MDN brought you the important news that just one month after the mighty Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) went online, natural gas production in the State of West Virginia increased more than 9% (see WV Marcellus Production Up 9.5% in One Month Thanks to MVP). We now have data for another full month of production since MVP's June 14 startup. What does the data show? The increase in WV production remains elevated.
Dominion Open House for New 45-Mile Pipeline in North Carolina -Marcellus Drilling News In February, MDN told you about Dominion Energy’s filing to build a new 45-mile pipeline to connect Equitrans’ (now EQT’s) MVP Southgate pipeline project with Duke Energy’s planned new natural gas power plants on Hyco Lake’s southern shore (see Dominion Energy Announces New 45-Mile Pipeline for North Carolina). As part of the process of building the pipeline, Dominion is holding a series of open houses to allow local residents to ask questions and view maps. A large crowd turned out Wednesday, August 21, at the Yanceyville (Caswell County, NC) open house.
US natgas prices slide 3% to 4-month low on less hot forecasts (Reuters) -U.S. natural gas futures slid about 3% to a four-month low on Tuesday on forecasts for less hot weather over the next two weeks than previously expected, which should cut the amount of gas power generators need to burn to keep air conditioners humming. Energy analysts also noted the tremendous oversupply of gas in storage has kept a lid on prices all year. There was still about 12% more gas in storage than normal for this time of year even though weekly builds, including a rare decline during one week in August, have been smaller than normal in 13 of the past 14 weeks. On its second to last day as the front-month, gas futures for September delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 5.2 cents, or 2.7%, to settle at $1.904 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), their lowest close since April 26.After dropping about 15% over the past six days, the front-month entered technically oversold territory for the first time since late July. It was also the first time the contract fell for six days in a row since March. Futures for October NGV24, which will soon be the front-month, were down about 2.1% to $2.09 per mmBtu.Producers increase and decrease output in reaction to prices, but it usually takes a few months for changes in drilling activity to show up in the production data.Average monthly spot prices at the U.S. Henry Hub benchmark NG-W-HH-SNL in Louisiana hit a 12-month high of $3.18 per mmBtu in January before dropping to a 44-month low of $1.72 in February and a 32-year low of $1.49 in March, according to Reuters and federal energy data.In reaction to that price plunge, producers cut average monthly output from 106.0 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in February to 102.7 bcfd in March, 101.5 bcfd in April, and a 17-month low of 101.3 bcfd in May, according to federal energy data.Winter storms at the start of the year caused output to fall from a record 106.3 bcfd in December to 103.6 bcfd in January.As monthly Henry Hub spot prices increased to $1.60 per mmBtu in April, $2.12 in May, and $2.54 in June, some producers, including EQT and Chesapeake Energy, started to increase drilling activities, boosting output to 101.0 bcfd in June and 103.4 bcfd in July.But with average spot Henry Hub prices back down to $2.08 per mmBtu in July and $2.01 so far in August, analysts said output would likely decline in coming months as some producers reduce drilling activities again.Financial firm LSEG said gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states slid to an average of 102.4 bcfd so far in August, down from 103.4 bcfd in July.Meteorologists forecast weather across the country would remain mostly hotter than normal through Sept. 11. Even though the weather is hotter than normal, temperatures were still declining with the coming of autumn.LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, will slide from 104.6 bcfd this week to 101.2 bcfd next week. Those forecasts were lower than LSEG's outlook on Monday. Gas flows to the seven big U.S. LNG export plants rose to 12.9 bcfd so far in August, up from 11.9 bcfd in July. That compares with a monthly record high of 14.7 bcfd in December 2023.
NGPL Maintenance Cuts Feed Gas to Sabine Pass LNG in Possible Demand Boost for Henry Hub --A force majeure on the Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America LLC (NGPL) has cut feed gas deliveries to Cheniere Energy Inc.’s Sabine Pass LNG terminal through September, potentially increasing demand for natural gas from Henry Hub and Moss Bluff. NGPL cited an outage on a unit at a compressor station (CS) in Liberty County, TX, that required repairs. Work began on Aug. 20 and is expected to last through Sept. 30. This could have knock-on effects on Henry Hub and Moss Bluff, Wood Mackenzie analyst Nadeem Ahmed said. Beginning on the first day of the outage, eastbound capacity at CS 302 from segments 22 to 26 was cut by 75%, according to a notice on the NGPL electronic bulletin board. Eastbound flows, which were running at a maximum capacity of 1,200 MMcf/d, dropped on Aug. 20 to 900 MMcf/d at CS 302, NGPL said.
Freeport LNG Restarts After False Alarm – --Following a series of delays, Golden Pass LNG has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a three-year extension to finish construction of the 18 million metric tons/year export project in Texas. Golden Pass, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, wants to extend the deadline from Nov. 30, 2026 to Nov. 30, 2029. The project needs more time because of delays caused by the bankruptcy of its lead construction contractor Zachry Industrial Inc., the transition to new lead contractor McDermott and “other possible delays…that may occur such as potential hurricane impacts, and for commissioning and startup activities,” the company stated.
Why Project Delays, Regulatory Hurdles May Not Hamper U.S. LNG Development — Listen Now to NGI’s Hub & Flow -- Click here to listen to the latest episode of NGI’s Hub and Flow featuring Baker Botts LLP’s Jason Bennett and NGI’s Senior LNG Editor Jacob Dick as they discuss why demand for liquefied natural gas is expected to remain strong despite rising complications. U.S. LNG projects have seen a bevy of challenges this year, including rising costs, construction delays and an increasing number of regulatory hurdles. But what do today’s obstacles mean for tomorrow’s liquefied natural gas supply and demand? Bennett, department chair of global projects and co-chair of energy, reviews the near-term global natural gas market dynamics and domestic policies shaping the development of U.S. LNG export capacity.
Opponents, backers of Line 5 oil pipeline cap off public comment period - Public comment ends this week for a permit needed for a high-profile oil pipeline project in northern Wisconsin. Opponents, including tribal voices, as well as supporters, have laid out recent organizing efforts ahead of an application decision. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will eventually decide on an environmental permit sought by Canadian firm Enbridge to re-route a section of its Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Reservation. Tribal leaders have been engaged in a legal fight with the company over its existing line, which currently covers 12 miles of reservation land.Gussie Lord, Earthjustice managing attorney of the Tribal Partnerships Program, represents the tribe and says the new plan fails to ease concerns."We know that this reroute is not a solution. It's a false solution to the dangers of the current pipeline. In fact, it really extends the dangers of the pipeline and increases the threat of a devastating oil spill, both to the Bad River Reservation's watershed and Lake Superior watershed," Lord explained. Her group and other environmental organizations say more than 150,000 comments are being submitted that reflect these concerns. A separate coalition of labor, business and agricultural groups says it gathered roughly 14,000 signatures in support of the re-route. Ahead of public comment closing tomorrow, the coalition sent a letter arguing the construction would be a big economic win, with the new line aiding regional propane supplies.Some supporters tout the potential jobs and related benefits. Jason Wilhite, activism team lead with the outdoor apparel company Patagonia, contends any major spill could harm water recreation and all the business activity it creates."Put simply, a rupture of the Line 5 pipeline would have a devastating impact on our regional economy," he explained.In an emailed statement, Enbridge said it's committed to extensive protective measures to minimize and mitigate project impacts. Tribal advocates say they are especially worried about the potential effect on wild rice beds. It's not clear when the Army Corps of Engineers will decide on the application. Other permits are needed for the proposed re-route.Permian Producers Struggle With Negative Gas Prices | OilPrice.com --While oil and gas producers in the Permian Basin are undoubtedly concerned about gas prices, their response to economic forces, particularly in the gas market, has been limited. Oil remains the dominant revenue stream in the Permian, leading operators to prioritize oil operations that create an abundance of associated natural gas. Gas prices at the Waha Hub have suffered greatly in 2024 as gas production continually tests available outbound capacity. Permian producers often find themselves in a constant race to expand takeaway capacity as rising supply strains existing egress options, necessitating new pipelines or expansions to manage the increased production. The chart above illustrates historical Waha basis prices alongside the forward curve. While this static view provides insight, it doesn't capture the evolution of the curve over time, which is better represented in the seasonal strips chart below. For this, we can focus attention to the chart below that shows select seasonal strips over time. Note the ongoing decline in forward pricing for Waha, reflecting market expectations of persistent egress challenges despite new pipeline additions. Since the start of 2024, forward strips have trended lower with the anticipation of continued egress issues despite new incoming pipe. Turning to more real-time price weakness. With producers operating at the very edge of the basin’s available takeaway capacity, Waha gas prices have frequently settled in negative territory for both the prompt-month and cash markets. Waha cash market behavior, shown below, highlights how unfavorable pricing has been up to this point in 2024. As of this writing, Waha spot prices have settled negative on 109 out of the 235 days (including weekend pricing) so far in 2024, representing a staggering 47% of the time! It all comes down to takeaway capacity versus supply. As we sit here today, the modeled Permian supply is straining the daily available takeaway capacity. The graph below shows that help is on the way in the near term in the form of the 2.5 Bcf/d Matterhorn pipeline (brown stacked area). This large greenfield pipeline provides the much-needed takeaway relief that is causing such acute weakness at Waha. Opinions differ on how quickly the Matterhorn pipeline will reach capacity, with some suggesting it could be filled by next spring. This capacity won't necessarily handle all new gas; instead, existing supply may be rerouted from less desirable corridors, like West Texas to Midcontinent. The extent of "new" gas entering the market in the next three to six months post-Matterhorn will be crucial. While the Matterhorn pipeline offers some relief, it may be short-lived. There is still significant weakness in the Waha forward curve for Cal 2025 and Cal 2026. The front of the curve at nearly -$3.00/MMBtu aligns with our earlier discussion, but the discounts of around -$1.25 to -$1.29 for Cal 2025 and Cal 2026 raise questions. A weak Cal 2026 is understandable, given the next major pipeline isn't due until late 2026, WhiteWater’s Blackcomb pipeline. However, Cal 2025 being similarly discounted might suggest severe 2024 weakness is dragging it down, or traders are highly bullish on Permian supply, expecting egress to fill sooner rather than later. In any case, Permian gas prices face an uphill battle unless oil prices shift significantly. The current forward curve suggests Waha gas prices are likely to remain volatile and weak, reflecting the ongoing challenge of balancing production growth with infrastructure development in the Permian Basin.
Exxon Puts Up Permian Assets for Sale - Exxon is looking to sell some conventional oil and gas assets in the Permian, Bloomberg hasreported, with the proceeds from the potential sale seen at around $1 billion.In a written response to the publication’s questions, Exxon said it was “exploring market interest for select conventional assets in West Texas and South East New Mexico,” adding that “This decision is consistent with our strategy to continually evaluate our portfolio.”Bloomberg also quoted unnamed sources as saying the assets to be divested included wells in the Central Basin of the Permian, where production was not particularly high but it was stable. The divestment was in line with Exxon’s strengthened focus on shale oil and gas development.The biggest step in this direction that Exxon took recently was the $60-billion takeover of Pioneer Natural Resources, completed earlier this year. The completion of the megadeal significantly bolstered Exxon's presence in the prolific Permian Basin. This strategic move effectively doubled Exxon's footprint in the region, solidifying its position as a dominant player in one of the most productive parts of the shale patch.The acquisition opens to Exxon access to over 1.4 million net acres in the Delaware and Midland basins within the Permian formation. According to the company’s projections, the combined entity is poised for a substantial surge in production to as much as 1.3 million bpd. Looking ahead, Exxon anticipates further growth, with production forecast to reach an impressive 2 million bpd by 2027, underscoring the long-term strategic value of this acquisition.Meanwhile, Exxon eyes boosting its total oil output to some 4.3 million barrels daily this year, which would be the highest in ten years, Bloomberg noted in its report on the divestment plans for the conventional Permian wells. Pioneer’s acquisition will be a major contributor to this higher output.
ExxonMobil: Oil Demand Will be Over 100 Million Bpd in 2050 -As the rivalry over global oil demand projections continues to intensify, supergiant Exxon Mobil on Monday chimed in to forecast that crude demand will continue to be over 100 million barrels per day through 2050, contradicting other forecasts that come in much lower, Reuters reported. The forecast from Exxon, which is planning to see output of 4.3 million barrels of oil and gas per day this year, is at odds with other forecasts, both among its peers and among analysts. Exxon has also estimated that in 2050, 67% of the global energy mix will be fossil fuels, down from 68% last year.Exxon’s full-year 2024 projected output represents 30% more than peer Chevron’s, according to Reuters, and the company’s demand projection is 25% greater than BP’s released in July, predicting that global oil demand will peak next year at around 102 million bpd, while wind and solar capacity will continue along their fast growth trajectory. BP, which is planning to slash production to around 2 million bpd by 2030, sees oil consumption gradually declining over the second half of the outlook to around 75 million bpd in 2050. The drop is, however, much more pronounced in Net Zero, with demand falling to just 25 million-30 million bpd by 2050.Late last week, Morgan Stanley revised its oil price forecast downward to reflect expectations of more OPEC and non-OPEC supply coupled with indications of weakening demand. Morgan Stanley lowered its global oil demand growth estimate from 1.2 million bpd to 1.1 million bpd for this year, saying it anticipates a tight Q3, with stabilization in Q4 and potentially a surplus by 2025. The firm also cut its Brent price forecast for the fourth quarter to $80 per barrel, down from $85, and now expects prices to gradually decline to $75 per barrel by the end of 2025, slightly lower than their previous estimate of $76.
Marathon Oil Shareholders Approve Megadeal Conoco Acquisition --Shareholders in Marathon Oil have approved a ~$16 billion acquisition by ConocoPhillips, Marathon Oil said in a Thursday statement, with the deal expected to close in the fourth-quarter of this year, pending a Federal Trade Commission review, Reuters reports. Conoco and Marathon Oil struck their acquisition deal in May when Conoco agreed to take over the target company in a deal worth $22.5 billion, including the assumption of $5.4 billion in debt.Earlier this month, a Marathon Oil shareholder filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the ConocoPhillips acquisition, claiming that the price undervalued the company. Investor Martin Siegel alleged in his filing that the acquisition could deprive Marathon Oil shareholders of some $6 billion in company value. Siegel also accused the company’s management and its adviser Morgan Stanley of misrepresenting the deal with Conoco to shareholders when it sought their backing for the move.For Conoco, the deal would push its market value to over $150 billion, extending its lead as the largest independent producer, on the same level as the supermajors, though slightly ahead of BP and slightly behind Shell, according to analysis from Enervus Intelligence Research. ConocoPhillips “is leveraging its premium market valuation, which it shares with the majors, to strike a deal that will immediately boost its free cash flow profile and enhance its capital return program for investors,” Andrew Dittmar, a Director on the Enervus Intelligence team, said in a statement at the time. Conoco’s chief executive, Ryan Lance, said at the time of the deal's origins that “there are too many players. Scale matters, diversity matters, and we are going through a natural cycle of that in the business”.
Will Buffett Step in to Keep Occidental Afloat? -Shares of Occidental Petroleum have dropped below $56, raising questions about whether Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway will step in as it has in the past.Berkshire Hathaway, Occidental's largest shareholder with nearly a 30% stake, has previously purchased millions of shares whenever Occidental's price dipped below $60, a pattern that analysts have dubbed "the Berkshire put." But this time, the absence of such purchases is raising eyebrows.For the past month, Occidental has traded under $60, the longest stretch since January, when a similar dip prompted Berkshire to buy 4.3 million shares. Despite this, Berkshire has remained on the sidelines, leading some to speculate that Buffett may be satisfied with his current holdings. With regulatory approval to acquire up to 50% of Occidental, the door is open for future purchases, but the current pause could suggest a potential shift in strategy. Occidental's stock is down 12.3% over the last year, contrasting with the flat performance of the broader energy sector. The pressure intensified after CrownRock LP investors filed to sell 29.6 million shares that they acquired through Occidental's $12 billion purchase of the Texas-based oil producer.Historically, Buffett's buying sprees have buoyed Occidental's stock, but the current lull could signal a different approach. In addition to common shares, Berkshire holds warrants to purchase 83.5 million shares at $59.62 each and owns preferred stock in the company, indicating a long-term commitment. However, the market is watching closely to see if the Oracle of Omaha will continue to prop up Occidental's stock, or if the Berkshire put has reached its limit.
TotalEnergies Unit Fined for Trying to Manipulate Gasoline Futures Market --The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has fined a trading unit of French supermajor TotalEnergies for attempted manipulation of the gasoline futures market in 2018. The U.S. market regulator ordered TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA, formerly known as TOTSA Total Oil Trading SA (TOTSA), to pay a $48 million civil monetary penalty and cease and desist from violating the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations. According to the CFTC’s findings, Switzerland-based TOTSA, which is not registered with the CFTC, attempted to manipulate the market for EBOB-linked gasoline futures in March 2018 by selling physical EBOB gasoline at prices below what buyers indicated they would pay. While the trading unit was selling physical EBOB at cut-rate levels, TOTSA maintained a large short position in March-settled EBOB-linked futures, the U.S. regulator said. As the large short position was a bet that gasoline futures prices would drop, the sales of physical EBOB gasoline would increase in value if the reported price of EBOB declined. “Essentially, TOTSA’s traders were willing to accept less revenue from the company’s sales of physical EBOB, in an attempt to depress the reported price of EBOB, and increase TOTSA’s overall trading profits (by boosting the value of the company’s EBOB-linked short position),” the CFTC said in its ruling. This conduct was an attempt at market manipulation in violation of sections of the CEA and CFTC Regulation. “The scheme in this matter involved an attack on the market integrity of CFTC-regulated futures contracts on gasoline, and this settlement demonstrates such attacks will not be tolerated in any market,” said Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley. The CFTC has accepted TOTSA’s offer of settlement, recognizing that the company provided some cooperation during the investigation of this matter. However, TOTSA failed to timely produce WhatsApp communications the Division of Enforcement requested or adequately preserve these communications following DOE’s request, with the result that potentially relevant evidence was unavailable to DOE.Southern California natural gas market's unusual discount status continues | S&P Global Commodity Insights --Natural gas cash prices in Southern California have been below Henry Hub for much of August, and the forwards market is pricing in a rare basis discount continuing through October amid strong storage inventories and gas production in the Western US. The SoCal Gas city-gate cash price has been below Henry Hub throughout Aug. 10-28, averaging a 28 cents/MMBtu discount in this period, Platts data showed. Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.Earlier in the summer, it went on an extended stretch below Henry Hub, with the basis discount averaging 64 cents/MMBtu in May and 70 cents in July. Throughout 2024 the basis discount has averaged just 24 cents/MMBtu. This is unusual for what is a typically premium pricing point. It had an average premium of over $4/MMBtu to Henry Hub in 2023 and roughly averaged a $3/MMBtu premium in both 2021 and 2022. Looking ahead, the September and October forward contracts for SoCal Gas city-gate were both at a basis discount of 13 cents/MMBtu on Aug. 27, Platts M2MS data showed.High inventories have been weighing on prices in California this summer, particularly in the south thanks to the extra available capacity at Aliso Canyon.On Aug. 28, total supply on the SoCalGas system was over 107 Bcf, its highest level since 2015, Commodity Insights data showed Aug. 28. This compares with 79 Bcf at the end of August 2023.In August 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to expand storage capacity at Aliso Canyon to 68.6 Bcf, a more than 65% increase from the earlier expansion to 41.16 Bcf in November 2021. The site previously had a capacity of 86 Bcf, but this was reduced drastically after a 2015 methane leak. Total Pacific region inventories were 288 Bcf as of Aug. 16, around 20% higher year over year and 10% higher than the five-year average, according to EIA data.Inventories are also exceptionally high in the EIA's Mountain region. There was around 263 Bcf in storage as of Aug. 16, the highest since at least 2010 despite only being in the middle of injection season, according to EIA data.While the US has seen some production cuts this summer, these have chiefly come from dry gas producers in Appalachia and the Haynesville Shale, while production has held up in further west in the Permian Basin and the Rockies.Production in the Western US region has averaged 9 Bcf/d so far this summer, around 900 MMcf/d higher year over year thanks to strong output in New Mexico, Commodity Insights data showed. Production has held up despite deeply negative prices in Permian hubs like Waha and El Paso Permian, and has even picked up further to 9.2 Bcf/d in August, the data showed.Production in the Rocky Mountain region has averaged 7.9 Bcf/d this summer, around 200 MMcf/d higher year on year.
Mexico’s Amigo LNG Project Lands Offtake Agreement with Malaysia’s E&H Energy -- Singapore-based LNG Alliance Pte Ltd., sponsor of the proposed Amigo LNG export project in Mexico, signed a long-term offtake agreement with Malaysia’s E&H Energy SDN BHD, the companies said. Under the deal, Amigo LNG – a 7.8 million metric tons/year (mmty) liquefaction terminal envisioned for the Port of Guaymas in Sonora state on Mexico’s Pacific Coast – would supply 3.6 mmty of liquefied natural gas to E&H Energy for the Malaysian market over 20 years beginning in the third quarter of 2027. E&H Energy operates LNG and compressed natural gas facilities in Johor, and in 2018 became one of Malaysia’s first private companies to be awarded an LNG import license under the country’s gas market liberalization. “The future outlook of the Malaysian gas market is positive, driven by increasing demand for gas, particularly in the Malaysian power sector,” said LNG Alliance.
Amigo LNG Project in Mexico Signs Supply Deal Covering Nearly Half of Capacity - Singapore-based LNG Alliance Pte Ltd., sponsor of the proposed Amigo LNG export project in Mexico, signed a long-term offtake agreement with Malaysia’s E&H Energy SDN BHD, the companies said. Under the deal, Amigo LNG – a 7.8 million metric tons/year (mmty) liquefaction terminal envisioned for the Port of Guaymas in Sonora state on Mexico’s Pacific Coast – would supply 3.6 mmty of liquefied natural gas to E&H Energy for the Malaysian market over 20 years beginning in the third quarter of 2027. E&H Energy operates LNG and compressed natural gas facilities in Johor, and in 2018 became one of Malaysia’s first private companies to be awarded an LNG import license under the country’s gas market liberalization. “The future outlook of the Malaysian gas market is positive, driven by increasing demand for gas, particularly in the Malaysian power sector,” said LNG Alliance.
IGU Says Global Natural Gas Demand Could Far Outpace Supply by 2030 -If global natural gas demand continues at the same pace as the previous four years, rising consumption could exceed output, resulting in a steep supply shortfall by 2030 without additional investment in production, the International Gas Union (IGU) warned in its 2024 Global Gas Report. The IGU report produced in partnership with Italian midstream company Snam SpA and Rystad Energy challenges climate plans set by governments and policymakers that fail to include energy demand scenarios that could result in energy shortages by 2030. “The report findings show rising energy demand across all regions, record-breaking coal emissions, and extreme weather conditions, demonstrating an urgent need for more policy clarity around energy supply planning,” said IGU President Yi Li Yalan.
IGU Report: Lack of Gas Investment Jeopardizes World Energy Supply -- Marcellus Drilling News -- The International Gas Union (IGU), Snam, and Rystad Energy partnered (as they have in the past) to produce and release the Global Gas Report 2024 (full copy below). The authors are sounding the alarm. According to the study, should gas demand continue to grow as it has in the last four years without additional production development, a 22% global natural gas supply shortfall is expected by 2030. If demand continues to strengthen, the shortfall will be even more pronounced. There is, say the authors, an urgent need to scale up investments. NOW.
EU hits 90% gas storage capacity 10 weeks early -The European Union (EU) reached its target of filling gas storage facilities to 90% capacity over two months ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline, the European Commission announced on Wednesday. The latest data released by Gas Infrastructure Europe showed that gas storage levels reached 90.02%, equivalent to nearly 92 billion cubic meters (bcm), on August 19. This achievement mirrors last year's performance when the target was also reached by mid-August. Under the Gas Storage Regulation, which came into effect in 2022, storage facilities in member states must reach 90% capacity by November 1st each year to ensure supply security during the winter months as it can cover up to one-third of the EU's gas demand. The EU reached its target well ahead of the November 1st deadline for the second year in a row, Kadri Simson, EU commissioner for energy, said. 'The Commission will continue to monitor the situation so that gas storage levels remain sufficiently high across the coming months and so that we also maintain our focus on improving energy efficiency and boosting the renewable energy roll-out,' Simson added. EU nations, which utilize around 400 billion cubic meters of gas annually, have 110 bcm of natural gas storage capacity. Before the Russian-Ukrainian War, 40% of the natural gas consumed in EU nations came from Russia. However, with the outbreak of the war, Russian natural gas exports to the EU have significantly declined.
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Ships, Companies Involved in Alleged Russian Shadow Fleet for Arctic LNG 2 The U.S. Treasury Department has targeted sanctions against more Russian-linked LNG vessels and companies days after satellite images and ship tracking data indicated PAO Novatek could be amassing a shadow fleet to export cargoes from its Arctic LNG 2 project. Russian LNG Exports by Destination Continent. Production at the 19.8 million metric tons/year facility began earlier in the year as a part of Novatek’s plans to boost Russian export capacity and gas production in the region. However, a ramp up of operations and first shipments was delayed due to a lack of icebreaker ships to deliver cargoes from Arctic LNG 2. That is until the end of July, when Kpler data and imaging indicated a flaring tower had reactivated. A few days later, satellite images spotted two liquefied natural gas carriers identified as Pioneer and Asya Energy appearing to load at the terminal in the Arctic Circle.
U.S. Expands Sanctions on Entities Involved in Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 - The U.S. State Department is intensifying efforts to derail Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 exports by targeting companies involved in the development of the project and vessels found to have loaded LNG from the facility.Located in the Gydan Peninsula in the Arctic, the Arctic LNG 2 project was considered key to Russia’s efforts to boost its global LNG market share from 8% to 20% by 2030-2035. But Arctic LNG 2 has been basically on ice since the U.S. imposed in November 2023 fresh sanctions on the Russian project. As a result, foreign shareholders suspended participation in Arctic LNG 2, effectively withdrawing from the financing of the project and for offtake contracts for the new plant. The project has already seen months of delays after the U.S. sanctions upended the company’s plans for production start-up and export timelines. Russia, however, has started to amass a dark fleet of tankers to ship its LNG in vessel ownership transfers similar to the moves that Moscow began after the invasion of Ukraine to create a shadow fleet to export oil and products in the face of Western sanctions. Some tankers have recently departed from the sanctioned terminal in northern Russia, signaling Moscow’s continued efforts to circumvent Western restrictions. The U.S. State Department has recently said it had “taken new steps to sanction entities supporting the development of Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 and other future energy projects.”The Department designated multiple companies related to the Arctic LNG 2 project to further disrupt the project’s ability to produce and export LNG, as well as the project’s ability to procure critical LNG carriers. These designations include entities involved in the illicit loading of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2 project in early August. Three vessels – Pioneer, Asya Energy, and Everest Energy – are LNG carriers targeted by the new sanctions, as well as their registered owners Zara Shiphoding and Ocean Speedstar Solutions.The Department is also designating White Fox Ship Management, a UAE-based ship management company which manages four LNG carriers that have transshipped LNG from Russia’s Yamal LNG project, despite being originally intended for use with the Arctic LNG 2 project.Furthermore, the U.S. sanctioned 10 companies involved in the continued development of pipeline infrastructure for Russia’s Vostok Oil project.
Higher Natural Gas Prices Seen This Winter in Europe as Geopolitical Complications Mount -European natural gas prices have strengthened over the summer amid heightened geopolitical tensions, and the trend could continue through the coming months. According to analysts at BofA Global Research, a warm winter “left the global gas market swimming in inventory for the second consecutive year in 2024.” But since February, Title Transfer Facility (TTF) prices have doubled, they said. September TTF closed at $12.54/MMBtu on Wednesday, down about 2% from Tuesday. It was falling again on Thursday.
Russia: European Consumers Will Suffer If Ukraine Refuses to Extend Gas Transit -European consumers will be hit hard and will have to pay more for natural gas if Ukraine does not extend the gas transit deal to allow Russian gas to pass through its territory en route to Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.Ukraine has already said on several occasions that it would not extend the current gas transit deal which expires on December 31, 2024. The latest such statement came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week when Zelensky said “No one will extend the agreement with Russia.”Ukraine, however, will consider requests from European companies for gas transit from other sources, the Ukrainian president added.Speaking at a regular press conference on Wednesday, Russia’s Peskov said that if Ukraine decides not to extend the gas transit deal, this will “seriously damage the interests of European consumers, who are still willing to buy more volumes of guaranteed and affordable Russian gas, which is cheaper than gas from other sources, most of all from the United States.”“European consumers will have to pay much more for gas, thus making their industries less competitive,” Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax as he commented on Zelenskyy’s words that Ukraine would not extend its gas transit deal with Russia.Russia sees alternative routes for deliveries of gas to Europe, including a plan to create a hub in Turkey, Peskov said today, adding that “work is under way on this”.
Global LNG supply set for 41% surge by 2028; India to benefit from lower prices: Icra --The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market is expected to face a significant supply glut, with approximately 193 million metric tonnes (MMT) of LNG production and liquefaction capacity to be added from CY2024 to CY2028, rating agency Icra said on Wednesday. This represents a 41% increase over the current global LNG production capacity. The substantial capacity addition, coupled with modest growth in global natural gas consumption, is likely to exert downward pressure on LNG prices, which would benefit India."Global natural gas consumption is expected to witness modest growth, given the focus of major natural gas consumers in regions of European Union, Japan & Korea towards other sources of energy," said Girishkumar Kadam, Senior Vice President and Group Head, Corporate Ratings, Icra Ltd. "Amidst these demandheadwinds, the LNG capacity addition over the next four years is expected to result in downward pressure on the global LNG prices. India thus stands to benefit in terms of availability of LNG at reasonable prices over the medium term." India's gas consumption, which faced challenges in FY2023 due to elevated LNG prices, recovered sharply to 187.9 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) in FY2024, marking a 17% year-on-year increase. Consumption is expected to grow by 6-8% YoY in FY2025, supported by softer LNG prices and an uptick in domestic gas production. The City Gas Distribution (CGD) sector, driven by the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) segment, is expected to be a key contributor to this growth. However, challenges remain, including the increasing adoption of electric vehicles, which could impact CNG demand. The ability of CGD entities to ensure the availability of CNG at competitive prices will also be crucial, given the declining share of APM gas in the overall gas mix. The fertiliser sector will remain the largest off-taker of natural gas, though demand is not expected to grow due to the absence of further capacity expansions in the urea segment.
Tanker behind mysterious oil spill refloated - Authorities in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday announced they had refloated the mysterious oil tanker that capsized off the Caribbean country six months ago and spilled some 50,000 barrels of oil. At the time of the spill, the vessel —identified as the “Gulfstream” — was being towed by the “Solo Creed,” which turned off its tracking beacon shortly after the incident. The Trinidad government is still trying to find those responsible for the tanker and the tugboat. The refloating occurred on Monday, and lasted until about midnight, the Ministry of Energy said. An inspection of the vessel is scheduled for Tuesday. The “Gulfstream” had been carrying roughly 85,000 barrels of fuel oil when it capsized off the coast of the Cove Eco-Industrial Park in southern Tobago in February. The ship had been sailing under an unidentified flag and made no emergency calls. No crew was found when the spill was discovered and the “Solo Creed” had meanwhile disappeared. Environmental officials said the spill damaged a reef and Atlantic beaches, on the eve of Carnival celebrations. Now refloated, the “Gulfstream” is expected to be taken to the capital, Port of Spain, in Trinidad. Energy Minister Stuart Young said in May that official requests have been made to Tanzania, Nigeria, Panama, Aruba and Curacao to help track down those responsible for the two ships involved in the spill.
Oil spill contaminates three Sattahip beaches, authorities respond swiftly - Pattaya Mail -- As of August 23, preliminary assessments by the Eastern Gulf of Thailand Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center reveal that three Sattahip beaches have been significantly impacted by an oil slick off the coast. Reports indicate that Hat Yao Thung Prong Beach has been contaminated by tar balls over a 200-meter stretch. Bang Saray Beach has been affected over a smaller area of 50 meters, while Sai Kaew Beach has experienced the most extensive impact, with oil stains and tar balls detected along a 450-meter stretch. Initial water quality tests show pH levels between 8.00 and 8.02, water temperatures ranging from 30.9 to 31.7°C, salinity levels from 28.0 to 30.5 parts per thousand (ppt), and dissolved oxygen levels of 5.3 to 5.7 milligrams per litre. These parameters are within the acceptable range for recreational seawater standards (Category 4). Water samples are being analysed for petroleum hydrocarbons to assess the full extent of the contamination. Authorities monitor water quality at Hat Yao Thung Prong Beach as part of ongoing efforts to assess and mitigate the impact of the oil spill. Authorities are taking proactive steps to prevent further spills, including ensuring the proper maintenance of vessels and equipment. The response involves collaboration with local government bodies, educational institutions, and community groups to enhance reporting mechanisms for illegal dumping and oil contamination. Cleanup operations are ongoing to address the environmental impact and restore the affected beaches.
PCG: Over 160K liters collected in MTKR Terranova oil siphoning so far -- More than 160,000 liters of oil have been collected in the siphoning operation for sunken motor tanker Terranova in Bataan as of Thursday evening, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday.In an update, the PCG said contracted salvor Harbor Star reported that it has collected 161,612 liters of oil from August 19 to 22, broken down into:
- August 19 - 2,350 liters
- August 20 - 36,100 liters
- August 21 - 42,026 liters
- August 22 - 81,136 liters
The volume of collected oil on Thursday did not meet the daily target of the salvor.According to the PCG, the salvor has been aiming to collect 200,000 liters daily since the start of the “full blast” siphoning operation on Wednesday.With this target, the completion of the siphoning of 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil from MTKR Terranova would take around two weeks.“Harbor Star said that the rate of oil flow during the 22 August 2024 operation was approximately 7,200 liters per hour,” the PCG said.Due to this, more booster pumps are expected to arrive on the weekend to fast-track the siphoning operation, according to the PCG.Meanwhile, the PCG said its BRP Sindangan conducted drone aerial surveillance and utilized water cannon to address the minimal oil sheen observed in the area.One crew member died and 16 others were rescued after MTKR Terranova capsized and sank 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point in Limay town on July 25. Aside from MTKR Terranova, the PCG is also currently responding to the sunken MTKR Jason Bradley and grounded MV Mirola 1 in Bataan.The PCG and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are looking into whether the three ships are involved in oil smuggling.Owners of MTKR Terranova have denied the allegation.Due to the impact of the oil spill, a state of calamity was declared in the entire province of Bataan as well as in nine cities and towns in Cavite.
300,000 liters of oil recovered from tanker | The Manila Times -- AROUND 300,000 liters of oily waste have been collected in the waters where MT Terranova sank with 1.4 million liters of cargo. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on Sunday that according to Harbor Star Shipping Services Inc., the rate of oily waste flow on August 24 was 13,500 liters per hour. On August 19, the salvor collected 2,350 liters, 36,100 liters on August 20, 42,026 liters on August 21, and 81,136 liters on August 22. This brings the total oil-water mixture collected so far to 300,439 liters. In the case of another tanker, the Jason Bradley, which sank off Cabcaben in Mariveles, Bataan, on July 27, the contracted salvor, FES Challenger, continued resealing and patching manhole and air vents of the sunken vessel in preparation for refloating it. Coast Guard personnel laid 50 meters of spill boom around a third sunken vessel, the MV Mirola 1, while the joint oil spill response team monitored the operations of the contracted salvor, Morning Star.
Qatar Reportedly Eyeing Stake in Germany’s Trapped Russian Refinery -- Gas giant Qatar is reportedly in talks to purchase Russian Rosneft stake in German refinery PCK Schwedt, which has been under trusteeship by Berlin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Bloomberg and Reuters reported on Wednesday. Schwedt is the fourth-largest refinery in Germany, it is 54% owned by the Russian state oil giant, and it gets its oil from the Druzhba oil pipeline from Russia. The Schwedt refinery supplies 90% of the fuel needs of Germany’s capital city Berlin. The trusteeship terms expire on September 10, and while Berlin largely controls the assets, Rosneft is said to retain some control over the sale of its stake in the refinery, according to Reuters. With the trusteeship coming to an end and facing either termination or extension, the German government is likely keen to see a deal before that date for state-run Rosneft’s 54.17% stake valued by Russian media at around $7 billion, Reuters reported. Shell owns the remaining shares, which in December it said would be sold to Britain’s Prax Group. According to Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, Qatar is the last bidding for the refinery, with a delegation visiting Berlin in “recent weeks”. Bloomberg’s unnamed sources also said that the German government would agree to a deal with Qatar, and that the ball is now in Rosneft’s court. Rosneft did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment at the time of publication. The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the Qatari sovereign wealth fund, owns a 19% stake in Rosneft.
Kuwait Grows Natural Gas Supply, Qatar Relationship with 15-Year LNG SPA --QatarEnergy has inked a long-term LNG supply agreement with state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp. (KPC) as the nearby Middle Eastern oil producer looks to ease mounting natural gas supply and power demand issues. Starting at the beginning of next year, QatarEnergy agreed to deliver up to 3 million metric tons/year (mmty) of liquefied natural gas to Kuwait for 15 years. Cargoes are to be delivered on an ex-ship basis by Qatar Energy to Kuwait's Al-Zour LNG terminal onboard Qatar’s growing fleet of Q-Flex and Q-Max vessels. CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi said the agreement will extend Qatar’s partnership with Kuwait while bolstering the fellow Gulf State’s power sector. “It also reflects our commitment to support the future needs of all our clients, foremost of which is KPC,” Al-Kaabi said.
Kuwait declares state of emergency over oil leak - Khaleej Times - Kuwait's national oil company has declared a state of emergency over an oil leak in one of its southwestern oil fields. Monday's statement by the Kuwait Oil Co. did not identify the onshore oil field affected by the leak, which began Sunday. The state-run Kuwait News Agency said the leak hit the Al Maqwa field. The company said there's no sign of a toxic gas leak. It offered no details about how many barrels of oil had been spilled. Eastern Saudi beaches were not affected by the leak, according to an official statement. OPEC member Kuwait is a major oil producer. The US Energy Information Administration says Kuwait produces some 2.7 million barrels of crude oil a day and holds the world's sixth-largest oil reserves. In August, Kuwait announced a spill at its Ahmadi field. A February fire struck another oil well after a spill.
Shutdowns at Libya’s Oilfields Continue --Another oilfield in Libya stopped nearly all output on Wednesday as shutdowns at the country’s oil-producing facilities continue over a political standoff over the leadership of the OPEC producer’s central bank.On Wednesday, the Sarir oilfield halted almost all production of about 209,000 barrels per day (bpd), engineers told Reuters.According to the field engineers, this was the daily production rate at Sarir before the field began reducing output. Oil production at several Libyan oilfields was halted on Tuesday after the rival government in the east announced on Monday a stop to all oil production and exports from OPEC’s African producer.Libya, which pumps about 1.2 million bpd of oil, was plunged into a deeper political crisis earlier this month over a row about the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya, the only internationally recognized depository of Libya’s oil revenues.The Benghazi-based government in eastern Libya, which is a rival to the Tripoli-based government in the politically divided North African OPEC producer, said on Monday it would shut down all crude oil output and exports.The east-based government backed by military leader Khalifa Haftar is not internationally recognized, but Haftar and his people control most of the country’s oilfields.Over the past weeks, the situation in Libya has deteriorated with the east-west rivalry flaring up again and centered on the leadership of the Central Bank of Libya—the guardian of Libya’s wealth and income from oil exports.The internationally recognized government in the capital city in the west, Tripoli, is trying to replace Sadiq Al-Kabir, the governor of the Central Bank of Libya. This has led to the latest controversy between the eastern and western governments and political factions, threatening again to reduce Libya’s oil production and exports.Despite the spreading closures at Libyan oilfields,oil prices fell early on Wednesday by about 1.8% amid continued concerns about global oil demand.
Kemp: Oil bears focus attention on low demand and planned production boost --Investors remain resolutely pessimistic about the future of petroleum prices, despite growing confidence that the U.S. Federal Reserve is going to cut interest rates in order to stimulate consumer spending and business investment. Fund managers sold oil futures and option last week after the rally to cover shorts the previous week quickly lost momentum. In the seven-day period ending August 20, hedge funds and other money managers sold equivalent to 48 million barrels of oil in six important futures and option contracts. According to the records filed at exchanges and regulators, funds have sold in six out of seven of the past seven weeks. They've reduced their position by 346 million barrels total since July 1. The combined position was reduced to just 178 millions barrels. This is the fourth lowest weekly record going back to 2013. It has fallen from a recent peak of 524,000,000 on July 2, (40th percentile). The managers of the company sold European gas oil (-20 millions barrels), NYMEX, ICE WTI and Brent (-18 million), U.S. Diesel (-4 million) and Brent (-9million), but only bought U.S. gasoline (+3million). WTI was the only exception, as the position had been shifted to a bearish outlook. Since the mid-cycle downturn in 2015/16, positions in middle distillates – the most sensitive to business cycles – were at their lowest since 2015. The fact that the Federal Reserve, and other major central bankers, are confident they will lower interest rates in order to boost consumer spending and investment by businesses has not diminished concerns over a weakening growth of oil consumption. Traders also expressed concern about the upcoming production increases by Saudi Arabia, and its OPEC allies from the start of October. Allies at the beginning of October. If implemented, this could increase inventories and further lower prices. The potential to cover shorts and rebuild bullish positions is still very high, which could help push prices higher in the event that sentiment changes from bearish to bullish. For the moment, however, price rises have been capped due to lingering concerns about economic prospects and fears about OPEC. Adding more oil to market. As a result of the hotter than normal temperatures combined with ultra-low fuel costs for power generators, portfolio investors increased their positions in U.S. Gas. Hedge funds, other money managers and hedge funds purchased futures and options relating to the price of gasoline at Henry Hub in Louisiana that equated to 163 billion cubic foot (bcf). The week ended August 20. Short-covering was the main reason for the purchases. Funds repurchased 164 bcf from previous short positions. The combined position increased to 515 bcf, which is the 46th percentile of all weeks since 2010, the highest in seven weeks. The working gas inventory has increased by just 100 bcf in the past six weeks. This is the smallest seasonal rise since 2010. On Aug. 16, inventories were still 378 bcf (+13%) or 1.21 standard deviations above the seasonal average of the previous 10 years. The surplus is down from +538 BCF (+20%, or +1.44 standard errors) on July 5, as generators took advantage of cheap gas in order to meet high airconditioning demands. It is almost certain that inventories will be higher than average for the start of winter heating season on November 1. The surplus will be completely eliminated by the end of the winter 2024/25..
Goldman Cuts Oil Price Target By $5 To $70-$85 Just As Sentiment Hits All-Time Low - - In yet another indication that the bottom for oil prices is in, and following a similar move last week by Morgan Stanley whose actions have been a rock-solid contrarian indicator in the past.... overnight Goldman's commodity analyst - now without "supercycle" permabull Jeff Currie - Daan Struyven slashed his expected range for Brent oil prices by $5 to $70-$85 per barrel, citing weaker Chinese oil demand, high inventories, and rising U.S. shale production, but the biggest driver for the cut is his belief that "OPEC will raise production in Q4 as the market is potentially shifting from an equilibrium where OPEC supports spot balances and reduces volatility to a more long-run equilibrium focused on strategically disciplining non-OPEC supply and supporting cohesion."“Prices could significantly undershoot in the short term, especially if OPEC were to strategically discourage US shale growth more forcefully, or if a recession were to reduce oil demand,” the bank’s analysts noted, referring to a scenario in which Brent could trade lower than its price forecast.That, we can assure the Goldman analyst, will not happen. According to the Goldman note which is available to pro subscribers in the usual place, OECD commercial inventories have been stable contrary to expectations of summer draws for two reasons:
- First, US liquids supply is beating expectations on ongoing efficiency gains and a 0.7mb/d YoY surge in NGL supply.
- Second, China demand growth has slowed on structural road fuel switching and on petrochemical demand weakness.
Yet despite what he believes will be higher US supply and lower China demand growth (oddly enough, nobody talks about India which is rapidly becoming the biggest swing factor on the demand side), Goldman looks for oil prices "to decline only modestly in 2025" for two reasons:
- Solid OECD and India demand limits the uptick in our 2025 surplus forecast to 0.6mb/d (vs. 0.5mb/d).
- Second, lower interest rates and a normalization in valuation should limit downward price pressure.
As a result, the bank has "nudged" down its fair value estimate for Brent by $2/bbl to $70/bbl following efficiency gains from US shale producers, an upgrade in peak production on the GS Top Projects curve, and our view that cheaper global natural gas from 2026 will reduce oil demand growth.That said, the bank warns of downside risk to prices and upside risk to volatility: "The risks to our $70-85 range skew to the downside given high spare capacity, potential trade tensions, and the possibility that OPEC may fully reverse the extra cuts in 2025."While US shale breakeven Brent prices around $70 provide the long-run floor under Brent, prices could undershoot in the short-term; therefore, Goldman sees upside risk to oil implied volatility as short-term inventory volatility may pick up with OPEC's focus on long-run balance; geopolitical conflicts remain unresolved; Iran supply may fall; and current market pricing of volatility remains low.As noted above, Morgan Stanley has also recently revised its oil price forecasts downward, reflecting expectations of increased supply from OPEC and non-OPEC producers amid signs of weakening global demand. The bank now anticipates that while the crude oil market will remain tight through the third quarter, it will begin to stabilize in the fourth quarter and potentially move into a surplus by 2025.
Oil prices rise on hopes of Fed rate cut - Saudi Gazette — Oil prices climbed on Monday, driven by optimism over a potential interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and ongoing disruptions in cease-fire negotiations in the Middle East. International benchmark Brent crude rose 0.73% to $78.72 per barrel at 09:33 a.m. local time (0633 GMT), up from the previous session's close of $78.15. Meanwhile, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) increased by 0.82% to $75.44 per barrel, following a close of $74.83 in the prior session. On Friday, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled a possible interest rate cut at the central bank's upcoming meeting in September. Commodity prices surged after Powell's much-anticipated speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium in Wyoming. A reduction in interest rates in the US, the world's largest oil-consuming country, is expected to stimulate economic activity and increase oil demand. Fed Chair Powell expressed growing confidence that inflation is on a sustainable path back to 2%, stating that "the time has come" for an adjustment in monetary policy. "The direction of travel is clear, and the timing and pace of rate cuts will depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks," Powell said at the symposium. He added that the overall economy continues to grow at a solid pace. Analysts are certain that the Fed will cut interest rates by 25 basis points next month, while the possibility of a 50 basis point cut is also under consideration. Market pricing indicates that the Fed may cut interest rates by a total of 100 basis points by the end of the year. The likelihood of a 50 basis point cut in September is estimated at 32.5%, while the probability of a 25 basis point cut stands at 67.5%. Further contributing to the rise in oil prices are concerns over supply disruptions in the Middle East. Despite ongoing international cease-fire negotiations, Israel has intensified its attacks on the blockaded Gaza Strip. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive has resulted in over 40,400 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and more than 93,000 injuries, according to local health authorities. The latest round of cease-fire talks concluded in Cairo on Sunday without reaching an agreement. The Palestinian group Hamas has demanded that Israel adhere to the terms agreed upon on July 2, in line with a proposal laid out by US President Joe Biden on May 31 and a UN Security Council resolution.
Oil Prices Soar as Geopolitical Risk Rises Rapidly - Oil prices spiked dramatically on Monday morning, with Brent breaking above $81 and WTI rising toward $77. While hopes of an interest rate cut had already boosted bullish sentiment in markets, it is geopolitics and supply risks that sent prices soaring on Monday morning.A combination of Israel launching strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Russia launching a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine, and the Libyan government in Benghazi declaring force majeure on all oil facilities drove oil prices up dramatically.Early on Sunday morning, Israel launched what it claims was a preemptive attack on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The exchange of fire between the two sides was the biggest since they fought a 34-day war in 2006.Shortly before 5 am local time, Israel launched 100 jets to target 40 sites in Lebanon that it claimed were preparing to fire missiles and rockets at Israel.Hezbollah then claimed to have launched more than 340 rockets at 11 military targets in Israel and the Golan Heights.These attacks are likely to undermine ceasefire talks taking place in Egypt.On Sunday night and early on Monday morning, Russia launched a coordinated missile and drone attack on cities and critical infrastructure across Ukraine. President Zelensky claimed that over 100 missiles and roughly 100 attack drones were launched by Russia overnight.Russia says it was aiming to hit critical infrastructure in the country, succeeding in causing power outages and disruptions to water supplies. Explosions have been reported in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. On Monday morning, Libya’s government in Benghazi said that the country’s oilfields were closing down and all production and exports would stop.While the government is not internationally recognized, it does control most of the country’s oilfields.Tensions have been rising in Libya in recent weeks, with attempts to oust the head of the Central Bank of Libya resulting in the mobilization of armed factions of either side. The combination of these three events has only added to bullish sentiment, and will likely drive another volatile week for oil prices as these stories develop.
Oil climbs 3% as Libya output cuts further supply concerns (Reuters) - Oil prices settled 3% higher on Monday as production cuts in Libya added to supply concerns stemming from reports of escalating conflict in the Middle East. Brent crude futures closed $2.41, or 3.05%, at $81.43 a barrel, while U.S. crude futures settled $2.59, or 3.5%, higher at $77.42 a barrel. Both benchmarks had gained more than 2% on Friday. "The near-term buying seems justified," on Middle East tensions, Libyan production outages and weak oil inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, the key U.S. storage hub. Libya's eastern-based government announced the closure of all oil fields on Monday, halting production and exports. National Oil Corp, which controls the country's oil resources, provided no confirmation. However, NOC subsidiary Waha Oil Company said it planned to gradually reduce output and warned of a complete halt to Libya's production, citing unspecified "protests and pressures". Libya's Sirte Oil Company, another NOC subsidiary, said it will start a partial reduction in production. Libya's oil production was about 1.18 million barrels per day in July, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, citing secondary sources. "The biggest risk for the oil market is probably a further drop in Libyan oil production due to political tensions in the country, with a risk that production could fall from current levels of 1 million barrels per day to zero," A long-expected missile attack by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement appeared to have been largely thwarted by pre-emptive Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon. However, the U.S. continues to assess that the threat of attack against Israel by Iran and its proxy groups still exists, the Pentagon said on Monday. There was no agreement on Sunday in Gaza ceasefire talks that took place in Cairo, with neither Hamas nor Israel agreeing to several compromises presented by mediators, two Egyptian security sources said An oil tanker has been on fire in the Red Sea since Aug. 23 after an attack by Yemen's Houthis, EU Red Sea naval mission Aspides said in a post on X. Meanwhile, crude oil inventories at Cushing, the pricing point for U.S. crude oil futures, have fallen to six-month lows. "Most oil forecasters expect 2025 oil demand growth to hover around 1 million b/d. Were Libya to go down in another bout of civil war, the balances of 2025 could look very similar to this year's despite more Saudi and Russian production," On the demand side, increasing signs of lackluster growth and emerging risks to the job market overshadowed a gathering of global policymakers at the U.S. Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole conference, highlighting the changing trajectory of monetary policy as U.S. and European central banks eye cutting interest rates. However, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly on Monday said it was hard to imagine anything could derail a September rate cut from the current range of 5.25%-5.50%.
A Potential Shutdown of Most of Libya’s Oil Fields -- The oil market posted an inside trading day on a price correction after rallying over the previous three sessions on supply concerns amid fears of widening Middle East conflict and a potential shutdown of most of Libya’s oil fields. The market traded to a high of $77.48 in overnight trading. However, the market pulled back and held resistance at its previous high of $77.60 after it failed to break above its 200 day moving average during Monday’s move higher. The crude market sold off to a low of $75.40 in afternoon trading ahead of the close. The October WTI contract settled down $1.89 at $75.53 and the October Brent contract settled down $1.88 at $79.55. The product markets settled lower, with the heating oil market settling down 6.18 cents at $2.2862 and the RB market settling down 3.3 cents at $2.2469. Engineers said several oilfields across Libya have halted output as closures spread, amid a dispute over control of the central bank and the country’s oil revenue. On Monday, authorities in the east of the country where most of its oilfields are located threatened to close them all, stepping up their standoff with the country’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli, which is heavily dependent on the fields for its revenues. There has still been no confirmation of any closures from the Tripoli-based government, or from the National Oil Corp, which controls the country’s oil resources. However engineers at the southeastern Amal and Nafoora oilfields said production was halted, while engineers at Abu Attifel, also in the east, said output was reduced. Engineers at the southwestern El Feel oilfield, with 70,000 bpd, also said output had been halted. Meanwhile, Libya’s eastern parliament speaker Aguila Saleh said that oil and gas flows will remain on hold until Libya’s central bank governor resumes his legal duties.According to a Department of Energy document, the U.S. is seeking to buy about 3.6 million barrels of domestically produced crude oil to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The sour crude or oil relatively high in sulfur would be for delivery in January through March of 2025 to the reserve’s Bryan Mound site in Texas.Goldman Sachs cut its average 2025 Brent forecast and range for prices by $5/barrel saying unexpected increases in oil inventories and slow China demand is likely to weigh on the market. The bank cut its range for Brent prices to $70-$85/barrel and its 2025 average Brent forecast to $77/barrel from a previous estimate of $82/barrel. Goldman Sachs said U.S. liquids supply is beating expectations on ongoing efficiency gains and China demand growth has slowed on structural road fuel switching and on petrochemical demand weakness. However, it added that India’s demand, lower interest rates and a normalization in valuation should limit downward price pressure. S&P Global Commodities at Sea is estimating that over 6.2 million mt of diesel/gasoil will arrive at European ports from global exporters in August. Some 3.9 million mt has already been delivered with a further 2.3 million mt currently inbound. It estimates that U.S. exports will account for the bulk of the arriving middle distillates.
Oil snaps three-day winning streak, drops 2% on US, China growth concerns; Brent sticks to $80/bbl, MCX falls 3% [ International crude oil prices snapped their three-day winning streak and fell around two per cent on Tuesday, August 27. Worries that slower economic growth in the US and China could reduce energy demand dragged prices down, especially after they surged over seven per cent in the prior three days.Brent futures last fell $1.31, or 1.6 per cent, to $80.12 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.30, or 1.7 per cent, to $76.12. Regarding domestic prices, crude oil futures last fell 2.14 per cent lower at ₹6,344 per barrel on the multi-commodity exchange (MCX).
- -Analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said the complex is pulling back today as crude takes a breather from the strong $6 advance of the prior three sessions. However, this looks like a normal correction likely to be followed by a renewed upswing. Technical traders noted that on Monday, the prices of both contracts failed to break above resistance around the 200-day moving averages.
- -Oil prices rose over the past few days, with analysts pointing to the potential shutdown of Libya's oil fields, which could curtail OPEC's 1.2 million barrels per day of output, and other tensions in the Middle East following counter-attacks betweenIsrael and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon in recent days. Analysts said markets remain on edge as skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah intensify.
- -Crude oil prices were also supported by growing expectations that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month. Lower rates can boost economic growth and oil demand. Traders are betting on a 25- or 50-basis point interest rate cut in September.
- -CME Group's Fed Watch tool shows a 71.5 per cent chance for 25 basis points a 28.5 per cent chance for 50 basis points. UBS Global Wealth Management sees a 25 per cent chance of a US recession, up from 20 per cent previously, citing soft numbers in the July labour report.
- -US data is expected to show that energy firms pulled crude from storage last week for the eighth week of nine. That compares with a withdrawal of 10.6 million barrels during the same week last year and an average decrease of 6.3 million barrels over the past five years (2019-2023).
- -Goldman Sachs cut its average 2025 Brent forecast and price range by $5 per barrel, citing slower demand in China. The bank reduced its range for Brent prices to $70-$85 a barrel, and the 2025 average Brent forecast to $77 per barrel from $82.
- -In Germany, the economy shrank in the second quarter. Adding to global uncertainty, Russia warned the West was playing with fire by considering allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russia with Western missiles. It cautioned the US that World War Three would not be confined to Europe.
Analysts said Libya's current output is approximately 1.0 million barrels per day, and the potential halt in production has heightened supply concerns. Additionally, crude oil prices surged due to better-than-expected US durable goods orders data and the possibility of interest rate cuts, as the US Fed Chairman hinted at the Jackson Hole Symposium. ‘’Rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, along with delays in ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas, have also contributed to the support for oil prices.
WTI Extends Losses After Smaller-Than-Expected Crude Draw - Oil slipped for a second day, extending a bumpy run so far this month, with the market focusing on Libyan supplies, key technical indicators and US inventory data. The outages in Libya have been countered by a broadly bearish undertone - leading top Wall Street banks including Goldman Sachs. and Morgan Stanley to shave their price forecasts for next year. API:
- Crude -3.4mm (exp. -3mm)
- Gasoline -1.86mm
- Distillates -1.4mm
- Cushing -486k
DOE
- Crude -846k (exp. -3mm)
- Gasoline -2.2mm
- Distillates +275k
- Cushing -668k
Concerns Over Chinese Demand and Increased Risks of a Broader Economic Slowdown - The crude market continued to trend lower as demand concerns outweighed geopolitical tensions. The market traded lower due to continuing concerns over Chinese demand and increased risks of a broader economic slowdown. After posting an inside trading day on Tuesday, the market posted a high of $75.95 and breached its previous lows as it retraced almost 62% of its move from a low of $71.46 to a high of $77.60. It sold off to a low of $73.82 early in the morning. The market later bounced off its low and traded over the $75.00 level despite the EIA’s weekly petroleum stocks report, showing a smaller than draw in crude stocks of over 800,000 barrels on the week. However, gasoline stocks drew down 2.203 million barrels on the week. The oil market later traded in a sideways trading range during the remainder of the session. The October WTI contract settled down $1.01 at $74.52 and the October Brent contract settled down 90 cents at $78.65. The product markets ended the session lower, with the heating oil market settling down 5.71 cents at $2.2291 and the RB market settling down 3.21 cents at $2.2148. The EIA reported that U.S. crude oil and gasoline inventories fell last week as demand increased ahead of Labor Day weekend and the end of the summer driving season. Crude stocks fell by 846,000 barrels to 425.2 million barrels in the week ending August 23rd. Stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma fell by 668,000 barrels on the week. Gasoline stocks fell by 2.2 million barrels in the week to 218.4 million barrels, the lowest level since November. U.S. Gulf Coast gasoline inventories last week fell by 2.8 million barrels to 76.3 million barrels, their lowest since March 2021. Two field engineers said Libya’s oilfield closures spread on Wednesday as the Sarir field almost completely halted output, amid a political dispute over control of the central bank and oil revenue. Authorities in the east, where most of Libya’s oilfields are located, declared on Monday that all production and exports would be halted. Sarir was producing about 209,000 bpd before output was reduced. Force majeure had already been announced on exports at the 300,000 bpd Sharara oilfield and this week disruptions were reported at El Feel, Amal, Nafoora and Abu Attifel. The move to shut off Libya’s main source of revenue comes in response to the Tripoli-based Presidency Council sacking Central Bank of Libya chief Sadiq al-Kabir, prompting rival armed factions to mobilize. Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, installed through a U.N.-backed process in 2021 and head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, said this week that oilfields should not be allowed to be shut “under flimsy pretexts”. Meanwhile, ports in the country’s Oil Crescent operated normally on Wednesday and had not received order to halt exports. Four vessels were at the ports of Es Sidra, Brega and Zueitina to load 600,000 barrels each. The National Hurricane Center continues to watch an area of disorganized showers over the central Tropical Atlantic that are associated with a tropical wave. Forecasters continue to look for some slow development of this system over this weekend and into early next week as it moves west/northwestward. Currently forecasters are assigning a 20% chance of tropical cyclone development over the next seven days.
Oil prices edge higher amid Libyan supply concerns | The Libya Observer - Oil prices experienced a slight increase on Thursday following two consecutive sessions of losses, driven by renewed worries about potential disruptions in Libyan oil supplies.As of 03:55 GMT, Brent crude futures rose by nine cents, or 0.11%, reaching $78.74 per barrel. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures gained 15 cents, or 0.2%, climbing to $74.67 per barrel.Both benchmarks had declined over 1% on Wednesday after data revealed a decrease in U.S. crude inventories, which fell by 846,000 barrels to 425.2 million barrels last week. This drop was less than the anticipated 2.3 million barrel reduction projected by analysts in a Reuters poll. Analysts noted that heightened concerns regarding possible supply disruptions from Libya - a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - contributed to the positive momentum in the market.
Oil settles up over 1% on worries over supplies from Libya, Iraq (Reuters) - Oil prices settled up by more than a dollar a barrel on Thursday as supply disruptions in Libya and plans to lower output in Iraq raised fears of tighter global supplies. Brent crude futures gained $1.29, or 1.6%, to settle at $79.94 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $1.39, or 1.9%, to $75.91 a barrel.More than half of Libya's oil production was offline on Thursday and exports were halted at several ports due to a standoff between rival political factions. About 700,000 barrels per day of oil output is offline in the country, according to Reuters calculations."Libyan exports were holding up so far, but with the closure of the export terminal, that should translate in a tighter Atlantic basin," Even after blockades are lifted, traders must adapt to Libya being a wild card for the markets, Offline production in Libya is at an imminent risk of reaching 1 million bpd, Carnizelo said, adding that a gradual recovery is unlikely before October.Elsewhere, Iraq plans to reduce oil output in September as part of a plan to compensate for producing over the quota agreed with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.Iraq, which produced 4.25 million bpd in July, will cut output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million bpd next month, the source said. Its agreed quota is 4 million bpd."At the moment, the market is tight and vulnerable to upside moves," Expectations for the U.S. central bank to start cutting interest rates next month also supported oil prices. Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said it may be time for cuts, with inflation down farther and unemployment up more than anticipated.The disruptions, and expectations of lower interest rates in the U.S., turned the attention away from signs of weak demand.On Wednesday, oil prices lost more than 1% after data showed U.S. crude inventories last week fell by 846,000 barrels to 425.2 million, smaller than the draw of 2.3 million barrels forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll.Total oil products inventories in Europe's Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) refining hub rose 1.1% in the week to Thursday, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed.
Crude Oil Prices Surge As US Revises GDP, Iran Output Drops - Bizwatch Nigeria - Oil prices rose early Friday as a result of Iran’s planned production cut report, which came at the same time that Libya declared force majeure, limiting exports. The development has raised supply concerns in the global commodities market, increasing the risk of rising energy costs as countries battle inflation. Demand outlook appears positive as U.S. second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised up to 3% from 2.8% previously. The GDP revision “sparked the bull run across multiple asset groups today,” Mizuho’s Robert Yawger says in a note. Brent crude trades at $79.16 a barrel on Friday. The US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 0.37% to $76.19 per barrel after closing at $75.91 in the previous session. Concerns about probable supply constraints caused by Libya’s halt of oil production fueled price increases. Libya’s National Oil Corp. stated Thursday that the losses incurred as a result of the eastern government’s decision to shut down oil and gas production in the country exceeded $120 million over three days. In a statement, the corporation, which manages the country’s oil resources, said that oil production rates had dropped from nearly 1.3 million barrels per day on Monday (the day the shutdown began) to 591,024 barrels on Wednesday. Libya, a significant member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), produced 1.18 million barrels of crude oil per day in July. Oil prices jumped over 1% on Thursday after it was reported that Iraq planned to reduce its oil production in September as part of a plan with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Iraq will cut output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million barrels per day after producing about 4.25 million bpd in July. Elsewhere, the European gas market is grappling with a series of supply concerns despite ample inventories cushioning risks ahead of the winter, according to analysts. The Dutch TTF contract, which currently trades 1.1% higher at 39.33 euros a megawatt-hour, is up roughly 7% on the week and 12% on the month. Annual maintenance in top supplier Norway, with gas exports this week hitting their lowest level since June, and fears that Russian gas flows via Ukraine will be disrupted before the expiration of a transit deal between the two countries, are among the main factors supporting prices in the near term.
OPEC+ likely to proceed with planned output hike from October, sources say (Reuters) - OPEC+ is set to proceed with a planned oil output hike from October, as Libyan outages and pledged cuts by some members to compensate for overproduction counter the impact of sluggish demand, six sources from the producer group told Reuters.Eight OPEC+ members are scheduled to boost output by 180,000 barrels per day in October, as part of a plan to begin unwinding their most recent layer of output cuts of 2.2 million bpd while keeping other cuts in place until end-2025.A slowdown in demand growth, notably in China, has weighed on oil prices and prompted some analysts to doubt whether the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, will go ahead with the October increase. But the six OPEC+ sources told Reuters the plan to increase production remains in place as the loss of Libyan output tightens the market and hopes build that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in mid-September.OPEC, the Saudi government communications office and the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak didn't immediately respond to requests for comment."There are many uncertainties on demand but there is also the hope that the Fed's interest rate cut will boost economic growth," one of the sources said.Brent crude prices fell by about $1 on Friday trading at just under $79 a barrel by 1341 GMT.OPEC had previously communicated that it could pause or reverse the production hikes if it decides the market is not strong enough.Two of the sources said that future output hikes will be decided on a month by month basis.OPEC+ does not have any formal talks scheduled until top ministers on a panel called the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee meet on Oct. 2. The JMMC can make recommendations to the wider OPEC+ group.The planned increase for October is only a fraction of the 700,000 bpd of offline Libyan oil output and the compensation cuts pledged by Iraq, Kazakhstan and Russia.
Oil Pulls Back Sharply On Report OPEC+ To Proceed With Planned Output Increase- Following the strong upward move seen in the previous session, the price of crude oil showed a significant move back to the downside during trading on Friday.Crude for October delivery plunged $2.36 or 3.1 percent to $73.55 a barrel after jumping $1.39 or 1.9 percent to $75.91 a barrel during Thursday's session.With the sharp pullback on the day, the price of crude oil slumped by 1.7 percent for the week and tumbled by 3.6 percent for the month of August.The price of crude oil came under pressure after a report from Reuters said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, is set to proceed with a planned oil output hike from October.While recent demand concerns have weighed on oil prices and raised questions about whether OPEC+ would go ahead with the plan, six sources from the producer group told Reuters the plan to increase production remains in place. Reuters noted the decision to go ahead with the plan, which will see eight OPEC+ members boost output by 180,000 barrels per day in October, comes amid Libyan outages and pledged cuts by some members.
Oil settles $1 down as supply set to rise, uncertainty around Fed rate cuts (Reuters) - Oil prices retreated on Friday as investors weighed expectations of a rise in OPEC+ supply starting in October, alongside dwindling hopes of a hefty U.S. interest rate cut next month, following data showing strong consumer spending. Brent crude futures for October delivery , which expire on Friday, settled $1.14 lower, or 1.43%, at $78.80 a barrel, marking a decline of 0.3% for the week and 2.4% for the month. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled down $2.36, or 3.11%, to $73.55, a drop of 1.7% in the week and a 3.6% decline in August. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, known as OPEC+, is set to proceed with a planned oil output hikefrom October, as the Libyan outages and pledged cuts by some members to compensate for overproduction counter the impact of sluggish demand, six sources from the producer group told Reuters."OPEC+ talking about going ahead with tapering off production cuts was the headline that really sunk us today," Meanwhile, investors responded to new data that showed U.S. consumer spending increased solidly in July, suggesting the economy remained on firmer ground early in the third quarter and arguing against a half-percentage-point interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve next month.. Lower rates can boost economic growth and demand for oil. "That modest inflation increase could basically solidify that we will only get a quarter percentage-point cut and those hoping for a half will have to wait," . Elsewhere, Libya's National Oil Corporation said recent oilfield closures have caused the loss of approximately 63% of the country's total oil production, as a conflict between rival eastern and western factions continues. Production losses could reach between 900,000 and 1 million barrels per day (bpd) and last for several weeks, according to consulting firm Rapidan Energy Group. Libya's eastern-based government announced the closure of all oil fields on Monday, halting production and exports and driving oil to settle at a near-two week high on Aug. 26. "It is interesting see the shutdown of Libya's crude oil production have such an impact on market prices one day and completely ignored the next," “It looks to me right now there is a lot of negative inertia in the market pulling prices down,” Snyder added. Iraqi supplies are also expected to shrink after the country's output surpassed its OPEC+ quota, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Iraq plans to reduce its oil output to between 3.85 million and 3.9 million bpd next month. In the U.S., the number of active oil rigs, opens new tab was unchanged at 483 this week, but rose by one in August, Baker Hughes said.
Burning Red Sea oil tanker risks ecological disaster, EU warns - A ship carrying crude oil that caught fire after being attacked in the Red Sea could lead to a severe ecological disaster, the European Union’s naval force in the region said Saturday. The Sounion tanker was hit earlier this week by a series of missiles while sailing through the waterway and suffered a fresh attack Friday, EUNAVFOR Aspides said in a post on X. The vessel now poses “a significant environmental threat” due to the large volume of oil on board, it said. The UK Navy reported Friday that three fires had been seen on board. “The Houthis’ continued attacks threaten to spill a million barrels of oil into the Red Sea, an amount four times the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster,” the US State Department said in a separate statement. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have attacked vessels in protest against Israel’s war with Hamas. Although other ships have been sunk, the Sounion risks being the most severe incident given its cargo. After the first attack on the tanker earlier in the week its crew was evacuated with assistance from a French naval ship. At that time the vessel was anchored in international waters, the EU Navy said Saturday, however following the fires on board it was reported to be drifting.
Risk of ‘extremely serious’ oil spill grows in Red Sea following attack -- International shipping authorities are very worried about a possible environmental disaster in the Red Sea following an attack on a tanker carrying about a million barrels of crude oil. The Greek-flagged MV Delta Sounion was attacked Aug. 21 by a vessel crewed by the Iran-aligned Houthis, a Yemeni political and military organization, according to the U.S. military. It’s currently on fire and appears to be leaking oil into Red Sea waters. “The risk of an oil spill, posing an extremely serious environmental hazard, remains high and there is widespread concern about the damage such a spill would cause within the region,” said Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in a Wednesday statement. Dominguez said he was “extremely concerned” about the situation. On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder described the Sounion as “immobilized” in its location in the Red Sea. The ship’s condition presents “both a navigational hazard and a potential environmental catastrophe,” he said. The Greek shipping ministry said the vessel was on its way from Iraq to Greece with a crew of two Russian and 23 Filipino sailors when it was attacked, according to Ryder. The Sounion’s crew has since been evacuated. The Houthis have been carrying out attacks in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Palestinians in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Last week, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare’e posted a video on social media purportedly showing the Sounion being set ablaze. He described it as showing “scenes of the Yemeni Navy burning the Greek ship SOUNION in the Red Sea.” The situation with the Sounion isn’t the first time an oil tanker has posed a grave environmental risk to the Red Sea as a result of tensions with the Houthis. An oil tanker moored off the coast of the Hodeidah governorate in Houthi-controlled territory prompted multiple special meetings of the United Nations Security Council in 2021 and 2020. The leaking 45-year-old FSO Safer tanker had been serving as a floating storage facility and fell into disrepair following Saudi Arabian-led military actions against the Houthis in 2015. U.N. Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen warned at the time that a possible spill could impact 28 million people relying on local waters and resources for their livelihoods. The 1.1 million barrels of oil on board the Safer were eventually offloaded to another tanker in a ship-to-ship transfer that concluded in August 2023. Despite numerous calls for a ceasefire and de-escalation of tensions around the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, a forthcoming resolution appears unlikely following a spate of assassinations and extraterritorial attacks in the region. Hamas political bureau chair Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran in July, and deputy chair Saleh al-Arouri was killed in Lebanon in January. Fuad Shukr, a senior member of the Iran-backed Lebanese political organization Hezbollah, was the target of an “intelligence-based elimination” in July, according to the Israeli military, as reported by the BBC.In April, an Israeli attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killed two generals and five other officers, according to The Associated Press, in a significant escalation of the conflict that prompted Iran to launch retaliatory strikes on Israel.
Red Sea tanker attack: hopes rise that major oil spill can be averted -- The area around a Greek-flagged tanker attacked last week by Yemen’s Houthi rebels appears to be free of oil, the EU mission in the Red Sea has said. The tanker came under fire last week off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, said they were behind the attack. The Pentagon had earlier said MV Sounion was still on fire and might be leaking crude oil. The Sounion is carrying 150,000 tonnes of crude oil and if a spill occurs, it has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history. Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Maj Gen Patrick Ryder said on Tuesday that a third party had tried to send two tugs to help salvage the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them. “These are simply reckless acts of terrorism which continue to destabilise global and regional commerce, put the lives of innocent civilian mariners at risk and imperil the vibrant maritime ecosystem in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis’ own back yard,” Ryder said. He added that the US military was working with other partners in the region to determine how to help the vessel and mitigate any environmental impact. Aspides, the EU mission in the Red Sea, has said that the Greek-flagged oil tanker is still anchored and not drifting and was reportedly assessing protective measures, including towing to a safer location. The Iran-aligned Houthis have sunk two ships and killed at least three crew members in a 10-month campaign that has upended global ocean shipping by forcing vessel owners to avoid the Suez Canal short cut.
The Greek Tanker Struck by a Houthi Missile Is Now Leaking Oil -- A Greek tanker that the Yemeni Houthis struck with a missile in the Red Sea a week ago is leaking oil, the U.S. Pentagon said, per multiple media reports. Salvaging the vessel has proved challenging as the Houthis threaten more attacks, the BBC noted in a report quoting the Pentagon. “The MV Sounion now sits immobilized in the Red Sea, where it is currently on fire and appears to be leaking oil, presenting both a navigational hazard and a potential environmental catastrophe,” Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said, as quotedby the Maritime Executive. Reports last week said a tanker on fire was drifting in the Red Sea. It later emerged that the vessel had come under attack by armed groups traveling on small vessels some 90 miles from the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. The tanker was also reportedly struck by missiles or drones. “The vessel reports being not under command,” the UK Maritime Trade Operations office said at the time, likely meaning it lost all power. “No casualties reported.” The Greek-flagged oil tanker, the Sounion, had 25 crew members and was traveling from Iraq to Cyprus, the Associated Press reported at the time. The crew was rescued by a European warship and transported to Djibouti. The BBC today reported that the Sounion was carrying some 150,000 tons—or close to a million barrels—of crude oil and if it spills as a result of the strikes, it could become one of the largest oil spills from a vessel in recent history. For context, the BBC recalled that the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 totaled 257,000 barrels of crude. The Houthis have launched attacks on an estimated 80 vessels since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The Houthi campaign is prompting shippers to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal and take the longer route around the Horn of Africa, which is set to add an additional 500,000 bpd of fuel consumption for 2024.
Houthis Agree To Allow Tugboats To Tow Damaged Oil Tanker - The Houthis have agreed to allow tugboats to reach the Sounion, a Greek-flagged oil tanker that’s anchored in the Red Sea that was struck by Houthi missiles last week.The Sounion was disabled by the Houthi strike and is reportedly still on fire. A French destroyer rescued the 29-person crew of the ship in the aftermath of the attack, and they were taken to Djibouti.Iran’s mission to the UN said on Wednesday that the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, agreed to let the tanker be towed after several requests.“Several countries have reached out to ask Ansar Allah, requesting a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area,” the Iranian mission said. “In consideration of humanitarian and environmental concerns, Ansar Allah has consented to this request.” Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam denied in comments to Reutersthat the group has agreed to a temporary truce. He said they only agreed to allow the damaged tanker to be towed away.On Tuesday, the Pentagon said that the tanker could be leaking oil into the Red Sea and that the Houthis had threatened boats that tried to approach the vessel. The Houthis have continued their attacks on Israel-linked and other commercial shipping, a campaign they launched in response to Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. Back in January, the US began a bombing campaign against the Houthis, but that has only escalated the situation.The last US missile strike reported by US Central Command took place on August 23. The Houthis have been clear that the only thing that would stop their attacks would be a ceasefire in Gaza.
Houthis to allow access to stricken Red Sea tanker amid fears of huge oil spill --Yemen’s Houthi group has agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to access a damaged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea, Iran’s mission to the United Nations said, after the Iranian-aligned militants attacked the Greek-flagged vessel last week. The Sounion tanker is carrying 150,000 tonnes, or 1m barrels, of crude oil and poses an environmental hazard, shipping officials said. Any spill has the potential to be among the largest from a ship in recorded history. “Several countries have reached out to … request a temporary truce for the entry of tugboats and rescue ships into the incident area,” Iran’s UN mission in New York said, adding that the Houthis had consented to the request, in consideration of “humanitarian and environmental concerns”. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied on Wednesday there would be a temporary truce, telling Reuters that the group only agreed to allow the towing of oil tanker Sounion after several international parties contacted the group. The Pentagon said on Tuesday a third party had tried to send two tugs to help salvage the Sounion, but the Houthis threatened to attack them. In a statement on Wednesday, Iran’s UN mission said “the failure to provide aid and prevent an oil spill in the Red Sea stems from the negligence of certain countries, rather than concerns over the possibility of being targeted.” (Red Sea map.) The Sounion was targeted last week by multiple projectiles off Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. There have been seemingly conflicting reports about oil escaping from the ship, but on Wednesday, the European Union’s mission in the Red Sea said there was no oil spill in the waters near the Greek-flagged tanker. The EU mission, called Aspides, added that the Sounion was still anchored and not drifting. The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the tanker was still on fire in the Red Sea and appeared to be leaking oil. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s most populous regions, began aerial drone and missile strikes on the Red Sea in November in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. In over 70 attacks, they have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.
Egypt Reiterates Opposition To Israeli Military Presence at Gaza-Egypt Border - Egypt on Monday reiterated its objection to Israel maintaining control of the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, as part of any Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.“Egypt reiterated to all relevant parties its rejection of any Israeli presence at (the Palestinian side of) the Rafah crossing or the Philadelphi Corridor,” an Egyptian official said, according to Anadolu Agency.The comment came after hostage deal talks concluded in Cairo on Sunday, with reports saying no progress was made. Israel’s demand to maintain the Philadelphi Corridor is one of the main obstacles to a deal, as Hamas wants an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on controlling the border even though the Israeli military doesn’t think it’s necessary. On Saturday, Reuters reported that Netanyahu has been in a dispute with Israeli negotiators, who are willing to agree to an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor.“The prime minister insists that this situation will continue, contrary to pressure from certain elements in the negotiating team who are willing to withdraw from there,” a person familiar with the negotiations told Reuters.After the meeting concluded in Cairo on Sunday, Hamas called for the implementation of the ceasefire deal previously presented by President Biden. The US recently put forward a new proposal that included many of Netanyahu’s demands and doesn’t include a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.“The Hamas delegation demanded that the occupation be bound by what was agreed upon on 2 July, based on what was stated in Biden’s speech and the Security Council resolution. Hamas confirms its readiness to implement what has been agreed upon, in a way that achieves the supreme interests of our people and stops the aggression against them,” said Hamas spokesman Izzat al-Rishq, according to The Cradle.“The Hamas delegation stressed the movement’s position that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the freedom of return of residents to their areas, relief and reconstruction, and a serious exchange deal,” he added.
Israel launches major attack on southern Lebanon - Israel launched its largest attack on southern Lebanon since 2006 on Sunday, involving over 100 air force fighter jets. The Israel Defence Forces claimed that the attacks involved over 40 targets. Shortly afterward, the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon announced that it was beginning an attack on Israeli military positions in retaliation for the assassination of Fuad Shukr, its senior military commander, in an attack on Beirut last month. Israel’s strikes on Lebanon are part of a US-backed military escalation throughout the Middle East, with the central target being Iran. The US is simultaneously sponsoring Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 40,000 people. Three people were killed in the strikes in Lebanon, while no deaths were reported inside Israel. One Israeli soldier was killed on an Israeli warship after an Israeli air defense missile exploded over it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that they “intercepted all of the drones that Hezbollah launched at a strategic target in the center of the country.” The Israeli attack was the most serious since Israel’s 34-day invasion of southern Lebanon in 2006. US and Israeli officials had made it clear that they were in close coordination over the attacks, with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaking with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant twice over the weekend “to discuss Israeli actions to defend against attacks by Lebanese Hezbollah.” Israeli officials said they had briefed the US before carrying out the attack on Lebanon. On Sunday, the Pentagon reported that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered two US aircraft carriers to remain in the Middle East, reversing a plan that would have sent one of them home. US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett endorsed Israel’s attack on Lebanon, declaring: “We will keep supporting Israel’s right to defend itself.” In an interview on Sunday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan added that “there was continuous communication, and we have been tracking the threat of Hezbollah attacks against Israel for some time now.” In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Netanyahu threatened to continue attacks on Lebanon, declaring the strike was “not the end of the story.” He threatened: “We are determined to do everything we can to defend our country… whoever harms us—we harm him.” In April, an Israeli strike killed a group of Iranian military officers meeting in Damascus, to which Iran responded with a strike on Israel with 300 missiles and drones, nearly all of which were intercepted. In July, Israel assassinated Fuad Shukr with a strike in Beirut, followed by the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh at a military guesthouse in Iran. Israel is the largest annual recipient of US foreign aid and has received $12.5 billion in weapons since October 2023. The US has provided it with dozens of advanced fighter jets, including F-35s. Earlier this month, the US approved a $20 billion arms sale to Israel, including 50 F-15 fighter jets, Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs, 120 mm tank ammunition, high explosive mortars and tactical vehicles. Israel is also the only state in the Middle East that possesses nuclear weapons. Since October, Israel has killed nearly 500 people in southern Lebanon, more than the number of people killed in the 2006 invasion of Lebanon, alongside strikes against Iran, Syria and Yemen. During the same time, nearly 50 Israeli soldiers and civilians have been killed by attacks from Hezbollah. Against the backdrop of Israel’s strikes, negotiations over a possible exchange of hostages between Hamas and Israeli officials broke off on Sunday with no agreement. The discussions reportedly included CIA Director William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
Israel Kills 41 Palestinians Across Gaza - On Tuesday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said that Israeli forces killed at least 41 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in the previous 24-hour period.“Israeli forces killed 41 people and injured 113 others in three ‘massacres’ of families in the last 24 hours,” the ministry said. “Many people are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them.”Israeli strikes were reported across the Gaza Strip, in the north, the south, and central areas, including Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City. Amid the onslaught, Israel said that it freed a Bedouin man who was taken captive by Hamas on October 7.The Israeli military said it rescued 52-year-old Kaid Farhan al-Kadi from a tunnel in southern Gaza. Al-Kadi is a resident of an unrecognized village near Rahat, a town in the Negev Desert. According to Al Jazeera, he was working as a guard at a warehouse in southern Israel when he was captured on October 7.Gaza’s Health Ministry said the latest slaughter brought the total death toll in Gaza since October 7 to 40,476, which includes over 16,000 children. The Health Ministry’s numbers are considered a low estimate since it doesn’t include the 10,000 people who are missing and presumed dead under the rubble, and it’s unclear how many Palestinians have died due to indirect causes.A letter written by a group of experts recently published in the British medical journal The Lancet estimated the total number of deaths in Gaza, including those killed by the Israeli military and indirect causes, could reach 186,000. They reached the numbers by using the death toll from the end of June, which was 37,396. A group of American doctors and nurses who volunteered in Gaza wrote a letter to President Biden last month, and they estimated that the actual death toll has already exceeded 92,000, or 4.2% of the population. The American medical professionals also detailed the horrific violence being committed by Israeli soldiers against children.
WHO: Israel Agrees to Limited Pauses in Certain Parts of Gaza for Polio Vaccination - The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday that Israel has agreed to limited pauses in its bombardment of Gaza in certain areas to allow the vaccination of children for polio, which has returned to the Strip due to the Israeli siege.Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, said the vaccinations would start in central Gaza on Sunday, where, according to the agreement, there will be a three-day pause in Israeli military attacks.An Israeli official said the pauses will only take place while children are being vaccinated, which the official said is expected to take seven hours per day. That means outside of that time, Israel’s onslaught will continue as usual.After central Gaza, the vaccination campaign will then move to southern Gaza, where there will be another three-day pause, and then to the north for the final three-day pause.Peeperkorn said the goal is to vaccinate 640,000 children under the age of ten, but he’s not sure if a limited pause would be enough. Medical officials have been calling for a full humanitarian ceasefire to administer the vaccines. “I’m not going to say this is the ideal way forward. But this is a workable way forward,” Peeperkorn said.Hamas said it supported the vaccine drive and was “ready to cooperate with international organizations to secure the campaign.”The push for the vaccinations came after a 10-month-old boy who developed paralysis in his left leg became the first confirmed case of polio in Gaza. According to the WHO, two other children have been paralyzed by polio. For each case of paralysis, there are likely hundreds of others who have been infected.
Israeli Forces Launch Major Assault on the West Bank, Killing at Least 10 Palestinians - Israeli forces launched a major assault on the West Bank early Wednesday that appears to be the largest Israeli operation in the occupied territory since the Second Intifada in the early 2000s.The assault focused on northern areas of the West Bank, including Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas, which were targeted by ground raids and airstrikes. So far, at least 10 Palestinians have been killed in the operation that the Israeli military has said will last several days.When the attack started, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the West Bank must be dealt with the same way as Gaza and called for evacuating Palestinians.“We must deal with the threat just as we deal with the terrorist infrastructure in Gaza, including the temporary evacuation of Palestinian residents and whatever steps are required,” Katz wrote on X. “This is a war for all terms and purposes and we must win it.”According to Haaretz, the Israeli military said it might allow residents of the areas it’s attacking to leave, signaling they could order evacuations.The Palestinian Ministry of Health has said that Israeli forces have besieged medical facilities in Jenin and obstructed the movement of vehicles. A spokesman for the Palestinian Red Crescent Society told CNN that “getting to the hospital in Jenin is difficult.”The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, announced that its fighters were confronting Israeli forces with “heavy volleys of direct bullets” and claimed an Israeli drone was downed. So far, there have been no reports of Israeli casualties in the attack.Amid Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, violence in the West Bank has soared. Since October 7, over 650 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military and settlers, including 150 children.Some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition are settlers themselves and have long pushed for the annexation of the West Bank, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has another minister position in the Defense Ministry that puts him in charge of expanding settlements.
Israeli settlers burn crops, attack Palestinians in occupied West Bank -- Israeli illegal settlers have assaulted Palestinians and their properties in different areas across the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli illegal settlers assaulted Palestinians and their properties in different areas across the occupied West Bank on Friday evening. Settlers set fire to a large area of cultivated land belonging to Palestinians from the village of Burqa, located east of Ramallah. The settlers reportedly came from the nearby settlement outpost of Oz Zion. Following the attack, the Israeli army entered Burqa, firing stun grenades and teargas canisters at villagers' homes and obstructing Palestinian firefighting teams from reaching the burning land, Wafa reported. In a separate incident, settlers took control of a spring water source near the village of Beit Furik, east of Nablus. In the eastern occupied West Bank, settlers targeted a Bedouin community northwest of Jericho. Hassan Malihat, general supervisor of al-Baydar Organisation for Defending Bedouin Rights, stated that settlers attacked the Bedouin community of Arab al-Malihat. He noted that these Bedouin communities have faced repeated attacks by armed settlers, aiming to expel them from their land forcibly. Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have spiked since October 7, according to Palestinian sources. The methods employed by illegal settlers varied from firing live ammunition to beatings, stoning vehicles, and attacking homes, families, and farmers. In a landmark advisory opinion on July 19, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land "illegal" and called for the evacuation of all existing settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
IAEA Reports Iran Continues to Enrich Uranium at Below Weapons-Grade - On Thursday the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its confidential, quarterly report on Iran’s civilian nuclear program. Almost immediately, as often occurs, the report was leaked to myriad media outlets.Nothing in the report was especially shocking but confirmed that Iran’s enrichment of uranium has continued. Absent any new deal, Iran is not meeting the myriad IAEA demands it offer “cooperation” far beyond that expected of any other nation.The media coverage of the report centers on the fact that Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium, the highest level of enrichment Iran has attempted, has grown to 164.7 kilograms.The 60% enriched uranium obtained so far is well below the level necessary for producing nuclear weapons, which is over 90%. It is noteworthy that enrichment to even 60% is higher than would be allowed under the JCPOA nuclear deal.That’s not coincidental. After the US withdrew unilaterally from the JCPOA, Iran began making reversible “violations” in an attempt to compel the remaining parties to negotiate salvaging the deal without the US. Instead, the US has kept imposing new sanctions on Iran for violating a deal to which the US isn’t even a party. The lack of diplomatic progress reflects the unwillingness of the three European members of the deal to hold new talks. This is complicated by last month’s election of a new Iranian president, reformist Masoud Pezeshkian.
Saudi Arabia arrests 20,718 illegal residents in a week - Saudi Gazette — The Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 20,718 illegal residents during inspection raids carried out by its officials in all regions of Saudi Arabia during last week. The arrests were made during the joint field security campaigns carried out by security forces and the concerned government agencies during the period between Aug. 22 and Aug. 28. The arrested persons included 13,248 violators of the Residency Law, 4688 violators of the Border Security Law, and 2,782 violators of the Labor Law. The total number of people who were arrested while trying to cross the border into the Kingdom stood at 744, of whom 37 percent were Yemeni nationals, 62 percent Ethiopian nationals, and one percent belonged to other nationalities while 69 people were arrested while attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally. Sixteen people, who were involved in transporting, sheltering, and employing violators, were also arrested. A total of 14,634 expatriates, including 13,532 men and 1,102 women, are currently undergoing various phases of legal procedures as part of punitive measures against them. A total of 5,361violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents while 1982 violators were referred to complete their travel reservations whereas 12,410 violators were deported. The Ministry of Interior has warned that any person who facilitates the illegal entry of individuals into the Kingdom, transports them on its territory, provides them with shelter or any other assistance or service may be penalized with up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to SR1 million, and that the vehicles used for transportation or houses used for giving shelter will be confiscated. The ministry urged the public to report any cases of violation by calling the number 911 in the regions of Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province and the numbers 999 and 996 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
Russia launches massive missile, drone attack on Ukraine - Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine late Sunday and into Monday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Zelensky said in his daily address that more than 100 missiles of various types and about 100 “Shahed” drones targeted his country in one of Russia’s “heaviest strikes.” He said some people were killed and dozens of others were injured, but he did not provide specific numbers. “Like most previous Russian strikes, this one was just as vile, targeting critical civilian infrastructure. Most of our regions — from the Kharkiv region and Kyiv to Odesa and our western regions,” Zelensky said. He also said there was “a lot” of damage in Ukraine’s energy sector but noted “restoration is already underway” for areas that have power outages. He added there should be “no restrictions” on the weapons for Ukraine. “There should be no restrictions on the range of weapons for Ukraine, while terrorists have no such restrictions. Defenders of life should face no restrictions on weapons, while Russia uses all kinds of its own weapons, as well as ‘Shahed’ drones and ballistic missiles from North Korea,” he said. “The United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other partners have the power to help us stop terror. We need decisions.” Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia fired drones, cruise missiles and hypersonic ballistic Kinzhal missiles targeting 15 Ukrainian regions, The Associated Press reported. He also called on Ukraine’s allies to send them long-range weapons and grant them permission to use them in Russia. “In order to stop the barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities, it is necessary to destroy the place from which the Russian missiles are launched,” Shmyhal said. The AP reported the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it used “long-range precision air- and sea-based weapons and strike drones against critical energy infrastructure facilities that support the operation of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex,” adding all of its targets were hit. Local officials said that at least three people were killed in the barrage and at least 13 people were injured, according to the AP.Ukraine has been pushing to lift a policy that restricts Kyiv from using American-made weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. This comes as Ukraine has launched an offensive into the Russian region of Kursk in recent weeks.
Russia Launches Massive Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine - On Monday, Russia launched one of its heaviest missile and drone barrages across Ukraine in an attack seen as retaliation for the Ukrainian invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast.According to Ukrainian officials, over 100 Russian missiles and drones were fired at 15 Ukrainian regions, an area that makes up more than half of the country. The Russian Defense Ministry said it was targeting energy infrastructure that supported the Ukrainian military.“This morning, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a massive strike by airborne and sea-launched long-range precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles at critical energy infrastructure of the Ukrainian military-industrial sector. All the designated targets were destroyed,” the ministry said in a statement, according to TASS. Four people were reported killed in the attacks, and more than a dozen were injured. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called the Russians “terrorists” and urged Kyiv’s Western backers to allow the use of long-range NATO missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia.“In order to stop the barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities, it is necessary to destroy the place from which the Russian missiles are launched,” Shmyhal said. “We count on the support of our allies and will definitely make Russia pay.”Also on Monday, Ukraine launched drone attacks against seven Russian regions. The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 20 Ukrainian drones. “On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 20 fixed-wing drones. Nine of them were shot down over the Saratov Region, two over each of the Belgorod, Bryansk and Tula Regions, as well as one over each over the Oryol and Ryazan Regions,” the ministry said.The governor of Saratov said drone debris hit residential buildings, wounding at least four people. Ukraine has stepped up its drone attacks inside Russia as it’s pushing hard for the US and NATO to lift restrictions on the use of Western missiles. Ukraine has been using US-provided weapons in its attack on Kursk, which marks a significant escalation of the proxy war. The US says it won’t allow long-range strikes with US missiles, but Ukrainian officials believe that policy could change.
Ukraine Strikes 2 More Oil Depots Deep Into Russian Territory - The Ukrainian military claimed on Wednesday to have downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as Russia stepped up retaliation in Ukraine’s occupied eastern region shortly after Kyiv set another Russian oil depot on fire in a strike deep into Russian territory. Early on Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone attack set a Russian oil depot on fire over 100 miles from the Ukrainian border in the Rostov region. No casualties have been reported, and at the time of writing, firefighters were still trying to extinguish the blaze, according to Ukrainian media reports. Ukraine also attacked the Zenit oil depot, which houses an oil products reservoir, over 700 miles away in the Kirov region. Kyiv ties both depots to Moscow’s military-industrial complex. Shortly afterwards, Ukraine claimed to have shot down an Su-25 “Frogfoot” fighter jet over Ukraine’s eastern occupied Donetsk region. The latest escalation comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to advance his bold incursion into Russian territory that has been ongoing for nearly three weeks now, seeking to go on the offensive after being on the defensive since the March 2022 invasion. In Ukraine’s Donbass region, Russia is intensifying its offensive, with the Kyiv Post describing Ukrainian forces on this front “outgunned” and outnumbered. Citing Zelensky, the Kyiv Post said that reinforcements were in the process of being deployed, and two towns had already fallen to Russian forces. Earlier this week, Russia launched some 200 missiles at Ukraine, targeting energy installations, while Polish media report that Warsaw has deployed aircraft to defend Polish airspace against the onslaught, and a U.S. airbase in Germany remains on full alert in a state of preparedness. Parts of Kyiv were rendered without power and water earlier this week as a result of the Russian barrage.
Hungary Warns Against Allowing Long-Range Strikes Inside Russia - On Thursday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned against allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to launch long-range strikes inside Russia.“If long-range attacks hit the territory of Russia, then the risk of escalation will only increase,” Szijjarto wrote on Facebook ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “We don’t want this.”The meeting of EU foreign ministers was supposed to be held in Budapest, but the EU’s top foreign policy official, Josep Borrell, moved it to Brusselsas a punishment for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent push for peace in Ukraine, which involved trips to Ukraine, Russia, and China.During the meeting, Borrell pushed for giving Ukraine the ability to launch long-range strikes in Russia. “The weaponry that we are providing to Ukraine has to have full use, and the restrictions have to be lifted in order for the Ukrainians to be able to target the places [from] where Russia is bombing them. Otherwise, the weaponry is useless,” he said, according toPOLITICO.The meeting was also attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who has been pushing hard for the US and NATO to lift all restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons.POLITICO reported that Hungary also opposed a proposal from Borrell to sanction Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir for their rhetoric, which Borrell has called “an incitement to war crimes.”After the meeting, Szijjarto described Borrell’s proposals as “reckless” and said Hungary wanted peace. “We do not want more weapons in Ukraine, we do not want more deaths, we do not want an escalation of the war, we do not want an expansion of the crisis in the Middle East. Today, we continue to stand for common sense and peace,” he said.
Ukraine Says Its Biggest Problem Is Western Concern for Escalation - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday that the biggest problem Kyiv has faced in its war against Russia is the Western concern for escalation and the risk of provoking Moscow.“Ever since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, the biggest problem Ukraine has been facing is the domination of the concept of escalation in the decision-making processes among our partners,” Kuleba said, according to Reuters.The foreign minister’s comments come as Ukraine is pushing hard for the US to allow long-range strikes inside Russian territory using US-provided missiles. Russia has strongly warned against the move and suggested that it would risk World War III.“The war is always about a lot of hardware: money, weapons, resources but the real problems are always here, in the heads,” Kuleba said. “Most of our partners are afraid of discussing the future of Russia… This is something that is very upsetting because if we do not speak about the future of the source of threat, then we cannot build strategy.”Throughout the war, the US and NATO have taken steps that they previously ruled out over escalation concerns, such as providing tanks and fighter jets. The most recent significant escalation was President Biden’s decision to give Ukraine the greenlight to use US weapons in attacks on Russian border regions. A few months later, Ukraine launched its invasion of Kursk. Kuleba made the comments during a conversation with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who expressed support for allowing Ukraine to launch long-range strikes with NATO weapons. Sikorski said NATO should “let Ukraine fight with whatever it has, with whatever we have delivered them, and let’s deliver them more.”
IAEA Chief Warns of Threat to Nuclear Plant in Russia's Kursk - Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),led a mission to the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, which was invaded by Ukrainian forces on August 6.Grossi warned of the danger of a nuclear incident amid the fighting in the region. “The danger or the possibility of a nuclear accident has emerged near here,” he told reporters.The IAEA visit came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine had fired drones at the plant. Kyiv denied the charge, but Grossi said he saw evidence of nearby drone attacks.“I was informed about the impact of the drones. I was shown some of the remnants of them and signs of the impact they had,” Grossi said.According to Reuters, the IAEA chief warned that the KNPP was more exposed than most modern nuclear plants because it lacks a containment dome and a protective structure.“This means that the core of the reactor containing nuclear material is protected just by a normal roof. This makes it extremely exposed and fragile, for example, to an artillery impact or a drone or a missile,” he said. “So this is why we believe that a nuclear power plant of this type, so close to a point of contact or a military front, is an extremely serious fact that we take very seriously.”
Finance capital sucking the lifeblood out of impoverished countries -- The International Monetary Fund has published a series of blogs showing the crippling effects of debt repayments on a wide range of lower-income and developing countries which have significantly worsened over the past four years, not least because of the impact of the COVID crisis. In a post at the beginning of this month, it noted that low-income countries have been hit the hardest by the “economic scarring of the pandemic, conflicts around the world and the abrupt rise in global interest rates.” But there is another side to the poverty, hunger and misery this is causing. Finance capital is reaping benefits as it sucks in money like a giant vacuum cleaner. According to the IMF, “The median low-income country is spending over twice as much on debt service to foreign creditors as a share of revenue than it did 10 years ago—roughly 14 percent at the end of 2023 from 6 percent 10 years earlier.” For some countries the proportion is much higher, ranging up to 25 percent. At the start of this year, the World Bank reported that the total debt service for low-income countries and certain middle-income nations was estimated to be $185 billion when combined with domestic debt repayments. “This figure is higher, on average, than their combined public spending on health, education and infrastructure,” it said. Last December, the World Bank issued a report showing the devastating impact on developing countries of interest rate hikes, lifted to their highest levels in four decades. In 2022 they spent a record $443.5 billion to service their debts. It found that about 60 percent of all low-income countries were at high-risk debt distress or close to it. In the previous three years, there had been 18 sovereign debt defaults in developing countries, more than the number recorded over the previous two decades. In a report last October, the international aid agency Oxfam reported that some 57 percent of the world’s poorest countries, home to 2.4 billion people, would have to cut public spending by a combined $229 billion over the next five years. Low- and middle-income countries would be forced to pay $500 million dollars every day to meet debt and interest payments between the present and 2029, “with the poorest countries now spending four times more repaying debts to rich creditors than on health care.” In their reports on the debt crisis, the IMF and World Bank point to the initiatives which supposedly are aimed at alleviating it and call for them to be stepped up. In its latest blog, the IMF said that now was the time to help countries faced with liquidity challenges. Such calls have been made in the past, but the IMF never explains why the crisis in getting worse and why its various initiatives are so limited. In fact, as Oxfam has pointed out, rather than providing a solution to the crisis, both the IMF and the World Bank work to exacerbate it. In a comment on the report, issued on the eve of a meeting of the two organisations last year in Marrakech, Morocco, international interim executive director Amitabh Behar said: “The World Bank and the IMF are returning to Africa for the first time in decades with the same old failed message: cut your spending, sack public service workers, and pay your debts despite the huge human costs.” Oxfam analysis found that 27 loan programs negotiated with low-income countries, supposedly to provide a floor for debt payments, were actually a smokescreen for more austerity. This was because “for every $1 the IMF encouraged governments to spend on public services, it has told them to cut six times more than that through austerity measures. “The IMF is forcing poorer countries into a starvation diet of spending cuts, driving up inequality and suffering,” Behar said. However, while condemning the global institutions—they are more a financial vampire than aid agencies—he revealed the bankrupt reformist Oxfam perspective by appealing to them to “show they can genuinely change to reverse the tide of widening inequality and between countries.”
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