global glass onion: week ending Sep 21

Three Democrats urge Powell to cut interest rates by 75 basis points --Three prominent Democrats urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Monday to cut interest rates by 75 basis points, warning the central bank may have already delayed too long.The central bank is poised to announce rate cuts Wednesday after more than a year at the two-decade-high range of 5.25 to 5.5 percent. While Powell signaled in December that rate cuts were on the horizon, sticky inflation this spring delayed his timeline for rate cuts as the Fed waited and watched for inflation to continue to fall. Inflation clocked in at 2.5 percent in August, even lower than anticipated and a far cry from its 9.1 percent peak in June 2022. “It is clearly the time for the Fed to cut rates. In fact, it may be too late: your delays have threatened the economy and left the Fed behind the curve,” Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) wrote in a letter to Powell. The unemployment rate has also inched up from 3.5 percent in July 2023 to 4.2 percent in August, although it remains low by historical standards. “Employment numbers adjust slowly, so the Fed should frontload rate cuts to avoid sliding towards a potential crisis,” the lawmakers wrote. A 75 basis point cut is highly unlikely, although the lawmakers point out that a rate of 4.5 to 4.75 percent would still be higher than it was at any point between November 2007 and January 2023 if they did. A majority of interest rate traders are forecasting a 50 basis point cut, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Some Democrats including Warren have pressed Powell to cut rates for months, citing the burden of high borrowing costs on Americans and a negative impact on housing affordability. On the other end of the political spectrum, former President Trump has accused the lifelong Republican he appointed in 2017 of being “political” and suggested Powell would cut rates ahead of the November election to help the Democratic Party. But the Fed is a politically independent agency, and Powell has said repeatedly that the central bank would base its decision to cut interest rates on data and disregard policy.

FOMC Preview: Fed to Cut Rates -Most analysts expect the FOMC will cut the federal funds rate at the meeting this week by 25bp lowering the target range to 5 to 5-1/4 percent. It is possible the FOMC will cut by 50bp. Currently market participants are split evenly between a 25bp and a 50bp cut this week. Market participants are also pricing in a total of 75bp in cuts by the November meeting, and between 100bp to 125bp in cuts by December.From BofA: Next week, the Fed is widely expected to end the longest hold after a hiking cycle in its history (Exhibit 1). We look for the Fed to cut rates by 25bp, which should kick off a series of 25bp cuts over the next five meetings. Markets still perceive a meaningful risk of a 50bp cut next week, but this week’s data leave us comfortable with our 25bp call. The main message from the meeting should be one of cautious optimism despite greater concerns over downside risks.Projections will be released at this meeting. For review, here are the June projections. Since the last projections were released, economic growth has been above expectations, the unemployment rate is slightly above expectations, and inflation lower than expected (although there are some "base effects" that might push PCE inflation up a little later this year). The BEA's second estimate for Q2 GDP showed real growth at 3.0% annualized, following 1.4% annualized real growth in Q1. Current estimates for Q3 GDP are around 2.5%. That puts real growth in the first 3 quarters at the top end of the June FOMC projections.

'Apolitical' Fed Slashes Rates By 50bps With Stocks & Home-Prices At Record Highs Despite only 9 of 113 economists surveyed expecting a 50bps rate-cut, Powell and his pals did it. At the same time they slashed their 'DOTS' expectations for rates, despite not adjust growth expectations, barely adjust unemployment, and hoping for lower inflation. And all this two months before the election... amazing! ...and of course, if this occurs, guess who will get the blame when he wins in November! JPMorgan’s AI tool (natural language processing) grades the Fed’s statement as outright dovish. Preview: Since the last FOMC meeting on July 31st, a lot has happened - growth scares, Jackson Hole, weak data, strong data, and endless FedSpeak - but most notably, the market has practically convinced itself that it needs 50bps of cuts but a recession is not imminent. Bonds and Gold have dramatically outperformed while oil has been a big loser (along with the dollar)... Graphics Series Source: Bloomberg Stocks and bonds are in worlds of their own since the last FOMC meeting with the former unchanged (no recession) while the latter has seen yields puke 40-50bps (recession)... US Macro data has surprised to the upside dramatically since the last FOMC (perfect time to cut rates?) And both growth and inflation data has surprised to the upside (screw the inflation data, we're cutting!!) Overall rate-cut expectations have soared since the last FOMC meeting (adding 60bps of cuts to expectations to the end of 2025), with a heavy waiting to 2024 cuts... Finally, before we get to the actual decision, we note that the odds of a 50bps cut today had drifted lower intraday (to 57% from 75%)... Today will be not just about the size of the cut, but most focus will be on the messaging for what happens next, especially given the new DOTS, which will likely adjust dramatically more dovish (to catch down to the market's expectation).... At the last refresh of the SEP (dot-plot), 4 FOMC members expected no rate-cuts in 2024, 7 members expected 1 rate-cut in 2024, 8 members expected 2 rate-cuts. So what did The Fed do? Wow! The economy is so great, it needs an crisis-level rate cut 2 months before the election

Federal Open Market Committee votes 11 to 1 to lower benchmark rate by 50 basis points to target range of 4.75%-5.0%, the first rate cut in more than four years
Fed governor Miki Bowman dissented in favor of a smaller 25 bps cut. It's the first dissent by a governor since 2005.
Statement adds language to say the committee is “strongly committed to supporting maximum employment” in addition to returning inflation to its 2% goal
Statement says that “in considering additional adjustments” to rates, officials will assess incoming data, evolving outlook and balance of risks
Fed tweaks language to note job gains “have slowed;” says inflation “has made further progress toward the committee’s 2% objective but remains somewhat elevated”

The Fed Dots tumbled to meet market expectations, with 2024's median dot slashed from 5.125% to 4.375%, 2025 cut from 4.125% to 3.375%, and 2026 from 3.125% to 2.875%... Nine of 19 officials penciled in 75 basis points of cuts or less... Close up on 2024 and 2025 - The Fed members literally abandoned all of June's expectations... But amid that massive easing adjustment in the dots, The Fed did not change its 2025 GDP forecast at all, it sees 2025 unemployment up just a fraction, from 4.2% to 4.4% and 2025 core PCE dip from 2.3% to 2.2%..

FOMC Statement: 50bp Rate Cut - Fed Chair Powell press conference video here or on YouTube here, starting at 2:30 PM ET. FOMC Statement:Recent indicators suggest that economic activity has continued to expand at a solid pace. Job gains have slowed, and the unemployment rate has moved up but remains low. Inflation has made further progress toward the Committee's 2 percent objective but remains somewhat elevated. The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. The Committee has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance. The economic outlook is uncertain, and the Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate. In light of the progress on inflation and the balance of risks, the Committee decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/2 percentage point to 4-3/4 to 5 percent. In considering additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. The Committee will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage‑backed securities. The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective. In assessing the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the Committee will continue to monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook. The Committee would be prepared to adjust the stance of monetary policy as appropriate if risks emerge that could impede the attainment of the Committee's goals. The Committee's assessments will take into account a wide range of information, including readings on labor market conditions, inflation pressures and inflation expectations, and financial and international developments. Voting against this action was Michelle W. Bowman, who preferred to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 1/4 percentage point at this meeting.

FOMC Projections - Statement here. Fed Chair Powell press conference video here or on YouTube here, starting at 2:30 PM ET. Here are the projections. Since the last projections were released, economic growth has been above expectations, the unemployment rate is slightly above expectations, and inflation lower than expected (although there are some "base effects" that might push PCE inflation up a little later this year). In June, the FOMC participants’ midpoint of the target level for the federal funds rate was around 5.125% at the end of 2024. The FOMC participants’ midpoint of the target range is now at 4.5% at the end of 2024. Market participants expect the target range to be around 4.25% at the end of 2024.The BEA's second estimate for Q2 GDP showed real growth at 3.0% annualized, following 1.4% annualized real growth in Q1. Early estimates for Q2 GDP are around 3% annualized, however, projections for Q4 2024 were revised down slightly! GDP projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents, Change in Real GDP¹ Projections of change in real GDP and inflation are from the fourth quarter of the previous year to the fourth quarter of the year indicated. The unemployment rate was at 4.2% in August and the projections for Q4 2024 were revised up.Unemployment projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents, Unemployment Rate² Projections for the unemployment rate are for the average civilian unemployment rate in the fourth quarter of the year indicated. As of July 2024, PCE inflation increased 2.5 percent year-over-year (YoY). The projections for PCE inflation were revised down. Inflation projections of Federal Reserve Governors and Reserve Bank presidents, PCE Inflation¹PCE core inflation increased 2.6 percent YoY in July. The projections for core PCE inflation were about the same.

US Fed announces large rate cut, but Wall Street wants more - The Federal Reserve has cut its base interest rate by 0.5 percentage points (50 basis points) and signalled that further rate cuts are to come before the end of the year. In the lead up to the meeting yesterday, it was a toss-up as to whether the cut would be 50 basis points or 25, following Fed chair Jerome Powell’s signal at the end of August that rate cuts would start at the next meeting. In the event, with market expectations sharply shifting towards 50 in the past few days, Powell pushed for the larger cut. The decision was not unanimous with Fed governor Michelle Bowman voting for a smaller cut of 25 basis points in the first such dissent from a rate cut since 2005. The move was significant given that in July Powell said the Fed was not even considering a 50 basis point reduction. According to the Summary of Economic Projections, however, the so-called “dot plot” in which members of the Fed’s governing body indicate where they think the interest rate will go, there will be further cuts before the end of the year. In response to a question at his press conference, Powell said all 19 members of the governing body wrote down “multiple cuts” this year. In his opening remarks, Powell referenced the state of the labour market as the justification for starting the rate-cutting cycle. He noted that the “labour market has cooled from its formerly overheated condition.” Payroll gains averaged 116,000 over the past three months, nominal wage growth had eased over the past year and the jobs-to-workers gap had narrowed. “Overall, a broad set of indicators suggests that conditions in the labour market are now less tight than just before the pandemic in 2019. The labour market is not a source of elevated inflationary pressures,” he said. Powell couched the decision as a “recalibration”—he used the word by one count nine times. “As inflation has declined and the labour market has cooled, the upside risks to inflation have diminished and the downside risks to employment have increased. We now see the risk to achieving our employment and inflation goals as roughly in balance, and we are attentive to the risks to both sides of our dual mandate.” The dual mandate is to achieve price stability and maximum employment. Most media commentary, taking their lead from Powell’s remarks, interpreted the decision as the result of Fed concern that a continuation of the higher interest rates could push up unemployment and bring on a recession. In the words of a Wall Street Journal report, the Fed is “now trying to prevent past rate increases, which last year took borrowing costs to a two-decade high, from further weakening the US labour market.” The New York Times said Fed officials “have aimed to slow growth enough to ensure that price increases return to normal without cooling it so much that the unemployment rate soars and the economy tips into recession.” No doubt there is an element of truth in such assessments. But this is by no means the main reason for the decision. It has much more to do with the issue of the wages struggles of the working class than the prospect of a major downturn. If the Fed believed recession was needed to suppress wage demands and strikes through higher interest rates, then they would be continued. Powell has made this clear with his highly favourable references in the past to Fed chair Paul Volcker who pushed interest rates to 20 percent in the 1980s, inducing the deepest recession and the highest unemployment levels since the 1930s, to suppress wage demands. At this point, however, the Fed believes it can start to accede to Wall Street’s demands for cheaper money because it considers that wages struggles, while still slightly above what it considers necessary, are nonetheless under control.

Wall Street Reacts To Today's 50bps "But No Crisis" Rate Cut --Well, once again the majority - make that the vast majority of "economisseds" were dead wrong, and as we noted earlier, 105 of 114 economists predicted a 25bps cut... and were wrong. But don't blame them: it really is the Fed's fault - again - because while odds of a 50bps rate cut were only 10% as the Fed entered its "blackout period", these surged after an unprecedented media leak campaign in the past week pushed 50bps odds to 70% (and yes, we can now confirm that Powell used Nick "Nikileaks" Timiraos not once but twice in the past few days to ease the blow of the 50bps cut), which brought us to today, when the Fed shocked with a 50bps rate cut, and slashed its expectations for the 2025 rate cut... even though the conditions from June until September were barely changed:

2025 GDP forecast unchanged
2025 unemployment rate up just a fraction, from 4.2% to 4.4%
2025 core PCE dip tiny from 2.3% to 2.2%

And somehow that justified the FOMC predicting an additional 3 rates cuts from June to September and a whopping 4 additional rate cuts in 2025!!! In any case, here is a snapshot of some of the kneejerk Wall Street reactions to today's Fed rate cut, which as the Fed itself now admits, was far behind the curve as the economy was clearly in far worse shape than the Fed dared admit.

Diane Swonk, KPMG Chief Economist: “This was a huge victory for Jay Powell”
Anna Wong, Bloomberg Economics: “The first question in Powell’s presser was what information caused the FOMC to opt for the larger cut, and Powell mentioned the Beige Book. We’ve long thought Powell gives strong consideration to the anecdotal information in the Beige Book -- and the latest version was extremely downbeat. The Beige Book also was the key piece of information that led to Powell’s’ dovish pivot last December.”
More from Bloomberg Economics: “The FOMC concluded one of its most suspenseful meetings ever by cutting rates 50 basis points, while cautioning markets that this type of jumbo cut won’t be the norm. The updated dot plot suggests a gradual path of rate cuts going forward, suggesting the Fed sees the 50-bp move as a preemptive one that will be enough to stabilize the labor market. The median participant still sees real GDP growing at a solid pace of 2% this year.“In our view, the 50-bp cut was the right move with the labor market clearly weakening. If the economy is indeed heading toward a soft landing, the unemployment rate will likely stabilize at 4.4% as the Fed foresees. We think this move has increased the chance of that outcome.”
Ira Jersey, Bloomberg Intelligence:"The 2024 median dot shows another 50 bps of cuts by year-end, but there’s a large minority thinking only one further cut might be needed. Market pricing hasn’t shifted toward the risk of fewer cuts this year. Chair Powell’s comments on this score may cause this pricing to move if he’s not as dovish as the median dots suggest.”“The long-end dots are interesting, and over time the steepening of the curve may come in. The long end’s modest selloff reflects the market’s view that inflation might increase as the Fed cuts so aggressively.“We’re not convinced this will turn into a trend, and see bull steepening continuing further. The 2025 dots moving lower by 75 bps wasn’t a shock at this point: The question is, will the market believe 2.75-3% terminal floor, or price for more?”
Kathy Bostjancic, Nationwide Chief Economist"There’s more work to be done -- and quickly. We foresee the Fed needing to continue to rapidly lower interest rates to underwrite a soft-landing – which is our baseline forecast.”
Nancy Tengler, CEO at Laffer Tengler Investments“Stocks love a good Fed put. I think the Fed may have jumped the gun at 50 bps. The economy is slowing but still strong. Productivity robust and unit labor costs moderate. Unemployment may indeed rise but we are not seeing layoffs—JOLTs still a very large number, well above pre-pandemic levels. My criticism of the Fed has been a myopic focus on backward looking data. This feels like that. A single weak employment report and here we are.”
Eric Orenstein, senior director at Fitch Ratings“The Fed’s 50bp rate cut likely adds downward momentum for mortgage rates, which have already come down materially since May as treasuries have rallied. While not enough for a full scale refi boom, an average 30-year rate approaching 6% does open up a meaningful slice of the market for refinancing. Mortgage originators stand to benefit, and will likely find the toughest times already behind them.”
Dean Baker, Center for Economic & Policy Research“It is good that the Fed has now recognized the weakening of the labor market and responded with an aggressive cut. Given there is almost no risk of rekindling inflation, the greater boost to the labor market is largely costless. Also, it will help to spur the housing market where millions of people have put off selling homes because of high mortgage rates.”

The economic cloud over the Fed's half-point rate cut - This week, the Federal Reserve cited slower price growth and a softer labor market in its decision to lower interest rates by a half percentage point this week, but one policymaker sees those trends differently.Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman cast the first dissenting vote at an FOMC meeting in years. On Friday, she explained why the economic data she's seen didn't convince her of the need to cut rates as much as her fellow governors thought.

All eyes on Speaker Mike Johnson for next move on government funding --All eyes are on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) this week as lawmakers await his next move in the fight over government funding, after Republican resistance foiled his initial strategy for avoiding an end-of-the-month shutdown. Johnson — amid opposition from multiple corners of the GOP conference — scrapped plans last week to vote on a partisan funding plan that paired a six-month continuing resolution with a bill to require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Congress adjourned for the week without voting on legislation to avert a shutdown. Members in both parties and chambers are now waiting for Johnson to announce his next play in the funding process as the Sept. 30 shutdown deadline inches closer. The Speaker has suggested he may make another attempt at passing his partisan stopgap bill this week, which would face heavy headwinds in the House as critics — particularly Democrats and fiscal hawks — dig in on their opposition. Both chambers, meanwhile, will be focused on the fallout from Sunday’s apparent assassination attempt against former President Trump — the second in less than three months — which took place at his golf course in Florida. The Trump campaign said the former president is “safe.” The House task force looking into the July assassination attempt against Trump has already said it requested a briefing from the Secret Service about Sunday’s incident. In the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is staging a vote on a bill to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) as Democrats continue to emphasize women’s reproductive rights on the campaign trail. And the House Foreign Affairs Committee will move to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress this week over allegations that the official has failed to respond to a subpoena requesting him to testify about the U.S.’s messy withdrawal from Afghanistan. Johnson is expected to move on government funding this week — the path he takes, however, remains unknown. The Speaker last week attempted to pass his partisan spending plan that included a six-month continuing resolution and the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in U.S. elections. But he called off the vote hours before because it was poised to fail amid multipronged GOP opposition: Hard-line conservatives said they would not support a stopgap, defense hawks expressed concerns about the impact the funding would have at the Pentagon, and moderates were worried about having a shutdown threat so close to the election. Johnson told reporters Wednesday that his leadership team would take the weekend to “build consensus” on the legislation, and suggested it could come up for a vote this week. “The whip is going to do the hard work and build consensus. We’re going to work through the weekend on that,” Johnson said. Asked Thursday how that effort was progressing, the Speaker said, “We have a lot of people making thoughtful decisions. It’s fruitful.” Johnson has not signaled how he plans to approach the funding fight when lawmakers return to Washington this week, though he has several options — none of which would be unanimously accepted within the House GOP conference. The Speaker could make another attempt at bringing his CR-plus-SAVE Act up for a vote, though it would still face heavy headwinds from hard-line conservatives, defense hawks and moderates. Johnson could keep the SAVE Act in the package and halve the length of the continuing resolution from six months to three months, a move that would ease concerns among defense hawks but likely draw more opposition from hard-line conservatives. Even if the legislation were to squeak through the House, however, it would still be a nonstarter in the Senate, where Democrats have said noncitizen voting is already illegal and rare, and have argued that the legislation could burden eligible voters. And finally, the Speaker could move forward with a clean continuing resolution — likely a three-month stopgap — a move that would be poised to pick up support among Democrats but incense hard-line Republicans and Trump, who has urged Republicans to oppose any government funding unless it addresses election integrity. Several Republicans have said they see the funding fight inevitably ending with a clean continuing resolution. The Speaker could also attempt to move a clean six-month continuing resolution, though that would still face opposition among defense hawks and hard-line conservatives and Trump, who are pushing for the inclusion of the SAVE Act.

Secret Service could get more funding in stopgap spending bill: Schumer - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that Senate Democrats are prepared to provide more money for the Secret Service after former President Trump was the target of an apparent second assassination attempt over the weekend. Schumer said he spoke to Ronald Rowe Jr., the acting director of the Secret Service, on Sunday after a suspect was apprehended for stalking Trump on his Florida golf course. “I’m glad the former president is safe and I applaud the Secret Service and all first responders for acting quickly before anyone got hurt,” Schumer said. Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, left behind a semiautomatic rifle and a scope after Secret Service agents fired at him while Trump played at his West Palm Beach golf club. “There’s no place in America for political violence of any kind,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “We all must do our part to ensure an incident like this does not happen again. That means that Congress has a responsibility to ensure the Secret Service and all law enforcement have the resources they need to do their jobs. “So as we continue the appropriations process, if the Secret Service is in need of more resources, we are prepared in providing for them, possibly in the upcoming funding agreement,” he said. Congress needs to pass a short-term funding measure by Sept. 30 to avoid a government shutdown, and lawmakers are looking at adding more money for the Secret Service to increase security around Trump and Vice President Harris, the Democratic nominee. Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw told reporters Sunday that the Secret Service agents “did exactly what they should have done” but added that Trump did not have as much security as a sitting president would have. President Biden said Sunday that he has directed his administration to provide “every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure” Trump’s “continued safety.” Schumer on Monday called for the suspect detained by law enforcement in Florida to be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Trump was also the target of an assassination attempt on July 13, when a gunman opened fire at a rally in Butler, Pa.

Speaker Johnson determined to hold spending bill vote despite Democrats opposition due to proof of citizenship mandate (AP) — The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposal that links the funding of the federal government for the new budget year with a mandate that states require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.Johnson pulled the bill from consideration last week and said he would work over the weekend to build consensus for it within the Republican ranks. It’s unclear whether he was able to do so as some GOP members have concerns about continuing current spending levels, but Johnson said he is determined to hold the vote regardless. Meanwhile, Democrats overwhelmingly oppose the measure.Requiring new voters to provide proof of citizenship has become a leading election-year priority for Republicans raising the specter of noncitizens voting in the U.S., even though it’s already illegal to do so and research has shown that such voting is rare.“I urge all of my colleagues to do what the overwhelming majority of the people of this country rightfully demand and deserve — prevent non-American citizens from voting in American elections,” Johnson said Tuesday.Johnson told reporters he was not ready to discuss an alternative plan to keep the government funded other than what will come before the House on Wednesday.“I’m not having any alternative conversations. That’s the play. It’s an important one. And I’m going to work around the clock to try and get it done,” Johnson said.House members also said Johnson was not discussing alternatives with them should the bill fail.“There is no Plan B,” said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla.Lawmakers are not close to completing work on the dozen annual appropriations bills that will fund the agencies during the next fiscal year, so they’ll need to approve a stopgap measure to prevent a partial shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the only way to prevent a government shutdown was for both sides to work together on an agreement. He said the House vote announced by Johnson was doomed to fail.“The only thing that will accomplish is make clear that he’s running into a dead end,” Schumer said. “We must have a bipartisan plan instead.”The legislation would fund agencies at current levels while lawmakers work out their differences on a full-year spending agreement.Democrats, and some Republicans, are pushing for a short extension. A temporary fix would allow the current Congress to hammer out a final bill after the election and get it to Democratic President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.But Johnson and some of the more conservative members of his conference are pushing for a six-month extension in the hopes that Republican nominee Donald Trump will win the election and give them more leverage when crafting the full-year bill.Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell o Kentucky declined to weigh in on how long to extend funding. He said Schumer and Johnson, ultimately, will have to work out a final agreement that can pass both chambers.“The one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown. It would be politically beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election because certainly we would get the blame,” McConnell said.

US House Republicans set vote for must-pass spending bill with voting requirement (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives plans to vote Wednesday on a stopgap spending bill that would extend government funding for six months and require Americans to provide proof of citizenship when they vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Tuesday.The vote sets up a confrontation with the Senate, where Democrats who control the chamber say any spending bill should not be paired with the voting requirements Republicans want."I urge the House to be serious, come to the table, work together to reach bipartisan agreement," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference.Unless a stopgap spending bill is sent to President Joe Biden by midnight Sept. 30, the end of the government's current fiscal year, many agencyoperations will cease and thousands of federal workers would be furloughed for lack of funds.Last week, Johnson had to abandon his attempt to pass a spending bill when it became clear he did not have enough support for passage from his rank-and-file Republicans.It is not clear whether he will succeed this time. Republicans can afford few defections in order to pass legislation with their narrow 220-211 majority, and at least one of them said on Tuesday that the bill would not do enough to restrain federal spending."I'm a 'hell, no,'" Representative Thomas Massie wrote on social media.A shutdown could upset voters in the weeks before the Nov. 5 elections, with control of both the House and the Senate at stake.The last government shutdown occurred at the end of 2018 and stretched well into January 2019. Johnson's decision to pair must-pass spending legislation with controversial new voting restrictions could raise the likelihood that lawmakers will not be able to reach a compromise by the Sept. 30 deadline. Fueled by Republican former President Donald Trump's false claims about election fraud, the Republican voting bill would require those registering to vote to provide proof of U.S. citizenship and compel states to purge suspected noncitizens from their voter rolls. It is already a felony for a noncitizen to vote in a federal election. A 2017 study found only 30 instances of suspected noncitizen voting out of 23.5 million votes cast the previous year.Democrats describe the bill as a voter suppression effort, and President Joe Biden's administration has said the legislation would do nothing to safeguard elections.Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, a moderate who occasionally breaks with her party, predicted Congress would ultimately pass a spending bill without the controversial voting provisions -- but only after Johnson tries to pass his version."I'm hoping we learn quickly what the House can and cannot do so we can move here," she said.

Government shutdown deadline nearing as U.S. House stumbles on stopgap spending bill — Congress has 12 days left to approve a short-term government funding bill before the shutdown deadline, though leaders in the Republican House and Democratic Senate haven’t felt the need to start negotiations just yet.House GOP leaders, instead, attempted to pass a six-month continuing resolution Wednesday that carried with it a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but were unsuccessful.The 202-220 vote in the House, with two members voting present and 14 Republicans in opposition, came shortly after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump called on lawmakers to force a government shutdown as leverage to enact the voter ID law.“If Republicans don’t get the SAVE Act, and every ounce of it, they should not agree to a Continuing Resolution in any way, shape, or form,” Trump wrote on social media, doubling down on a shutdown statement he made last week.The unsuccessful House vote could provide space for Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, to negotiate with the Senate.But, with just one week left in the session before Congress departs for a six-week election break, there’s not much time for leaders to find consensus, draft a bill, hold votes in both chambers and secure President Joe Biden’s signature.Johnson, asked repeatedly by reporters Wednesday about the possibility of a shutdown, didn’t entirely rule out a funding lapse beginning on Oct. 1. “We’ll see what happens with the bill,” Johnson said before the vote. “We’re on the field in the middle of the game, the quarterback is calling the play, we’re going to run the play.”Johnson criticized the Senate for not being further along in the annual appropriations process, seeking to place the blame for a stopgap spending bill and a possible shutdown on that chamber.The Senate Appropriations Committee approved 11 full-year government funding bills with broadly bipartisan votes this summer, but experienced challenges with the Homeland Security funding measure.The House Appropriations Committee approved all dozen of its bills along party-line votes and was able to move five of those across the floor with GOP support, but not broad backing from Democrats.House and Senate leaders haven’t allowed the two chambers to begin conferencing the bills that have either passed out of committee or off the floor, despite that being a regular occurrence in past years. It’s highly unlikely leaders will bring any more of the full-year spending bills to the floor this fall, making the election results the biggest piece of the puzzle that will change between now and the end of the calendar year.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has repeatedly called on his colleagues to avoid a shutdown, though he hasn’t jumped in to negotiate a stopgap bill and doesn’t seem inclined to do so.“I think we first have to wait and see what the House sends us,” McConnell said during a Tuesday press conference. “My only observation about this whole discussion is the one thing you cannot have is a government shutdown. It would be, politically, beyond stupid for us to do that right before the election because, certainly, we’d get the blame.”McConnell then referenced the saying that there’s no “education in the second kick of a mule” and noted funding the government for a few more months will “ultimately end up being a discussion between” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Johnson.“I’m for whatever avoids a government shutdown,” McConnell added.Leaning on a stopgap spending bill has been a regular part of Congress’ annual appropriations process for nearly three decades. During that time, lawmakers have consistently failed to approve all the full-year government funding bills before the Oct. 1 deadline. The September struggle to approve a continuing resolution, which is intended to give lawmakers a bit more time to reach bicameral agreement on the full-year spending bills, has become increasingly dramatic with election-year politics ratcheting up the posturing this year.In divided government, any legislation to fund the government must be bipartisan, or it all but guarantees a shutdown.The House’s failed six-month continuing resolution also wasn’t supported by most Senate Republicans.GOP senators argued it was too lengthy and could have hindered that chamber’s ability to confirm the next president’s Cabinet during the first few months of 2025. Senate Republicans and defense hawks in the House also said that leaving the Department of Defense on autopilot for half of the next fiscal year was an abdication of Congress’ responsibility and a threat to national security.

Lauren Boebert likens Speaker Johnson's failed spending bill to 'Diddy Freak Off' - You can’t scare her. Firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert lambasted House Speaker Mike Johnson’s spending patch flop — arguing it would “screw our country more times over than a Diddy freak off.” Boebert (R-Col.) was among the 14 House Republicans who broke ranks and voted against the Johnson-backed six-month stopgap measure to avert a government shutdown Wednesday.“This CR, this continuing resolution that we’re going to vote on today, it’s going to screw our country more times over than a Diddy freak off,” Boebert vented on prison resident Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast ahead of the vote. An indictment against rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was unsealed earlier this week.Getty ImagesHer quip about “a Diddy freak off” alludes to accusations against disgraced rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was arrested Monday on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.Combs would allegedly force drugged-up victims to have sex with male prostitutes during days-long orgies called “freak offs.” He has pleaded not guilty and his lawyers have defended his innocence.Boebert further decried the current government funding row as “chaos” and “madness.”At the start of each new fiscal year, which is Oct. 1, Congress is obligated to fund the government or else risk a shutdown. A faction of House Republicans has a knack for rebelling against leadership plans to fund the government over frustrations with the process and deficits. To pacify those concerns and avert a shutdown ahead of the Nov. 5 election, Johnson (R-La.) attempted to pair a stopgap measure, known as a continuing resolution to keep the government funded, with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

Republicans Defy Trump as Congress Works to Defuse Shutdown Threat -- Congressional appropriators are reportedly preparing a bipartisan government funding bill to be voted on in the House early next week, moving ahead with a plan that always appeared to be the inevitable conclusion to a potential showdown between Republicans and Democrats. Lawmakers are reportedly planning to pull together the details and text of the measure over the weekend so members can review it before a vote early next week. The bill is likely to extend current funding levels, with some tweaks, through December 13, , Roll Call reports, citing a source familiar with the talks. Democrats are reportedly looking to include $12 billion needed to plug a shortfall in veterans health care funding, plus $24 billion in additional disaster aid. Republicans told Roll Call the disaster aid would be better off if passed separately after the elections. The bipartisan legislation would defuse the threat of a potential shutdown — though it might only heighten the threat to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s job. Conservatives, 14 of whom voted against Johnson’s government funding plan this week, are bound to be upset when the speaker turns to Democrats to help pass a short-term spending bill. The bipartisan bill would also exclude the Save Act, a Republican measure that would require proof of citizenship to vote.Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina said there'll be a "lot of disappointment" if Johnson takes that approach, Axios reports. And Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana, when asked if Johnson would face a revolt if he moved ahead with a clean three-month bill, told Axios: “I sure hope so.” Former President Donald Trump has also pressed Republicans to reject any funding plan that doesn’t include the GOP’s controversial voting measure, but Johnson and other lawmakers have reportedly warned Trump that a government shutdown would be a bad idea — and wouldn’t benefit his campaign for the White House.If the House passes a stopgap next week, the Senate would need to clear some procedural hurdles on its side, but a shutdown would likely be avoided.

Lawmakers expect Johnson will greenlight clean spending bill into December - Live Updates - POLITICO

Biden Urges Congress to Pass Short-Term Spending Bill (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said it was critical for Congress to pass a stopgap spending bill, which would avert a partial federal government shutdown that would begin if lawmakers do not pass funding legislation by Oct 1.

US Officials Say There Will Be No Gaza Ceasefire Deal Before Biden's Term Ends - Senior US officials have concluded that a Gaza ceasefire deal will likely not be reached before President Biden’s term comes to an end on January 20, 2025, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. For months, Biden administration officials have claimed that a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was in sight while at the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was constantly rejecting the idea of a permanent ceasefire. The US officials speaking to the Journal blamed the lack of a deal on Hamas, claiming the main sticking point is over the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to Israeli hostages that will be released. But it has been widely acknowledged by Israeli officials and media outlets that Netanyahu has been sabotaging the chances of an agreement. Members of the Israeli negotiating team said last month that Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining control of the Philadelphi Corridor was “intended to blow up the negotiations.”The US officials speaking to the Journal said another reason why a deal is not going to happen was the Israeli operation in Lebanon that blew up thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies, killing dozens, including at least two children. The US officials said the attack has made the chances of a major regional war much more likely.“No deal is imminent,” one of the US officials said. “I’m not sure it ever gets done.” The report said a number of top officials in the White House, Pentagon, and State Department don’t think a deal will happen.President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both claim they care about the huge number of civilians being slaughtered in Gaza and that they’re working on a ceasefire. But their administration continues to ship weapons to Israel, and there’s no sign they’ve even considered cutting off the flow of arms, which would force Israel to agree to a deal. A senior Israeli Air Force official recently acknowledged that without US support, Israel wouldn’t be able to sustain operations in Gaza for more than a few months.In the meantime, the genocidal slaughter in Gaza continues. The latest figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry put the number of Palestinians killed by Israel since October 7 at 41,272. The figure is considered an undercount since it doesn’t account for the Palestinians missing and presumed dead under the rubble, which was previously estimated to be 10,000.Earlier this week, Gaza’s Health Ministry released the names of 34,344 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli forces, including 11,355 children. Among the children were 710 infants who did not make it to their first birthday.

Can the UN Save Palestine from US-Israeli Genocide? - By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies - On September 18th, the UN General Assembly is scheduled to debate and vote on a resolution calling on Israel to end “its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” within six months. Given that the General Assembly, unlike the exclusive 15-member UN Security Council, allows all UN members to vote and there is no veto in the General Assembly, this is an opportunity for the world community to clearly express its opposition to Israel’s brutal occupation of Palestine.If Israel predictably fails to heed a General Assembly resolution calling on it to withdraw its occupation forces and settlers from Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the United States then vetoes or threatens to veto a Security Council resolution to enforce the ICJ ruling, then the General Assembly could go a step further.It could convene an Emergency Session to take up what is called a Uniting For Peace resolution, which could call for an arms embargo, an economic boycott or other UN sanctions against Israel – or even call for actions against the United States. Uniting for Peace resolutions have only been passed by the General Assembly five times since the procedure was first adopted in 1950.The September 18 resolution comes in response to an historic ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 19, which found that “Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the regime associated with them, have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law.”The court ruled that Israel’s obligations under international law include “the evacuation of all settlers from existing settlements” and the payment of restitution to all who have been harmed by its illegal occupation. The passage of the General Assembly resolution by a large majority of members would demonstrate that countries all over the world support the ICJ ruling, and would be a small but important first step toward ensuring that Israel must live up to those obligations.Israel’s President Netanyahu cavalierly dismissed the court ruling with a claim that, “The Jewish nation cannot be an occupier in its own land.” This is exactly the position that the court had rejected, ruling that Israel’s 1967 military invasion and occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories did not give it the right to settle its own people there, annex those territories, or make them part of Israel.While Israel used its hotly disputed account of the October 7th events as a pretext to declare open season for the mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli forces in the West Bank and East Jerusalem used it as a pretext to distribute assault rifles and other military-grade weapons to illegal Israeli settlers and unleash a new wave of violence there, too. Armed settlers immediately started seizing more Palestinian land and shooting Palestinians. Israeli occupation forces either stood by and watched or joined in the violence, but did not intervene to defend Palestinians or hold their Israeli attackers accountable. Since last October, occupation forces and armed settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have now killed at least 700 people, including 159 children. The escalation of violence and land seizures has been so flagrant that even the U.S. and European governments have felt obligated to impose sanctions on a small number of violent settlers and their organizations.In Gaza, the Israeli military has been murdering Palestinians day after day for the past 11 months. The Palestinian Health Ministry has counted over 41,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, but with the destruction of the hospitals that it relies on to identify and count the dead, this is now only a partial death toll. Medical researchers estimate that the total number of deaths in Gaza from the direct and indirect results of Israeli actions will be in the hundreds of thousands, even if the massacre were to end soon.

UN General Assembly Calls for End to Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favorof a resolution calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories.The resolution passed in a vote of 124-14, with 43 nations abstaining. The resolution affirmed an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice that deemed the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem to be illegal.The resolution sets a 12-month timeline for Israeli forces and settlers to leave the occupied territories. However, like the ICJ ruling, the resolution is not legally binding, and the UN has no way of enforcing it.Israel and the US were among the 14 countries that voted against the resolution. The other 12 countries were Hungary, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Fiji, Malawi, Nauru, Micronesia, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution and called for a Palestinian state. “The international consensus over this resolution renews the hopes of our Palestinian people — who are facing a comprehensive aggression and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem — to achieve its aspirations of freedom and independence and establishing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.The US, which has provided diplomatic cover for Israel at the UN throughout the genocidal war in Gaza, criticized the resolution, calling it “one-sided” because it doesn’t mention Hamas.“This resolution will not bring about tangible progress for Palestinians,” said the US mission to the UN. “In fact, it could both complicate efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and impede reinvigorating steps toward a two-state solution, while ignoring Israel’s very real security concerns.”

World reacts to UN vote calling on Israel to end Palestinian occupation - The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within a year and the imposition of sanctions for non-compliance.UN member states passed the nonbinding resolution on Wednesday, with 124 votes in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, the Palestinian delegation heralding the adoption as “historic”.The measure isolates Israel days before world leaders travel to New York for the UNGA, with six days of speeches from world leaders kicking off on September 24.Palestine’s ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, called the vote a turning point “in our struggle for freedom and justice”.“It sends a clear message that Israel’s occupation must end as soon as possible and that the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination must be realised,” he said.Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, slammed the vote as “a shameful decision that backs the Palestinian Authority’s diplomatic terrorism”.“Instead of marking the anniversary of the October 7 massacre by condemning Hamas and calling for the release of all 101 of the remaining hostages, the General Assembly continues to dance to the music of the Palestinian Authority, which backs the Hamas murderers,” he said. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the resolution and urged countries across the world to take steps to pressure Israel to adhere to it. “The international consensus over this resolution renews the hopes of our Palestinian people – who are facing a comprehensive aggression and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, including Jerusalem – to achieve its aspirations of freedom and independence and establish a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said. The Palestinian armed group Hamas said it “welcomes the adoption”, adding that it reflected “the international community’s solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle”. Israeli Oren Marmorstein, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on X that the resolution was “a distorted decision that is disconnected from reality, encourages terrorism and harms the chances for peace”. The US mission to the UN called the resolution “one-sided”, pointing to its failure to recognise that Hamas, “a terrorist organization”, still exerts power in Gaza and that Israel has a right to defend itself.“This resolution will not bring about tangible progress for Palestinians,” the US said. “In fact, it could both complicate efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and impede reinvigorating steps toward a two-state solution, while ignoring Israel’s very real security concerns.” The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the adoption of the resolution by a majority of 124 countries clearly reflected the justice of the Palestinian cause, representing broad international recognition of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination as a natural, legal and historical right.The ministry voiced hopes that all countries would comply with their obligations under international law and implement the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

Blinken holds Middle East talks in Paris Amid Israel-Hezbollah escalation --US Foreign Secretary Antony Blinken arrived in Paris Thursday for talks on the Middle East hosted by France after attacks on Hezbollah operatives attributed to Israel.Washington has not explicitly condemned the explosion of hundreds of communication devices used by group operatives across Lebanon which have cost dozens of lives and injured thousands.But the White House on Wednesday warned all sides against escalation, as did France.The latest events in Lebanon risk undermining US efforts to engineer a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas in Gaza.Blinken was in Cairo hoping to make progress on ceasefire negotiations when the two waves of explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies happened Tuesday and Wednesday.During his Paris stop -- scheduled to last just a few hours -- Blinken is to meet with foreign ministers Stephane Sejourne of France, Antonio Tajani of Italy and the UK’s David Lammy.Germany will be represented by an official in the absence of Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, diplomatic sources said.Blinken will also see President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee palace.The meeting will focus in particular on the state of talks aimed at getting a ceasefire in Gaza and the situation in Lebanon, Italy’s Tajani said in a statement.Blinken said Wednesday in Cairo that a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza would be the best way to stop violence from spreading in the Middle East.It was Blinken’s 10th trip to the region since the start of the war that was sparked by Palestinian militant group Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.His visit was another bid to salvage stalled negotiations mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to end the conflict.No other regional stops, including Israel, were on his itinerary.“We all know that a ceasefire is the best chance to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to address risks to regional stability,” he said.A possible strengthening of Western support for Ukraine in its war with Russia is also on the agenda for Thursday’s gathering in Paris, Tajani said.Blinken met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv last week.

US Insists It Was Unaware of Israel's Plans To Blow Up Pagers in Lebanon - The US claimed on Tuesday that it was unaware of Israel’s plans to blow up thousands of pagers inside Lebanon, an attack that killed at least nine people and wounded thousands.State Department spokesman Matt Miller insisted the US “was not aware of this operation and was not involved.” He said the US was still “gathering information” about the coordinated attack.Later on Tuesday, US officials who were “briefed on the operation”confirmed to The New York Times that Israel was behind the attack. They said Israel planted explosives in pagers that Hezbollah ordered from a company based in Taiwan.The Israeli attack came after the Israeli Security Cabinet added the return of displaced Israelis to their homes near the border with Lebanon as one of Israel’s war goals. Israeli officials told Axios that the purpose of this decision was to signal that Israel was going to turn its attention from Gaza to Lebanon.The pager attack also came after the US reportedly warned Israel against launching a wider war in Lebanon. But the US has also pledged to support Israel if the situation escalates into a full-blown war and provided intelligence support when Israel and Hezbollah traded heavy fire in August. Hezbollah is vowing that it will retaliate to the indiscriminate Israeli attack, which killed an eight-year-old girl, saying Israel will receive its “fair punishment.”The constant flow of US military aid to Israel has supported Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza as well as its escalations throughout the region. The US also defended Israel from an Iranian attack in April that was provoked by the Israeli bombing of Iran’s consulate in Damascus and has vowed to do so again if Iran responds to the assassination of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.

Report: Israel Notified US Before Blowing Up Pagers But Gave No Details of What Was Planned - Before thousands of pagers blew up in Lebanon on Tuesday, Israel informed the US that it was preparing an operation in the country but didn’t say what it was, CNN reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.The sources said that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conveyed the message to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin early Tuesday, but due to the lack of detail, the US was left in the dark about what was about to transpire.Austin and Gallant spoke again later that day after the pagers exploded, but it’s unclear what was said in that conversation.The White House has insisted it was unaware of the Israeli plan to blow up pagers, which was followed by the detonation of walkie-talkies the following day. The Biden administration has barely commented on the Israeli terrorist attack, which killed at least two children, saying that itstill needs to “gather information.”But US officials were quick to share the details of the plot with The New York Times on the same day the pagers were detonated. US officials speaking to the paper were the first to confirm that Israel intercepted the pager shipment to Lebanon and packed the devices with explosives and a detonator switch.There’s no indication that the attack will impact US military support for Israel, even though the US was reportedly warning Israel against escalating in Lebanon a day before the pagers were detonated. The US has vowed to defend Israel if the situation in the Middle East turns into a full-blown regional war. In April, the US directly intervened to intercept Iranian missiles and drones that were fired at Israel in response to the Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

On War Crimes And Western Hypocrisy - Caitlin Johnstone - The death toll has risen to 12 from Israel’s terror attack in Lebanon on Tuesday which detonated explosive materials hidden in thousands of pagers. Another 20 people were then killed in another attack on Wednesday with a second wave of explosions, this time using walkie talkies and home solar energy systems. The total death toll now sits at 32. Two children and four healthcare workers are among the dead. Thousands have been injured. As you would expect, western empire managers are getting really squirmy about this. White House spokesman John Kirby adamantly refused to answerany questions involving Israel’s responsibility for the attacks during a press conference on Wednesday, despite Israel being widely reported as the responsible party, with outlets like The New York Times citing US officials as their source.“I’m not gonna speak to the details of these incidents,” Kirby said repeatedly when questioned about Israel’s role and what the US response will be. It goes without saying that if a government like Russia, China or Iran were even suspected of being responsible for similar attacks, Kirby and his fellow podium people would be not just naming the suspected aggressor but fervently denouncing the attack as an act of terrorism. And it is here worth reminding readers that in 2017, a leaked State Department memo explained in plain language that it is standing US policy to overlook the abuses of US allies while denouncing the abuses of US enemies in order to undermine enemies and show other countries the perks of being aligned with the United States.The memo showed neoconservative empire manager Brian Hook teaching a previously uninitiated Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that for the US government, “human rights” are only a weapon to be used for keeping other nations in line. In a remarkable look into the cynical nature of imperial narrative management, Hook told Tillerson that it is US policy to overlook human rights abuses committed by nations aligned with US interests while exploiting and weaponizing them against nations who aren’t.“In the case of US allies such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the Philippines, the Administration is fully justified in emphasizing good relations for a variety of important reasons, including counter-terrorism, and in honestly facing up to the difficult tradeoffs with regard to human rights,” Hook explained in the memo. “One useful guideline for a realistic and successful foreign policy is that allies should be treated differently — and better — than adversaries,” Hook wrote. “We do not look to bolster America’s adversaries overseas; we look to pressure, compete with, and outmaneuver them. For this reason, we should consider human rights as an important issue in regard to US relations with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. And this is not only because of moral concern for practices inside those countries. It is also because pressing those regimes on human rights is one way to impose costs, apply counter-pressure, and regain the initiative from them strategically.” It’s tedious going “If Group X did this western politicians and pundits would condemn it but because Group Y did it they’re fine with it” over and over again, but it’s important to highlight these discrepancies because they show how we’re being deceived. Westerners are indoctrinated from birth into believing they live in a society that is basically good with governments that, while imperfect, are still far superior to the tyrants and corrupt autocrats of the global south. In reality the western power structure centralized around the United States is the single most murderous and tyrannical force on earth by an extremely massive margin, but that obvious fact is always omitted from the indoctrination curriculum. By pointing out the glaring discrepancies between the way the western political-media class responds to things like Israel turning electronic devices into thousands of bombs placed throughout civilian populations and the way they respond when other groups detonate explosives among civilians, you’re helping to punch holes in the veil of indoctrination they have cast over our collective understanding of the world. The more you recognize that you only see your society as good and others as bad because of the way world events are framed by western news media and politicians, the closer you get to having your “Are we the baddies?” epiphany. Hypocrisy and contradiction are not great moral evils in and of themselves, but they often run cover for great moral evils. The fact that we are trained to think about the world by people who facilitate great evils perpetrated by their own side when they’d condemn identical evils committed by their enemies shows that they do not stand against evil, and are deeply evil themselves. Recognizing the problems in our world is the first step to solving them. That’s what the propagandists and empire managers work to prevent us from doing, and that’s what we try to do by pointing out the glaring plot holes and inconsistencies in their narratives over and over again. The correct thing to do when western leaders talk about human rights or denounce abuses by enemy governments is to mock them and dismiss them. They’re not saying anything true about their actual values and beliefs; if they were there wouldn’t be so much hypocrisy in the way they denounce governments they don’t like for offenses they ignore and make excuses for in governments they do like. They’re never saying what they’re saying to stop human rights abuses or make the world a better place, they’re only saying what they’re saying to undermine their enemies so that the western empire can rule the world and be the only one administering abuse. And the same is true of the mainstream western press. You’ll see them completely ignore the abuses of US-aligned governments while showing immense interest in alleged abuses by empire-targeted groups, often on very flimsy evidence. Mock them and dismiss them when they act like they care about human rights abuses. They don’t care. They just want to make sure the abusive power structure they conduct propaganda for is the one in charge.

US military acknowledges Yemen's Houthi rebels shot down 2 MQ-9 Reaper drones - The Washington Post — Yemen's Houthi rebels shot down two American MQ-9 Reaper drones in under a week, the United States military acknowledged Wednesday, further highlighting the regional spread of the Israel-Hamas war .As the one-year anniversary of the war approaches, Houthis continue a campaign to target ships traveling through the Red Sea as U.S.-led airstrikes pound their positions in Yemen. That's imperiled a waterway that typically sees $1 trillion of trade pass through it, as well as crucial shipments of aid to war-torn Sudan and Yemen.The U.S. military said Houthis shot down the first Reaper on Sept. 10, and the second on Monday. Online video showed the downing and the flaming wreckage on the ground afterward in Yemen’s Dhamar province.General Atomics Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The aircraft have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years.U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon’s press secretary, said authorities continue to investigate Monday’s downing, but declined to elaborate. He added that a claim by the Houthis that they shot down 10 Reapers since the start of their campaign in November over the Israel-Hamas war was “not accurate.”“For operation security reasons, I’m not going to be able to provide a specific number,” Ryder said Tuesday. Since Houthis seized the country’s north and its capital of Sanaa in 2014, the U.S. military has seen Reapers shot down in Yemen in 2017, 2019, 2023 and 2024.Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vesseland sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels as well.

America is losing the battle of the Red Sea -- Even by the Middle Eastern standards, the past year has been full of surprises. A bolt-from-the-blue attack by Hamas produced the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. The resulting Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has now lasted longer than nearly anyone first imagined. Iran launched perhaps the largest drone and missile strike in history against Israel, which was blunted by unprecedented cooperation from countries in the region and beyond. Yet the biggest surprise is also the most ominous for global order. A radical, quasi-state actor most Americans had never heard of, the Houthis of Yemen, have mounted the gravest challenge to freedom of the seas in decades — and arguably beaten a weary superpower along the way. The Houthis began their campaign against shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb, which connects the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in late 2023. They are nominally attacking out of sympathy for the Palestinian people, but also to gain stature within the so-called Axis of Resistance, a group of Middle Eastern proxies cultivated by Iran. In January, Washington responded with Operation Prosperity Guardian, which features defensive efforts (largely by U.S. destroyers) to shield shipping from drones and missiles, and also airstrikes against Houthi attack capabilities within Yemen. The results have been middling at best. The Houthis have cut Suez Canal traffic by more than half, starving Egypt of toll revenues. They have bankrupted the Israeli port of Eilat in the Gulf of Aqaba. Nearly a year on, the group appears less deterred than emboldened: It recently crippled an oil tanker, threatening a spill with catastrophic environmental consequences. A waterway that carried 10% to 15% of global trade has become a killing zone. This saga combines dynamics old and new. The Bab el-Mandeb, Arabic for “gate of tears,” has long been a locus of struggle. This chokepoint is surrounded by instability in the southern Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa. That situation has invited conflict and foreign intervention for decades, but the Houthis’ campaign also displays newer global troubles. One is the falling cost of power-projection. The Houthis aren’t a traditional military juggernaut; they don’t even fully control Yemen. Yet they have employed drones and missiles to control access to vital seas. The Houthis have had help in doing so: Iran has provided weapons and the know-how needed to manufacture them. But the Red Sea crisis still shows how seemingly minor actors can use relatively cheap capabilities to extend their destructive reach. The second feature is strategic synergy among U.S. foes. The Houthis became more fearsome thanks to mentorship by Iran and Hezbollah. Since October 2023, they have allowed most of China’s shipping to pass without harm. The Houthis have also received encouragement — and, it seems, direct support — from a Russia that is eager to exact vengeance on Washington. Beijing and Moscow reap geopolitical rewards when America is burdened by Middle Eastern conflicts, so both are willing to let this crisis fester, or even make it worse. Further inflaming matters is a third factor: America’s aversion to escalation, which is rooted in military overstretch. A global superpower has been reduced to an inconclusive tit-for-tat with a band of Yemeni extremists. It is an evasion to claim that this very extremism makes the Houthis “undeterrable.” The core issue is that Washington has hesitated to take stronger measures — such as sinking the Iranian intelligence ship that supports the Houthis, or targeting the infrastructure that sustains their rule within Yemen — for fear of inflaming a tense regional situation. That approach has limited the near-term risk of escalation, but allowed Tehran and the Houthis to keep the showdown simmering at their preferred temperature. It also reflects the underlying fatigue of a U.S. military that lacks enough cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs, strike aircraft and warships to prosecute the campaign more aggressively without compromising its readiness for conflicts elsewhere. The global commercial damage caused by the Houthis has actually been limited, thanks to the adaptability of the shipping networks that underpin the world economy. A dramatic course correction by the U.S. probably isn’t imminent. President Joe Biden is still chasing that elusive Israel-Hamas cease-fire; this would at least deprive the Houthis and other Iranian proxies of their pretext for violence, even if no one is really sure whether it would end the Red Sea shipping attacks. He hopes to get through the presidential elections without more trouble with Tehran. But this muddle-through approach may not survive for long after that. Whoever becomes president in 2025 will have to face the fact that America is losing the struggle for the Red Sea, with all the pernicious global implications that may follow.

Western governments powerless to stop Houthi attacks and end Red Sea crisis, insurers told - Western governments have few tools to end the crisis in the Red Sea as the attacks have proved so successful in promoting the Houthi cause, a meeting of marine insurance underwriters was told on Monday. The dwindling power of the US and the potent propaganda harvested by the Houthis from burning vessels in the Red Sea have left major government and shipping interests with limited options after 10 months of constant attacks, according to analyst Elisabeth Braw. “In terms of the West, there is nothing that anyone can do or say that will convince the Houthis to change their tactics,” Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, told a meeting of the International Union of Marine Insurers. The meeting in Berlin warned of a looming era of uncertainty, protectionism, global disputes and the potential of other rebel groups to follow the Houthis’ lead, all threatening to destabilise shipping markets. A victory for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections could lead to further upheaval, with a failure to back Ukraine forcing Kyiv into peace with Russia and renewed support for an Israeli offensive in the Middle East as the US concentrates on confronting Iran, the conference was told. The limited impact of sanctions has highlighted how countries opposed to US policy have been able to join forces to counter them, the conference was told in a gloomy assessment of the future of frictionless trade. . A wave of interlinked geopolitical disputes — dubbed polycrises — with the ability to damage international trade is a key focus of discussions of IUMI’s conference, marking 150 years since the formation of the lobbying group. The Red Sea crisis has led to ships rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope, adding distance and emissions to voyages with Suez Canal transits down sharply in 2024. The attack on the 163,800-dwt Sounion (built 2006) has further focused attention on the potential costs of geopolitical upheaval for insurers and coastal states that could be affected by oil spills. The Sounion has war risk cover with Brit’s Keel Consortium, which is leading the clean-up. The Delta Tankers-owned ship has protection and indemnity cover with Norwegian insurer Gard, but the policy excludes losses caused by war or terrorism. The war risks insurer has primary responsibility for the casualty and the first $172m of any claim, including third-party clear-up costs. The Sounion, loaded with nearly 1m barrels of oil, is now being towed under military escort in an operation that started nearly four weeks after the initial attacks last month. But senior figures in the insurance industry have questioned whether commercial insurers are best placed to run salvage operations, with the experience and financial heft to deal with third-party claims normally resting with P&I clubs.

Iranian President Says Direct Talks With US Are Possible If US Shows It's Not Hostile - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that direct talks with the US would be possible if Washington showed that it was not hostile toward Tehran.“We are not hostile towards the US. They should end their hostility towards us by showing their goodwill in practice,” Pezeshkian said at a press conference. “We are brothers with the Americans as well.”Pezeshkian made the comments when asked if he would consider direct talks with the US to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018.The Iranian leader also reiterated Iran’s stance that it’s not seeking nuclear weapons. He said Iran is only enriching uranium at 60% purity, which is still below the 90% needed for weapons-grade, in response to the US tearing up the JCPOA, which limited Iranian enrichment at 3.67%.“I think, we said many times, we don’t want to do this at all. We want to solve our technical and scientific needs, we are not looking for nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian said. “We adhered to the framework written in the (nuclear deal). We are still looking to maintain those frameworks. They tore them, they forced us to do something.”Iran increased uranium enrichment to 60% in 2021 following an Israeli sabotage attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, which was timed to sabotage indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran.Pezeshkian, who took office in July, pledged during his campaign that he would negotiate with the US and other Western countries to work toward sanctions relief. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appeared to give him the green light to pursue talks, saying last month that there was “no harm” in engaging with “the enemy.”While Pezeshkian is willing to talk, it’s unlikely he will have a willing partner in the US, at least anytime soon. The Biden administration isn’t expected to make any changes before the November election and continues to increase sanctions on Iran.The previous Trump administration took a hardline toward the Islamic Republic, and former President Trump and his vice president pick, JD Vance, have made hawkish comments on Iran while on the campaign trail.

Army Sends 130 Troops, Missile Systems To Remote Alaskan Island For 'Russia Threat' -The Pentagon has taken the rare step of deploying US Army ground forces to an Alaskan island on fears that Russian and Chinese warships are coming closer and closer to America's shores.Some 130 soldiers have been sent to an uninhabited, remote island in the Aleutian chain of western Alaska following a series of Russian and Chinese military assets being spotted of the coast, including warplanes. For example, just the past week saw a grouping consisting of 8 Russian planes and four navy vessels come close to Alaska. Moscow and Beijing recently ordered stepped-up joint patrols and naval drills in the Pacific region."It's not the first time that we've seen the Russians and the Chinese flying, you know, in the vicinity, and that's something that we obviously closely monitor, and it's also something that we're prepared to respond to," Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder described.The island in question where US troops are newly deployed is called Shemya Island, which lies some 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage.The Army is calling it a "force projection operation" which began on Sept.12.Below is the latest press release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command complaining of recent incursions in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) off Alaska:

Biden Asks Congress To Extend Nearly $6 Billion in Ukraine Aid - The Biden administration has asked Congress to extend a form of military aid for Ukraine, which will expire if it is not used by September 30.The Pentagon said there is $5.9 billion left for Ukraine spending under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the US to ship weapons directly from its military stockpiles.Out of the $5.9 billion, $5.8 billion will expire if not extended by the end of the fiscal year. The administration wants Congress to include the extension in a continuing resolution that might be passed before September 30.“The [Defense] Department will continue to provide drawdown packages in the near future and is working with Congress to seek an extension of PDA authorities beyond the end of the fiscal year,” Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told The Hill.The Biden administration could use a good portion of the $5.8 billion by the end of the month as National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Saturday that the US was preparing a “substantial” weapons package for Ukraine.Twice, the administration has claimed that it undervalued weapons it shipped to Ukraine, freeing up billions of more dollars in PDA. In July,the Pentagon said it discovered $2 billion in “accounting errors” that made more PDA available, and in 2023, it found $6.2 billion.

NATO’s top military officer calls for NATO weapons strikes deep inside Russia Over the weekend, the military committee of the NATO alliance met to plot the next stage in its war against Russia, with the alliance’s top military policy-maker calling for Ukraine to be allowed to use NATO weapons to strike inside Russia. Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the NATO Military Committee, argued that NATO had the legal right to facilitate strikes against the Russian mainland. “Every nation that is attacked has the right to defend itself. And that right doesn’t stop at the border of your own nation,” Bauer said. He continued, “You want to weaken the enemy that attacks you in order to not only fight the arrows that come your way, but also attack the archer that is, as we see, very often operating from Russia proper into Ukraine.” He added, “So militarily, there’s a good reason to do that, to weaken the enemy, to weaken its logistic lines, fuel, ammunition that comes to the front. That is what you want to stop.” Bauer’s remarks were part of a torrent of demands from within the US and European political establishment and media for further NATO escalation against Russia. The meeting of NATO’s military committee followed a high-level meeting Friday between US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which discussed the question of allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory. US and UK media outlets reported during the week that the decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with NATO weapons had already been taken. Initially, the announcement was expected following the Friday meeting. Ultimately, Biden and Starmer made no public announcement, with the attacks now expected to begin later this month. On Thursday, the day before Biden and Starmer met, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the decision to allow Ukraine to use NATO weapons to strike deep inside Russia would mean the entry of NATO into war with Russia. “If this decision is made, it will mean nothing less than the direct participation of NATO countries, the US and European countries, in the conflict in Ukraine,” he said, adding, “Their direct participation, of course, significantly changes the very essence, the very nature of the conflict.” The day after Putin spoke, Russia announced the expulsion of six UK diplomats. Over the weekend, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev explained the significance of Putin’s remarks, saying that Putin outlined the “formal prerequisites” for a decision by Russia to use nuclear weapons. Any such decision, he said, would be “understandable to the entire world community and consistent with our doctrine of nuclear deterrence.” Medvedev warned that “a nuclear response is an extremely difficult decision with irreversible consequences,” and the current NATO position risks Kiev being turned into a “giant gray melted spot.” After his meeting with Starmer, Biden was asked about the threat of war between Russia and the US to which he replied, “Be quiet,” and declared that he does not “think about” Vladimir Putin.

Zelensky Complains That His Western Backers Won't Discuss Shooting Down Russian Missiles -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky complained on Friday that his Western backers won’t shoot down Russian missiles and drones over Ukraine, which would mean direct NATO involvement in the war.“If the allies shoot down missiles together in the sky of the Middle East, why is there still no decision to shoot down drones and missiles over Ukraine? Even when those drones fly towards the EU,” Zelensky said, according to POLITICO.Back in April, the US directly intervened to intercept Iranian missiles and drones that were fired at Israel in retaliation for the Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus. At the time, Zelensky expressed envy for the US defense of Israel. On Friday, Zelensky said the West won’t even discuss the idea of shooting down Russian missiles and drones.“When we raise this issue during the negotiations, the partners don’t even say they are working on it like they say about everything else … they just change the subject. They are scared to even tell us ‘they are working on it.’ And so far, only Belarus has been seen shooting down Russian drones,” he added. Earlier this month, the Belarusian said that it shot down drones that entered Belarus’ airspace. Around the same time, NATO members Latvia and Romania said that Russian drones violated their airspace. Some NATO countries are discussing the idea of shooting down Russian drones that enter their airspace. But what Zelensky wants is for NATO to shoot down any Russian missiles or drones fired at Ukraine.

China’s economic ascendancy in Africa threatens US imperialism -- China’s economic ascendency and the ensuing rivalry between Beijing and Washington, representing the world’s two largest economies, are being played out across the resource-rich African continent. China has supplanted the United States and the European Union as Africa’s main trading and investment partner. Earlier this month, top officials from almost all of Africa’s 54 countries went to Beijing for the triennial Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC), where China’s President Xi Jinping pledged $51 billion in investment through credit lines and Chinese business investments in Africa over a three-year period. He offered backing for more infrastructure projects and the creation of at least one million jobs. Xi said that China was ready to step up cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment. The Beijing meeting follows the expansion of the BRICS bloc (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) to include two African countries, Egypt and Ethiopia, as well as several other new members. Xi promised a three-fold increase on the number of infrastructure projects across the continent compared with those pledged at the last Forum in 2021, with an emphasis on “small and beautiful” schemes based on China’s advanced and green technologies. China would launch 30 clean energy projects, as well as 30 infrastructure connectivity projects. Also on offer was cooperation on nuclear technology and help with the power generation and transmission vital in helping the continent to industrialise. Xi called for a China-Africa network of land and sea links. He gave assurances that China would expand its non-resource imports from Africa, reiterating a pledge to expand market access for African goods, particularly agricultural goods, that currently face very tight inspection and quarantine restrictions. While the pledge to invest $51 billion represents a 27.5 percent increase from the last 2021 summit, it was less than the peak $60 billion pledged in 2015 and 2018. Much of that reduction was the result of the fall in infrastructure borrowing as Ethiopia, Zambia and Kenya struggled to repay the loans for major infrastructure projects taken out over the preceding decade. The Forum was held amid rising competition from the US and Europe, as well as from the so-called “middle powers,” Russia, India, Japan, Turkey, Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for influence in Africa. At stake is China’s access to Africa’s vast mineral resources, including large oil reserves, diamonds, gold, silver, uranium, copper, cobalt, nickel and lithium, which it currently mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zimbabwe, Botswana, and elsewhere, as well as the establishment of local refining facilities for raw materials and markets for its renewable energy and high-tech products. As the US and the European Union impose high tariff walls on Chinese goods, Beijing is focusing on Africa not only as a market for its high-value exports—electric vehicle sales to Africa rose by 291 percent in 2023—but also as a manufacturing location, taking advantage of the continent’s low wages, in a bid to circumvent the prohibitive tariff barriers it faces in the advanced countries. China views Africa, with its rapidly rising population expected to reach 1.7 billion by 2030—an increase of around 400 million from 2024—as an important export market, while its 54 votes at the United Nations could provide Beijing with a counterweight to the domination of US imperialism.

Deputy Secretary of State: China Is the 'Most Significant Challenge' in US History - Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Wednesday that China is the “most significant challenge” the United States has ever faced.“There is a recognition that this is the most significant challenge in our history,” Campbell told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to AFP. “Frankly, the Cold War pales in comparison to the multifaceted challenges that China presents.”Campbell is a long-time China hawk and has been pushing for more of a focus on the Asia Pacific since the Obama administration and is considered the architect of the so-called “Asia pivot.” He was confirmed as the deputy secretary of state back in February and previously served as the top Asia official on President Biden’s National Security Council.“It’s not just a military challenge; it’s across the board. It is in the Global South. It is in technology. We need to step up our game across the board,” Campbell told the committee. During the hearing, he called for Europe to get tougher on China and join the US in sanctions on Chinese companies.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian was asked to respond to Campbell’s remarks during a daily press conference and said they are “steeped in Cold War and zero-sum mentality.”“China is committed to carrying out friendly cooperation with all countries in the world, and we do not target any third party when developing normal relations with other countries. By contrast, the US has been strengthening its military alliances, patching up small groupings against China, and coercing other countries to choose sides,” Lin added.Campbell’s view that Beijing is the top threat facing the US is shared by the Pentagon. In the 2022 National Defense Strategy, the Pentagon declared China the “most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security strategy,” with Russia named the second leading threat.US military leaders are openly planning for a direct war with China in the future despite the risk of the conflict turning nuclear. This week, the US Navy unveiled a plan to prepare for a direct fight with China by 2027.

US Says It Flew Navy Plane Through the Sensitive Taiwan Strait - The US military said Tuesday that it flew a US Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane over the sensitive Taiwan Strait, prompting China to put its forces on alert and track the aircraft.The US typically frames its military activity in the Taiwan Strait as routine even though China views the US military presence off its coast as a provocation.“By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations,” the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said in a press release.“The aircraft’s transit of the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows,” the fleet added.Li Xi, a spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, said Chinese forces “organized warplanes to tail and monitor the US aircraft’s flight and handled it in accordance with the law.”Li added that “theater command troops will remain on constant high alert and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability.”The US frequently sails warships through the Taiwan Strait, more frequently than it flies planes, and has been encouraging its allies to do the same. Last week, Germany sent two warships through the sensitive waterway for the first time since 2002, drawing a sharp rebuke from China.“The German side’s behavior increases security risks and sends the wrong signal,” Li said in response to the German transit. “Troops in the theater are on high alert at all times and will resolutely counter all threats and provocations.” \

US Navy Chief Unveils Plan To Be Ready for War With China By 2027 - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the highest ranking officer in the US Navy, unveiled a plan on Wednesday to be ready for a war with China by 2027 as the US military is preparing for a direct fight with Beijing despite the risk of nuclear war.The plan lays out goals to be reached by 2027, including making 80% of the naval force ready for combat deployments on short notice. Franchetti told The Associated Press she wants to increase combat readiness so “if the nation calls us, we can push the ‘go’ button, and we can surge our forces to be able to meet the call.”Other goals include increasing recruitment, improving Navy infrastructure, removing delays in ship maintenance, and increasing the use of drones and other autonomous systems.Franchetti said the US is taking lessons from Ukraine’s operations against Russia in the Black Sea and the US’s new war against the Houthis in Yemen. US Navy ships have battled the Houthis since January in what US commanders have called the largest US naval battle since World War II, but the campaign has failed to deter or stop Houthi attacks.Franchetti said that she is focusing on getting ready for war with China by 2027 because that is “the year that that President Xi (Jinping) told his forces to be ready to invade Taiwan.” However, that idea is only based on claims from US intelligence officials.While China has ambitious goals for its military, there’s no evidence of a direct order to be ready for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027. Earlier this year, Defense News reported that Xi raised the issue with President Biden when the two leaders met in San Francisco in November 2023.Recounting the meeting, a US official said: “Xi basically said: ‘Look, I hear all these reports in the United States [of] how we’re planning for military action in 2027 or 2035. There are no such plans. No one has talked to me about this.'”The Defense News report noted how the claims about a Chinese invasion of Taiwan have helped funnel money to a US military buildup in the Asia Pacific. The claim about a 2027 invasion was first made in 2021 by Retired Adm. Phil Davidson, the former head of US Indo-Pacific Command.“The concern it generated earned a nickname: the ‘Davidson window,’ shorthand for the near-term threat of an attack on Taiwan,” Defense News reported. “And that changed how Congress spent money. The Pacific Deterrence Initiative doesn’t have its own budget, but in the last few years the US has spent more on its forces in the region.”

US Military Says Niger Withdrawal Is Complete - US Africa Command said on Monday that it had completed its withdrawal from Niger by the September 15 deadline.The command said that the withdrawal of approximately 1,000 military personnel began in May. AFRICOM completed its withdrawal from Air Base 101 in Niamey on July 7, and the last US troops left Air Base 201 in Agadez on August 5.“Additionally, the US Africa Command Coordination Element, consisting of a two-star General Officer and staff, has departed from Niger,” AFRICOM said.The US was ordered to leave by the government that came to power following a July 2023 coup that ousted former President Mohamed Bazoum. The US was looking to stay in the country but was asked to leave following a meeting with the government, known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), back in March.Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine said the US was asked to leave due to threats made by US officials in the meeting about Niger’s relationship with Russia and Iran.The US is working to beef up its presence elsewhere in West Africa after losing Air Base 201, which served as a drone hub for US military operations across the region.The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the Pentagon is refurbishing an airfield in Benin to accommodate US helicopters, deploying Green Berets to Ivory Coast, and working on a deal with Chad to send troops to a base that used to be occupied by US forces.

Venezuela Arrests US Citizens Over Alleged CIA Plot To Assassinate Maduro - The Venezuelan government said over the weekend that it arrested six foreigners, including three American citizens, over an alleged plot to destabilize the country that included a plan to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.Among the Americans arrested was Wilbert Joseph Castañeda Gomez, a member of the US Navy. US officials said he is a first-class petty officerwho was formerly a Navy SEAL and insisted he was traveling on his own.Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello alleged that Castañeda Gomez led the plot on behalf of the CIA, a charge denied by the US government. “The US is behind this operation. The US is handing over these firearms, they allow them to freely circulate so they can arrive in Venezuela and be used in an operation,” Cabello said at a press conference.Venezuelan authorities said they seized 400 rifles of US origin that were allegedly linked to the plot, and some were displayed during Cabello’s press conference.The State Department said that any claims the US was involved in a plot to kill Maduro were “categorically false.”The allegations from Venzeula come after the Biden administrationannounced it rejected the results of the 2024 election and recognized Edmundo González Urrutia, who was on the ballot for the opposition, as the winner. Venezuela’s election authorities declared Maduro the winner, but the opposition disputed the results and also claimed victory.Back in 2019, the US rejected the result of Venezuela’s 2018 elections and recognized opposition figure Juan Guaido as acting president. The US supported Guaido’s failed coup attempt against Maduro. The regime change effort came with crippling sanctions that amounted to an economic embargo.

Mexican president blames the US for bloodshed in Sinaloa as cartel violence surges (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador blamed the United States in part on Thursday for the surge in cartel violence terrorizing the northern state of Sinaloa which has left at least 30 people dead in the past week.Two warring factions of the Sinaloa cartel have clashed in the state capital of Culiacan in what appears to be a fight for power since two of its leaders were arrested in the United States in late July. Teams of gunmen have shot at each other and the security forces.Meanwhile, dead bodies continued to pop up around the city. On one busy street corner, cars drove by pools of the blood leading to a body in a car mechanic shop, while heavily armed police in black masks loaded up another body stretched out on a side street of the Sinaloan city.Asked at his morning briefing if the U.S. government was “jointly responsible” for this violence in Sinaloa, the president said, “Yes, of course ... for having carried out this operation.” The recent surge in cartel warfare had been expected after Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, landed near El Paso, Texas on July 25 in a small plane with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. Zambada was the cartel’s elder figure and reclusive leader. After his arrest, he said in a letter circulated by his lawyer that he had been abducted by the younger Guzmán and taken to the U.S.against his will.On Thursday afternoon, another military operation covered the north of Culiacan with military and circling helicopters.Traffic was heavy in Culiacan and most schools were open, even though parents were still not sending their children to classes. Businesses continue to close early and few people venture out after dark. While the city has slowly reopened and soldiers patrol the streets, many families continue to hide away, with parents and teachers fearing they’ll be caught in the crossfire.

Trump doubles down on anti-immigrant lies after bomb threats force closure of Springfield schools, City Hall again 0 For the second day in row, multiple government buildings and schools in the town of Springfield, Ohio, were shuttered due to bomb threats. According to local officials, city staff received emails at 7:21 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. threatening several buildings. The buildings evacuated and searched by bomb-sniffing dogs on Friday included Fulton Elementary School, Perrin Woods Elementary School, Cliff Park High School, Roosevelt Middle School, Springfield Academy of Excellence, the City Hall, a driver exam station and an Ohio License Bureau building. Several of these buildings were the targets of threats the previous day. On Thursday, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue (Republican) confirmed that the threats leading to the closure of City Hall and several other buildings “used hateful language towards immigrants and Haitians in our community.” In response to the ongoing threats, police from across the state and even the FBI have descended on the “Rust Belt” city. Earlier in the week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (Republican) confirmed he would be surging Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers to the town. In an interview with NBC on Wednesday, Vilès Dorsainvil, president of the Haitian Community Help and Support Center, confirmed that immigrants in the community “are scared for their lives.” Dorsainvil added that a “friend told me he had family coming to visit him, but it seems that he is going to welcome them in Columbus or Dayton because it is not safe right now for him in Springfield.” Local and national reporters have reported that Haitian immigrants within the community are scared to give interviews due to possible reprisals. In an interview on Friday, Mayor Rue confirmed that “city staff members have spoken to some of [J.D.] Vance’s staff members to let them know that what we are seeing in the area is the result of some of these memes and the words that have been spoken about our town.” Rue said he had not yet heard any response back from the Vance campaign about ceasing their vicious lies against community members. There is no question that the ongoing threats in Springfield are the result of the ex-president and his running mate’s racist anti-immigrant rhetoric. In Tuesday’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump devoted much of his airtime spreading racist lies about Haitians, specifically in the city of Springfield, Ohio, accusing them of eating family pets. Trump and large sections of the ruling class are creating a climate of terror and violence, which he and his Republican allies hope to capitalize on to further their dictatorial agenda. With the 2024 election just over 50 days away, Trump and the Republican Party are promoting the “big lie” that “illegal immigrants” imported by “globalists” [a right-wing code word for Jews] via “Comrade Kamala” and “radical leftists” are ravaging animals, pets and innocent citizens. In the last several years, Trump’s “Great Replacement Theory” rhetoric has led to the massacres of Jewish people, Hispanics and African Americans in Pennsylvania, Texas and New York.

Trump’s campaign of political terror against immigrants in Springfield, Ohio - The campaign of political terror initiated by Donald Trump and the Republican Party against thousands of Haitian workers in Springfield, Ohio, marks a turning point in the crisis of the American political system. Trump, Republican Vice Presidential candidate J. D. Vance and the Republican Party have whipped up a climate of violence that has shut down public functions in a working class city of 60,000. Trump’s aim in the run-up to the November election is to transition toward paramilitary-type violence, in effect changing the order to his far-right supporters from “stand back and stand by” to “forward, march.” On Sunday, Trump announced plans to travel to Springfield in the immediate future. The exact origins of the slander against Haitians are hazy, but sometime in early August local neo-Nazis promoted the lie that Haitian immigrants were eating dogs and cats in Springfield, and Trump or Vance’s operatives picked up on it soon thereafter. Trump elevated the issue to the center of the political stage during last Tuesday’s debate when he said, “Look at what’s happening to the towns all over the United States. Don’t go to Springfield. In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people that came in. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live here.” Following the debate, the Trump campaign deployed Vance to give the fascist attack on immigrants a phony “pro-worker” veneer. On Friday, Vance published a statement on Twitter/X saying the situation in Springfield “drives home” why he supports Trump: “Housing costs skyrocketing. Communicable diseases on the rise. Car accidents, crime, and insurance premiums moving up. Citizens complaining for months (or longer) and mostly ignored.” This demagogic statement, which draws on over a century of xenophobic race-baiting, has now been viewed 37 million times. In response to Trump and Vance’s appeal, far-right elements have now inundated the city of Springfield with threats of violence, promising to bomb schools and engage in mass shootings of Haitian workers and school children. The city government, which had previously clarified there were no reports of missing house pets, was forced to close Springfield’s City Hall and Department of Motor Vehicles, while bomb threats forced multiple schools and hospitals to go on lockdown and evacuate on Friday. The region’s two colleges, Clark College and Wittenberg University, announced that classes and events would be cancelled due to ongoing threats. Of the 12,000-20,000 Haitian immigrants who live in the area lawfully and work in its factories and warehouses, many have told reporters they fear leaving their homes. One high school student whose school was evacuated Friday told the New York Times, “Everybody is completely on edge, it’s really stressful. I feel that something big is about to happen, but I don’t know what it is.” In response to the bomb threats, Trump and Vance have turned up the volume of their attack against Haitians and immigrants. On “Meet the Press” Sunday, Vance effectively admitted the issue of “pet-eating” was concocted: “If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance said, before saying Haitians had increased “disease rates” and were to blame for workers’ rising housing, healthcare and car insurance costs. On “Face the Nation,” Vance told Margaret Brennan, “You have a thousand children now in a small district who don’t speak English, so now the kids who are in that school district are not getting a good education. The local health services have become overwhelmed. This is a terrible tragedy.” When asked about the bomb threats, Vance blamed the media for ignoring citizens’ concerns about immigration for too long: “Why is somebody calling in a bomb threat, Margaret? It’s because they want attention.”

DoJ Sues Dali Container Ship Owners for $100M, Alleging 'Jerry-Rigged' Vessel Collapsed Baltimore Bridge --The Justice Department alleges that the mechanical and electrical systems on the massive container ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in a critical shipping channel in the waterways of Baltimore City earlier this year had been 'jerry-rigged' and improperly maintained, resulting in a power outage in the moments before the ship toppled the bridge. "This tragedy was entirely avoidable. The electrical and mechanical systems on the DALI were improperly maintained and configured in a way that violated safety regulations and norms for international shipping. These problems precipitated a power loss and then a cascading series of failures that culminated in the collision," the complaint read, which was filed in Maryland and provides the most details yet into failures on the Dali that left the crew paralyzed. The complaint continued, "As events unfolded, and because of the unseaworthy condition of the ship, none of the four means available to help control the DALI—her propeller, rudder, anchor, or bow thruster—worked when they were needed to avert or even mitigate this disaster. Mechanical and electrical systems on the massive container ship had been 'jerry-rigged' and improperly maintained, culminating in a horrific power outage moments before it crashed into a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Six construction workers were killed when the bridge plunged into the water."As a result of the disaster, the US government is seeking a civil claim totaling $100 million, claiming these costs were associated withsalvage efforts and reopening the Port of Baltimore. The complaint said that Dali's Singaporean owners "sent an ill-prepared crew on an abjectly unseaworthy vessel to navigate the United States' waterways, adding that Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine "cut corners." "With this civil claim, the Justice Department is working to ensure that the costs of clearing the channel and reopening the Port of Baltimore are borne by the companies that caused the crash, not by the American taxpayers," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland wrote in a statement. According to the local newspaper, Baltimore Sun, "The suit does not seek to recover costs from the rebuilding of the bridge, which is expected to open in 2028, since the state of Maryland owns the structure. The state is expected to later file its own suit." We stressed right after the Dali incident that federal officials must start vetting the crews of vessels with foreign crews navigating US waterways. This poses a significant national security risk on its own. Here's the full complaint:

Vance proposes high-risk pools for people with preexisting conditions --Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Sunday floated an idea that would turn back the clock on covering people with preexisting conditions, relitigating a position that was a hallmark of GOP proposals to replace ObamaCare during Donald Trump’s presidency. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Vance said Trump’s health plan would “promote choice” in the health system by separating sicker people into different health insurance coverage pools from the healthier populations. Vance said Trump’s health plan would focus on deregulating the insurance markets to “not have a one-size-fits-all approach that puts a lot of people into the same insurance pools, into the same risk pools” while also making sure that people have access to the doctors and care that they need. Vance’s comments come after Trump said on the debate stage last week that he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the health law if it were repealed. In attempting to fill in the blanks of Trump’s plan, Vance described the same “high-risk pools” championed by conservatives in the House when they were crafting an ObamaCare replacement bill in 2017. For more than 35 years prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act, red and blue states alike used high-risk pools to cover people with expensive medical conditions separately from the rest of the insurance market. According to insurance experts, the general idea of a high-risk pool is to pull out of the market the sicker people who are a higher cost in order to reduce premiums for the healthy people who are in the regular market. But the pools rarely succeeded in covering people who needed insurance the most. They lacked sufficient funding, so people usually saw high premiums and limited coverage. “When you only have sick people in one separated pool, those premium costs are going to be extremely high, unless they are subsidized, or unless the benefits are really skimpy,” said Sabrina Corlette, a research professor at Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. “Unless you’re willing to throw a lot of taxpayer dollars to subsidize these high-risk pools, they are high-priced, crappy ghettos for people with preexisting conditions,” she said. Still, conservatives pushed the idea as a replacement for what they said was ObamaCare’s “one size fits all” mandate that established a single risk pool for everyone. They wanted states to be able to opt out of the law’s “community rating” requirement, which forbids insurers from charging sicker people more money. Nearly all state high-risk pools excluded coverage of preexisting conditions anywhere from three months to a year and then charged exorbitant premiums — if they covered the person’s condition at all. Many state pools had lifetime caps on covered services, and some even had annual dollar limits on specific benefits, meaning a cancer patient or someone with diabetes who needs expensive drugs wouldn’t be able to have those covered. After the GOP repeal bill failed in 2017, ObamaCare became increasingly popular. “At this point, every political leader says people with preexisting conditions should be protected, but that doesn’t always mean the policies they advocate will accomplish that,” Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, said in an email. Yet, the push to create high-risk pools lives on in high-profile conservative circles.

Democrats criticize executive compensation in for-profit nursing homes -- Democratic lawmakers are calling out soaring executive compensation at three for-profit nursing home providers as the industry fights new minimum staffing requirements that apply to virtually every facility in the United States.The executive pay was revealed in a letter sent Friday evening to the CEOs of Brookdale Senior Living, National HealthCare and Ensign Group. Signed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), it was first shared with The Hill.Over the past five years, the three companies collectively paid their top executives and directors more than $250 million, ballooning from $36.9 million in 2019 to nearly $66.8 million in 2023, according to the lawmakers’ analysis. Ensign accounted for the vast majority of that increase, the lawmakers found, as compensation more than doubled to $50.2 million for five executives and five directors in 2023 from $24.4 million for five executives and six directors in 2019.The Biden administration unveiled the new requirements in April over opposition from the nursing home industry and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Critics argue the federal standard is too expensive and onerous as the industry struggles to recover from the pandemic, potentially forcing facilities to shutter.In the letter, the Democratic lawmakers pushed back on three critics of the new requirements, pointing out that executive pay at Brookdale Senior Living, National HealthCare and Ensign Group has increased “while at the same time claiming that you cannot afford to meet new minimum staffing requirements.”“New revelations that your companies collectively increased their executive pay by nearly 25 percent just last year, combined with the record-high profits your companies touted in the first two quarters of 2024, reveal once again that you have plenty of money available to provide high-quality care – but instead are using it to enrich yourselves and other executives,” the lawmakers wrote.Seven Brookdale executives and seven directors collectively made nearly $10.9 million last year, up from $6.9 million between five executives and nine directors in 2019. Five directors and seven executives at National HealthCare received $5.7 million in 2023, up from $5.6 million in 2019.Executive pay made up virtually all the total compensation, with total pay to directors each of these years accounting for around $1 million or less, a Warren spokesperson said.The lawmakers called it “insulting” that the for-profit nursing home industry “appears to prefer lining the pockets of its executives and shareholders rather than creating sustainable working conditions for nurses and staff,” and urged the companies to “rethink your opposition to this rule.

Kansas AG Sues Pfizer For Rigging Clinical Trials --Via Children’s Health Defense:“Twenty-six U.S. governors — over half of the nation’s state leaders — have stated publicly that they will not comply with a World Health Organization (WHO)-led global attempt at controlling U.S. Americans’ health.In their Aug. 29 statement, the 26 governors — all Republicans — and the Republican Governors Association accused the WHO of “attempting one world control over health policy” by promoting a “pandemic agreement” or “pandemic treaty.”“Put simply,” they wrote, “Republican Governors will not comply.””Republican leaders have been busy over the last few years attempting revisionist history regarding what they did or did not do during COVID to resist the lockdowns/mask mandates/vaxx mandates pushed from on high.I’m not a huge fan of Kristi Noem — and she’s probably not going too far in national politics after bragging in her memoir about executing the family puppy named Cricket in a gravel pit like some kind of war atrocity —but she’s absolutely right that there’s a lot of credit-taking for principled leadership in the GOP where credit’s not necessarily deserved. Hers was one of the few states that never locked down even for a moment.Given that the pharmaceutical corporations that manufactured the shots were gifted blanket immunity by the government, the only real recourse against them at the moment — aside from the lofty pipe dream of Nuremberg II and public executions — is on false advertising grounds and manipulating trial data.The emergency use authorizations and legal immunity are null if they were obtained through fraud, which is what hopefully can be proven in a court of law in Kansas. Via National Review (emphasis added):“The state of Kansas filed an explosive consumer-protection lawsuit against Pfizer last week full of accusations that the pharmaceutical giant misled the public on the safety and efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine.Kansas is accusing Pfizer of knowingly misleading the public about the adverse effects of its coronavirus vaccine and manipulating its vaccine-safety trials in violation of state consumer-protection law and previous consent judgements. The lawsuit cites interviews, press releases, internal documents, scientific research, government research, news reporting, and other sources of information to back up its incendiary claims.“Pfizer said its COVID-19 vaccine was safe even though it knew its COVID-19 vaccine was connected to serious adverse events, including myocarditis and pericarditis, failed pregnancies, and deaths. Pfizer concealed this critical safety information from the public,” the lawsuit asserts.”

TikTok's lawsuit against US over potential ban goes to court -- TikTok faced off with the U.S. government in federal court on Monday, arguing a law that could ban the platform in a few short months is unconstitutional while the Justice Department said it is needed to eliminate a national security risk posed by the popular social media company. In a more than two hour appearance before a panel of three judges at a federal appeals court in Washington, attorneys for the two sides — and content creators — were pressed on their best arguments for and against the law that forces the two companies to break ties by mid-January or lose one of their biggest markets in the world. Andrew Pincus, a veteran attorney representing the two companies, argued in court that the law unfairly targets the company and runs afoul of the First Amendment because TikTok Inc. — the U.S. arm of TikTok — is an American entity. After his remarks, another attorney representing content creators who are also challenging the law argued it violates the rights of U.S. speakers and is akin to prohibiting Americans from publishing on foreign-owned media outlets, such as Politico, Al Jazeera or Spotify. “The law before this court is unprecedented and its effect would be staggering,” Pincus said, adding the act would impose speech limitations based on future risks. The measure, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. Daniel Tenny, an attorney for the Justice Department, acknowledged in court that data collection is useful for many companies for commercial purposes, such as target advertisements or tailoring videos to users’ interests. “The problem is that same data is extremely valuable to a foreign adversary trying to compromise the security of the United States,” he said. Pincus, the attorney for TikTok, said Congress should have erred on the side of disclosing any potential propaganda on the platform instead of pursuing a divesture-or-ban approach, which the two companies have maintained will only lead to a ban. He also said statements from lawmakers before the law was passed shows they were motivated by the propaganda they perceived to be on TikTok, namely an imbalance between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel content on the platform during the war in Gaza. But the panel — composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges — expressed some skepticism, pressing the attorneys on TikTok’s side if they believe the government has any leeway to curtail an influential media company controlled by a foreign entity in an adversarial nation. In parts of their questions about TikTok’s foreign ownership, the judges asked if the arguments presented would apply in cases where the U.S. is engaged in war. Judge Neomi Rao, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said the creators suing over the law could continue speaking on TikTok if the company is sold or if they choose to post content on other platforms. But Jeffrey Fisher, their attorney, argued there are not “interchangeable mediums” for them because TikTok — which has 170 million U.S. users — is unique in its look and feel, and the types of audiences it allows them to reach. Paul Tran, one of the content creators who is suing the government, told reporters outside the courthouse on Monday that a skincare company him and his wife founded in 2018 was struggling until they started making TikTok videos three years ago. He said they had tried to market their products through traditional advertising and other social media apps. But the TikTok videos were the only thing that drove views, helping them get enough orders to sell out of products and even appear on TV shows. “TikTok truly invigorated our company and saved it from collapse,” Tran said. He noted the company — Love and Pebble — sells more than 90 percent of its products over TikTok, which is covering the legal fees for the creator lawsuit. In the second half of the hearing, the panel pressed the Justice Department on First Amendment challenges to the law. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, said efforts to stem content manipulation through government action does set off alarm bells and impact people who receive speech on TikTok. Tenny, the attorney for the DOJ, responded by saying the law doesn’t target TikTok users or creators and that any impact on them is only indirect. For its part, TikTok has repeatedly said it does not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government and that concerns the government has raised have never been substantiated. In their lawsuit, TikTok and ByteDance have also claimed divestment is not possible. And even if it was, they say TikTok would be reduced to a shell of its former self because it would be stripped of the technology that powers it.

Meta Platforms and YouTube ban RT worldwide -- Meta Platforms—the owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram—announced on Monday that it was banning Russian state media outlets such as Russia Today (RT) from its social media properties, claiming that the organizations have engaged in covert online interference operations. In a statement, Meta said, “After careful consideration, we expanded our ongoing enforcement against Russian state media outlets. Rossiya Segodnya, RT and other related entities are now banned from our apps globally for foreign interference activity.” The $1.36 trillion corporation based in Menlo Park, California did not provide any details or evidence of its allegations. At the time of the Meta ban, RT had 7.2 million followers on Facebook and one million followers on Instagram. In a news release, RT newsreader Eunan O’Neill said the broadcaster, “and Russia as a whole denies the accusations that have been coming en masse against this channel and others in the past number of days.” RT (Rossiya Segodnya in Russian), is an international news network funded by the Russian government. It operates as a multilingual service with paid television and free over-the-air channels in five languages and online content in Russian, English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, Portuguese and Serbian. RT is a brand of TV-Novosti which was founded by the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti in April 2005. On Tuesday, YouTube—the video platform owned by Google-parent Alphabet—announced it had removed “over 230 channels affiliated with AVO TV Novosti.” YouTube said it had previously blocked the Russian state-sponsored news channels globally and prevented viewers from watching the 230 channels that it has now terminated. YouTube also stated it deleted the Russian-based channels in compliance with US government sanctions. The Meta and YouTube censorship follows the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday of new sanctions against Rossiya Segodnya and TV-Novosti. The sanctions allege that entities such as RT are being deployed by the Kremlin to conduct cyber-intelligence and covert influence operations across the globe and to assist Russia’s war in Ukraine. In a statement, Blinken claimed that new information showed that the Russian media organizations, “are no longer merely fire hoses of Russian propaganda and disinformation. They are engaged in covert influence activities aimed at undermining American elections and democracies, functioning like a de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.” The State Department said the sanctions, which follow last week’s Treasury Department actions against 10 top RT executives and its designation of RT as a “foreign mission,” are not an action against the state outlet for the content of its reporting but aimed at its “covert influence campaigns.” A State Department “fact sheet” issued on Friday, which is full of typical hypocritical assertions from representatives of American imperialism, claimed the US “supports the free flow of information,” and “always stands for freedom of expression, including for those with whom we disagree.”

DOJ shines a light on Russian use of conservative influencers - A Justice Department (DOJ) indictment revealing Russia’s use of conservative influencers to peddle its viewpoints has shined a light on its newest tactics for tapping into existing right-leaning media to push its agenda. An indictment unsealed by the department last week shows two employees of RT, formerly known as Russia Today, contracted with conservative Tenet Media to offer lucrative contracts to its band of influencers, including Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson.Those influencers have mirrored the DOJ’s language, calling themselves unwitting participants in the scheme and in some cases victims of the operation.The State Department on Friday indicated RT’s efforts were even broader than those revealed by the DOJ, noting the outlet similarly hired a French influencer to push its viewpoints there.But the episode shows how the conservative media landscape is ripe for being co-opted by Russia, raising questions about the extent to which the U.S. adversary has sought to steer existing media.Laura Thornton, senior director of global democracy programs at the McCain Institute, said the plot marked the first time the “DOJ has exposed these direct linkages.”“We’ve seen Russian state media amplify existing narratives and use their bot farms or other sites to spread that information. But in terms of directly paying for an American media company to produce content on their behalf, this is quite unusual,” she told The Hill. “Given that a lot of the false information and pro-Russia narratives actually come from within, it’s much easier to just throw a flame on those tinders,” she added. “The influencers themselves are claiming that they didn’t really change their content, which to me is almost even more alarming. They’re not being paid to change things because they already are [broadcasting] pro-Kremlin, pro-Russian disinformation narratives.”The DOJ didn’t identify the players involved, but details in the indictment make clear some identities, including that of Tenet Media, which like the company listed in the filing describes itself as a “network of heterodox commentators that focus on Western political and cultural issues.”

US says Iran hackers sent stolen Trump campaign emails to Biden’s team -- Iranian hackers sent emails containing stolen material from Republican former President Donald Trump’s campaign to people involved in Democratic President Joe Biden’s then re-election campaign, part of an alleged broader effort by Tehran to influence the US election, US agencies have said. “Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen, non-public material associated with former President Trump’s campaign to US media organizations,” the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a joint statement on Wednesday. “This malicious cyber activity is the latest example of Iran’s multi-pronged approach … to stoke discord and undermine confidence in our electoral process,” the agencies said. They added that there was currently no information to suggest the recipients replied. They did not provide further details on the nature of the stolen material. In August, the United States accused Iran of launching cyberoperations against the campaigns of both US presidential candidates and targeting people in the US with influence operations aimed at fanning political discord. Iran has denied interfering in US affairs. On Wednesday its permanent mission to the United Nations in New York said the latest US allegations were “fundamentally unfounded, and wholly inadmissible”. It added: “Iran neither has any motive nor intent to interfere in the US election.” Malicious cyberactors sent unsolicited emails to individuals in Biden’s campaign in late June and early July that contained a text excerpt from stolen material from the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign, the agencies said. Biden dropped out of the presidential race on July 21 and Vice President Kamala Harris replaced him as the Democratic candidate. Polls show Trump and Harris are in a tight race. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, said the latest allegations were “further proof the Iranians are actively interfering in the election to help Kamala Harris and Joe Biden because they know President Trump will restore his tough sanctions and stand against their reign of terror”. “Kamala and Biden must come clean on whether they used the hacked material given to them by the Iranians to hurt President Trump. What did they know and when did they know it?” she said in a statement. A Harris campaign spokesperson said they were “not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign”. “A few individuals were targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt.” The former president claimed in a rally on Wednesday night that Iran hacked into his campaign to help Democrats, calling it foreign election interference. Tehran also says Washington has interfered in its affairs over decades ranging from a 1953 coup of a prime minister to the 2020 killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

The Real Election Meddling Will Happen Right Out In The Open -- Caitlin Johnstone -- The election in November will be rigged. This election rigging will not be done by Russia, or by China, or by Iran, or by far right coup plotters, or by some shadowy cabal tampering with voting machines. It will happen right out in the open, and will be perfectly legal. In fact, it’s already happening.This election is being rigged by the donor class. It’s being rigged by lobby groups. It’s being rigged by the plutocrat-owned mass media, and by plutocrat-controlled Silicon Valley algorithm manipulation. It’s being rigged by obscenely wealthy people who can afford to extract political favors in exchange for massive campaign donations in ways normal members of the public never could. It’s being rigged by people who’ve bought up so much narrative control in the form of media ownership that they can set agendas for the entire country in ways the average voter has no chance of ever doing.These election meddlers dictate the political framework and information environment in which elections take place. They decide what positions will be considered normal and acceptable, and which will be considered radical and extreme. They predetermine the location and range on the political spectrum at which the election will be contested, and they restrict the Overton window of acceptable political opinion within which debates and discourse will occur. They do this without any regard for the interests of ordinary members of the public, but solely for their own interests. That’s why you see candidates arguing not about WHETHER wars should happen, but WHICH wars should happen, and HOW they should occur. It’s why you see them accusing one another of being too weak and dovish on foreign policy instead of attacking each other as reckless warmongers. It’s why you see them arguing over who loves Israel the most and who will send it the most weapons, rather than who will do the most to end Israel’s genocidal atrocities. It’s why you see them debating who supports the most fracking and oil-drilling instead of promising to end ecocidal policies and stop the corporate destruction of our environment. It’s why you see them arguing over the minute details of what capitalism and imperialism should look like, rather than if capitalism and imperialism should exist at all. It’s also why, when you see a candidate show up with a platform of ending war and militarism, stopping ecocide, and curbing the injustices and abuses of capitalism, they are treated as outlandish extremists. Not just by the rich and powerful, but also by ordinary members of the public who’ve been indoctrinated by all this manipulation into accepting status quo politics as the norm. This rigged, controlled political environment is what we were all born into, so we’re conditioned to think it’s normal. It’s very easy to miss how freakish and abominable the whole thing is. How destructive it is. How much needless death and misery and devastation it causes. If we came from a healthy world into this one we would scream in horror, but because we’ve never lived in a healthy world, we can be manipulated into mistaking the sickness of this civilization for health. Elections are rigged in this way by a fairly small group of plutocrats and empire managers, not just in the United States but throughout the western world. They rig our entire political system in their favor, and then have the gall to tell us we all need to freak out because some Russians made some Facebook memes near an election season.This is not democracy. This is plutocracy. This is oligarchy. We’re just indoctrinated into calling it democracy, by the very same mass-scale psychological manipulations they use to keep it from being a democracy.All US elections these days come with allegations of election interference, especially from the losing side. But it’s important to keep in mind that even in the unlikely event that those allegations were 100 percent true, they’d still be a tiny drop in the ocean compared to the election interference that’s already happening right out in the open.

The CIA Democrats in the 2024 elections - There are 34 Democrats drawn from the ranks of the military-intelligence apparatus who are running for Congress this year, a continuation of the influx that began in force in 2018. For the fourth consecutive election, the CIA Democrats will grow in influence and numbers, further cementing the ties between this big business party and the most lethal agencies of the capitalist state.The continued influx of military-intelligence Democrats is an essential component of making America “ready for war,” in the language favored by imperialist strategists. It entirely dwarfs the entry of a handful of members of the Democratic Socialists of America and other fake lefts, constituting the heavily publicized “Squad” led by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.Indeed, the two processes are moving in opposite directions. While the number of CIA Democrats is steadily increasing, and already dwarfs the “Squad,” two members of the supposed “left” have been purged this year, with Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri both defeated in Democratic primaries because of their tepid criticisms of the Israeli genocide in Gaza. As for Ocasio-Cortez, she has long since dropped any hint of radicalism on US foreign policy, denouncing demonstrations against the Gaza bloodbath as “antisemitic” and voting for massive military aid to both Ukraine and Israel. Besides the numerical increase, the influx of CIA Democrats is escalating qualitatively. Two of the original class of CIA Democrats who won seats in the House of Representatives in 2018 are now seeking to move up to the Senate. Former CIA agent and Pentagon official Elissa Slotkin is giving up her Michigan House seat to run for the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of three-term Senator Debbie Stabenow. Former National Security Council official turned congressman Andy Kim is running in New Jersey to replace incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, who was convicted on corruption charges and resigned. Both are favored to win. Two other military-intelligence Democrats are seeking statewide office. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina, elected in 2022, is running for state attorney general after he was gerrymandered out of his seat by the Republican-controlled state legislature. He currently has a lead in the polls against his Republican opponent. In Virginia, former CIA agent Abigail Spanberger is not seeking reelection to her House seat, announcing plans instead to run for governor of Virginia next year, when Republican Glenn Youngkin leaves after the single term he is allowed under the state constitution. Spanberger is the heavy favorite to win the Democratic nomination. Spanberger’s replacement in the House is likely to be the most prominent new military-intelligence Democrat: Eugene Vindman, a career military officer born in Ukraine. Vindman and his twin brother Alexander, also a serving military officer, were detailed by the Pentagon to the National Security Council during the Trump administration, where they had key responsibilities for US policy towards Russia and Ukraine. The Vindman brothers played a central role in the first effort by the Democrats to impeach Trump in 2019. The Democrats impeached Trump over his holding up military aid to Ukraine in an effort to force President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up political dirt on his future opponent, Democrat Joe Biden, and Biden’s son Hunter, who enjoyed a lucrative position on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. Besides Eugene Vindman, another high-profile military-intelligence operative is seeking a House seat as a Democrat: Maggie Goodlander, the wife of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and herself a veteran of the national-security state, won the Democratic nomination September 10 for the 2nd Congressional District of New Hampshire. As her campaign website declares, “She began her career working as a foreign policy advisor in the United States Senate …” The senators she advised included warhawks like Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican John McCain. After that, “She went on to serve as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve for over a decade.”

UAW Workers Blame Biden, Harris And EV Mandates For Job Losses- While we know how professional ~~extortionist~~ union negotiator Shawn Fain at the top ranks of the UAW wants his workers to vote, the way they're going to vote might be a different story altogether.That's because auto workers in Michigan seem to be blaming Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and their EV mandates, for layoffs in Michigan, according to a new report from the New York Post. After Stellantis, maker of Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge, announced plans to lay off 2,450 workers, workers told the Post they thought the Biden administration was to blame. “I’m sure all the people I work with are glad to have jobs. But the problem is in these electric-vehicle departments, you’re laying people off,” one worker, Isaiah Gordon, who works on hybrid batteries said. He added: “It’s the way that the government now wants to go. And they completely made the wrong decisions on it because if you look, Ford has lost a lot of money.” A technician mechanic for Chrysler agreed that EVs were driving the layoffs, stating: “Putting an electric motor together is like building a pinwheel or a paper airplane, there’s some level of work that’s involved with it, but the skill level really isn’t there.” Republican congresswoman Lisa McClain agreed, adding: “Less parts mean less employees. That’s why they’re doing the layoffs. Because they can’t sell the vehicles that the government, particularly Kamala Harris, is mandating them to buy.” She continued: “Listen, you wanna buy an EV car? Great. But the autoworkers, the automakers know that we can’t survive because the infrastructure isn’t there on EVs. Nobody wants to buy them.” The New York Post writes that Ford cut over 1,000 jobs at its Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn after reducing F-150 Lightning production. The company reported a $132,000 loss per vehicle in the first quarter, selling 20% fewer EVs than last year. Workers say layoffs aren’t just due to reduced labor but also the tough emissions standards from the Biden-Harris administration. These strict EPA regulations push the industry to produce more EVs, despite lower consumer demand, according to the Post. “You look at a product like a Ford hybrid Escape, a hybrid electric vehicle, and it’s one of the smaller SUVs. It’s barely a car. And the carbon footprint of that, the grams per mile is 225. So you’ve got a vehicle there that is 55 grams per mile in excess of the standard that will be here in two model years," the mechanic complained. “I can tell you they’ve been promising investment where I work at the tech center for years now, and I’ll just put it this way: it doesn’t appear to be happening. They can promise one thing and change that plan tomorrow.” “It’s getting to the point that they’re leasing additional properties and parking them elsewhere. And it’s all three domestics,” he concluded. And the change in opinion seems to be driving political divide between the UAW and its leadership. Gordon concluded: “Unfortunately, and I say this with love, the UAW is not going to reach across the aisle. They support the Democrats and the Democratic Party.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he is under investigation for collecting whale specimen --Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed over the weekend that he is under investigation for “collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago.”“Right after I endorsed President Trump, I received a letter from the ‘National Marine Fisheries Institute’ saying that they were investigating me for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago,” Kennedy said Saturday at an Arizona campaign event for former President Trump in a clip published by NBC News.“This is all about the weaponization of our government against political opponents of the party in power,” Kennedy added later. Kennedy seemed to be referring to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that is responsible for marine fisheries.‘It is long standing NOAA practice not to comment on open investigations,” NMFS Director of Public Affairs Kate Silverstein said in an email to The Hill.In 2012, Kennedy’s daughter Kick told Town & Country Magazine that her father cut the head off a whale that had washed up on the shore in Hyannis Port, Mass., when she was a child. The interview gained traction again recently after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his campaign and endorsed Trump.An environmental advocacy group last month called for Kennedy to be investigated over the incident. The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund said in a letter to NOAA that it is “illegal to possess any part of an animal, dead or alive” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act and that NOAA should open an investigation.In late August, Kennedy said he was suspending his campaign and backing Trump.

Trump safe after what FBI describes as apparent assassination attempt -The FBI on Sunday said it is investigating a second assassination attempt on former President Trump. Trump’s campaign said the GOP nominee for president is safe, and the FBI said it is responding to the situation. Authorities at a Sunday press conference said a Secret Service agent opened fire on a man with a gun near Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Fla. The agent did so after spotting a man with a rifle who pushed the firearm’s muzzle through the perimeter of the course, authorities said. “He was able to spot this rifle barrel sticking out of the fence and immediately engage that individual at which time the individual took off,” Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during the press conference. Bradshaw said local law enforcement has a man in custody after a person was apprehended while traveling from Palm Beach County into Martin County on I-95 after a witness captured a photograph of the individual’s vehicle. According to Bradshaw, an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks and a GoPro were found in bushes where the suspect had been spotted. Shots were fired by a Secret Service agent after the agent spotted the weapon, Bradshaw said. “The Secret Service agent that was on the course did a fantastic job,” Bradshaw said. He said the Secret Service has a process of having an agent jump one hole ahead when the former president is playing golf to offer him protection. FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Veltri, who is in charge of the FBI’s Miami field office, said the FBI is taking the lead on the investigation. The agency has deployed investigative, evidence and crisis response team members and bomb technicians to aid in the investigation, he said. “What we need right now is for the public to avoid the area around the golf course,” Veltri said. State prosecutors were working to secure a warrant and a motion for a pretrial detention for the potential suspect in custody, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said during the briefing. Aronberg noted the filing of state warrants and charges “does not preclude federal charges that could be coming.” GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (Ohio) said on the social platform X he spoke with Trump shortly after the incident. “I’m glad President Trump is safe. I spoke to him before the news was public and he was, amazingly, in good spirits,” Vance wrote. “Still much we don’t know, but I’ll be hugging my kids extra tight tonight and saying a prayer of gratitude.” Both President Biden and Vice President Harris were briefed Sunday about the attempt on Trump’s life, according to a White House pool report. “They are relieved to know that he is safe. They will be kept regularly updated by their team,” the pool report stated.

Secret Service director credits agency for ‘effective’ response to Trump assassination attempt - Former President Trump has the highest levels of security, acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe told reporters Monday, crediting the agency with thwarting an alleged would-be assassin from getting eyes on the former president Sunday. “The subject, who did not have line of sight to the former president, fled the scene. He did not fire or get off any shots at our agents. With reports of gunfire, the former president’s close protection detail immediately evacuated the president to a safe location,” Rowe said. “The protective methodologies of the Secret Service were effective yesterday.”The comments come after the second assassination attempt against Trump within two months, after Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, lodged his rifle through the fence at a Florida course where Trump was golfing.The episode comes as the Secret Service is under intense scrutiny of its practices after the prior assassination attempt in Butler, Pa., and as various GOP voices called Monday for the agency to raise Trump’s level of security up to that of President Biden.Rowe stressed that Trump is receiving the highest level of protection and that the system is working, crediting Biden’s call for additional security of his then-campaign rival for aiding in thwarting the potential attack.“The former president’s protective apparatus allowed for the early identification of the threat and led to a safe evacuation. The increased assets directed by President Biden were in place yesterday,” Rowe said.“There’s a lot of tactical assets in place, things that have been put in place as a result of what happened 60 days ago. Those elements are working.”That includes bolstering what he described as a “layered approach to protection” that involved screening different points along the golf course before Trump’s arrival.“The agent who was visually sweeping the area of the sixth screen saw the subject armed with what he perceived to be a rifle and immediately discharged his firearm,” Rowe said, adding that Trump was still “several hundred yards and several holes away.”Nevertheless, the agency will no doubt face heat for initially failing to spot Routh until he was relatively close to the former president, given that he camped out in the area for about 12 hours before Trump arrived.It remains unclear how Routh was aware of Trump’s location, which was an “off the record” movement that was not on the former president’s public schedule.“The fact that they didn’t know that person was there, and that they were there for as long as they were, raises some real concerns about how they’re thinking about protecting the perimeter … which sometimes can come very close to the principle you’re trying to protect,” Andrew McCabe, former deputy director of the FBI, said during an appearance on CNN.Rowe said the agency would rethink some aspects of its approach.“We need to look at what our protective methodology is. We need to get out of a reactive model and get to a readiness model,” he said, adding that the agency should prepare for “another geopolitical event” that could throw the U.S. into conflict.He likewise said the Secret Service is in the middle of discussions with lawmakers about their resource needs, saying the agency needs funding to support hiring additional agents.

FBI investigates second Donald Trump assassination attempt --Former President Trump was the target of another apparent assassination attempt while golfing in Florida on Sunday, marking the second attempt on his life in less than three months. The incident adds to a series of unprecedented events from this election cycle and comes just nine weeks after the former president was shot in the ear during the prior assassination attempt. That shooting took place at a rally in July in Pennsylvania and sparked a flurry of questions about the Secret Service’s preparation and how political rhetoric might have played a role in the violence. Sunday’s incident reignited some of these concerns as the November election inches closer in what is expected to be a tight race between Trump and Vice President Harris.The former president was playing golf Sunday at his course in West Palm Beach when Secret Service agents, posted at a few holes nearby, noticed a man with a rifle push the firearm’s muzzle through the perimeter of the course, authorities told the media. The rifle was sticking through the bushes 300-500 yards away. A Secret Service agent fired at the man, who dropped the AK-47-style rifle and fled in a car. Secret Service officials contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office around 1:30 p.m., prompting authorities to immediately seal off the area, county Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said. Authorities eventually apprehended a man traveling from Palm Beach County into Martin County on I-95 after a witness captured a photograph of the individual’s vehicle, Bradshaw said. An AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two backpacks and a GoPro were found in the bushes where the suspect was spotted, he added.About an hour after Secret Service opened fire at the suspect, the Trump campaign issued a statement that the former president was “safe.”The suspect in Sunday’s apparent assassination is a white male named Ryan Wesley Routh, reported NewsNation, The Hill’s sister network, citing a law enforcement source. Routh, 58, was convicted in 2002 of possessing a weapon of mass destruction, NewsNation reported, citing online North Carolina Department of Adult Correction records. Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told NewsNation that Routh was not previously on law enforcement’s radar. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the apparent attempt on Trump’s life. Routh’s apparent social media suggested he is vocal about the war in Ukraine. The New York Times said Sunday that it had interviewed him for a feature on pro-Ukrainian foreign fighters last year. The Times said Routh is originally from Greensboro, N.C., and traveled to Ukraine in 2022 to recruit ex-Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight for the embattled nation. A law enforcement official told the Times that Routh had been living in Hawaii prior to Sunday’s incident. The Associated Press reported records showed Routh lived in North Carolina for most of his life, and moved to Kaaawa, Hawaii, in 2018. While there, he and his son ran a company building sheds, the AP added, citing an archived version of the business’s website.Aronberg said he expects Routh will face charges related to terrorism and weapons offenses, NewsNation said.

Suspect in apparent assassination attempt of Trump has long history of legal troubles - The suspect in an apparent attempted assassination of former President Trump has long had run-ins with the law, court records show, a history that could be a factor as he stares down federal charges. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was charged Monday with two gun crimes after allegedly pushing the muzzle of a rifle through the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida while he was there, prompting a Secret Service agent to fire. Court records in North Carolina and Hawaii reviewed by The Hill paint a picture of how Routh regularly encountered law enforcement for decades, leading to dozens of criminal charges that were oftentimes for traffic violations and cutting bad checks. Violent convictions are also peppered across Routh’s criminal record. Federal prosecutors are latching on to that history, signaling they believe it triggers a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence if Routh is convicted on the most serious of his two new gun charges. Perhaps most prominently, Routh was convicted in North Carolina of possessing a weapon of mass destruction in 2002, court records show. TThe News & Record reported at the time that Routh had barricaded himself inside his roofing business with a machine gun after being pulled over at a traffic stop. Routh was also convicted of resisting an officer, carrying a concealed weapon and driving with a revoked license. He was sentenced to probation. Tracy Fulk, the charging officer in the case, told WIRED after the Trump incident that she was unaware Routh was continuing his “escapades.” “I figured he was either dead or in prison by now,” Fulk said. Routh has never spent time in jail, according to state corrections records. Routh appeared in federal court Monday in West Palm Beach, where the charges were unveiled and he was ordered into detention until at least next week. He’s accused of possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Normally, the first charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. But if prosecutors can show that Routh has three prior violent felony or serious drug convictions, federal law would mandate a 15-year minimum.

Sheriff: Authorities ‘laser-focused’ on whether suspect in apparent Trump assassination attempt part of conspiracy -- The Florida sheriff whose deputies arrested the suspect in the second apparent assassination attempt against former President Trump said investigators were looking into whether the man was part of a broader conspiracy.“I think what we’re finding out — he’s not from this area. Which of course raises the bigger question, how does a guy from not here get all the way to Trump International, realize that the president, former president of the United States, is golfing and is able to get a rifle in that vicinity?” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder told reporters Monday, a day after the incident in West Palm Beach, Fla.“I think that’s the question the FBI, the Secret Service are laser-focused on today. Is this guy part of a conspiracy? Is he a lone gunman?” Snyder continued, adding if the suspect is part of a broader conspiracy, “then this whole thing really takes on a very ominous tone.”The Hill has reached out to the FBI and Secret Service for comment.The suspect arrested in the apparent assassination attempt, Ryan Wesley Routh, has reportedly lived in North Carolina and Hawaii. He has no known ties to Martin County, the sheriff said Monday.Authorities have not identified any other person of interest.Routh was arrested Sunday and has since been charged with federal gun crimes. He appeared in court Monday and is accused of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.Authorities said the Secret Service spotted a gun from the perimeter of Trump’s golf course Sunday while the former president was on the course. A Secret Service agent fired, and the suspect fled and was later apprehended.

Republicans seethe after second foiled Trump assassination attempt --Senate Republicans seethed Monday after former President Trump was subject to what authorities said was another assassination attempt and questioned why Secret Service protection has not been beefed up even more since the shooting in Butler, Pa., two months ago. GOP lawmakers returned to the Capitol angry and upset, and pointed fingers at the Secret Service for not having a sufficient security presence around the former president and GOP presidential nominee. “They’re going to eventually get the guy killed,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), one of Trump’s most ardent backers in the upper chamber. “You hate to say it, but what this looks like is an intentional [act] of not funding what they should fund to help him. I hope nothing happens,” Tuberville said, arguing that the issue is both about manpower allocation and funding. The Alabama Republican also noted that while it is important for the agency to protect the dozens of prominent officials and individuals under its security purview, Trump has to be a priority with less than two months before the election. “Sooner or later, you’ve got to look at the guy who’s a former president that’s running for president again. The Republican nominee has already been shot once,” Tuberville continued. “Wake up. We’re leaking oil here.” The Secret Service faced enormous blowback in July after a gunman at a rally in western Pennsylvania succeeded in striking the president’s ear. Officials faced questions both on the inadequate security at the rally site and the lack of information provided in the immediate aftermath. Then-Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned following a disastrous appearance before a House committee. On Monday, Republicans were quick to note that their concerns center on the lack of security in situations such as when the former president is on a golf course within view of the public, and not on the agents themselves. They praised the agent who spotted the muzzle of a rifle from hundreds of yards away. That agent opened fire and the suspected gunman, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, fled and was apprehended soon after. The Secret Service itself said its systems worked as designed to protect Trump. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe on Monday said that Trump is receiving the highest level of protection and that the system in place around him is working, pointing to the agent’s ability to locate the would-be assassin and nix any attack. “The former president’s protective apparatus allowed for the early identification of the threat and led to a safe evacuation. The increased assets directed by President Biden were in place yesterday,” Rowe said. But after the twin events, lawmakers are fed up and are pleading for some change. “It’s like — what is going on? And is anyone safe?” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who is still lamenting the lack of answers from relevant agencies about the July assassination attempt against the former president. “This is ridiculous. The guy has another assassination attempt and we’re still slow-walking the one from two months ago?” Hawley continued.

Anti-Trump rhetoric comes under scrutiny after golf course threat - The apparent assassination attempt Sunday on former President Trump — the second in just two months — is raising questions about whether the rhetoric against him is going too far, and if politicians need to take steps to cool tensions. The motivation of the suspect in Sunday’s incident is not clear, and experts cautioned against drawing a direct link between campaign rhetoric and the actions of those who would attempt violence against a candidate. But some saw the latest threat to Trump as the fallout of close to a decade of near-constant verbal and social media attacks on the former president, a deeply polarizing figure who inspires intense feelings among both his supporters and his critics. “Why hasn’t Kamala told her supporters yet that Trump is not a threat to democracy, is not a dictator, and condemned her party’s relentless demonization of Republicans as ‘Nazis’ who ‘must be stopped,’” senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller posted on the social platform X, referencing Vice President Harris. “When will she take accountability for her & her party’s rhetoric of incitement?” “He’s been skewered over the last eight years, being compared to Nazis and Hitler and fascists …and racists, all the ‘isms’ that you can possibly imagine,” Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said on Fox News. “We should have a spirited exchange of ideas. But, you know, attack the ideas, not the person.” Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, was charged Monday with two gun crimes after allegedly pushing the muzzle of a rifle through the fence along the perimeter of Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course in Florida while he was there, prompting a Secret Service agent to fire at him. The incident came roughly two months after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa., hitting the former president in the ear. One rally attendee, as well as the gunman, died. “Sadly this is not out of our norm,” “I just think it’s very hard to draw a cause-effect relationship between particular statements and an attempt on somebody’s life,” “There’s certainly an argument that we can become callous toward violence. Part of the frustration on the part of Republicans may be that not enough attention is being paid to these attacks.”

Alleged Would-Be Trump Assassin Said in Book That He Looks Forward to World War III - Ryan Wesley Routh, the 58-year-old man arrested on Sunday for allegedly trying to kill former President Donald Trump, said in a book he published in February 2023 that he looked forward to World War III and hoped he could burn down the Kremlin. “I do dream of the day that we cross over into Russia and march towards Moscow. That is the part of this third world war that I look forward to. I want to be the one that burns down the Kremlin and all the cruelty that it signifies,” Routh wrote in the book titled “Ukraine’s Unwinnable War.”In another part of the book, Routh criticized Trump for pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal and said he must share the blame for voting for the former president.“I must take part of the blame for the retarded child that we elected for our next president that ended up being brainless, but I am man enough to say that I misjudged and made a terrible mistake and Iran I apologize,” Routh wrote.Routh went on to say that Iran could assassinate both Trump and himself. “You are free to assassinate Trump as well as me for that error in judgment,” he wrote. In the book and in social media posts, Routh repeatedly expressed his wish to fight in Ukraine against the Russian military. In 2022, Routh traveled to Ukraine, but he said in an interview with Newsweek Romaniathat he was too old to fight.Routh said his “plan B” was to help recruit people from around the world for Ukraine’s foreign legion. In an interview with Semafor in 2023, Routh complained that Ukraine didn’t want to take Afghan soldiers. “Most of the Ukrainian authorities do not want these soldiers,” he said. “I have had partners meeting with [Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense] every week and still have not been able to get them to agree to issue one single visa.”In a follow-up article published on Sunday after the arrest, Semafor said that when they interviewed Routh, he was the head of a group he started called the International Volunteer Center. The article cited a Ukrainian involved in foreign recruitment and said that Routh was “even by the standards of that frantic moment, a bit over the top.”But the Ukrainian also said that Routh was authentically involved in the efforts to bring in foreign troops. Since his arrest, Ukraine’s foreign legion has distanced itself from Ruth.

Musings On The Second Trump Assassination Attempt - Caitlin Johnstone - Another Trump assassination attempt has been foiled by the Secret Service, this time with the would-be assassin alive and in police custody. His name is Ryan Routh. Unlike the last aspiring assassin, this one didn’t get off a shot, and has a much more public profile. The Grayzone has a report out documenting Routh’s extensive involvement in efforts to recruit volunteers to fight in the war in Ukraine, a cause he has been highly ideologically dedicated to.Just like last time Trump’s political opponents who’ve been melodramatically claiming Trump is going to end American democracy and install himself as a dictator for life are condemning political violence and expressing relief that he’s okay. Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries and Bernie Sandershave all tweeted statements to this effect. As soon as shit gets even a tiny bit real all the performers set aside their vitriolic rhetoric about Trump and start talking about how relieved they are that their fellow performer is okay, the same as you would see if someone took a shot at one of the performers in a pro wrestling match. It’s all a kayfabe performance.Trump supporters are again touting this foiled assassination plot as evidence that the Deep State is after their man, but right now I’m not buying it. I kinda think if the real power players wanted him dead he’d be dead. According to Trump supporters the Deep State is simultaneously (A) a supremely powerful entity capable of enslaving the world in a neo-Marxist bug-eating vaccine mandate woke dystopia and (B) somehow incapable of successfully assassinating one 78 year-old man despite multiple attempts. I wouldn’t care if Trump got assassinated, but for the record nothing would be accomplished by eliminating him because he’ll only be replaced by an ideological clone of himself just like Biden was. The powers that be benefit too much from having a Trump; if it’s not him it’ll be another. Trump supporters say Trump is anti-establishment, when in reality he’s done more to advance the interests of the establishment than any individual Democrat ever has. In addition to all the longstanding agendas of the US war machine he advanced while president, he also moves US politics in the exact direction the powerful want it to move.

White House: Elon Musk's assassination 'joke' was 'irresponsible' - The White House called Elon Musk’s now-deleted “joke,” which questioned why “no one is even trying” to assassinate Vice President Harris, “irresponsible” in a statement Monday. “As President Biden and Vice President Harris said after yesterday’s disturbing news, ‘there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country,’ and ‘we all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,’” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said.“Violence should only be condemned, never encouraged or joked about. This rhetoric is irresponsible,” Bates continued.Musk’s post came hours after former President Trump was targeted in a second apparent assassination attempt Sunday. The former president, who was playing golf at the time, was not harmed, and the suspect was apprehended shortly after being spotted along the perimeter of the golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla.Musk quoted a post on the social platform X that read “Why they want to kill Donald Trump?” and added his own commentary, writing, “And no one is even trying to assassinate Kamala,” with a thinking-face emoji.Musk, the owner of X, deleted the post on his platform early Monday and maintained it was a “joke.”“Well, one lesson I’ve learned is that just because I say something to a group and they laugh doesn’t mean it’s going to be all that hilarious as a post on X,” he wrote Monday, adding later, “Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text.”

Election officials sent suspicious packages in at least five states --Election officials in at least five states were sent suspicious packages Monday, according to officials from each state. There were no reports that the packages contained hazardous material, and the FBI and U.S. Postal Service confirmed they are investigating the incident, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Packages with powder-like substances were sent to secretaries of states and election offices in Nebraska, Tennessee, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Iowa, the AP said. In most cases, the substances have already been deemed harmless. In Oklahoma, officials determined the material sent to the election office contained flour. In Nebraska, the substance was tested and found to be nonhazardous. Elsewhere, it was not yet clear whether testing of the material had concluded. In Iowa, protocol required that the entire six-story state office building be evacuated because of the substance. In Wyoming, workers near the state Capitol were sent home as the white substance sent to the secretary of state’s office was undergoing testing. Local reports in Kansas cited Topeka Fire Department spokesperson Alan Stahl saying two packages were found, one addressed to the secretary of state and another addressed to the attorney general, prompting a “precautionary evacuation” for further testing. The incident marks the second time in the last year that election officials have been sent suspicious packages. Last November, suspicious letters were sent to election offices and government buildings in at least six states. Some letters contained fentanyl, and others were not toxic. Still, the suspicious mail delayed the counting of ballots in some local elections, the AP reported. The latest incident comes less than two months ahead of what is expected to be a heated election. Officials have taken steps across the country to increase security of election buildings and to boost protections for workers, following the wave of harassment that many election workers faced during the 2020 election and its aftermath.

Explosives Reported Near Trump Rally On Long Island As Police Hunt For Suspect --Sources within the Nassau County Police Department allegedly told One America News Network (OANN) journalist James Lalino that officers conducting a routine K9 sweep discovered an explosive device in a vehicle parked near the rally venue. The report comes just three days after a would-be assassin was arrested at Trump's Palm Beach golf club. According to the Daily Mail, the driver of the car with explosives ran into the woods. According to Lalino’s report on X, the suspect bolted from the car, leaving law enforcement scrambling to locate him.Sources in the Nassau County Police Department just told me that "the perimeter was breached and a blue barrel was removed" from the area surrounding tonight's Trump rally site.Source said "During K9, doing their checks, they found an explosive device in one of the vehicles and…— James Lalino (@JamesLalino) September 18, 2024“No one saw if he had anything on him, they just saw him take off running,” one source reportedly told Lalino. “A lot of cars are now parking, they’re lining up on Hempstead Turnpike, just parking on the grass. Even over at Eisenhower Park, they’re just parking over there." The bomb scare comes as Trump continues to face heightened security threats. He has largely shifted to indoor venues since an attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, when a would-be attacker was apprehended before getting close to the former president.If confirmed, the presence of explosives at Wednesday’s event would mark a chilling escalation in the threats surrounding Trump’s public appearances as he continues to campaign for the 2024 Republican nomination. Law enforcement officials have not yet released an official statement, but the incident has put the rally site on high alert.

Donald Trump: Crypto is 'fledging' yet ‘massive business’ in project launch - Former President Trump and his sons unveiled new details about their new cryptocurrency platform World Liberty Financial on Monday night, marking the former president’s latest embrace of digital currencies after years of skepticism. Trump appeared Monday night in an X Spaces conversation, which was advertised as a “state of crypto address” for the project’s launch. The conversation featured crypto investor Farokh Sarmad, who interviewed Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., and other business allies on the new business and the broader crypto industry at the former president’s Palm Beach resort Mar-a-Lago. “If we don’t do it, China is going to do it,” Trump said of crypto development in the United States. “China’s going to do it anyway. But if we don’t do it, we’re not going to be the biggest, and we have to be the biggest and the best.” “We want to have a great country; we want to stay at the top. We’re making things now, we’re starting and it started under my administration that there was no chance of ever even getting involved in for a long time, we’re leading the pack in so many ways,” Trump added, touting his administration’s creation of the Space Force. Describing crypto as a “fledging business,” Trump said it is also a “massive business” and “has the chance to really be something special.” Trump did not offer many specific details about the project and did not address crypto until 16 minutes into Monday night’s conversation when he discussed his three sons – Eric, Barron and Donald Trump Jr. – and their experience in the industry. “Barron knows so much about this,” Trump said of his 18-year-old son. “He talks about his wallet. He’s got four wallets or something, but he knows this stuff.” Trump said he was not initially “overly interested” in crypto until his trademarked nonfungible tokens were paid with crypto. His children, though, “opened my eyes more than anything else,” he said. Trump first teased the crypto project last month in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social. At the time, he linked to a Telegram channel called “The DeFiant Ones,” which has since been renamed “World Liberty Financial.”Little details were released at the time, though a copy of the project’s white paper, obtained by crypto news site CoinDesk, would offer borrowing and lending services using its own crypto token.The founders include Trump, his three sons, and businessman Steve Witkoff, and his son, Zach Witkoff, CNBC reported, citing a person briefed by a member of the group’s founding team. Despite this, the platform itself is “not owned, managed, operated or sold” by members of the Trump family, Bloomberg reported, citing a copy of the white paper.The move marks a stark shift for the former president, who said in 2019 that he was “not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies,” calling them “not money.” After once dismissing crypto as a “scam,” Trump is now vowing to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” if reelected in November. He made the pledge during a Bitcoin conference in July when he announced a series of crypto proposals.

Trump family calls banking 'politicized' as they launch crypto firm Former President Donald Trump headlined an event Monday evening about a crypto platform the Republican nominee for president and his sons are promoting. The family made numerous comments about the state of banking today, including access to credit, digital payments, and the potential for decentralized finance to disrupt the financial sector.

House lawmakers pitch proposals to address pig butchering scams | American Banker - U.S. lawmakers and law enforcement officials discussed pig butchering — long cons in which a fraudster gradually builds the trust of a victim before introducing a fraudulent investment opportunity, which is often made through a fake cryptocurrency trading platform.

WA residents lose over $1.9 million to crypto and investment scams, BBB reports — A new investigation by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has uncovered a dramatic increase in reported investment scams, with losses related to fake investment opportunities rising nearly six-fold.Cameron Nakashima of the BBB said the scams are increasingly involving cryptocurrency. These scams are on the rise, with more and more involving cryptocurrency.The latest reports to the BBB indicate that investment scams often take the form of long-term confidence scams. Fraudsters fabricate relationships with victims—either romantically or as investment mentors—to gain their trust. This approach has led to a significant increase in losses.In 2021, the median reported loss was $1,000. In 2024, the median loss reported is $6,000."Since the beginning of the year, we’ve received 32 investment scam reports from Washington, totaling over $1.9 million in losses. Most of these involve crypto," Nakashima said. "One Washington resident recently reported losing $730,000 to a scam cryptocurrency investment website."Nakashima outlined three red flags to watch for:

Be wary of investment "gurus" or romantic prospects you haven't met in person. Verify their credentials and track record before trusting their advice.
Exercise extreme caution with deals involving obscure cryptocurrencies or crypto brokerage websites you have not heard of before. Fraudsters often guide you to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrencies or use fake brokerage accounts.
Watch out for "too-good-to-be-true" offers. If an investment opportunity promises you can't lose money or guarantees unusually high returns, those are red flags.

Nakashima advised that if someone identifies an investment scam or loses money to one, they should block and report the scam account.

2 Stole $230 Million in Cryptocurrency and Went on a Spending Spree, U.S. Says - Two men have been charged with stealing $230 million worth of cryptocurrency that they used to go on a lavish spending spree involving travel, nightclubs, luxury cars, jewelry and palatial rental properties in Los Angeles and Miami before they were caught, federal prosecutors said. The men, Malone Lam, 20, and Jeandiel Serrano, 21, conspired last month to steal the cryptocurrency funds from a person in Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. After disguising their theft by spreading the money between several cryptocurrency exchanges and mixing services, the authorities said, the men went on their spending spree. Mr. Lam, a citizen of Singapore who operated under aliases including “Anne Hathaway,” and Mr. Serrano, who went by “VersaceGod," were arrested by the F.B.I. on Wednesday. In an indictment unsealed on Thursday, Mr. Lam and Mr. Serrano were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Diego Weiner, a lawyer with Jeffrey S. Weiner, P.A. Criminal Defense Attorneys in Miami, said that he planned to “vigorously defend” Mr. Lam and asked that he be “presumed innocent” unless proven otherwise. He said he had not received any evidence from the government. Mr. Serrano’s lawyer could not be immediately reached on Friday.

FBI Arrests Duo In $230 Million Crypto Fraud: Here's How They Pulled The Scam Off - Two individuals, a Singaporean residing in the United States and a US citizen, have been charged with conspiring to steal and launder over $230 million in cryptocurrency.The pair, identified as 20-year-old Malone Lam, a Singaporean who splits his time between Miami and Los Angeles, and 21-year-old Jeandiel Serrano from Los Angeles, were arrested on Wednesday night by the FBI. According to a press release from the US Department of Justice, Lam and Serrano fraudulently acquired more than 4,100 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $230 million during the theft, from a victim based in Washington D.C.Lam, known online by the aliases “Anne Hathaway” and “$$$”, and Serrano, who uses the handles “VersaceGod” and “@SkidStar”, made their initial court appearance on Thursday.They are accused of leading a crypto theft and laundering operation that involved fraudulent access to victims’ crypto accounts, which allowed them to transfer funds into their control. The Justice Department noted that this scheme had been operating since August of this year.The scheme orchestrated by Lam and Serrano included advanced laundering techniques to conceal the origin of the stolen assets. According to the allegations, they used cryptocurrency exchanges and mixing services to process and obscure the movement of the stolen Bitcoin.A key method employed in this operation was “peel chains,” a technique in which large sums of cryptocurrency are broken into smaller transactions, making it difficult to trace the funds. Additionally, virtual private networks (VPNs) and pass-through wallets added anonymity to their activities, allowing them to avoid detection while laundering thestolen funds.Blockchain investigator ZachXBT provided insight into how the scam was carried out. In a post on social media platform X, ZachXBT explained that the accused individuals used “sophisticated social engineering” tactics to defraud their victims.

2/ Incident Summary: On August 19, 2024 the threat actors targeted a single Genesis creditor by:
1) Calling as Google Support via spoofed number to compromise personal accounts
2) Calling after as Gemini support claiming account is hacked
3) Social engineered victim into… pic.twitter.com/gemvrdRLNm

The $230 million fraud case involved the targeting of a creditor from the now-defunct trading firm Genesis. The group allegedly used a spoofed phone number posing as Google support to convince the victim to reset their two-factor authentication, ultimately transferring their cryptocurrency into the conspirators’ control.

Texas' Liberty Capital and Southwestern strike deal; BNY buys Archer - Liberty Capital Bancshares in Texas agreed to acquire in-state peer Southwestern Bancorp; BNY announced it will buy managed-account software company Archer; Louisiana is supporting crypto but pushing back on CBDCs; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Silvergate executive blames Fed, FDIC and OCC for bank's collapse - As Silvergate Capital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, an executive said the company's crypto-friendly bank went down last year because regulators soured on its business model.

Powell: Regulators will 'move as a group' on Basel re-proposal - The Federal Reserve chair said he supports the revised proposal outlined by Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr and said the new proposal would get a vote by the full Board of Governors early next year.

Fed’s relaxed bank-capital plan faces bipartisan FDIC pushback - A plan to dial back US regulators’ landmark bank-capital proposal is running into a wall of resistance at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. At least three of five FDIC directors oppose the latest overhaul previewed by the Federal Reserve last week, according to people familiar with their thinking. Democrat Rohit Chopra has joined the two Republican board members, including Vice Chairman Travis Hill, against the changes, the people said. Fed Chair Jerome Powell, when asked Wednesday about the other agencies’ buy-in, said the idea is “we’re all moving together,” with the goal of wrapping up the massive package in the first half of 2025. But the bipartisan pushback at the FDIC is again raising questions about how long and what it will take to get all three bank regulators on the same page. Chopra, who’s also head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has privately described the sharp reduction in capital requirements as closer to a giveaway to Wall Street banks, the people familiar with his discussions said. Republican Jonathan McKernan has said he’s a resounding “no” and wants a full reproposal instead of a partial one. “We’ve been too focused on reverse engineering a particular capital aggregate — first a significant increase in July Representatives for Hill and Chopra declined to comment. Spokespeople for the Fed and FDIC declined to comment. The Fed, FDIC and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency unveiled the original draft in July 2023, sparking one of the industry’s fiercest lobbying campaigns. The new revisions previewed on Sept. 10 by Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr would roughly cut in half the 19% capital hike that regulators had planned for the eight US global systemically important banks, including Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Those lenders would now face a 9% increase in the capital they must hold as a cushion against financial shocks. The proposal is the US version of Basel III, an international accord intended to prevent future bank failures and another financial crisis. Some supporters have also billed the US effort as a fix for some of the flaws that led to the collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank last year. Critics say it could raise the costs of lending, hurt the economy and put US banks on weaker footing against international rivals. Despite the planned retreat in capital mandates, Wall Street greeted the news with some skepticism. Morgan Stanley Co-President Dan Simkowitz said last week that he wasn’t sure the changes would be sufficient. Bank of America Corp.’s chief executive officer, Brian Moynihan, said the latest proposal could be a case of “show them death and they’ll take despair.” At the FDIC, the concerns helped delay tentative plans to hold an open meeting this week on the revised capital plan, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Bloomberg had reported that the regulators could release the text of the latest changes as early as Sept. 19. The central bank’s lead role in crafting the 450 pages of revisions was seen as one-sided by some FDIC directors, some of the people said. They privately described the recent round of negotiations with the Fed as lacking a meaningful opportunity for them to weigh in on specific changes contributing to the lower capital hike, according to the people.

U.S. Bank Stocks Rally After Fed Cuts Interest Rates by 50Bps - The Federal Reserve’s aggressive start to monetary policy easing raised optimism among investors who expect this move to boost the profitability of Wall Street giants and smaller regional lenders. On Wednesday, the Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell, remarked the U.S. economy is "in good shape." He pointed out that risks of further cooling in the labor market have risen. With this, the central bank cut the interest rates by 50 basis points, bringing the Fed fund rates to the 4.75-5% range. This marks the end of an era of aggressive interest rate hikes intended to curb persistent inflation. The central bank also indicated two more rate cuts this year, which will bring the Fed funds rate down to 4.4% in 2024. Investors see this rate cut as a big support to the economy with the expectation of a soft landing, where the Fed's aggressive tightening cycle ends with inflation falling to the 2% target without a significant downturn in the economy. The Fed interest rate cut leads to a rally in the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 rising 1.7% and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gaining 2.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.3% on Thursday. The KBW Nasdaq Bank Index and the S&P Banks Select Industry Index moved up 2.6% each yesterday. With this, shares of Citigroup C gained 5.2%, Wells Fargo WFC was up 2.3% and JPMorgan JPM rose 2.9%. Apart from big industry players, lenders with excessive real estate exposure attracted investors’ attention. Hence, First Foundation Inc. FFWM stock jumped 4.5%, while HomeTrust Bancshares HTBI gained 2.2%, as the long-awaited rate cut is likely to be a favorable factor. Investors’ optimistic stance on banks with a huge commercial real estate (CRE) loan concentration was driven by the expected reduction in some of their credit risk and increased profits. Many banks have set aside huge amounts as a cushion against potential defaults among borrowers, particularly in their CRE portfolios where a lack of demand for office spaces led to immense pressure. As of June 30, 2024, FFWM had a real estate loan exposure of 71.5% of total loans, while for HTBI it was 50.6%. The banks reaped huge benefits in the form of higher net interest margin (NIM) and net interest income (NII) during the initial phase of high-rate regime. Challenges related to slowing loan growth (mainly CRE), increased funding costs, lower-yielding securities and lower liquidity became more apparent since the beginning of 2023.

Q2 Update: Delinquencies, Foreclosures and REO. - We will NOT see a surge in foreclosures that would significantly impact house prices (as happened following the housing bubble) for two key reasons: 1) mortgage lending has been solid, and 2) most homeowners have substantial equity in their homes. Last week, CoreLogic reported on homeowner equity: CoreLogic: US Homeowners See Equity Gains Continue to Climb, but at a Slower Pace in Q2 The report shows that U.S. homeowners with mortgages (which account for roughly 62% of all properties) saw home equity increase by 8.0% year over year, representing a collective gain of $1.3 trillion and an average increase of $25,000 per borrower since the second quarter of 2023, bringing the total net homeowner equity to over $17.6 trillion in the second quarter of 2024. … And on mortgage rates, here is some data from the FHFA’s National Mortgage Database showing the distribution of interest rates on closed-end, fixed-rate 1-4 family mortgages outstanding at the end of each quarter since Q1 2013 through Q1 2024 (Q2 2024 data will be released in two weeks). This shows the surge in the percent of loans under 3%, and also under 4%, starting in early 2020 as mortgage rates declined sharply during the pandemic. Currently 21.9% of loans are under 3%, 57.3% are under 4%, and 76.0% are under 5%. REO (Real Estate Owned) is the amount of real estate owned by lenders.This graph shows the nominal dollar value of Residential REO for FDIC insured institutions based on the Q2 FDIC Quarterly Banking Profile released earlier this month. Note: The FDIC reports the dollar value and not the total number of REOs. Fannie Mae reported the number of REOs decreased to 7,179 at the end of Q2 2024, down 10% from 7,971 at the end of the previous quarter, and down 17% year-over-year from Q2 2023. Here is a graph of Fannie Real Estate Owned (REO).This is very low and well below the pre-pandemic levels. REOs are a lagging indicator. REOs increase when borrowers struggle financially and have little or no equity, so they can’t sell their homes - as happened after the housing bubble. That will not happen this time.Here is some data on delinquencies … It is important to note that loans in forbearance are counted as delinquent in the various surveys, but not reported to the credit agencies.Here is a graph from the MBA’s National Delinquency Survey through Q2 2024. The percent of loans in the foreclosure process decreased year-over-year from 0.53 percent in Q2 2023 to 0.43 percent in Q2 2024 (red) and remains historically low. Loans in forbearance are mostly in the 90-day bucket at this point, and that has declined recently. From the MBA:Compared to last quarter, the seasonally adjusted mortgage delinquency rate increased for all loans outstanding. By stage, the 30-day delinquency rate increased 1 basis point to 2.26 percent, the 60-day delinquency rate increased 3 basis points to 0.70 percent, and the 90-day delinquency bucket decreased 1 basis point to 1.01 percent ...The delinquency rate includes loans that are at least one payment past due but does not include loans in the process of foreclosure. The percentage of loans in the foreclosure process at the end of the second quarter was 0.43 percent, down 3 basis points from the first quarter of 2024 and 10 basis points lower than one year agoBoth Fannie and Freddie release serious delinquency (90+ days) data monthly. Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in July was 0.51%, up from 0.50% June. Freddie's rate is down year-over-year from 0.56% in July 2023. This is below the pre-pandemic lows. Freddie's serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency increased to 0.49% in July from 0.48% in June. The serious delinquency rate is down year-over-year from 0.54% in July 2023. This is below the pre-pandemic lows. The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.32% in August 2020 during the pandemic.This graph shows the recent decline in serious delinquencies: The pandemic related increase in serious delinquencies was very different from the increase in delinquencies following the housing bubble. Lending standards have been fairly solid over the last decade, and most of these homeowners have equity in their homes - and they have been able to restructure their loans once they were employed. And on foreclosures … ICE reported that active foreclosures have decreased are near the records. From ICE: ICE Mortgage Monitor: Rate drops make August most affordable month since February, as home price growth cools to 12-month low

Foreclosure starts jumped by 32% in July, but that spike appears to be more a sign of volatility in monthly referral volumes after coming off a post moratorium low in June than a signal of broader risk in the market
Fewer than 30K loans were referred to foreclosure in the month, which is still more than 30% below 2019 levels, with the number of seriously delinquent mortgages also continuing to run historically low
Active foreclosure inventory nudged higher (+2K), but remains at its second-lowest level since January 2022 and is still 34% below pre-pandemic levels
July foreclosure sales (5.5K) increased +3.7% month-over-month, but were down -9.6% from last year and still less than half of 2019 averages
The national foreclosure rate edged modestly higher in July as well, a month after hitting its lowest level on record outside of Q4 2021 at the tail end of the national foreclosure moratorium.

The bottom line is there will not be a huge wave of foreclosures as happened following the housing bubble. The distressed sales during the housing bust led to cascading price declines, and that will not happen this time.

MBA: Mortgage Applications Increased in Weekly Survey -- From the MBA: Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey Mortgage applications increased 14.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending September 13, 2024. Last week’s results included an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 14.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 26 percent compared with the previous week. The Refinance Index increased 24 percent from the previous week and was 127 percent higher than the same week one year ago. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index increased 5 percent from one week earlier. The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 15 percent compared with the previous week and was 0.4 percent lower than the same week one year ago. “Application activity was up significantly last week, as market expectations of a rate cut from the Fed pulled mortgage rates lower. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate, at 6.15 percent, is now at its lowest since September 2022 and is more than a full percentage point lower than a year ago,” “Refinance applications were up 24 percent – more than double last year’s pace, with both conventional and government activity jumping to the fastest pace of refinancing since 2022.” “There was also an increase in purchase applications, and it is notable that conventional purchase applications increased to a pace ahead of last year, which also drove overall purchase applications very close to year-ago levels. Homebuyers are seeing improving affordability conditions, sparked by lower rates and slower home-price growth.” ... The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or less) decreased to 6.15 percent from 6.29 percent, with points increasing to 0.56 from 0.55 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The first graph shows the MBA mortgage purchase index. According to the MBA, purchase activity is down 0.4% year-over-year unadjusted (mostly unchanged year-over-year!). Red is a four-week average (blue is weekly). Purchase application activity is up about 17% from the lows in late October 2023, but still below the lowest levels during the housing bust. The second graph shows the refinance index since 1990.With higher mortgage rates, the refinance index declined sharply in 2022 - and mostly flat lined for two years - but has increased recently as mortgage rates declined.

Housing Sept 16th Weekly Update: Inventory up 1.4% Week-over-week, Up 37.4% Year-over-year --Altos reports that active single-family inventory was up 1.4% week-over-week. Inventory is now up 44.5% from the February seasonal bottom. This inventory graph is courtesy of Altos Research. As of September 13th, inventory was at 714 thousand (7-day average), compared to 704 thousand the prior week. The second graph shows the seasonal pattern for active single-family inventory since 2015. The red line is for 2024. The black line is for 2019. Inventory was up 37.4% compared to the same week in 2023 (last week it was up 38.0%), and down 25.2% compared to the same week in 2019 (last week it was down 25.7%). Back in June 2023, inventory was down almost 54% compared to 2019, so the gap to more normal inventory levels is slowly closing.Mike Simonsen discusses this data regularly on Youtube.

Realtor.com Reports Active Inventory Up 33.0% YoY -- On a weekly basis, Realtor.com reports the year-over-year change in active inventory and new listings. On a monthly basis, they report total inventory. For August, Realtor.com reported inventory was up 5.8% YoY, but still down 26.4% compared to the 2017 to 2019 same month levels. Now - on a weekly basis - inventory is up 33.0% YoY. Realtor.com has monthly and weekly data on the existing home market. Here is their weekly report: Weekly Housing Trends View—Data for Week Ending Sept. 14, 2024
• Active inventory increased, with for-sale homes 33.0% above year-ago levels.For the 45th consecutive week dating to November 2023, the number of listings for sale has grown year over year, and this week continues a string of growth rates in the mid-30% range that started in April. This is a slight decrease from last week’s gain of 33.4%. As we discussed above and below, it’s important to note that much of the increase in inventory is due to listings accumulating on a slow market rather than a surge in new listings.
• New listings—a measure of sellers putting homes up for sale—ticked up by 6.6% from one year ago As the recent easing of mortgage rates kept encouraging many sellers to return to the market, the year-over-year growth in new listings continued this week. With mortgage rates nearly 1 percentage point lower than last year and the announcement of a rate cut, we expect sellers’ motivation to sell could continue to rise this fall. In addition, as rates are likely to be even lower in 2025, a larger increase in listing activity is expected next spring. Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in inventory according to realtor.com. Inventory was up year-over-year for the 45th consecutive week. However, inventory is still historically low. New listings remain below typical pre-pandemic levels.

NAR: Existing-Home Sales Decreased to 3.86 million SAAR in August 0From the NAR: Existing-Home Sales Declined 2.5% in August - In August 2024, existing-home sales fell in the South, West, and Northeast, while the Midwest registered no change. Year-over-year, sales slipped in three regions but remained stable in the Northeast. This graph shows existing home sales, on a Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) basis since 1994. Sales in August (3.86 million SAAR) were down 2.5% from the previous month and were 4.2% below the August 2023 sales rate. The second graph shows nationwide inventory for existing homes. According to the NAR, inventory increased to 1.35 million in August from 1.34 million the previous month. Headline inventory is not seasonally adjusted, and inventory usually decreases to the seasonal lows in December and January, and peaks in mid-to-late summer. The last graph shows the year-over-year (YoY) change in reported existing home inventory and months-of-supply. Since inventory is not seasonally adjusted, it really helps to look at the YoY change. Note: Months-of-supply is based on the seasonally adjusted sales and not seasonally adjusted inventory. Inventory was up 22.7% year-over-year (blue) in August compared to August 2023. Months of supply (red) increased to 4.2 months in August from 4.1 months the previous month. The sales rate was at the consensus forecast. I'll have more later.

NAR: Existing-Home Sales Decreased to 3.86 million SAAR in August; Median House Prices Increased 3.1% Year-over-Year - Today, in the CalculatedRisk Real Estate Newsletter: NAR: Existing-Home Sales Decreased to 3.86 million SAAR in August Excerpt: The fourth graph shows existing home sales by month for 2023 and 2024. Sales declined 4.2% year-over-year compared to August 2023. This was the thirty-sixth consecutive month with sales down year-over-year.

Housing Starts Increased to 1.356 million Annual Rate in August - From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,356,000. This is 9.6 percent above the revised July estimate of 1,237,000 and is 3.9 percent above the August 2023 rate of 1,305,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 992,000; this is 15.8 percent above the revised July figure of 857,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 333,000. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,475,000. This is 4.9 percent above the revised July rate of 1,406,000, but is 6.5 percent below the August 2023 rate of 1,578,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 967,000; this is 2.8 percent above the revised July figure of 941,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 451,000 in August. The first graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 2000. Multi-family starts (blue, 2+ units) increased in August compared to July. Multi-family starts were up 5.5% year-over-year. Single-family starts (red) increased in August and were up 5,1% year-over-year. The second graph shows single and multi-family housing starts since 1968. This shows the huge collapse following the housing bubble, and then the eventual recovery - and the recent collapse and recovery in single-family starts. Total housing starts in August were above expectations and starts in June and July were revised slightly.

Housing Starts Increased to 1.356 million Annual Rate in August --Today, in the Calculated Risk Real Estate Newsletter: Housing Starts Increased to 1.356 million Annual Rate in August A brief excerpt: Total housing starts in August were above expectations and starts in June and July were revised slightly. A solid report. The third graph shows the month-to-month comparison for total starts between 2023 (blue) and 2024 (red). Total starts were up 3.9% in August compared to August 2023. The YoY increase in August total starts was due to an increase in both multi-family and single-family starts. Single family starts have been up year-over-year in 12 of the last 14 months, whereas multi-family has been up year-over-year in only 2 of last 14 months. Year-to-date (YTD), total starts are down 4.0% compared to the same period in 2023. Single family starts are up 10.4% YTD, and multi-family down 32.6% YTD.

AIA: Architecture Billings Declined in August; Multi-family Billings Declined for 25th Consecutive Month --Note: This index is a leading indicator primarily for new Commercial Real Estate (CRE) investment. From the AIA: Architecture firm billings remained sluggish in August, as the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score declined to 45.7 - It has now been nearly two years since firms saw sustained growth. However, clients are still expressing interest in new projects, as inquiries into work have continued to increase during that period. However, those inquiries remain challenging to convert to actual new projects in the pipeline, as the value of newly signed design contracts declined for the fifth consecutive month in August. Business conditions softened in all regions of the country in August, with firms located in the West reporting the softest conditions for the second consecutive month. Billings were flat at firms located in the Northeast for the previous two months but dipped back into negative territory again this month. Firms of all specializations also saw declining billings in August, with conditions remaining particularly soft at firms with a multifamily residential specialization. ... The ABI score is a leading economic indicator of construction activity, providing an approximately nine-to-twelve-month glimpse into the future of nonresidential construction spending activity. The score is derived from a monthly survey of architecture firms that measures the change in the number of services provided to clients.
• Northeast (48.2); Midwest (46.6); South (46.8); West (45.7)
• Sector index breakdown: commercial/industrial (46.6); institutional (47.4); multifamily residential (44.0)
This graph shows the Architecture Billings Index since 1996. The index was at 45.7 in August, down from 48.2 in July. Anything below 50 indicates a decrease in demand for architects' services. This index has indicated contraction for 22 of the last 23 months. Note: This includes commercial and industrial facilities like hotels and office buildings, multi-family residential, as well as schools, hospitals and other institutions. This index usually leads CRE investment by 9 to 12 months, so this index suggests a slowdown in CRE investment into 2025. Note that multi-family billing turned down in August 2022 and has been negative for twenty-five consecutive months (with revisions). This suggests we will see a further weakness in multi-family starts.

NAHB: Builder Confidence Increased in September --The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported the housing market index (HMI) was at 41, up from 39 last month. Any number below 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as poor than good.From the NAHB: Builder Sentiment Rises as Rates Fall but Affordability Challenges Persist With mortgage rates declining by more than one-half of a percentage point from early August through mid-September, per Freddie Mac, builder sentiment edged higher this month even as builders continue to grapple with rising costs. Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes was 41 in September, up two points from a reading of 39 in August, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. This breaks a string of four consecutive monthly declines.“Thanks to lower interest rates, builders now have a positive view for future new home sales for the first time since May 2024,” . “However, the cost of construction remains elevated relative to household budgets, holding back some enthusiasm for current housing market conditions. Moreover, builders will face competition from rising existing home inventory in many markets as the mortgage rate lock-in effect softens with lower mortgage rates.”“With inflation moderating, the Federal Reserve is expected to begin a cycle of monetary policy easing this week, which will produce downward pressure on mortgage interest rates and also lower the interest rates on land development and home construction business loans,” . “Lowering the cost of construction is critical to confront persistent challenges for housing affordability.”The latest HMI survey also revealed that the share of builders cutting prices dropped in September for the first time since April, down one point to 32%. Moreover, the average price reduction was 5%, the first time it has been below 6% since July 2022. Meanwhile, the use of sales incentives fell to 61% in September, down from 64% in August....All three HMI indices were up in September. The index charting current sales conditions rose one point to 45, the component measuring sales expectations in the next six months increased four points to 53 and the gauge charting traffic of prospective buyers posted a two-point gain to 27.Looking at the three-month moving averages for regional HMI scores, the Northeast fell three points to 49, the Midwest edged one-point higher to 40, the South decreased one point to 41 and the West increased two points to 39.This graph shows the NAHB index since Jan 1985.This was slightly above the consensus forecast.

Retail Sales Increased 0.1% in August --On a monthly basis, retail sales increased 0.1% from July to August (seasonally adjusted), and sales were up 2.1 percent from August 2023. From the Census Bureau report: Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August 2024, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $710.8 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent from the previous month, and up 2.1 percent from August 2023. ... The June 2024 to July 2024 percent change was revised from up 1.0 percent to up 1.1 percent..This graph shows retail sales since 1992. This is monthly retail sales and food service, seasonally adjusted (total and ex-gasoline).Retail sales ex-gasoline was up 0.1% in August.The second graph shows the year-over-year change in retail sales and food service (ex-gasoline) since 1993.Retail and Food service sales, ex-gasoline, increased by 3.0% on a YoY basis. The change in sales in August was slightly below expectations, however sales in June and July were revised up, combined.

Industrial Production Increased 0.8% in August --From the Fed: Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization ; In August, industrial production rose 0.8 percent after falling 0.9 percent in July. Similarly, the output of manufacturing increased 0.9 percent in August after decreasing 0.7 percent during the previous month. This pattern was due in part to a recovery in the index of motor vehicles and parts, which jumped nearly 10 percent in August after dropping roughly 9 percent in July. The index for manufacturing excluding motor vehicles and parts moved up 0.3 percent in August. The index for mining climbed 0.8 percent, while the index for utilities was flat. At 103.1 percent of its 2017 average, total industrial production in August was the same as its year-earlier level. Capacity utilization moved up to 78.0 percent in August, a rate that is 1.7 percentage points below its long-run (1972–2023) average. This graph shows Capacity Utilization. This series is up from the record low set in April 2020, and above the level in February 2020 (pre-pandemic).Capacity utilization at 78.0% is 1.7% below the average from 1972 to 2022.This was above consensus expectations.The second graph shows industrial production since 1967.Industrial production increased to 103.1. This is above the pre-pandemic level. Industrial production was above consensus expectations.

Michigan Attorney General charges 11 pro-Palestinian student protesters at the University of Michigan Last Thursday, Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel released a statement announcing that her office filed charges against 11 pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Michigan (UMich) in the 15th District Court in Washtenaw County. The charges are an escalation of the bipartisan campaign, which in Michigan has been spearheaded by the Democratic Party, to attack and suppress the rights of students and workers to protest war and genocide. The UMich administration has close ties to the Democratic Party, and Nessel is a Democrat. Nessel’s office issued a statement saying that they were charging 11 out of the “over 35 protesters” who were investigated. Seven of the protesters are being charged with trespassing and obstructing a police officer, a felony with a maximum two-year sentence. Two are only being charged with trespassing. The remaining two demonstrators are charged with various misdemeanors, likely stemming from interactions with Zionist counter-protesters, including disturbing the peace and “attempted ethnic intimidation.” The AG has also stated that the protesters were involved in the months-long protest encampment set up in the UMich Ann Arbor campus Diag (the university’s quad) last semester. The peaceful tent encampment was attacked and destroyed by police on May 21, following weeks of provocations by the UMich administration and police. Nessel’s office clarified that they are currently not prosecuting protesters involved in the Honors Convocation on March 25 inside Hill Auditorium or those who interacted with police outside the UMich Museum of Art on May 3. The investigation into protesters placing fake corpses and bloody toys in front of eight regents’ homes on May 15 continues. Employing the same doublespeak used by UMich administrators and those of other major universities across the US to justify their new authoritarian policies directed against anti-genocide protesters, Nessel proclaimed: The right to free speech and assembly is fundamental, and my office fully supports every citizen’s right to free speech under the First Amendment… However, violent and criminal behavior, or acts that trample on another’s rights, cannot be tolerated. I hope today’s charges are a reminder to everyone who chooses to assemble, regardless of the cause, that the First Amendment does not provide a cover for illegal activity. In other words, the right of students, youth and workers to peacefully assemble and protest the Gaza genocide, or any other crime of US imperialism and its allies, is illegal. The charges are a direct attack on democratic rights that was undeniably coordinated within the upper echelons of the Democratic Party and the state intelligence apparatus. Nessel is the right hand of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a leader in the Democratic Party and among those that were earlier floated to replace President Joe Biden on the Democratic presidential ticket. Furthermore, the charges come as the latest in a string of attacks on students’ and workers’ rights since the beginning of the fall semester. On August 28, police violently arrested four protesters at a peaceful “die-in” protest on the Diag for impeding foot traffic. These arrests came within days of the UMich administration’s announcement of its revised conduct policies, which allow the “university” to file a complaint against a student with practically no restrictions.

It took years, but elite colleges are learning the value of institutional neutrality -- Colleges and universities are getting out of the business of making political statements. Having found a topic they do not want to talk about — the war between Israel and Hamas — the presidents of elite institutions, including Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell,have announced they will no longer issue statements on social and political events.After years of pronouncing on social and political events, from the murder of George Floyd to the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, campus leaders suddenly found themselves tongue-tied in the wake of Hamas’s terror attack on Israel. The reaction was swift and fierce: Alumni revolted, donors cut off funding and politicians opened investigations. Americans were shocked by the lack of moral decency and the hypocrisy. How could university presidents condemn the criminal invasion of Ukraine but not the horrific massacre committed by Hamas of Oct. 7? The reason these schools are adopting institutional neutrality should never be forgotten, but it is the correct policy. As Johns Hopkins observed in its recent statement, “taking institutional positions can interfere with the university’s central commitment to free inquiry and obligation to foster a diversity of perspectives within our academic community.” By refraining from taking official stances on controversial matters, institutions fulfill their true role as forums for free and open debate and inquiry, in which individuals pursue and share their ideas without fear of violating institutional orthodoxies.As Tulane observed a few weeks ago, “Freed from the specter of an official imprimatur for any one view, competing opinions can fuel myriad contributions that advance society.”Harvard, which had one of the worst years in its history in 2023, was one of the first schools to take a stand against issuing political statements. It should be noted, however, that Harvard failed to adopt a full position of institutional neutrality, because it left open the possibility of divestment. The leaders of the University of Chicago — home to the gold standard statement on institutional neutrality, 1967’s Kalven Report — consider divestment to be at odds with neutrality. Vanderbilt, under the leadership of Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, has taken a similar stance.Emerson College’s recent announcement stands out for emphasizing that it will not “consider political pressure in allocating resources, including its endowment investments, or when selecting strategic partners.” This is also the right position, and it is especially important now because it rules out one of the chief demands of campus protesters supporting the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Movement against Israel.Whatever one thinks of the war in Gaza, divestment should be avoided because it violates institutional neutrality and thereby damages the college or university as an institution. The University of Minnesota Board of Regents recently lived up to its fiduciary duty when it declared neutrality and refused to divest from Israel.Beyond improving themselves by adopting neutrality, elite institutions also have the power to cause a cascade of change throughout higher education. For example, Emerson cited Harvard in its decision. Other institutions were surely influenced even if they did not acknowledge it. Now colleges can also cite Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Stanford, the University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, UCLA and the University of Texas system to support a decision to go politically neutral. Other prominent schools, including the University of Michigan, Northwestern and Yale, have set up committees to consider it.Institutional neutrality will help to solve the reputational crisis facing higher education. Harvard noted an especially important consideration in its announcement: “The integrity and credibility of the institution are compromised when the university speaks officially on matters outside its institutional area of expertise.” More to the point, scholars and scholarly institutions undermine their own credibility when they present their political opinions as expertise. Gallup has showntwo years in a row that only 36 percent of Americans have confidence in higher education, and this year it found that those lacking confidence reported “political agendas” as the top reason.

Protests break out against police shooting in the New York City subway - On Tuesday night, cops brutalized and arrested protesters as they rallied in front of Brooklyn’s 73rd police precinct against the mass shooting by two officers in a Brooklyn subway train on Sunday. In what has been described as a “cop riot,” members of the New York Police Department (NYPD) assaulted independent journalists with pepper spray and arrested 18 people. All but one were released the next day. Journalist Talia Jane noted on X, that she “Count[ed] at least 4 credentialed, working press who were maced by NYPD. 73rd was needlessly aggressive, had about 17 white shirts [police supervisors] directing cops in a million contradictory directions, caused multiple violent encounters pushing people to the sidewalk …” Earlier on Tuesday, about 250 protesters entered the West 4th Street subway and refused to pay fares. The group rode the train until 14th Street where they rallied in Union Square. Both groups were protesting the shooting of Derell Mickles, 37, for hopping a turnstile and allegedly threatening police officers, and the wounding of bystander Gregory Delpeche, 49, in the head, inside of a subway car at the Sutter Ave. stop in Brooklyn on Sunday. Another bystander and police officer were also lightly wounded. Delpeche, who was on his way to work at a local hospital, underwent surgery to his cranium on Wednesday. His family has called for the suspension of the two officers and has prepared to file a suit against the city. The reckless shooting has cause mass outrage in the city, where the subway is the chief mode of transportation available to millions of working class and middle class people. The corporate media has conducted a campaign in recent weeks to highlight the loss of revenue to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) from so-called fare beaters, that is, the hundreds of thousands of riders who are too poor to afford the $2.90 fare.

Newsom wants to ban intoxicating hemp products. Industry — and some health experts — say he’s going too far - California is seeking to crack down on sometimes-toxic hemp products containing THC, sparking ire from an industry that has for years operated with little scrutiny.Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) proposed emergency regulations that would require all such consumable items to be free of any detectable THC, with the goal of protecting children from dangerous impacts. The rules, which would be among the strongest restrictions on the hemp industry in any state, would also restrict the purchasing age for hemp to 21 years old.“In the industry, there’s full responsibility for not policing itself for the proliferation of these intoxicating products that are hurting our children,” Newsom said at a press conference, noting the presence of these items in school-adjacent grocery stores. As opposed to California’s cannabis industry, which is highly regulated, its hemp sector — like that of most U.S. states — operates with few restrictions.This inadvertent free-for-all was the result of a provision of the 2018 Farm Bill — a multiyear legislative package that governs a wide range of agricultural programs. The bill created a statutory definition for hemp unique from that of marijuana and thereby removed hemp from Drug Enforcement Administration oversight under the Controlled Substances Act.With that legalization of hemp has come mass distribution of mystery products that undergo no federal oversight and are left to be controlled — or not — by individual states.“It’s crazy that we’re producing all these new cannabinoids — some old, some new, none of them regulated,” Peter Grinspoon, a primary care physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, told The Hill.In contrast, he explained, a marijuana product that enters a cannabis dispensary is tracked from seed to sale and is tested “for fungus, heavy metals, lead, industrial byproducts, pesticides.”Although hemp and marijuana come from the same Cannabis sativa species, they differ in just how much of the psychoactive component, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), they contain.Hemp contains 0.3 percent or less THC and does not create a “high,” as opposed to marijuana, which has a typical potency of about 15-20 percent THC. Meanwhile, non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD), known for its relaxing and medicinal qualities, is found in both hemp and marijuana.In states like California that lack hemp regulations, however, items with unidentified ingredients ranging from THC to pesticides have emerged on supermarket shelves and in the hands of children.

Scans show reorganization of brain during pregnancy -Pregnancy appears to trigger a kind of “reorganization” of an expecting mother’s brain, new research suggests. MRI images taken of a 38-year-old woman throughout her pregnancy show the condition caused an extensive restructuring of her brain, according to a proof-of-concept study published Monday in the journal Nature Neuroscience. As part of the study, neuroscientist and first-time mother Elizabeth Chrastil underwent 26 magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs). The first was taken three weeks before she became pregnant via in vitro fertilization and the last captured two years after giving birth, according to the study. The brain is made up of two types of material — gray matter and white matter. When researchers looked at Chrastil’s MRI scans, some of the changes they noticed were a decrease in grey matter — or the wrinkly outermost layer of the brain. Another change was an increase in white matter — which is located deeper in the brain and is essentially a network of nerve fibers that enable parts of the brain to communicate with one another. Researchers noted that while many of the changes returned to baseline after childbirth, some, like cortical volume and thickness, remained altered in the postpartum years. The newly released research findings offer a glimpse into the “profound hormonal and physiological changes” that come with pregnancy and how they impact the roughly 140 million women worldwide who become pregnant every year.

Florida's health department advises against getting the new COVID booster | Health News Florida health.wusf.usf.edu

Florida's health officials say COVID booster targets wrong strain. An expert says it will still work | WUSF - COVID cases have been on the rise, and the decision to get a booster vaccine - or not - can be a difficult one. The state agency advises people to skip the shot because it doesn’t target the current dominant variant. A USF epidemiologist says it will still be effective but suggests first asking whether you need the booster.Last month, the FDA approved the latest COVID vaccine. It’s intended to target a strain known as KP.2, the dominant variant during the summer. However, as of Aug. 19, the current prevalent strain is KP.3.1.1, according to the CDC.This difference is the focus of the Florida Department of Health’s most recent vaccine guidelines. In a memo sent Thursday, the agency urged people to skip the new booster because it doesn’t target the most infectious strain.At the University of South Florida College of Public Health, epidemiologist Edwin Michael doesn’t fully agree. He said KP.2 and KP3.1.1 are closely related - close enough that the booster should still be effective.For Michael, the question to address is the need for a booster, not its efficacy.“I’m sitting on a fence here, you know; as an epidemiologist and a forecasting person in particular, I’m not that worried,” he said. “This is not going to flare up immediately. This will become like (the) flu.”Furthermore, Michael explained that the current spike in COVID cases was expected.“As people mix, colleges reopening, schools reopening, there’s greater mixing and immunity will keep waning and rising again.”The health department’s guidelines also claim that the FDA failed to conduct sufficient human clinical trials for the strain-specific booster.“None of these vaccines have been seriously tested, especially for long-term effects. So there is some truth to that,” Michael said. He elaborated on the fact that all human testing since the beginning of the pandemic has been accelerated and on a smaller scale than usual.He added that getting vaccinated may not be necessary, provided someone is not immunocompromised or at high risk, such as the elderly or those with respiratory issues.The memo from the health department marks the third straight year the state has recommended against the use of an FDA-approved mRNA COVID vaccine.In 2023 and 2022, Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo claimed insufficient human testing, lack of efficacy and vague adverse health effects as reasons to avoid the shot.

Whatever you want to believe, COVID-19 still surges through Kansas. Even worse waits in the wings. I spent last week in isolation here in Lawrence, tending to my 13-year-old child as he recovered from COVID-19. Thankfully, he has returned to school, and I avoided getting sick for the time being. Yet coronavirus remains a public health concern, and as Kansas Reflector reporter Anna Kaminski reported late last month, its latest surge coincides with public apathy over vaccinations. A new shot has been released to target the newest variants, yet uptake has been low.“It is very disappointing to be in such a great nation with such (an) educated, informed population and our vaccination rates against such a severe illness is in the low 15 to 20%,” said Chakshu Gupta, the chief medical officer at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri, during the University of Kansas Health System medical briefing Aug. 30. In the meantime, other concerning illnesses swirl. During that same briefing, health officials noted an outbreak of tuberculosis in Kansas. The state has seen 82 confirmed cases of the disease, nearly twice of last year’s total. A nasty strain of bird flu continues to circulate in cattle and has popped up in a Missouri resident with no known exposure to livestock. A little more than four years ago, we all saw how little prepared the United States was for a pandemic. Today, if anything, we seem less ready. In retrospect, this makes sense. While COVID-19 has killed more than 7 million people worldwide, it ultimately proved fatal to fewer people than feared. Vaccines and effective treatments made it through the development pipeline in rapid time, blunting its effect on those most at risk. Meanwhile, school and business closures created societal disruption and economic turmoil. In a time of widespread distrust in institutions, many have decided the pandemic was an overreaction at best and a “plandemic” at worst. Those of us who took it seriously then now watch in wonderment as tests, vaccines and treatments go unused. For that matter, we watch in wonderment as noted vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. somehow seized a national spotlight for his quixotic presidential run. If the latest strain of bird flu mutates to travel easily between humans, what then? If COVID-19 becomes more virulent, what then? If illnesses previously kept in check by vaccines — measles and polio, for example — spread anew, what then? All of these hypothetical cases could lead to massive loss of life, and nothing I’ve seen suggests that Kansans or Americans would sacrifice much of anything to prevent them. I know how a subset of readers will react to this column. They will complain about me continuing to write about COVID-19. They will raise the specter of lockdowns and school closures. They will accuse me of frightening or belittling those who either ignored the pandemic completely to tried treating infections with horse dewormer. But just because a bad thing happened and we want to move doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. The virus is real. The illnesses and deaths and long COVID cases are real. We still grapple with the individual and collective consequences. We can try to force these memories into a little box, distorting them in the process, or we can take concrete steps to build a healthier nation. I know which alternative I prefer. If you do just one thing after reading this column, please go to your doctor or pharmacy for an updated dose of the COVID-19 shot. It is proven safe and effective. It’s the least you can do until the next pandemic arrives. As it will.

COVID-infected psychiatric hospital roommates pose high risk of infection, especially in elderly -- A University of Pittsburgh–led study estimates that psychiatric inpatients—especially those on the geriatric unit—with COVID-infected roommates were at much higher risk of infection than those exposed to contagious patients housed elsewhere in the unit from 2020 to 2023. For the study, published late last week in the American Journal of Infection Control, the researchers compared the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in six units of a US psychiatric hospital among patients with an infectious roommate with that of those with an infectious unit mate from July 2020 to August 2023. The hospital placed patients with COVID-19 diagnoses in a separate unit that used negative air pressure and required staff to wear N95 respirators. Patients with known SARS-CoV-2 exposure were housed in a separate unit, and new patients were either placed in an individual room or with an unexposed roommate. In all units, physical distancing and universal masking were required until March 2023. "Patients cared for in psychiatric facilities may have complex psychiatric diagnoses and coexisting medical conditions that are risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and complications of infection, and may lack the ability to adhere to masking, social distancing, and other mitigation strategies," the authors noted. The analysis included 40 and 387 roommate and unit mate exposures, respectively. The COVID-19 infection rate was 10.05% overall, 24.4% for exposed roommates, and 9.3% for exposed unit mates. Average exposure time was 1.84 days. Patients who shared a room with a contagious roommate were 3.14 more likely than those with an infected unit mate to test positive for COVID-19. Patients exposed to a sick roommate or unit mate in the geriatric psychiatric unit were 6.38 times more likely to become infected. Group therapy wasn't associated with viral transmission. "Cohorting contagious and exposed individuals and avoiding multi-bedded rooms may successfully mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk during psychiatric care," the researchers wrote. "Group therapy may continue to be offered with appropriate mitigation measures due to the minimal contribution to transmission that group therapy offers."

Common diabetes drug linked to lower rate of long COVID --Metformin is the most common type 2 diabetes drug prescribed to millions of American each year, and a new study from researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in Diabetes Care suggests the drug can lower the risk of developing long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), in diabetics.Metformin lowers blood sugar and is most commonly prescribed as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. The drug also is prescribed off-label for weight loss and other metabolic conditions.The new findings come from the ongoing RECOVER trial and build on results seen in a 2023 trial, which showed metformin cuts the risk of long COVID by 40% in 1,300 adults who were overweight or obesity. Those participants were not diabetic.In the new study, the authors wanted to see if that effect was still seen in those taking metformin for diabetes. Previous studies have shown that people with type 2 diabetes are more at risk for developing long COVIDThe investigators used electronic health records from two databases to compare 75,996 adults taking metformin for their type 2 diabetes to 13,336 records from patients who were not taking metformin but were using other types of diabetes medicine. They analyzed data from 51,385 adults from the N3C data set and 37,947 adults from the PCORnet data set.Outcomes were long COVID diagnosis or death within 6 months of a confirmed COVID-19 infection, because death precludes a diagnosis of PASC, the authors explained.Overall, PASC diagnoses were seen in 1.7% of patients in the N3C of the data set and 1.3% in the PCORnet set.

US COVID markers show more declines -US COVID activity continued to decline in many areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates. positivity for COVID was 13.5% last week, down from 14.9% the week before.Hospitalizations continue to decline but remain highest in seniors, followed by adults ages 50 to 64 and children younger than age 4 years. Emergency department visits dropped about 19% compared to the previous week and are now at low levels across much of the country. Deaths held steady, and provisional data show that the CDC received reports of 563 COVID deaths for the week ending September 14.Detections of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater are still high nationally, according to CDC tacking. The highest levels remain in the West, followed by the Midwest and the South. However, all regions show downward trends.The latest data from WastewaterSCAN, a national wastewater monitoring system based at Stanford University in partnership with Emory University, show that detections are still high nationally and in the Midwest, with no significant up or down trend over the past 3 weeks.In its updates today, the CDC also had some respiratory virus vaccine uptake estimates. So far, about 2.8% of adults have received the updated COVID vaccine, and 6.8% have received a seasonal flu vaccine.Among adults ages 75 and older, 33.1% have reported ever receiving a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

XEC strain of COVID-19 spreading in Europe and could become dominant in US - There's an emerging COVID-19 variant in Europe that some medical professionals believe will become the dominant strain in the U.S.The strain, known as XEC, was first detected in Berlin in June, according to Mike Honey, a data specialist based in Australia. The variant, which is part of the Omicron family, has since seen growth in Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, he says.Scripps Research has documented 95 XEC cases worldwide — with 25 in the U.S.Currently, the KP.3.1.1 strain is the leading cause of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the strain makes up more than 50% of new infections.While there haven't been enough cases of XEC to show up on the CDC's variant tracker, Dr. Eric Topol, executive vice president at Scripps Research, says, "At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next."Just like in the U.S., health officials in Europe are advising people to get vaccinated ahead of an anticipated winter surge."We anticipate XEC to have similar properties to currently circulating variants, with no change in infection severity or vaccine effectiveness against severe disease," a spokesperson with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control told Euronews Next.Symptoms of the XEC variant are expected to be similar to current variants and include:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Sore throat

Updated COVID-19 vaccines, which health officials say will offer protection from currently circulating and emerging variants, are now available.

Long COVID patient in Canada requests medical assistance in dying due to lack of health and social care - A Quebec man suffering from Long COVID recently requested Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) due to the deplorable level of health and social care offered to support his debilitating condition. Sebastien Verret, 44, who has lived with Long COVID for more than three years, said he was exhausted from living in pain and worried about becoming an increasing burden to his family. The former salesman contracted COVID-19 in December 2020, just days after beginning a new job at a long-term care home. Verret had registered with the “Je Contribu” platform, which was set up by the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services in March 2020 to help alleviate staff shortages at the start of the pandemic. At first, he struggled with chronic fatigue, which then developed into nausea and seizures. Verret’s symptoms, instead of getting better over time, built up to the point that he had to choose which household chores he would attempt to complete while trying to care for his children. CNESST, the Quebec government agency responsible for occupational health and safety, provided some compensation to help cope with his debilitating condition, but the bills piled up. By February 2023, Verret could no longer afford his housing and he was compelled to move in with his parents. Speaking to the Canadian Press, Verret said, “I was in recovery. I was doing occupational therapy and I had hope—not that I would be cured, because I don’t think I’m ever going to be cured—but I had hope that I would be able to live with the disease, to deal with it.” Living with his parents for a few months allowed Verret to restore some of his physical health and improve his financial situation to the point that he could rent his own accommodation again. “And then the downward spiral began,” he said. Without specialized care, the symptoms returned and intensified, “thrombosis, sepsis, cardiac arrest, inflammation, severe diarrhea, back pain and a diagnosis of collagenous colitis.” He was denied domestic assistance through the provincial illness insurance program, and Verret’s condition worsened to the point that in June 2024, he once again found himself in the emergency department. When told that the government could do nothing to help give him the time to substantially recuperate, Verret made the request for medical assistance in dying. “I would like the government to wake up and give us help with domestic tasks … to relax the rules for the program. That’s the solution,” he explained. “The six months I spent with my parents, I got back on my feet, and I had hope. I was almost ready to go back to work with a job that corresponded to my new reality.” MAID was introduced in Canada in 2015. To qualify, the person had to be at least 18 years old, and their natural death had to be “reasonably foreseeable.” Following a legal challenge, a Quebec court perversely ruled that the restriction to accessing MAID violated the rights to life, liberty, and security of the person, and to equality. In response, the Liberal government passed Bill C-7 in 2021 to expand MAID to so-called “Track 2” cases, i.e., people with debilitating conditions who did not face an imminent natural death. Emmanuelle Marceau, an associate researcher at the Centre for Research in Ethics (CRÉ), asked, What is a life worth living? Is a life with a lot of physical suffering and little hope of change no longer worth it? With the opening of medical assistance in dying, there is a fear that people will feel that they no longer have a meaning. They no longer have a contribution for their loved ones, for their family, on the contrary, they see that they are preventing them. I think we must question someone who would like MAID for these reasons. At that point, we can ask ourselves as a society: aren’t we abandoning the most vulnerable? In Quebec, a person wishing to obtain medical aid in dying must be at least 18 years of age and be capable of giving consent to care, which means the person must be able to understand the situation and the information given by health professionals as well as make decisions. The applicant must be in a situation in which they experience constant and unbearable physical or psychological suffering that cannot be relieved in a manner the person deems tolerable. An applicant must also be in one of the following situations: 1) suffering from a serious disease and having a medical situation characterized by an advanced and irreversible decline in capacity, or 2) having a serious physical impairment resulting in significant and persistent disability.

Machine-learning monoclonal antibody allocation in pandemic could cut hospital cases by a third --If drugs and medical treatments are in short supply during a pandemic, a new model shows how machine learning can help decide how to distribute medicines and reduce hospitalizations by up to 27%. The study appears in JAMA Health Forum. The authors of the study explain that during the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients received treatment with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) on a first-come, first-served basis or were treated based on individual health histories."But these methods often don't address the complex interactions that can occur in patients when taking medications to determine expected clinical effectiveness and may overlook patients who would benefit the most from treatment," said senior author Adit Ginde, MD, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in a press release from the university. To create the model, authors used electronic health record data from more than 15, 000 patients with COVID-19 seen in a large healthcare system from October 1 to December 11, 2021, for the training cohort and data from June 1 to October 1, 2021, for the test cohort. Instead of just targeting patients who are at greatest risk for hospitalization, the model, called a policy learning tree (PLT), instead considered both at-risk patients and those who would benefit most from treatments. They estimated the expected overall hospitalization rate at 6.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0% to 7.1%). Overall, the best PLT model reduced rates of hospitalization for severe COVID-19 by 1.6%, compared to the observed rate (3.7%) using standard clinical approaches during fall and winter 2021, the authors said. The top-performing PLT led to the greatest-expected reduction in hospitalizations when giving mAbs to patients who were not fully vaccinated, had cardiovascular disease, healthy immune systems, and obesity. In a commentary on the study, Johnathon Leider, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health explore the ethical considerations to machine-based learning and treatment allocations. "In a world with massive data, we have an obligation to follow paths toward the best outcome, all while making sure we promote equity and foster trust. That is no small task," said Leider. "Researchers must consider how novel policy approaches might be received or implemented before these approaches will be actionable or practical and go well beyond the statistics."

Over half of US kids infected with RSV in infancy, new data show According to a US population-based birth cohort study in Emerging Infectious Diseases, 53.4% of babies were infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during infancy, and 2.8% were hospitalized.The researchers also found that, among symptomatic infants, 44.1% had lower respiratory tract infections. The authors said these findings can act as a benchmark to monitor the effects of maternal vaccines and monoclonal antibodies administered to infants.The study included 1,680 children up to 1 year old identified during two RSV seasons, 2012 to 2013 and 2013 to 2014. RSV infection was found via active surveillance using PCR testing of nasal samples based on symptoms, and by passive surveillance by serum RSV antibody testing of all children at 1 year of age.Of the eligible infants, 897 (53.4%) were infected with RSV in the first year of life and 783 (46.6%) were not. Active surveillance detected 36.1% of RSV infections in symptomatic infants, and 63.9% were found by serology alone.Among the 2.8% of infants hospitalized for RSV, 15.9% (95% confidence interval, 13.6% to 18.4%; n = 143) had RSV lower respiratory tract infections. There were no infant deaths from RSV infection.Being born during RSV season, attending daycare, and having siblings were all associated with RSV infection."Our data are important estimates of the burden of RSV disease and risk factors for infection in healthy term infants. Our findings provide a benchmark to monitor the effects in the United States of recently available maternal vaccines and extended half-life monoclonal antibodies for severe RSV illness prevention in early life," the authors concluded.

Quick takes: Measles uptick in US, more polio cases in 3 countries | CIDRAP

The number of measles cases reported in the United States this year has risen to 262, up 11 from a week ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today in an update. Of the patients, 107 (41%) have been hospitalized, with the highest percentage of hospitalizations seen in children under 5 (52%). Eighty-eight percent of the case-patients are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. A total of 13 measles outbreaks have been reported in 2024, compared with 4 reported in all of 2023, and 70% of cases are outbreak-associated. Thirty-two jurisdictions have reported measles cases, including Minnesota, which now has 51 cases from an outbreak that began in May.
Three countries reported new polio cases this week, according to an update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Afghanistan reported one case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Kandahar province, bringing its total number of cases for 2024 to 19. Cameroon reported two cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) from Est province, its first two this year. In Nigeria, 4 cVDPV2 cases were reported from Yobe province, bringing its total number of cases this year to 53. GPEI also reported that the first round of an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza was completed on September 12, with novel oral polio vaccine type 2 provided to an estimated 560,000 children under 10.

Rwanda launches mpox vaccine campaign - Rwanda this week began vaccinating people in high-risk areas against mpox, the first country in Africa to do so, amid a further rise in cases in multiple countries, the head of the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said today.As global support builds for the region's outbreak, Japan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) yesterday finalized a plan for Japan to donate mpox vaccine. And theGlobal Fund yesterday pledged nearly $10 million to support the DRC outbreak response.At a briefing, Jean Kaseya, MD, MPH, Africa CDC's director-general, said Rwanda's mpox vaccine campaign began 2 days ago, and about 500 people have been vaccinated so far. At this point the country has received 1,000 doses.Rwanda's campaign focuses on seven districts that border the DRC, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak and accounts for more than 90% of the continent's cases. Rwanda is one of the countries neighboring the DRC to report circulation of the novel clade 1b virus.Kaseya said people targeted for the first phase of vaccination include people at the highest risk, including truck drivers and sex workers.Over the past week, the African region has reported 2,912 new mpox cases, 374 of them confirmed by lab testing. Fourteen newly infected people died from their infections. Since the first of the year, Africa has reported 29,152 cases, along with 738 deaths, across 15 countries. Last week, Morocco became the first country in North Africa to report a mpox infection this year. Data from Africa CDC today suggest that Morocco's case involved the global clade 2 mpox virus and that the country now has three mpox cases.Kaseya said he was part of a delegation that last week visited Burundi—where cases are rapidly rising—and Morocco to better understand the epidemiology of the outbreaks and challenges countries are facing. He said mpox is not under control in Africa yet, with a combination of clades circulating in different countries.

Amid new mpox outbreak, study suggests waning protection of Jynneos vaccine - Jynneos vaccine wanes significantly over the course of a year, raising new questions about just how protected vaccinated people are against reinfection and if booster doses of the vaccine are needed among at-risk populations. The study was released alongside an alarming development in the globalization of mpox: More than 21,000 cases of the virus have been recorded in the past year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC),UNICEF noted yesterday. On August 14, the World Health Organization declared the DRC outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, in part because around 60% of cases are in children 15 years and under.In the DRC, children under age 15 account for about half of all suspected cases reported in DRC so far this year but 80% of the deaths, according to UNICEF. This week Rwanda became the first African country to begin mpox vaccination (see today's CIDRAP News story).The massive outbreak is fueled by the transmission of clade 1b virus, which is more severe than the clade 2 virus that caused a worldwide outbreak of mpox primarily among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 2022. Now 14 African countries have tracked clade 1b cases, as has Sweden and Thailand."People thought the problem was solved with mpox," explained Elizabeth Finley, from the National Coalition of STD Directors. Finley said the United States has seen periodic of upticks of clade 2 infections but no cases of clade 1b yet."It's concerning we are seeing a new clade in Africa, and then we see a preprint like this that shows waning immunity," she said.As of now, Finley said no official US body, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is recommending a booster dose of Jynneos."For us, continued priority is to get first and second doses. If people are only partially vaccinated they should get that second dose," she said.

Poor outcomes after Tpoxx mpox treatment mainly seen in those with weak immunity -- The antiviral drug tecovirimat (brand name, Tpoxx) was prescribed to more than 7,100 US mpox patients in 2022 and 2023, mainly for treating rash and pain in sensitive areas, with most serious adverse events (SAEs) occurring in patients with weakened immune systems, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The authors cautioned that tecovirimat safety and effectiveness can't be determined from the data.Mpox is a viral illness transmitted primarily through skin-to-skin contact and, in the global outbreak caused by clade 2 virus that peaked in 2022, was diagnosed mainly in men who have sex with men. Mpox manifests as a blistering rash, pain, and swollen lymph nodes and usually resolves on its own within a few weeks but can also lead to death.The investigators parsed data on the characteristics, clinical courses, and outcomes from the intake and outcome forms and diaries of patients from 49 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC, who were prescribed tecovirimat from May 2022 to July 2023. Amid the clade 2 outbreak, many US patients were prescribed tecovirimat, stockpiled by the US government for a potential reintroduction of smallpox, under an expanded-access Investigational New Drug (EA-IND) program.The results were published late last week in NEJM Evidence. Most of the roughly 7,100 patients were prescribed a 14-day course of tecovirimat for the treatment of lesions in sensitive areas, such as the anogenital region (83.5%), and for pain (52.5%). Most patients who received tecovirimat were men with a median age of 35 years but cases were also seen in women (220 patients), pregnant women (12), and children younger than 12 years (17).The median time from symptom onset to tecovirimat prescription was 7 days. Clinicians reported that 77.1% of mpox patients had a rash at illness onset. The skin (76.3%) and anogenital region (73.1%) were the most commonly affected areas at baseline, but lesions in the mouth (17.3%) and eyes (4.2%) were also reported.Of the 7,181 patients with returned intake forms, 22.6% also had returned outcome forms. A total of 223 SAEs (3.1%) and 40 deaths (0.6%) were reported, mainly among those with severely weakened immune systems, and 3.9% were hospitalized. In addition to death, the most common SAEs were headache, nausea, vomiting, elevated liver enzymes, hives, fatigue, acute kidney injury, abdominal pain, dizziness, and tremor.Children, pregnant women, and those with conditions compromising skin integrity didn't have severe outcomes. Many patients with HIV and low CD4 white blood cell counts (22 of 51 [43.1%]) were given multiple tecovirimat courses, some of them intravenous, and often had poor outcomes (18 of 51 [35.3%]). One severely immunocompromised patient reported hallucinations after receiving twice the recommended dose of tecovirimat. Roughly 52% of people with returned intake forms had HIV, and 8.5% had other underlying illness; of the latter, 4.3% had severely weakened immune systems (including 277 HIV patients with low CD4 counts), 4.2% had conditions affecting skin integrity (atopic dermatitis or eczema (240 patients), psoriasis (40), cystic acne (4), and other conditions (15). Of HIV patients with low CD4 counts, 11 had another condition that met the definition of severe immunocompromise (10 with cancer and 1 with a solid-organ transplant).In total, 15.1% of patients (128 of 846) had received the Jynneos mpox vaccine before reported mpox exposure. The median number of lesions at intake after receipt of one dose of Jynneos was seven.

UNICEF appeal targets rising mpox cases in African kids - UNICEF yesterday announced the launch of a $58.8 million appeal to support the mpox response in six African countries where children are most affected by the disease. The focus of UNICEF’s appeal are children in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Central African Republic, all of which are experiencing rising clade 1 mpox activity. UNICEF said 60% of the nearly 22,000 suspected and confirmed mpox cases in Africa this year are in children younger than 15 years old and that 80% of the more than 700 mpox deaths have involved kids. So far, the DRC is the only country to report fatal infections in children. In other developments, the United Kingdom detailed its response plan, including buying more vaccine, and US officials spelled out a research agenda for the virus, including exploring ways to maximize vaccine doses. In developments outside of Africa, the United Kingdom's government yesterday announced that it has ordered 150,000 more Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine doses to help the country prepare for any clade 1 cases that are detected in the country. So far two clade 1 cases have recently been found outside of Africa, one in Sweden and the other in Thailand. Global health officials, however, are on high alert for imported cases in people who have traveled to outbreak countries.In a statement yesterday, the government said it is at the forefront of the international response and has provided critical support to the DRC. Wes Sterling, the UK’s secretary of state for social care, said, "No cases of clade 1 mpox have been detected in the UK, but we are taking steps to ensure the country is prepared with a robust vaccination programme that protects those who may be at high risk."Risk groups targeted for vaccination include men who have sex with men, certain healthcare workers, health and humanitarian workers traveling to affected countries, and close contacts of confirmed cases.In a related development, the UK Health Security Agency (HSA) recently posted a technical briefing on mpox, which spelled out possible scenarios for a clade 1b mpox outbreak in the country, ranging from incursions and small clusters to community transmission. It also laid out risk levels, noting that it currently considers the risk of importation as low to medium. The HSA also detailed its border response options, some of which are already in effect.

India reports another fatal Nipah virus case --For the second time this year, India has reported a fatal Nipah virus case, this time involving a 24-year-old student, a local health official told Reuters.The man’s symptoms began on September 4, and he died 5 days later, according to a district health official from Malappuram, which has been one of the country’s hot spots for Nipah and where the country’s earlier case this year was detected. India’s National Institute of Virology confirmed the finding on September 9. Investigators have determined that the man came from Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka state, and so far, they have identified 151 contacts for monitoring.Five people with symptoms have been sampled, and testing is under way. So far, it’s not clear how the patient was exposed to the virus.The country reported its last Nipah case in July. That case involved a 14-year-old boy who got sick and died after eating hog plum fruit from his neighborhood. The virus is spread by fruit bats and can pass from person-to-person. Earlier this year, Bangladesh reported two infections, both fatal and both from Dhaka.People can also contract the virus from drinking palm sap or eating fruit contaminated with bat urine, droppings, or saliva. The disease has a high case-fatality rate, and currently there are no specific treatments or vaccines. Nipah virus is classified as a priority disease for countermeasure research and development

Study forecasts more than 39 million deaths from antimicrobial resistance by 2050 - Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections could take the lives of more than 39 million people by 2050 unless action is taken to improve healthcare quality, prevent infections, reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, and develop new antibiotics, according to a landmark new study published this week in The Lancet. The modeling study by researchers with the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) Project forecasts, based on historical trends and the current trajectory of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), that more than a million people will die annually from 2025 to 2050 from an antibiotic-resistant infection, with an estimated 1.91 million dying in 2050. That represents an increase of almost 70% per year compared with 2021. The study also estimates that annual deaths in which a drug-resistant infection plays a role but is not the direct cause (AMR-associated deaths) could rise to 8.22 million globally by 2050—a 75% increase from 2021. All told, the study forecasts that AMR could be associated with a cumulative 169 million deaths from 2025 to 2050. The impact will vary by age, the researchers suggest, with AMR-attributable and -associated deaths nearly cut in half among children under the age of 5 years but increasing by 146% in people aged 70. Location will play a role as well, with countries in South and Southeastern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa seeing more AMR deaths than other parts of the world. For the study, an international team led by researchers at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) used the same methodology used in the first GRAM Project study, which was published in 2022. That study, which has become one of the most widely cited assessments of AMR-related mortality, estimated that 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 were directly attributable to AMR, out of a broader 4.95 million AMR-associated deaths. For this study, the team obtained 520 million individual records or bacterial isolates to first estimate deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to and associated with 22 bacterial pathogens, 84 pathogen-drug combinations, and 11 infectious syndromes—such as bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and meningitis—in 204 countries from 1990 to 2021. For the 84 pathogen-drug combinations studied, the analysis found that global mortality from AMR increased from 1990 to 2021, with drug-resistant infections directly responsible for more than 1 million deaths each year and a cumulative total of more than 36 million deaths. Only 2021 saw a slight decrease in AMR-related deaths, likely because physical distancing, along with other disease control measures put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to a reduction in non-COVID respiratory tract infections."This trend is consistent with everything we calculated in 2019," The biggest culprit behind AMR attributable deaths over the period was methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which caused more than twice as many deaths in 2021 (130,000 attributable deaths) as in 1990 (57,200). Deaths caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria rose from 127,000 in 1990 to 216,000 in 2021. The regions that saw the biggest annual increases in AMR attributable deaths were West Africa, tropical Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Over those three decades, however, AMR deaths declined by more than 50% among children 5 years old and younger, with AMR attributable deaths falling from 488,000 in 1990 to 193,000 in 2021. Deaths caused by drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, in particular, dropped dramatically in children under 5—from 158,000 in 1990 to 35,100 in 2021. There was also a significant reduction in pathogens commonly spread through the fecal-oral route, such as Shigella and Salmonella. Naghavi, who's worked in public health for more than 50 years, attributes this decline to major improvements in infection prevention and control among infants and young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), rather than a reduction in the prevalence of resistant pathogens."We did massive vaccination [campaigns], water and sanitation improvement, treatment of diarrhea with oral rehydration therapy, and massively better diagnosis and treatment for lower respiratory infections," he said. "That's why the number of deaths in children decreased." By contrast, all age-groups 25 years and older saw an increase in AMR mortality, with older adults hit hardest. Adults over 70 years saw an 89% increase in attributable AMR deaths and an 81% increase in associated deaths from 1990 to 2021. In an accompanying commentary, Samuel Kariuki, PhD, of the Kenya Medical Research Institute, says that while the model is limited by scarcity of data in many LMICs and doesn't account for the potential emergence of new superbugs, it provides a clearer understanding of how the burden of AMR is developing and could help policy makers around the world make more informed decisions about interventions.

WHO calls for strong, well-coordinated response to antimicrobial resistance --The World Health Organization (WHO) today said it will call on world leaders to take "decisive action" against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at next week's United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR.The meeting, which will be held during the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA79), aims to set countries on a path toward a 10% reduction in AMR deaths by 2023 with a political declaration that will outline goals and commitments. The WHO says that without decisive action, drug-resistant bacteria will cause even more global suffering. A study this week in The Lancet projected that AMR could cause more than 39 million deaths by 2050 if it's not adequately addressed."Antimicrobial resistance threatens a century of medical progress and could return us to the pre-antibiotic era, where infections that are treatable today could become a death sentence," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said in a press release. "This is a threat for all countries at all income levels, which is why a strong, accelerated and well-coordinated global response is needed urgently."AMR will be among several health topics discussed at UNGA79, along with the health impact of climate change, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness and response. "Strong health systems, equitable access to health services, and robust pandemic preparedness are vital for a safer and healthier world," Tedros said.

Imported Oropouche virus cases continue steady US rise -- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday reported 22 more imported Oropouche virus cases, raising the national total to 74 in five states. So far, 1 case of the neuroinvasive form of the disease has been reported.Most of the illnesses are in Florida, which has reported 70 cases. The Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) said in its latest weekly arbovirus report that all of the state's cases involve travel to Cuba, one of the newly affected countries in the Americas experiencing an outbreak. Florida has reported cases in 11 counties, but most have been in Miami-Dade County.Oropouche virus isn't a nationally notifiable condition, but in the middle of August the CDC issued an alert about the rise in imported cases and encouraged jurisdictions to voluntarily report cases to its ArboNET surveillance system.The virus, most commonly transmitted by biting midges, has recently spread beyond endemic areas in South America, with outbreaks in Brazil and Cuba leading to travel-associated cases. Another alarming aspect of the outbreak are sporadic reports of severe fetal outcomes, including deaths and congenital abnormalities. Initial symptoms are similar to dengue, Zika, and chikungunya infections and include acute fever onset, chills, headache, and myalgia.

California identifies dengue case cluster in LA County --Los Angeles County Public Health yesterday announced that two more locally acquired dengue cases have been identified, raising the number in the cluster to three. The two latest patients are from Baldwin Park, the same area where the first case was reported last week.The agency said though Aedesmosquitoes are common in Los Angeles County, local dengue cases are very rare. In 2023, two similar cases were reported, one in Long Beach and the other in Pasadena."This is a concerning number of locally acquired cases for a region where dengue has not been transmitted by mosquitoes," officials said on Xyesterday.The risk of widespread transmission in the country remains low, but officials are closely monitoring the situation, the health department said in its statement.Health officials urged residents to take steps to avoid mosquito bites, such as wearing insect repellent, eliminating sources of standing water outdoors, and making sure screens on windows and doors are intact.

Minnesota reports 2 H3N2v flu infections in fairgoers -The Minnesota Department of Health has reported two variant H3N2 (H3N2v) flu infections, both involving young people who visited agricultural fairs, where they were exposed to pigs, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest weekly flu update.Both patients sought care the week ending September 7, and neither were hospitalized. Both have recovered from their infections. The cases raise the nation's variant flu case total to nine for the season. Investigators found that the patients were not contacts of each other but had attended the same agricultural fair. One child had indirect contact with pigs, and the other had direct contact. The probe into the first case found that that all household members became ill the day after attending the fair. One household member tested positive for COVID, and all recovered, including the first patient. Soon afterward, the first patient got sick with new symptoms and was tested for influenza A, which was further identified as H3N2v. No related illnesses were found among the first patient's contact.The investigation into the second case found no related illnesses among contacts. "No human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H3N2)v associated with either case was identified" the CDC said.

Symptomatic contacts reported in probe into Missouri H5N1 flu case - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on September 13 shared new information from Missouri officials on recently reported human H5 avian flu case, including that a household contact got sick with similar symptoms the same day and that a healthcare worker had mild symptoms. In another key development, the CDC detailed findings from genetic sequencing of the virus in the patient’s clinical specimen, including confirmation that the neuraminidase is N1. Though not all genes could be sequenced owing to low amounts of genetic material in the patient's sample, the lab work found more evidence that the H5N1 virus that infected that patient is closely related to the US dairy cow virus. News of symptomatic contacts came as a surprise, after a CDC official said a day earlier that the evidence so far pointed to a "one-off" case. The CDC had said Missouri health officials are leading the investigation, but that it was in close, almost daily contact with the state's health department about the case. So far, no links to animals or raw milk have been found. In a September 13 situation update, the CDC said the state has subsequently shared information about two symptomatic contacts. One is the patient's household contact, who had similar symptoms on the same day. The patient wasn't tested and has since recovered. The index patient was hospitalized for a significant underlying medical condition and reported to the hospital with chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness. However, the person wasn’t severely ill and wasn't transferred to the intensive care unit. The CDC had said earlier that a respiratory panel was done during hospitalization, which turned up a positive flu result that was batched with other samples and sent to the state lab for subtyping. The patient received antiviral treatment, was discharged from the hospital, and has recovered. "The simultaneous development of symptoms does not support person-to-person spread but suggests a common exposure," the CDC said. Missouri officials also told the CDC that a health worker developed mild symptoms but tested negative for flu. At last week's briefing, a CDC official said serology testing for H5 infection has been discussed for the index patient's contacts, but it's probably too soon for detectable antibody levels to be found. In its update, the CDC also shared findings from sequencing, which was limited by low amounts of genetic material in the flu virus from the patient's sample. CDC scientists were able to fully sequence the matrix (M) and nonstructural (NS) genes, but were only able to partially sequence the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes. The HA sequence analysis confirms that the patient's virus belongs to the 2.3.4.4b clade and the NA analysis confirms N1. The CDC said there were two amino acid substitutions in the HA sequence that haven't been seen in other human cases, and though they aren't thought to affect infectivity or spread, they are located on an area of the virus that might affect cross-reactivity of 2.3.4.4b candidate vaccine viruses. One of the HA differences (HA A156T) has been seen in less than 1% of dairy cow samples, and the other (HA P136S) has turned up in only one dairy cow sequence. In other tests on the sample, the CDC said it found no markers of reduced susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral drugs and no mutations linked to an increased potential for human-to-human spread. Despite multiple tries, scientists weren't able to grow the virus from the patient's sample.

Quick takes: More H5N1 in dairy cattle, Taliban halts polio vaccination in Afghanistan | CIDRAP

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) hasconfirmed four more H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks in diary herds, two in Texas and one each in California and Idaho. The new confirmations push the nation’s total to 207 herds from 14 states. California, the most recently affected state, now has eight outbreaks.
The Taliban has suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, the Associated Press (AP)reported today, based on United Nations sources. The group relayed its decision to UN officials just before a September vaccine drive was to begin. It’s not clear why the group suspended the campaign. Afghanistan is one of two countries where wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) is still endemic. The country, along with neighboring Pakistan, has reported a rise in WPV1 cases this year, and Pakistan has recently reported more attacks on polio vaccination teams, some of them deadly.

California confirms more avian flu in dairy herds, poultry - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) hasconfirmed 6 more H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in California dairy herds, raising the state's total to 16 since the virus was first found in the state's Central Valley dairy farms in the middle of August.In another avian flu development, the USDA confirmed highly pathogenic avian flu at a commercial turkey farm in California. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said the detection at the turkey farm is the state's first in domestic poultry since the state was declared free of the virus at the end of June.Though Merced County is part of California's Central Valley, it's not clear if the turkey farm has any connection to the cattle outbreaks in that part of the state.Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration vaccine advisory group will discuss the composition of human H5 vaccines as part of preparedness for highly pathogenic as one of three topics at its upcoming meeting on October 10. The other topics on the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) agenda are recommendations on strain selection for seasonal flu vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere's 2025 season and research programs regarding departments that study viral diseases.

Study finds high prevalence of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter in East African poultry Analysis of Campylobacter isolates in East Africa found that multidrug resistance (MDR) was significantly higher in poultry than in people, researchers reported yesterday inEmerging Infectious Diseases. For the study, an international team of researchers collected and explored the population structure of 178 Campylobacterisolates from Kenya and Tanzania, including 81 from patients with diarrhea and 97 from poultry samples. Africa has the world's highest incidence of campylobacteriosis, and previous studies have found a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter isolated from humans and poultry in Africa. The researchers conducted antimicrobial susceptibility testing and used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to explore the differences and similarities between the human and poultry isolates. AMR was detected in 75.3% and MDR (defined as resistance to three or more antibiotic classes) in 2.5% of the 81 patient isolates. In the 97 poultry isolates, the estimated AMR prevalence was 85.7%, but MDR prevalence was 40.9%. Five poultry isolates were resistant to five of the six antibiotics tested. WGS identified 57 Campylobacter sequence types (STs) from patients and 29 STs in poultry samples, including many previously unreported STs. Common STs included Campylobacter jejuniST353 (4 human and 10 poultry isolates from 6 farms), ST2122 (10 poultry isolates from 4 farms), and ST1932 (9 poultry isolates from 5 farms) and Campylobacter coli ST8043 (11 poultry isolates from 5 farms). The researchers say the study, which is one of the largest using WGS to characterize Campylobacter in East Africa, provides several valuable insights. "The high prevalence of MDR and the identification of previously undescribed STs highlights the need for ongoing investigation of enteric pathogens, such as Campylobacter spp., in low-resource settings," they wrote. "That effort would require genomic tools to be embedded within formal and transparent surveillance systems, in addition to a greater understanding of the role of antimicrobial use and biosecurity measures as drivers of the emergence of resistance in human health and food production and improved governance of antimicrobial use in both sectors."

World-leading expert reveals alarming reason for soaring young bowel cancers – a childhood bug that’s in one of five people’s guts - Daily Mail. - It's the phenomenon that's baffled doctors around the world: bowel cancer, usually a disease of the elderly, has soared by 50 per cent in 20, 30 and 40-somethings over the past 30 years.Now, in a fascinating discussion between two of the world's leading cancer experts, a new theory as to the explanation behind the trend has been tabled.While acknowledging that there is likely 'several' contributing factors, the top specialists have suggested that a common childhood infection could be partly to blame for rising young cases of the disease, known as colon cancer in the US. In an interview with The Health Foundation, Dr Charles Swanton, Chief Clinician of Cancer Research UK, spoke of 'emerging data' showing that a specific type of the bacteria E. coli contracted in childhood could 'contribute at least to some of the cancer initiation processes.' Alarming evidence of this is offered by fellow cancer specialist, Dr Kimmie Ng, US specialist in young-onset colorectal cancer, who noted that many of her young cases are in fact in children. Dr Kimmie Ng, Director of the Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Centre at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in the US, said: 'Although there isn't published data necessarily on the rate of increase and whether it's affecting the paediatric population, at least anecdotally I have certainly been seeing some children with colorectal cancer.' She added that the E. coli findings are 'really provocative and very interesting,' and that the infection is likely to be a 'very early event' in someone's life.'This is consistent with our hypotheses that whatever exposure or inciting factor is happening is probably happening in the early life course.' She added that thyroid cancer has also been increasing as well as kidney cancer, which is also on the rise in young people. The type of E. coli the experts pinpointed is a specific strain known as PKS-positive E. coli.It is not linked to food poisoning outbreaks, but is thought to develop via interactions with the trillions of microbes in our gut. Scientists aren't entirely sure how PKS-positive E. coli develops, but one 2022 study found an association between the presence of the bacteria in colorectal cancers and western-style diets. A 2020 study published in the journal Nature suggested a person's chance of developing bowel cancer may increase after becoming infected with this specific type of E.coli. Scientists believe the bacterium — which is thought to be present in up to one in five people, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Life Sciences — releases a toxin which can damage the cells that line the bowel. The study says this can potentially turn some cells cancerous over time.

High cocaine levels in wastewater post-rugby – BBC - High levels of absorbed cocaine have been found in south Wales' waste water, according to a new study. The largest consumption was found to have peaked during rugby internationals in Cardiff in 2021, when Wales faced South Africa, which found 8.54 milligrams of the illegal drug per day, per 1,000 people. By comparison, the two other sites recorded levels of just 3.88 milligrams and 1.97 milligrams per day, per 1,000 people. A spokesperson for Public Health Wales said the study coincides with the increasing cocaine use they have seen in recent years and highlights the benefits of identifying drug use trends. The study set out to understand the levels of use of new psychoactive substances in south Wales and was carried out by Bournemouth university's analytic research group. But the main substance detected in wastewater samples was benzoylecgonine, a compound that is produced when the body breaks down cocaine. The first study of its kind in Wales, it looked at samples before and after being purified, from Friday to Monday every week, over a two-month period. PhD student Bethan Davies, who led the study, said the Wales v South Africa rugby weekend seen a significant increase of footfall, where absorbed cocaine was at its highest across the study. Despite the public health concern, Ms Davies said the development could help in addressing drug monitoring and improving treatment. "By knowing what is popular within certain communities, we can tailor how we test for substances in different areas and avoid spending time and resources testing for drugs that are not around," said Ms Davies.

New test may help identify CWD in deer before they appear ill, researchers say =Improved amplification tests can help detect chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the saliva, urine, and feces of white-tailed (WTD) before clinical signs appear, which may be useful in disease surveillance, Colorado State University researchersreported yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.CWD, a neurologic disease caused by misfolded infectious proteins called prions, affects cervids such as deer, elk, moose, and reindeer. Prions are extremely resilient and can persist in the environment for years. CWD poses an ongoing threat to cervids, because it can spread from animal to animal and through environmental contamination.The study authors tracked CWD prion shedding in the saliva, urine, and feces of 12 WTD for 66 months after they were given small amounts of CWD-positive brain tissue or saliva by mouth. Two uninoculated deer that were housed separately at the research facility served as controls. The team also determined the prion protein PRNP genotype of the deer and collected tonsil and recto-anal lymphoid tissue 3 months after they were inoculated (given infected tissue). As soon as 6 months after infection, CWD prion shedding was detected in all six deer expressing the wild-type 96GG genotype. Seeding was consistently detected (four or more consecutive positive time points) in four of six deer and infrequently detected (three or fewer time points) in two. Among deer with other polymorphisms (possible variations of a trait on a gene; 96GS or 103NT), one or more positive fecal results were noted in four of six deer at 9 to 15 months. In one deer, seeding activity was identified in three consecutive fecal samples.In total, prion shedding was found in 27 (64%) of 42 fecal samples from the 96GG cohort and 10 (19%) of 52 fecal samples from 96GS/103NT deer. All 21 fecal samples from controls stayed negative.At 18 months post-inoculation, CWD prion shedding was seen in the urine of one of two 96GG deer. Three of six deer shed prions from 18 months until euthanasia, and two were positive only at the final urine collection. One of six deer never shed prions in urine. CWD prion seeding was detected in urine from only one of six 96GS/103NT deer at 27 months, coinciding with the first positive tonsil test.Overall, CWD prion shedding was observed in 9 of 16 urine samples from deer in the 96GG group and in 1 of 50 urine samples from 96GS/103NT deer. All 28 urine samples from control deer stayed negative. "We show that CWD-infected deer expressing the 96GG genotype shed prions in their urine during later disease stages and did so more frequently and consistently than deer expressing alternate polymorphisms," the authors wrote. CWD has been confirmed in 35 US states, five Canadian provinces, and in Norway, Finland, Sweden, and South Korea.Signs of the disease include weight loss, uncoordinated movement, listlessness, excessive thirst or urination, drooling, drooping ears, and behavioral changes.While CWD isn't known to infect people, the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend against eating meat from an infected animal and urge taking precautions when field-dressing or butchering cervids.

Rapid diagnostics tool deployed to monitor wheat rust in Nepal -- recent discovery of the Ug99 wheat stem rust strain in Nepal, published in the Plant Disease journal, has once again emphasized the need for vigilance to protect Nepal's third most important food crop from any large-scale outbreaks of this devastating wheat disease.Nepal already contends with frequent large-scale outbreaks caused by the related yellow rust pathogen, that can cause severe grain yield losses of 30–80% if not effectively controlled. A key component in guiding the correct control measures is to understand the precise strain of the pathogen present in a farmer's field.For yellow rust, the deployment of MARPLE diagnostics in Nepal since 2022 has helped provide this capacity. The MARPLE diagnostics methodology developed at the John Innes Center in collaboration with CIMMYT, uses a handheld MinION nanopore sequencer, built by Oxford Nanopore, to analyze samples of wheat infected with yellow rust.Reading the pieces of the pathogen's genome which define the different strains of the wheat rust pathogen, this method can provide near real-time information about which strains are present in a region.This mobile genotyping approach enables the identification of individual strains of the pathogen rapidly in situ, without the need for high-tech facilities. It can also provide strain-level information within 48 hours of collecting samples, making it ideal for responding to disease emergencies.Led by Penn State University, the team at JIC has also recently expanded this method so it can be used to identify and track strains of the stem rust pathogen. The recent deployment of this method in Nepal, will ensure strains such as Ug99 can be effectively monitored in near real-time.

Farmers use ‘magic dust’ to capture millions of tonnes of carbon
Ryan Nelson sprinkles tonnes of "magic dust" across his farm near Culross, Fife. The dust is crushed basalt – volcanic rock which can be found in abundance in quarries across the country. The magic comes from its ability to both capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help crops grow through a process known as enhanced rock weathering. The dust is being given to farmers for free by a company which hopes to remove millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ryan found out about the process after spotting an advert in a farming magazine asking for volunteers to allow the rock to be spread on their land. It triggered a subliminal memory of basalt being demonstrated on the BBC's Beechgrove Garden. He recalls seeing presenter Jim McColl applying it to the soil on the TV show about 20 years ago. Ryan said: "It was on a croft and the crofter smashed up all the rock. The crop of fruit and vegetables that he was getting from this croft was remarkable.” As well as storing carbon, basalt has been shown in trials to improve both crop yields and the quality of grazing for farmers. Instead of capturing carbon over millennia, it takes a naturally occurring weathering process and accelerates it. The rock is crushed up to maximise its exposure to the elements when it's spread across agricultural land. When it rains, the water droplets absorb small amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they fall to the ground. Once the rain hits the rock a chemical reaction occurs which solidifies the carbon and removes it from the atmosphere. A company called Undo is now offering basalt free to farmers and sends its own contractors to spread it on the land. Because it captures carbon, the process is funded by carbon credits which big companies buy to offset their planet warming greenhouse gas emissions. British Airways, Microsoft and McLaren Racing are among those funding the project.

Edible insects show promise as sustainable nutritional source -- As the global population grows and traditional livestock production increasingly strains environmental resources, there is a rising interest in alternative protein sources. Edible insects, particularly grasshoppers, are abundant in regions like Cameroon and provide essential nutrients, including proteins, amino acids, and minerals vital for health and growth. Addressing these challenges calls for in-depth studies on the nutritional benefits of insects such as Ruspolia nitidula.Conducted by the University of Dschang, Cameroon, and published in the journalFood Science of Animal Products on August 30, this study examined the effects of substituting traditional Clupea harengus fish meal with Ruspolia nitidula grasshopper meal in rat diets. Over 12 weeks, researchers evaluated how this dietary change impacted libido, sleep,hair growth, and overall health, assessing the insect meal's potential as a viable alternative protein source.The study demonstrated that replacing fish meal with Ruspolia nitidula grasshopper meal resulted in significant health improvements in rats. Those on the grasshopper diet exhibited enhanced libido, with increased intromissions and ejaculations compared to rats on fish meal or protein-deficient diets.Sleep quality also improved, with rats experiencing longer, more restful sleep. Hair quality was notably superior, with 94.58% of hairs in optimal condition in the grasshopper-fed group, compared to just 5.55% and 0.27% in the fish meal and protein-deficient groups. Additionally, the grasshopper-fed rats showed greater body weight gain, indicating overall better health and nutrition. These findings underscore the grasshopper meal's potential as a sustainable and nutritionally superior alternative protein source.Dr. Ngnaniyyi Abdoul, the study's lead researcher, remarked, "Our findings highlight the significant potential of edible insects like Ruspolia nitidula as alternative protein sources. The grasshopper meal not only meets nutritional needs but also offers substantial health benefits, including improved libido, better sleep, and enhanced hair quality, with far-reaching implications for both animal and human diets."This research emphasizes the potential of Ruspolia nitidula as a sustainable, nutrient-rich protein alternative. Beyond animal feed, the findings suggest that grasshopper meal could play a role in addressing human malnutrition, particularly in low-resource settings. With ecological advantages and health benefits, edible insects present a compelling solution for future food security and dietary enhancement.

Trees in tropical logged forests release carbon at greater rate despite faster growth, study finds --Tree stems in tropical forests recovering from logging produce carbon dioxide at a greater rate than those in unlogged forests, according to a new study from the University of Leicester.With fewer surrounding trees to compete with, the tree stems in logged forests are able to grow and take up carbon dioxide at a faster rate than stems in unlogged forests, but this faster growth is combined with faster release of carbon dioxide as well.Collectively when considering the all the trees in the logged forest they are giving out as much carbon dioxide as an equivalent area of unlogged forest.In the new study, led by the University of Leicester and published in the journal New Phytologist, researchers were able to break down how much respiration, the process that produces carbon dioxide in tree stems, was used for tree growth and how much for maintenance. They have shown that the increase in respiration from tree stems in logged forests was due to growth, producing new wood, whereas in the old-growth forests most of the respiration was from tree maintenance, supporting the existing tree structure. Their conclusions make the case for greater research attention on logged landscapes. These are currently understudied despite logged forests now being more prominent than old-growth forests across the tropics. Tropical forests capture carbon from the atmosphere but they also release a similar amount through respiratory processes in the ecosystem, including metabolic activity of plant growth and maintenance. A previous study by the same author found that logged forests are a net source of carbon—as they emit more carbon dioxide than what they absorb. It is now important to keep learning about logged forests and understand what drives their carbon fluxes.A common method to study carbon fluxes in forests is to measure net carbon balance, but this doesn't provide much information about where the fluxes are coming from—it is like knowing your bank balance without any information on the transactions. Instead, for this study the scientists focused on the stems or woody trunk of the trees, which is where most of the forest's biomass is stored. Data were gathered from forests in Malaysian Borneo as part of a long-term ecological monitoring program. This region, alike most of the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, has a long history of logging and timber extraction. The scientists studied stem respiration of a sample of trees and then estimated the values for all the trees in the one-hectare study plots. Tree-level results showed higher carbon release levels per unit of stem surface area in logged vs. old-growth plots, with 37 grams of carbon per meter squared of woody stem every month in a logged plot versus only 26 grams in an old-growth plot (g C m-2 month-1). However, because old-growth forests have bigger trees and therefore more stem surface area in total, there was no difference between logged and old-growth results when scaled across the entire one-hectare plots."This study was about considering individual trees versus the whole ecosystem, and what drives carbon emissions at both levels. There are differences between individual trees, and between individual ecosystems, for example logged versus unlogged forests."We see higher respiration per square meter in logged plots because the trees in those plots are growing faster. Growth has a metabolic cost, so we get respiration following growth. The trees in logged plots grow faster because they have access to more light—as there are more gaps in logged plots from when timber trees have been extracted. In logged plots we see a lot more investment in growth so these trees will respire more."There are also other reasons for these differences which link back to the trees' functional traits and soil nutrients, but ultimately it comes down to the priority for trees in logged forests to invest in growth. In old-growth plots, alternatively, we see a lot more investment and priority for tree maintenance."Most importantly, our results tell us that the carbon dynamics in logged forests are very different to those of old-growth forests. But given how expansive logged forests are, they could be considered as the 'new normal' for contemporary tropical forests. We need to put more research efforts into understanding what goes on in logged forests, both in terms of their carbon fluxes and their wider ecological functioning."

Antarctica's receding sea ice could impact seabirds' food supply --Antarctica's rapidly receding sea ice could have a negative impact on the food supply of seabirds that breed hundreds of miles away from the continent. Most of the world's albatrosses, and their close relatives, petrels, breed on islands in the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica. Now new research led by Durham University, UK, and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has used satellite technology to track the movement of these seabirds. They found that the birds fly huge distances to parts of the ocean affected by sea ice—called the Antarctic seasonal sea ice zone.It is thought they travel to either feed in the nutrient enriched waters left behind when Antarctica's sea ice melts each summer or, in the case of southern giant petrels, to scavenge on seals found on the ice itself.Until recently, Antarctica had not suffered the big losses in sea ice seen in the Arctic, but over the past five years Antarctic sea ice has begun to recede at a quicker rate.The findings suggest that Antarctica's shrinking sea ice could force seabirds to travel further from their breeding grounds to find food or it could alter the patterns of where that food can be found. In turn, this could affect the ecosystems these birds are a part of. The study is published in the journal Progress in Oceanography.

Scientists discover crude oil decimates sea otter buoyancy -Sea otters are famed for their luscious pelts, but the fur almost led to their extinction. By 1938, only a tiny population of ~50 remained clinging to the central California coast. Since then, the mammals have battled back. However, the charismatic creatures are still at risk from crude oil spilled by offshore rigs.But no one knew how severely crude oilimpacts the buoyancy of sea otter fur or how well it recovers after cleaning. And Kate Riordan from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), U.S., adds that the fur of newborn sea otter pups was also believed to be particularly buoyant, but no one had checked.Curious to answer these questions, Riordan joined forces with Nicole Thometz (University of San Francisco, U.S.), Francesca Batac [California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S.] and Heather Liwanag (Cal Poly SLO) to investigate.They publish their discovery in the Journal of Experimental Biology that crude oil pollution dramatically reduces sea otter fur buoyancy, placing pups at particular risk thanks to their larger surface area relative to their body mass, and that the buoyancy does not fully recover, even after cleaning.Sea otters in the wild die naturally for many reasons and are collected by the CDFW—which monitors the health of the population—so they passed on sections of a few precious pelts from southern sea otters ranging in age from tiny pups up to nine-year-old adults to Riordan, Annika Dean and Sarah Kerr (both from Cal Poly SLO).After cleaning the pelt, the team then weighed a 25 cm² portion from each in air and in water to determine the fur's buoyancy. However, when they compared the buoyancy of the youngsters' pelts with that of the fully grown adults, there was no difference. All of the sea otter fur portions had a buoyancy of ~0.3 N, about the same as a 10 g piece of cork, so a sea otter pup's fur is no more buoyant than the fur of its parents.However, when the team calculated the impact of the fur's buoyancy on the pups' entire bodies, the youngsters' fur was almost three times more buoyant for their body mass than that of the adults, thanks to the pups' relatively large surface areas for their size. This allows the pups to trap more air for their smaller body mass to make them extremely buoyant and keep them bobbing at the surface while mum's off hunting. But how did a dousing of crude oil affect the fur's buoyancy? This time, the team massaged crude oil into the fur, mimicking how sea otters groom naturally—inadvertently rubbing the pollution into their pelts—before measuring the oil-sodden fur's buoyancy.Sure enough, the fur's buoyancy plummeted by almost 55% to 0.145 N, making it much more difficult for the animals to remain afloat. The reduction in buoyancy coupled with the loss of insulation would almost certainly prove fatal in the wild.Fortunately, conservationists swoop in quickly in the event of major crude oil spills, drenching oil-soaked creatures in detergent to rid them of the oil, but how well does the buoyancy of sea otter fur recover after cleaning? Riordan and colleagues gently washed each oiled pelt with dishwashing liquid, before rinsing thoroughly, finishing with a blow-dry and remeasuring the pelt's buoyancy. As they had hoped, the buoyancy of the fur improved, but only by 36% to 0.197 N, still almost 40% down from the fur's natural buoyancy.

Democratic lawmakers ask Biden administration to expand Arctic protections --Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) led a letter from more than 50 congressional Democrats calling on the Interior Department to expand federal protections in the Arctic. The Interior Department in July solicited comments on whether further protections should be imposed within a 23-million acre swath of the western Arctic. The Interior Department first began designating so-called Special Areas within the region in the 1970s, most recently in April, when the Biden administration expanded protections for 13 million acres across five such areas. In addition to Markey and Huffman, the letter was signed by Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and 45 other House Democrats. “This opportunity to take a renewed look at needed protections is especially timely, as the effects of climate change in the Arctic — from declining sea ice, permafrost thaw, and record temperatures — are felt more acutely than ever before and new extractive development encroaches more and more into important habitat and subsistence areas,” they wrote. The Interior Department issued the request for comment in July. “With the rapidly changing climate, the Special Areas are increasingly critical to caribou movement and herd health, as well as other wildlife, migratory birds, and native plants,” Bureau of Land Management Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in a statement at the time. Environmentalists have been broadly supportive of the administration’s recent moves on the Arctic, which also include an announcement in June that it would block the proposed Ambler Road leading to the site of copper and cobalt deposits and blocking mining in 28 million acres of protected lands. However, they were broadly critical of the Interior Department’s announcement last year that it would approve the proposed Willow drilling project in Alaska.

An 'invasive' marine organism has become an economic resource in the eastern Mediterranean - Pamela Hallock, a biogeological oceanographer and distinguished university professor at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, has spent her career studying the ocean, and is no stranger to the impacts of human activities on marine environments. Still, she couldn't help but notice a bright spot in the results of her recent paper on a species of single-celled organisms called foraminifera (forams), published in the Journal of Foraminiferal Research. "These forams have been increasing in numbers in suitable environments," Hallock said. "Now they're so prolific that they're becoming an economic resource in regions with warm waters and high alkalinity because they're building beaches." The foram species in question, Amphistegina lobifera, found favorable conditions in the warm, nutrient-poor waters of the Mediterranean Sea after traveling north through the Suez Canal 60-80 years ago. A. lobifera populations have since proliferated in the eastern Mediterranean and spread westward, raising concerns about its invasive potential in the region. Despite these concerns, A. lobifera may be boon for tourism in countries like Turkey, Hallock said. Their calcium carbonate skeletons make excellent beach sand. Shorelines once covered in jagged volcanic and limestone rock have accumulated a half meter or more of sand comprised of dead foram skeletons and other shells."The rate at which these forams are building beaches in the region is comparable to the rate of sea level rise," Hallock said. There's reason to believe A. lobifera may continue to flourish in a warming world replete with atmospheric CO₂. The genus Amphistegina emerged on Earth during a period of higher atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, Hallock noted in her paper, and warm waters with elevated alkalinity increase their rates of metabolism and shell formation. While A. lobifera may currently be considered invasive in the Mediterranean Sea, its presence in the region is really a return to ancestral waters. "These are a kind of critter that previously inhabited the region," she said. "Now, through our influence on the environment, we're making the habitat once again suitable for them."

Civilian drone ‘incursions’ are disrupting wildland firefighting operations --So far this wildfire season, aerial firefighting activities have faced the persistent nuisance of 21 “public drone incursions,” the National Interagency Fire Center reported. In 10 of those events, firefighting aircraft operations had to be shut down, according to data from the center — a Boise, Idaho, based collaborative of national and state wildland fire entities. During such circumstances, blazes can become bigger and raise threats to area residents, the center warned. “When firefighting aircraft must be grounded, wildfires can grow in size, which greatly hampers firefighting efforts, threatens lives, homes, property and natural resources,” the partners said in a Sunday statement. The 21 incursions thus far this year have predominantly occurred in the U.S. West, with five cases in California, three in Arizona, three in New Mexico, two in Colorado and one each in Wyoming, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Alaska. One such event also happened in Florida and another in Virginia, according to interagency data. While these numbers may be disruptive, they have not yet passed the seasonal average of 23 drone incursions, the data showed. The most drone incursions were reported in 2016, when 41 such incidents took place.

Portugal wildfires claim seven lives as thousands of hectares burn - Wildfires have engulfed northern and central Portugal, leading to widespread destruction and the deaths of at least seven people. With over 5 000 firefighters and international assistance mobilized, authorities are struggling to contain the infernos that have burnt thousands of hectares of land as high temperatures and winds exacerbate the situation. \ More than 5 000 firefighters are actively working to contain wildfires that have spread across northern and central Portugal. Since Saturday, September 14, 2024, at least seven people have died, including four firefighters. Temperatures across Portugal exceeded 30 °C (86 °F) over the weekend, with forecasts predicting the heat will persist in the coming days. Local authorities have warned that the risk of wildfires remains at its highest possible level across many central and northern regions until at least Wednesday, September 18, with the threat expected to remain “very high” until Friday, September 20. The fires, which have already consumed 10 000 ha (24 710 acres) between Porto and Aveiro in the north, have also caused injuries. At least 40 people, including firefighters, have been injured, with some suffering from respiratory issues or burns. Hospitals in affected areas are treating people with breathing difficulties and other injuries.Motorways, including the main road connecting Lisbon to Porto, have been closed as fires continue to threaten transportation routes and nearby communities. Portugal’s national firefighting resources include 30 water bombers and over 1 500 fire engines, but authorities say the situation is too complex to handle without international assistance. The European Union is sending eight firefighting planes, while France, Greece, Italy, and Spain have also provided additional support.>

August 2024 Was Hottest Ever as Typhoon Yagi Kills 400 Across Asia, European Flooding Wreaks Havoc | Democracy Now! -In Burma, flooding and mudslides from Typhoon Yagi have killed at least 100 people. Dozens are still missing, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The overall death toll from Yagi — which also swept through Vietnam, Thailand and southern China — is now at roughly 400 people. Millions more have been displaced or lost their homes or businesses.Separately, Typhoon Bebinca brought Shanghai to a standstill as it made landfall earlier today; it’s the strongest storm to hit the bustling Chinese city since 1949. Climate change is making extreme weather events like typhoons more frequent and deadlier. Meanwhile, “catastrophic” flooding has led to at least eight deaths in Central and Eastern Europe as rivers have been bursting their banks from torrential downpours. The most affected countries are Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria.This all comes as NASA says last month set a new temperature record for the month of August, making this summer Earth’s hottest since global record-taking began in 1880. The previous hottest summer on record was 2023.

Typhoon Yagi leaves at least 74 dead in Myanmar after flooding and landslides — At least 74 people have died and scores more are still missing in Myanmar following heavy flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi, state media reported on Sunday.The flooding across the civil war-torn country has impacted more than 450 villages and wards, according to Myanmar News Agency (MNA).It added that search and rescue operations were underway to locate 89 people still missing. Around 65,000 homes have also been destroyed, according to MNA. Images from news agency AFP showed submerged homes and vehicles in the city of Taungoo, an hour south of the capital Naypyidaw. Other images show residents evacuating on boats and bamboo rafts, their belongings wrapped in plastic bags.Reports say 10 vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Three people were rescued and taken to the hospital. Eight others were still missing.Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s most powerful storm this year, left a trail of destruction across Southeast Asia and southern China after sweeping the region with heavy rains and strong winds.In Vietnam, the death toll has risen to at least 226 as a result of the storm and the landslides and flash floods it triggered, the government’s disaster agency said Thursday, according to Reuters.And in Thailand, nine people died last week from poor weather brought by the typhoon, Reuters reported, citing the Thai government – out of a total 33 deaths nationwide since August from rain-related incidents including landslides. Storms are being made more intense and deadlier by the warming ocean, scientists have long warned. While developed nations bear a greater historical responsibility for the human-induced climate crisis, developing nations and small-island states are suffering the worst impacts.

Casualties in Myanmar push Southeast Asia's death toll from Typhoon Yagi past 500 (AP) — Floods and landslides in Myanmar triggered by last week’s Typhoon Yagi and seasonal monsoon rains have claimed at least 226 lives, with 77 people missing, state-run media reported Tuesday. The new figures push the total number of dead in Southeast Asia from the storm past 500.The accounting of casualties has been slow, in part due to communication difficulties with the affected areas. Myanmar is wracked by a civil war that began in 2021 after the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Independent analysts believe the ruling military controls much less than half of the country’s territory.Typhoon Yagi earlier hit Vietnam, northern Thailand and Laos, killing almost 300 people in Vietnam, 42 in Thailand and four in Laos, according to the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance. It said 21 people were killed in the Philippines, with another 26 missing.The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said on Monday that an estimated 631,000 people may have been affected by flooding across Myanmar. There were already 3.4 million displaced people in Myanmar at the beginning of September, according to the U.N. refugee agency, mostly because of war and unrest in recent years.Heavy rains from the typhoon and the seasonal monsoon brought widespread flash floods to Myanmar, especially the central regions of Mandalay, Magway, Bago and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta; the eastern states Shan, Kayah, Kayin and Mon; and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw.Some flooded areas have started to see water levels recede but others in the Shan and Kayah states remain critical. More than 160,000 houses have been damaged and 438 temporary relief camps have been opened for more than 160,000 flood victims, Myanma Alinn reported. The military government announced that nearly 240,000 people have been displaced.Myanma Alinn said 117 government offices and buildings, 1,040 schools, 386 religious buildings, roads, bridges, power towers, and telecom towers were damaged by the floods in 56 townships.It also said nearly 130,000 animals were killed and more than 259,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of agricultural land were damaged by the floods.The U.N.’s humanitarian affairs agency said food, drinking water, medicine, clothes, dignity kits, and shelters are urgent needs for the flood victims but alleviation efforts are hampered by blocked roads, damaged bridges and ongoing armed clashes.

Over 900 dead or missing in floods caused by remnants of Typhoon “Yagi” in Myanmar - The aftermath of Typhoon “Yagi” has left Myanmar devastated, with at least 459 people dead, more than 450 missing, over 240 000 displaced, and entire regions submerged under floodwaters. Over 400 reported dead with hundreds of thousands displaced due to remnants of Typhoon Yagi in Myanmar

In Myanmar, remnants of Typhoon “Yagi” have caused widespread devastation over the past couple of days, leading to at least 459 fatalities and large-scale displacement.
As of September 15, 2024, the total death toll from Typhoon “Yagi” has risen to 822 across all affected countries. This includes 459 fatalities in Myanmar, 296 in Vietnam, 42 in Thailand, 20 in the Philippines, and 4 in China.

Typhoon “Yagi” made landfall in northern Vietnam on September 7, 2024, striking the provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong with wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h.After causing severe flooding and damage in Vietnam, Yagi weakened and continued its westward path, affecting Laos. It then moved toward northeastern Myanmar, where it triggered additional flooding and landslides. This path caused widespread disruption across the region, with Myanmar and Thailand also experiencing severe weather in the storm’s wake. In Myanmar, remnants of Typhoon “Yagi” have caused widespread devastation over the past couple of days, leading to huge loss of life and large-scale displacement. Latest reports from the country indicate that at least 459 people have died, with over 450 missing as search and rescue missions continue. Additionally, the floods have left hundreds injured and displaced many more as entire regions have been submerged. In Shan State, one of the hardest-hit areas, 100 people are reported dead, with 100 others missing due to floods and landslides in Kalaw. 18 members of a defense force lost their lives in a landslide in Pekon Township, while floods in Mong Kung Township claimed 14 more lives and damaged over 200 houses. In some regions, including Tachileik, communication lines have been disrupted, complicating relief efforts further. Videos online show local vendors struggling with flash floods in the region. Kayah State also experienced significant casualties, with 26 people, including 20 KNDF soldiers and six civilians, reported dead due to flooding. In Naypyidaw, the capital of the country, 20 people were killed, and thousands of homes were submerged under up to 2.13 m (7 feet) of floodwater, affecting 30 villages. The Mandalay Region was also severely impacted, with 53 972 people affected, including 228 deaths in Yamethin Township. Heavy rains caused the collapse of a dam in Soendin Township, flooding 20 villages under up to 2.44 m (8 feet) of water. Additionally, the Yangon–Mandalay Railway was disrupted, suspending travel due to flooding. Across the country, over 240 000 people have been displaced from their homes across 34 townships. Emergency responders in areas such as Taungoo Township in the Bago Region reported that at least 30 villages were completely submerged after the Sittaung River broke through flood barriers. At least 300 people have taken refuge in the Taungoo monastery, but many villages are still cut off. Social organizations and local residents have indicated that the true death toll could be much higher than currently reported. In Mandalay alone, some reports suggest as many as 230 people may have been killed, while dozens remain missing in southern Shan State. The Myanmar government has not yet released an official death toll. Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, issued an appeal for international aid. According to government reports, more than 3 600 people have been rescued, but many areas remain in urgent need of assistance. As of September 15, 2024, the total death toll from Typhoon “Yagi” has risen to 822 across all affected countries. This includes 459 fatalities in Myanmar, 296 in Vietnam, 42 in Thailand, 20 in the Philippines, and 4 in China.

State of emergency declared as coastal storm brings heavy rains and severe flooding to North Carolina, U.S. - Around 457 mm (18 inches) of rain fell in Carolina Beach on Monday, September 16, 2024, as a powerful coastal storm — Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight — triggered flash floods, leaving roads impassable and prompting widespread rescue efforts in southeastern North Carolina. potential tropical cyclone eight 1520 utc september 16 2024 Image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers. Acquired at 15:20 UTC on September 16, 2024 Severe flooding and high winds affected southeastern North Carolina, with wind gusts reaching up to 124 km/h (77 mph) and some areas experiencing nearly 457 mm (18 inches) of rainfall, leading to impassable roads and multiple rescues. Several areas, including Carolina Beach and Southport, were placed under states of emergency, with local authorities urging residents to stay indoors as rescue operations continued and shelters were opened. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued flash flood warnings across southeastern North Carolina, reporting that some roads in Carolina Beach were submerged under 0.91 m (3 feet) of water due to heavy rainfall. Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight caused severe flooding and strong winds in parts of southeastern North Carolina on Monday, September 16, leaving roads impassable and prompting multiple rescues. A state of emergency was declared for several regions. The system approached the coast Monday morning and later moved inland into South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that widespread flash flooding, especially in low-lying coastal areas, was a major concern. Southeastern North Carolina, particularly around Carolina Beach and Wilmington, experienced the worst of the flooding. Wind gusts as high as 124 km/h (77 mph) were recorded along the Carolina coast, with Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal registering the top speed at 08:18 local time (LT) in Kure Beach. Other significant gusts included 108 km/h (67 mph) at Wrightsville Beach and 100 km/h (62 mph) at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Center for Marine Science. Flooding worsened throughout the day, with photos and videos from Southport showing washed-out roads. Southport Fire Battalion Chief Ralph Treadway reported that while there were no injuries or missing persons, several people had been rescued, and a local middle school was opened as a shelter. The town, located in Brunswick County, was under a state of emergency, and residents were urged to shelter in place.

Typhoon “Bebinca” makes landfall in Shanghai as strongest to hit the city since 1949, China - Typhoon “Bebinca” made landfall in Shanghai (population 25 million), China at around 07:30 LT on Monday, September 16, 2024, with wind speed around the center of 151 km/h (94 mph). This is the 13th named storm of the 2024 Pacific typhoon season. The storm caused widespread disruptions, including the suspension of metro services, road closures, and the cancellation of over 570 trains and additional flights in the nearby Hangzhou region. Rainfall of up to 305 mm (12 inches) was expected across Shanghai and neighboring provinces between Monday and Wednesday. Typhoon “Bebinca” made landfall in Shanghai on Monday at around 07:30 LT, according to the Shanghai Central Meteorological Observatory. Upon landfall, the storm had wind speeds of around 151 km/h (94 mph) near its eye, making it the strongest storm to hit the city since Typhoon “Gloria” in 1949. A Level IV emergency response was activated for East China’s Anhui Province, and the response level in Shanghai and Zhejiang was raised to Level III on Sunday, September 15. More than 414 000 people were evacuated ahead of the storm’s landfall. The Yangshan freight port was also closed before the landfall, and arrangements were made for truck drivers from outside Shanghai to stay in a designated drivers’ home near the port. While torrential rains following the landfall caused flooding across the city, strong winds downed around 10 000 trees. Several parks and businesses were closed across four districts, and metro services were disrupted. So far, only 1 injury has been reported, caused by a fallen tree during the storm. More than 60 000 rescue workers and firefighters have been deployed to the affected regions. The storm caused power outages in at least 380 homes and has damaged 4 houses so far, affecting around 53.4 ha (132 acres) of land. Around 1 400 flights were canceled, along with 570 train services, since Sunday evening in Shanghai. An additional 180 flights were canceled in the nearby Hangzhou region. Several roads and highways have been either closed or restricted. Flights resumed on Monday afternoon. Visuals shared online show windows being blown off and parts of buildings falling off due to the winds, fallen trees, widespread flooding and damage across the city. The video shared below shows just how strong the winds were, as they dragged a man on his scooter across the street: By Monday afternoon, the eye of the storm had weakened and crossed from Shanghai to the neighboring province of Jiangsu, bringing rain to nearby provinces of Anhui and Zhejiang. Rain was expected to continue throughout the rest of the day. Weather authorities expect Shanghai and parts of neighboring provinces to receive up to 305 mm (12 inches) of rainfall between Monday and Wednesday, September 18. Local meteorological authorities in the city of Taicang recorded the strongest winds on Monday, reaching level 13 with a maximum speed of 135 km/h (84 mph) as Bebinca passed through Jiangsu Province. As of 06:00 LT Monday, 46 300 people had been relocated across Jiangsu, and over 20 000 vessels had taken shelter from the typhoon, according to the Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

Typhoon “Bebinca” strikes southern Jiangsu, China as the strongest typhoon since records began - Typhoon “Bebinca” struck Jiangsu province in China on Monday, September 16, 2024, with gust speeds of 151 km/h (94 mph), making it the strongest typhoon to hit the province since records began. Typhoon “Bebinca” is now the strongest typhoon to hit southern Jiangsu since meteorological records there began. The maximum gust speeds recorded in Suzhou were around 150 km/h (94 mph) and in Wuxi, the speeds clocked in at 139 km/h (86 mph). Both of these records broke the previous records for gust speeds. Winds at the Jiangsu Sutong Bridge were so powerful that drivers struggled to keep their vehicles in place and prevent them from toppling over. Visuals online show a truck driver on the bridge holding on to his truck to prevent the winds from turning his truck over. The storm also produced more than a dozen tornadoes in northern parts of the province. Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai on Monday, September 16 at around 07:30 local time (LT), bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and severe flooding along with it. It was the strongest storm to hit the city since Typhoon “Gloria” which struck in 1949. By Monday afternoon Bebinca had weakened as it moved to the Jiangsu Province were it brought strong winds and heavy rains. As of 06:00 LT on Monday, 46 300 people had been relocated across Jiangsu, and over 20 000 vessels had taken shelter from the typhoon, according to the Provincial Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters. Several bridges over the Yangtze River and expressways across Jiangsu implemented traffic control measures on Monday, while several subway sections in Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, and other cities in the province suspended operations. The province mobilized more than 130 000 inspection personnel, including 33 500 conducting dike inspections and risk assessments. The storm had already caused widespread damage across Shanghai, where roughly 10 000 trees fell due to the strong winds. The storm caused 414 000 people in the city to evacuate before it even made landfall. Upon landfall, the city saw severe flooding and winds clocking in at 151 km/h (94 mph). Roughly 60 000 rescue workers and firefighters had to be deployed in the affected regions. At least 1 person was injured, 380 homes were left without power, 4 houses were damaged, and 53.4 ha (132 acres) of land was affected. More than 14 00 flights and 570 trains were also canceled due to the storm.

Over a dozen tornadoes hit China’s Jiangsu and Shangdong - Typhoon “Bebinca” triggered over a dozen tornadoes across China’s Jiangsu and Shangdong provinces on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Numerous tornadoes were observed in Sihong, Lanlin, Linyi, Xuzhou, and other parts of both provinces. Following landfall of Typhon “Bebinca” on Monday, September 16, a tornado outbreak occurred in China’s Jiangsu and Shangdong provinces, with more than a dozen tornadoes in northern Jiangsu alone on Tuesday. Several videos shared online show tornadoes across several parts of both provinces. Xuzhou, in Jiangsu, reported several tornadic supercells on Tuesday afternoon, large wedge tornadoes were observed in Sihong and Lanlin in Jiangsu along with a wedge tornado observed in Linyi, Shandong. Several cone tornadoes were observed in Jiangsu’s Sihong, Donghai, and Xuzhou regions. Typhoon “Bebinca” made landfall in China’s Shanghai as the strongest storm since 1949 on Monday causing widespread damage and severe flooding across the region. It brought heavy rains and strong winds, that downed around 10 000 trees, caused over 300 power outages and 1 injury along with the evacuation of over 400 000 people before it even made landfall. The typhoon then moved to southern Jiangsu on Monday afternoon, with gust speeds of 151 km/h (94 mph) making it the strongest typhoon to strike the region since meteorological records began. The typhoon had hardly weakened as it broke wind records in both Suzhou and Wuxi on Monday.

Historic floods hit central Europe, claiming at least 21 lives - Storm Boris has wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe over the past 4 days, unleashing catastrophic floods that have claimed at least 21 lives, displaced thousands, and left entire regions under water. Countries like Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic are battling widespread destruction as rivers overflow, bridges collapse, and emergency services struggle to manage the crisis.

A historic rainfall event took place over central Europe over the past 4 days, causing widespread severe flooding and claiming the lives of at least 18 people.
Parts of the Czech Republic saw over 450 mm (17.7 inches) or over 6 month’s worth of rain in just 4 days.
The region has also seen abrupt cooling, just 7 days after the record-breaking start of September.
In Austria, nearly 48 consecutive hours of snowfall, coupled with strong winds, created extreme conditions rarely seen even during peak winter months. The relentless snow accumulation has resulted in significant disruptions, including impassable roads and increased avalanche risks.

Storm Boris — also known as Cyclone Boris — brought days of torrential rain to Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary, causing catastrophic flooding, widespread destruction and loss of life. As of Monday afternoon (LT), the storm has caused at least 18 deaths, the evacuation of thousands from their homes, and the destruction of key infrastructure. Residents and officials are assessing the damage and rescuing those in danger, while emergency services struggle to cope with the widespread crisis. By Tuesday, the number of fatalities rose to 21. In Vienna, Austria the Wien River overflowed, flooding surrounding areas and forcing evacuations. Lower Austria, the province surrounding Vienna, has been declared a disaster zone. Currently, the death toll stands at three. Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of Lower Austria, warned residents on Sunday, September 15 that for many of them, ‘the upcoming hours will be the worst of their lives.’ Emergency services conducted roughly 5 000 interventions in Lower Austria, while Vienna saw about 150 firefighting operations to clear storm debris and pump out flooded cellars. 10 000 relief forces have rescued people from 1 100 houses, and emergency accommodations are being set up for people who evacuated due to the floods. A firefighter lost his life after slipping on stairs while pumping out a flooded basement in Tulln on September 14. The flooding has caused significant disruptions across Austria, with multiple trains canceled and parts of Vienna’s underground closed. At least one motorway was flooded wile four out of Vienna’s five metro lines were shut down due to rising waters.

Topola dam collapses in Poland, Nysa town mayor issues evacuation orders for over 40 000 people - (video) The Topola dam in Nysa County’s Paczkow, Poland collapsed on Monday, September 16, 2024, causing large amounts of water to flow toward the nearby village of Kozileno. Visuals of the collapse online show large amounts of water flowing out from the breach. Several nearby towns and villages will have to be evacuated according to local authorities. Further down the stream of the Topola Dam, a nearby flood bank collapsed in the city of Nysa on Sunday, September 15 causing the mayor to issue evacuation orders for roughly 44 000 people as flood waters began to flow into the city. The flooding caused heavy damage destroying homes, this has been the worst flooding the city has seen in over 20 years. Sheman a resident of the town spoke of the damage saying “The losses are unimaginable for the city”, further pointing out that the floods had destroyed several bridges that the asphalt was coming off the roads, and that the town doesn’t have the funds to repair it. Sheman’s father stated that he had experienced three floods in his lifetime, including the 1997 floods which were called the “flood of the century” but according to him, the current floods have been the worst.

Flash floods in Alcalá del Júcar, Spain drag 15 cars into a river - A sudden flash flood dragged 15 cars into the Jucar River, eastern Spain’ Albacete province on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Heavy rains in the higher regions of Spain’s Albacete Province caused the Júcar River to overflow, leading to severe flash floods in Alcalá del Júcar on Wednesday. The floods dragged 15 cars into the river, but fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported. “It had been raining heavily for a while, but as soon as it stopped, the water started to flow down the ravine like a river, sweeping away the cars parked there,” said Juan Miguel Munera, head of Civil Protection in Alcalá del Júcar. The vehicles were parked in the town’s ravine, and some were carried several meters above the river until they reached the edge of a dam. Visuals shared online showed large containers and several other objects flowing down with the flood waters. The Castilla-La Mancha Emergency Service received the call at around 15:27 local time, sent Civil Protection personnel, and mobilized firefighters from Casas Ibáñez, and the Civil Guard to address the situation. A Yellow Alert was issued for Wednesday. Early on Thursday, September 19, the underwater Emergency Unit of the Special Fire Prevention and Extinction Service (SEPEI) of the Albacete Provincial Council arrived in Alcalá del Júcar to extract the vehicles from the river. “Two vehicles have been trapped in the riverbed, and we are now extracting them. They are in a rather complicated position because we have to use heavy machinery,” said Francisco Ovidio García Ríos, head of SEPEI and the Underwater Unit, on Thursday.

Storm Boris floods Italy, Emilia-Romagna sees over 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain in 48 hours – (4 videos) Around 300 – 400 mm (11.8 – 15.7 inches) of rain fell in the Emilia-Romagna Region of northern Italy in 48 hours between Tuesday and Thursday, September 17 – 19, 2024. Triggered by the Storm “Boris” (also known as Cyclone “Boris”) the rains caused intense flooding, forcing around 1 000 people to evacuate and move to shelters. Around 300 – 400 mm (11.8 – 15.7 inches) of rain fell in the Emilia-Romagna Region of northern Italy in 48 hours. Almost 1 000 people were forced to evacuate. Helicopters had to be used to rescue people stranded in the flooded regions. Storm “Boris” has been battering northern Italy for several days, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds. From Tuesday to Thursday, the storm dumped approximately 300 – 400 mm (11.8 – 15.7 inches) of rain in the Emilia-Romagna region, leading to severe flooding overnight, according to local media reports on Thursday. The provinces of Ravenna, Bologna, and Faenza in the region reported flooding in rivers, prompting local authorities to advise people to either evacuate or move to higher floors. At least 1 000 people were evacuated, spending the night in shelters, schools, and sports centers. Of these, approximately 800 were from the Ravenna region, and around 200 from the Bologna province. The city of Faenza has been the worst hit, with two rivers flowing through the city seeing a rapid rise in water levels due to incessant rain. Authorities in nearby Bologna reported on Thursday morning that river levels in the city were under control, though the Red weather alert is expected to continue until Friday, September 20, for most of the region. Firefighters had to use helicopters to conduct rescue operations in some parts of the region. In Castelferretti, Falconara firefighters conducted 90 rescue operations on Thursday.Schools across Emilia-Romagna have been closed, and the University of Bologna canceled exams and lessons. Train services have been suspended, and some roads have reportedly been affected by landslides. Towns in the central region of Marche have also reported severe flooding and disruption.

Danube rises by almost 1 m (3.2 feet) in 24 hours reaching the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary - (two videos, 1 over an hour) The floodwaters from the Danube River, in Budapest, Hungary rose by almost 1 m (3.2 feet) in 24 hours and reached the parliament building on Friday, September 20, 2024. Water levels had already hit 780 cm (307 inches) on the evening of Thursday, September 19, and are expected to hit 850 cm (334 inches) by Saturday, September 21. A Third-Degree Alert has been issued for regions around the bank until September 26. Danube rises by almost 1 m (3.2 feet) in 24 hours reaching the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary Floodwaters from Danube River in Budapest reaching the parliament building. Image credit: The Independent (stillshot) The Danube River is nearing its peak as its waters reached the parliament building in Budapest on Friday, September 20, with the embankment in the city center submerged due to rising water levels. Water levels reached 780 cm (25.6 feet) on Thursday evening, September 19, and are expected to hit 850 cm (27.9 feet) by Saturday, according to the General Directorate of Water Management. Roads, train stations, and ferries along the river have been shut down due to the flooding, caused by the river that rose by roughly 1 m (3.2 feet) in just 24 hours preceding Friday. According to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the floodwaters are expected to peak in the city on Saturday, with the worst weather expected to pass by midweek after prevention efforts. Flood defense measures have been set up along 540 km (335 miles) of Hungary’s rivers, and a Third-Degree Alert has been issued for areas around the riverbanks. Countermeasures for the floodwaters will remain in place until September 26.

Europe floods: EU plans €10bn aid for affected members - European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has pledged €10bn of EU aid to help repair the damage caused by recent floods across central Europe as she visited the western Polish city of Wroclaw, Deutsche Welle reports. Days of flooding resulting from Storm Boris “have wreaked death and destruction across central Europe,” it says, noting that the death toll currently stands at 24. The article includes a rundown of the latest flooding-related events, including Germany offering military assistance to Poland and Wroclaw itself “preparing for peaking floods”. Agence France-Presse says Von der Leyen spoke alongside the leaders of four countries from the flood-hit region, including Poland, Czech Republic, Austria and Slovakia. She said the EU would use “cohesion funds” and the “solidarity fund” to provide the €10bn of aid. Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán told a press conference he was sceptical that his country would receive timely help from the EU following the floods, stating that “if we waited for Brussels to bail us out, we’d be up to our necks in water”, Politico reports. Meanwhile, the Associated Press says the flooding is “threatening new areas and raising concerns among residents and leaders”, pointing to the evacuation of around 1,000 residents in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. BBC News states that “the recent events in central Europe fit with expectations of more extreme rainfall in a warming world, although it is not yet possible to quantify exactly how much of a role climate change has played”. In Greece, Reuters reports that fires have destroyed swathes of forest, leaving regions more vulnerable to flash floods as well as poorer air quality and higher air temperatures, due to lack of shade. Nevertheless, the loss has “ignited a debate about what the government response should be: continue with a programme of replanting trees that could provide fuel for future fires, or, as some scientists urge, look for new ways to adapt”. The article notes that the Greek fires “have become more frequent and fierce, driven by higher temperatures and drier conditions that scientists link to climate change”.

More than 200 inmates escape as Nigerian prison wall collapses in floods — At least 274 inmates have escaped from a prison in Nigeria’s Borno state following heavy flooding, the Nigerian Correctional Service said, as aid agencies reported more than 1,000 people had died across western and central Africa.Initially, 281 inmates escaped while they were being transferred to “a safe and secure facility” but seven were recaptured later, Nigerian Correctional Service spokesman Abubakar Umar said in a statement on Sunday.“The flood brought down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the medium security custodial center Maiduguri (MSCC) as well as the staff quarters in the city,” he said.Umar added that the service was aware of escapees’ identities, including their biometrics, and had made this information “available to the public.” The search for the inmates was ongoing, he said. Weeks of flooding across Nigeria have led to 269 deaths and displaced more than 640,000 people, according to the latest data from the country’s disaster management agency NEMA.Northern Nigeria has been the most affected by the floods, the data showed. Borno state is in the northeast of the country.Last month, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) also warned of the rising water levels of the Niger River, one of the country’s largest rivers, urging states to be on alert.Extreme rainfall events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity across almost all of Africa, including Nigeria, as human-caused climate change heats the planet, projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show.Around 4 million people have been affected by floods across Nigeria and its west and central African neighbors with surging waters leaving a trail of devastating effects, including multiple human casualties.In Chad, at least 487 people have lost their lives from flooding, according to Chadian media, with 265 others killed in similar flood incidents in Niger. Another 55 people have died in Mali, aid groups reported.In Cameroon, up to 20 people have been reported dead from recent floods which have also impacted other parts of Africa such as the northeastern Sudan where at least 97 people have been killed, according to data by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).On Wednesday, floodwaters that gushed from an overflowing dam in northern Nigeria engulfed a zoo and swept animals including crocodiles and snakes into nearby communities.

Floods in Chad affect 1.5 million since start of rainy season, claim 341 lives - Severe flooding in Chad, caused by torrential downpours, has affected approximately 1.5 million people across all 23 provinces. According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center (CPC), the floods are primarily due to heavy rains in the Niger River’s inland delta in Mali. Chad has been experiencing heavy rains and flooding since late July, with conditions worsening over time. The floods have resulted in at least 341 deaths and have severely impacted 250 000 ha (617 763 acres) of land and 265 000 homes. Of those affected, 1.17 million people reside in just eight of the 23 provinces, including Tandjilé, Mayo-Kebbi Est, and Lac. Eastern Chad, along with several other regions in Africa, recorded an excess of 100 to 150 mm (3.9 to 5.9 inches) of rainfall between September 3 and September 9, exacerbating the crisis. In recent years, this region has experienced increasing incidents of floods due to heavy rainfall. These floods often result from the overflow of rivers and seasonal watercourses, which can inundate villages, destroy homes, and damage crops. The floods can also hinder access to clean water and sanitation, leading to the spread of waterborne diseases. Chad is known for experiencing significant flooding, particularly during the rainy season, which typically occurs from June to September. The country has a large number of rivers and lakes, such as the Chari and Logone rivers, which can overflow during periods of intense rain, leading to widespread flooding.

Floods claim 2 lives in Libya, government declares a state of emergency - Floods struck Libya’s Sabha city and mountain valleys after heavy rainfall on September 14 and 15, 2024. Following the death of 2 individuals due to the floods, the government issued an order to form and emergency response team, and declared a state of emergency for the affected region. Heavy rain between September 14 and 15 led to severe flooding in Libya’s Sabha city and surrounding mountain valleys, resulting in two deaths caused by electrocution. In response, Abdul Hamid Dabaiba, head of the Libyan government, ordered the formation of an emergency team to manage the crisis. Prime Minister Osama Hammad declared a state of emergency for the region, with the southwestern parts of the city being the worst affected by the rains on September 14. The flooding injured at least 40 people and caused significant damage, as floodwaters reached the city’s hospital and airport.

National flood disaster declared in Mali, nearly 30 000 buildings destroyed - Mali has reported around 374 flood incidents in 2024 since the start of flood season. Significant flooding has been observed in the region since July, causing extensive damage, collapsing almost 30 000 buildings, and claiming at least 64 lives as of September 16. By September 9, floods in Mali had worsened across 19 regions, and by September 16, the country had reported at least 374 flooding incidents. Since the flood season began in July, 29 644 buildings have collapsed nationwide. In response to the escalating crisis, the government declared a National Flood Disaster on August 23. As of September 16, the floods have claimed 64 lives and left 118 people injured.The floods have affected approximately 179 949 people, with the worst-hit regions being Ségou, where 39 245 people have been impacted, Timbuktu with 36 317 affected, Gao with 19 238, Bamako with 17 127, and Mopti with 1 782 people affected.

Satellite images reveal Sahara desert turning green - Satellite images of the Sahara show a visible increase in vegetation compared to 2023, this has been caused by the increased precipitation over the region linked to the recent northward shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). September 13, 2024 Satellite image of Tanout region, Niger on September 13, 2024.September 14, 2023 Satellite image of Tanout region, Niger on September 14, 2023. The increased rain over the Sahara desert has led to the growth of visible vegetation in certain areas. Satellite images of Tanout, Niger acquired on September 8, 2024, show a visible increase in green patches compared to images from September 14, 2023. The unusual rains are linked to the northward shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which is bringing in above-average rainfall with some regions expecting to see 500% of typical monthly rainfall. The ECMWF extended precipitation anomaly for early September also showed a large portion of the Sahara Desert under significant rainfall anomalies, forecasting 2024 to be the wettest year for the Sahara Desert since 1994. The ITCZ shift, along with the record-positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), has altered weather patterns across the Atlantic and Africa. This shift has led to increased rainfall in regions such as the Sahel and the Sahara Desert.

Desert turns green in China after Ningxia sees 5 times the average rainfall in August - (year over year video) The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in northwestern China, saw 5 to 10 times the monthly average rainfall in August 2024, transforming the desert landscape into a beautiful lush green scenery. Similarly, satellite images of Africa’s Sahara show a visible increase in vegetation compared to 2023. The unusual rains, expected to bring 500% of typical monthly rainfall to some regions, have even filled normally dry lakes in the Sahara. The relatively dry desert-like landscape of Ningxia has transformed to be much greener than usual after August 2024 saw 5 to 10 times the monthly average precipitation. Normally the region sees about 9 days of rain with the total precipitation averaging at around 54 mm (2.1 inches), while the annual rainfall average is around 272 mm (10.7 inches), with 50 days of rain. Visuals shared online show how the desert has transformed due to the lush green vegetation that sprang after the well-above-average rainfall in August.

Big eruption of Lokbatan mud volcano in Baku, Azerbaijan - (personal videos) A big eruption took place at Lokbatan mud volcano in Azerbaijan’s Baku at 15:19 local time (LT) on September 17, 2024. The eruption occurred in two phases, with the second phase starting at 16:19 LT. According to the Republican Seismological Service Center under the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science (ANAS), the Lokbatan mud volcano in Baku, Azerbaijan erupted at around 15:19 LT, on September 17. The first phase of the eruption occurred at 15:19 LT and lasted for 6 minutes and 20 seconds, with a depth of 3 km (1.8 miles). The second phase of the eruption began at 16:09 LT, lasting for 3 minutes and 34 seconds. “Lokbatan frequently has large eruptions,” Mark Tingay, an expert on mud volcanoes, said. “This is the 27th known major eruption, with the previous one in August 2022.” The eruption was recognized by nine seismic stations of the Republic Seismological Service Center under ANAS. Seismic energy released during eruption is determined as Е=0.4×10⁷ C.

Volcanic eruption in the middle East Rift Zone at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii - The WatchersA new volcanic eruption is taking place in a remote and closed area of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, west of Kilauea’s Nāpau Crater in the middle East Rift Zone. A new eruption started just west of Kilauea’s Nāpau Crater in the middle East Rift Zone between 19:00 and 20:00 UTC on Monday, September 16, 2024, following increased seismicity and ground uplift. This is in a remote and closed area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Chain of Craters Road, which is closed, is located downslope and downwind of the new fissures. Increased seismicity and uplift signals continued following the initial brief eruption and the eruption resumed around 04:00 UTC on September 17. The Volcano Alert Level for ground-based hazards remains at Watch and the Aviation Color Code remains at Orange, as of 05:46 UTC, September 17. According to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO), the eruption does not currently pose an immediate threat to human life or infrastructure. Residents of nearby subdivisions may experience volcanic gas emissions related to this activity, which may wax and wane over the coming days. A helicopter overflight on Monday morning (LT) revealed that small lava pads erupted from two fissure segments extending 480 m (525 yards). The lava reached about 90 m (100 yards) away from the fissure vents, covering approximately 2 ha (4 acres) in total. kilauea volcan eruption september 16 2024 thermal map two lava pads kilauea volcan eruption september 16 2024 map eruptive fissure The total volume erupted is estimated to be about 20 000 m3 (25 000 yards3), which is roughly equivalent to 8 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Vegetation in the immediate eruption area was burned and sulfur dioxide continues to degas from the vents.

Asteroid 2024 RC42 flew past Earth at just 0.06 LD - A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2024 RC42 flew past Earth at a distance of just 0.06 LD / 0.00014 AU (21 645 km / 13 449 miles) at 19:32 UTC on September 12, 2024. This is the 66th known asteroid to flyby Earth within 1 lunar distance since the start of the year and the 10th so far this month. It is also the 4th closest asteroid flyby of the year. Asteroid 2024 RC42 was first observed at Mt. Lemmon Survey, Arizona on September 12 — some 7 hours after it made its close approach to our planet. The object belongs to the Aten group of asteroids and has an estimated diameter between 0.9 and 2 m (2.9 – 6.5 feet).

Asteroid 2024 PT5 to become Earth’s temporary new mini-moon on September 29 - Earth’s gravity will trap a 10 m (23.8 feet) wide asteroid 2024 PT2 on September 29, 2024, keeping it in orbit for 56.6 days before returning it to its regular journey around the Sun on November 25, 2024. A recently discovered asteroid designated 2024 PT5, a member of the Apollo asteroid group, is projected to become gravitationally tethered to Earth for nearly 2 months. The asteroid was detected on August 7, 2024, and its capture is expected to start at 20:02 UTC on September 29. The temporary mini-moon phase will last 56.6 days, and 2024 PT5 will resume its heliocentric orbit at 10:33 UTC on November 25, 2024. After completing its flyby, 2024 PT5 will leave Earth’s orbit until its next visit in 2055. While this asteroid poses no threat to the planet, its momentary capture allows astronomers to examine this exciting phenomenon. It occurs sporadically when minor asteroids approach Earth and are lured into a short-lived orbit. This is consistent with observations of other asteroids, such as 1991 VG and 2022 NX1, which had horseshoe-shaped orbits around Earth. Although these mini-moon events are uncommon, they occur occasionally, with the most recent occurring in 2020. For instance, 2006 RH120 was gravitationally bound to Earth from July 2006 to July 2007, completing multiple orbits before escaping. Similarly, 2020 CD3 remained in Earth’s orbit for several years before escaping in May 2020. In February 1992, 1991 VG was briefly captured by Earth’s gravity before resuming its heliocentric orbit. Another example, 2022 NX1, has been a short-lived mini-moon twice, in 1981 and 2022, and is expected to return in 2051. 2024 PT5 was discovered by a group of astronomers from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) who are currently tracking its trajectory and behavior. The discovery was made as part of ongoing research into Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) to assess potential dangers and better understand their orbital dynamics. The international astronomical community is also active, providing observational data to help improve the asteroid’s orbit. Simulations show that the asteroid’s orbit will be steady for several decades, with the subsequent close encounter with Earth projected around 2055. These events allow scientists to examine the mechanics of NEOs and how their orbits shift in response to Earth’s gravity.

G4 - Severe geomagnetic storm after CME produced by X4.5 solar flare impacts Earth - (solar flare video) The coronal mass ejection (CME) produced by the X4.5 solar flare on September 14, 2024, hit the Earth’s magnetic field at 23:29 UTC on September 16, sparking G4 – Severe geomagnetic storm. This was the fifth strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25. G4 - Severe geomagnetic storm after impact from CME produced by X4.5 solar flare - nws spokane september 16 2024 The coronal mass ejection (CME) produced by the X4.5 solar flare on September 14, 2024, impacted the Earth’s magnetic field at 23:49 UTC on September 16, triggering a G4 – Severe geomagnetic storm. The geomagnetic K-index of 5 (G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm) threshold was reached at 01:05 UTC on September 17, followed by a K-index of 6 (G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm) at 01:14 UTC. G3 – Strong threshold was reached at 01:28 UTC, followed by G4 – Severe at 03:00 UTC. The G4-level severe geomagnetic storm can have significant impacts, primarily affecting regions poleward of 45 degrees geomagnetic latitude. Induced currents from such a storm can cause widespread voltage control problems in power grids, and there is a risk that protective systems may mistakenly disconnect key assets. Additionally, intensified induced currents in pipelines may occur. Spacecraft are likely to experience surface charging, increased atmospheric drag on low Earth orbit satellites, and potential issues with tracking and orientation systems. Navigation services, particularly satellite-based GPS, could be degraded or become inoperable for several hours. High-frequency (HF) radio communications may become sporadic or suffer complete blackouts. Furthermore, auroral displays might be visible much farther south than usual, reaching as low as Alabama and northern California. On average, geomagnetic storms of this intensity occur around 100 times per solar cycle (11 years).

World Bank climate finance reaches record $42.6bn in fiscal 2024 -The World Bank says it delivered a record $42.6bn in climate finance during the 2024 fiscal year, marking a 10% increase on the $38.6bn it distributed the prior year, Reuters reports. This brings the bank close to its target for next year of reaching a 45% share of total financing devoted to climate projects, the article adds. It says that this “shows progress towards the bank's goals, but is well short of the trillions of dollars in additional resources needed annually to finance the clean energy transition in emerging markets and developing countries”. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports on Mission 300, a “plan to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030”, which has been backed by an initial pledge of $30bn from the World Bank and the African Development Bank. It says the programme has begun implementation, with the formation of a technical assistance facility to examine projects and help secure funding, led by major climate organisations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and Sustainable Energy For All. Separately, biodiversity finance – meaning development funding for efforts to protect and restore nature – increased in 2022, according to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD),Climate Home News reports. The amount of money provided by wealthy countries, banks and other institutions increased from $11.1bn in 2021 to $15.4bn in 2022, it adds. However, the outlet notes that the increase “came mostly in the form of loans rather than grants”, with multilateral institutions such as development banks providing the bulk of the uplift. It notes that “boosting funds for biodiversity protection will be a key issue at the COP16 UN conference in Colombia late next month, as countries face the challenge of meeting a goal to mobilise $20bn by 2025”.

Study: Personal Carbon Footprint Of The Rich Is Vastly Underestimated -- By ZeroHedge - The personal carbon footprint of the richest people in society is grossly underestimated, both by the rich themselves and by those on middle and lower incomes, no matter which country they come from. At the same time, both the rich and the poor drastically overestimate the carbon footprint of the poorest people. An international group of researchers, led by the Copenhagen Business School, the University of Basel and the University of Cambridge, surveyed 4,000 people from Denmark, India, Nigeria and the United States about inequality in personal carbon footprints – the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person’s activities – within their own country. Although it is well-known that there is a large gap between the carbon footprint of the richest and poorest in society, it’s been unclear whether individuals were aware of this inequality. The four countries chosen for the survey are all different in terms of wealth, lifestyle and culture. Survey participants also differed in their personal income, with half of participants belonging to the top 10% of income in their country. The vast majority of participants across the four countries overestimated the average personal carbon footprint of the poorest 50% and underestimated those of the richest 10% and 1%. However, participants from the top 10% were more likely to support certain climate policies, such as increasing the price of electricity during peak periods, taxing red meat consumption or subsidising carbon dioxide removal technologies such as carbon capture and storage. The researchers say that this may reflect generally higher education levels among high earners, a greater ability to absorb price-based policies or a stronger preference for technological solutions to the climate crisis. The results are reported in the journal Nature Climate Change. Although the concept of a personal carbon or environmental footprint has been used for over 40 years, it became widely popularised in the mid-2000s, when the fossil fuel company BP ran a large advertising campaign encouraging people to determine and reduce their personal carbon footprint. “There are definitely groups out there who would like to push the responsibility of reducing carbon emissions away from corporations and onto individuals, which is problematic,” said co-author Dr Ramit Debnath, Assistant Professor and Cambridge Zero Fellow at the University of Cambridge. “However, personal carbon footprints can illustrate the profound inequality within and between countries and help people identify how to live in a more climate-friendly way.” Previous research has shown widespread misperceptions about how certain consumer behaviours affect an individual's carbon footprint. For example, recycling, shutting off the lights when leaving a room and avoiding plastic packaging are lower-impact behaviours that are overestimated in terms of how much they can reduce one’s carbon footprint. On the other end, the impact of behaviours such as red meat consumption, heating and cooling homes, and air travel all tend to be underestimated. However, there is limited research on whether these misperceptions extend to people’s perceptions of the composition and scale of personal carbon footprints and their ability to make comparisons between different groups. The four countries selected for the survey (Denmark, India, Nigeria and the US) were chosen due to their different per-capita carbon emissions and their levels of economic inequality. Within each country, approximately 1,000 participants were surveyed, with half of each participant group from the top 10% of their country and the other half from the bottom 90%. Participants were asked to estimate the average personal carbon footprints specific to three income groups (the bottom 50%, the top 10%, and the top 1% of income) within their country. Most participants overestimated the average personal carbon footprint for the bottom 50% of income and underestimated the average footprints for the top 10% and top 1% of income. “These countries are very different, but we found the rich are pretty similar no matter where you go, and their concerns are different to the rest of society,” said Debnath. “There’s a huge contrast between billionaires travelling by private jet while the rest of us drink with soggy paper straws: one of those activities has a big impact on an individual carbon footprint, and one doesn’t.” The researchers also looked at whether people’s ideas of carbon footprint inequality were related to their support for different climate policies. They found that Danish and Nigerian participants who underestimated carbon footprint inequality were generally less supportive of climate policies. They also found that Indian participants from the top 10% were generally more supportive of climate policies, potentially reflecting their higher education and greater resources. “Poorer people have more immediate concerns, such as how they’re going to pay their rent, or support their families,” said first author Dr Kristian Steensen Nielsen from Copenhagen Business School. “But across all income groups, people want real solutions to the climate crisis, whether those are regulatory or technological. However, the people with the highest carbon footprints bear the greatest responsibility for changing their lifestyles and reducing their footprints.” After learning about the actual carbon footprint inequality, most participants found it slightly unfair, with those in Denmark and the United States finding it the most unfair. However, people from the top 10% generally found the inequality fairer than the general population, except in India. “This could be because they’re trying to justify their larger carbon footprints,” said Debnath. The researchers say that more work is needed to determine the best ways to promote fairness and justice in climate action across countries, cultures and communities. “Due to their greater financial and political influence, most climate policies reflect the interests of the richest in society and rarely involve fundamental changes to their lifestyles or social status,” said Debnath. “Greater awareness and discussion of existing inequality in personal carbon footprints can help build political pressure to address these inequalities and develop climate solutions that work for all,” said Nielsen. The study also involved researchers from Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Murdoch University and Oxford University. The research was supported in part by the Carlsberg Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Quadrature Climate Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

10 U.S. Plants Experiment with Blending Hydrogen & Natural Gas | Marcellus Drilling News Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) highlighted efforts to blend hydrogen (H2) with natural gas (CH4) in power-generating plants. By EIA's reckoning, ten power plants scattered across the country are either experimenting with mixing hydrogen with natgas right now or soon will. We have covered several of these projects here at MDN, including efforts by the Long Ridge Energy Terminal in Monroe County, OH, to blend Utica shale gas with hydrogen (see OH Long Ridge Energy Power to Blend Hydrogen with Utica Gas). Where else is this happening? And what have been the results?

Trinity Test atomic bomb victims to press Congress for compensation **Hispanic and Native American victims of the world's first atomic test will press House members next week for compensation for the generations of health problems the Trinity Test and uranium mining caused their families. A federal law that awards financial reparations to people who lived downwind of nuclear testing sites expired on June 7, and people in New Mexico near the Trinity Test site were never included. Trinity Test victims, those injured in uranium mines on the Navajo Nation and Pueblo lands, and their descendants have suffered from rare forms of cancer in the decades since.Hispanic and Native American advocates, who have been trying to get Congress to act for decades, also have uncovered other victims of radiation in Missouri and Utah. That has generated a bipartisan push uniting Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) to get the GOP-controlled House to reissue the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and include forgotten victims.The federal law passed by Congress in 1990 awards financial reparations to Nevada Test Site downwinders. Uranium workers in other states were later added, but New Mexico and Navajo Nation residents were excluded.Renewed interest in the Trinity Test stemming from the 2023 Oscar-winning movie "Oppenheimer" helped draw attention to the Latino and Mescalero Apache residents who lived near the explosion.: Dozens of Latino and Native American advocates are expected to descend on the Capitol next week and hold Indigenous traditional ceremonies, asking for higher powers to force the House to act. They blame House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for failing to allow the House to pass a new RECA to include the forgotten victims. Johnson has said he's willing to work on a resolution. Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, tells Axios advocates are tired of inaction."About 57 GOP House districts would benefit from a new RECA. This is not a partisan issue," says Cordova, a cancer survivor whose family lived near the Trinity Test site in Southern New Mexico. "We're not going to give up. When you're been through what we've been through and lost all the family members we've lost, we have nothing else to loOn July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert, the U.S. Army detonated an atomic bomb developed at the then-secret community of Los Alamos.The bomb knocked people from breakfast tables in the historic Hispanic village of Tularosa and sent Mescalero Apache Reservation residents into hiding. Residents reported black rain and burned cows that passed on radiation poisoning through milk to unsuspecting residents. No one told residents of the site's dangers, and they often picnicked there and took artifacts, including the radioactive green glass known as "trinitite."The New Mexico residents only learned about the Trinity Test after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.The bomb's aftermath later caused health problems for many of the 30,000 residents in the area surrounding Trinity. Poor residents held bake sales to pay for cancer treatments.

South Yorkshire to host Britain’s first mini-nuclear reactor factory -US energy company Holtec has chosen to build a major £1.5bn factory, which will construct “the next generation of nuclear reactors”, near the city of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, according to the Daily Telegraph. If built, the factory would be “a major boost for the region”, creating up to 3,000 high-tech jobs to make the components for small modular reactors (SMRs), the newspaper says. Such SMRs “could become the backbone of the UK’s planned nuclear revival”, the article explains. BBC News quotes Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire's mayor, who said: “I promised to deliver a clean energy transformation and this decision is just more evidence of the huge and increasingly rapid progress we’re making.” In a separate nuclear deal, the Financial Times reports that Rolls-Royce is set to secure the first order from a European government to build a fleet of SMRs. It says the company has been selected as the preferred supplier in a competition overseen by the Czech government. The article explains that governments around the world are increasingly looking to SMRs “to provide a reliable electricity supply to meet rising demand without generating carbon emissions”. The Times describes this as “a vote of confidence for the London-listed group as it competes for up to £20bn in UK government funding to roll out Britain’s first SMRs”. It notes that the first small nuclear plants are not expected to be up and running until 2035. Meanwhile, BBC News reports on an interview with prime minister Keir Starmer in which he says the construction of electricity pylons and solar farms in the east of England is a necessary “trade-off” in order to get cheaper energy bills. Elsewhere, the Daily Telegraph reports on analysis by Wood Mackenzie that suggests the Labour government’s higher taxes on the oil and gas industry risk “leaving taxpayers on the hook for billions of pounds more in decommissioning charges”, as firms may collapse and “run out of cash for decommissioning”. The article, written by the former media manager for the UK’s oil and gas trade body, Offshore Energies UK, quotes analysts who blame the government’s higher taxes for the sector’s failure to plug up old oil boreholes.

Russian and Western Nuclear Industries Remain Interdependent --The nuclear energy industries in Russia and the West have remained interdependent after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which partly explains Europe’s unwillingness to impose sanctions on Russia’s nuclear sector, the World Nuclear Industry Status Report showedon Thursday.“Despite repeated calls—notably by the European Parliament—the nuclear sector remained exempt from sanctions—a clear indication of dependency on Russia in the field,” according to the annual industry report which assesses nuclear energy developments in the world.The authors of the report found that interdependence between Russia and its Western partners remains significant.For example, Russian state firm Rosatom is implementing all 13 nuclear power reactor construction sites started outside China over the past five years. As a result, Western providers of parts for the nuclear industry, such as France’s Arabelle turbines, do not have any foreign customers besides Rosatom, the report noted.“The close mutual industrial and market interdependencies between the Russian nuclear industry and its Western counterparts at least partially explain European hesitations to impose sanctions on the nuclear sector,” the report reads.The Russia-West interdependence remains as many allies of the U.S. and the EU—with the notable exception of Germany—have turned to nuclear to step up energy security and depend less on energy commodities since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Despite being an industry notoriously knownfor years of delays and huge cost overruns, a global nuclear power renaissance is underway.The comeback of nuclear energy is expected to drive a record-high electricity generation from nuclear in 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said early this year. Even as some countries phase out nuclear power or retire plants early, global nuclear generation is expected to rise by nearly 3% per year on average through 2026, according to the IEA. The key growth drivers will be the completion of maintenance works in France, restart of some nuclear power plants in Japan, and new reactors coming online in China, India, South Korea, and Europe, among others.

For the sixth and seventh times: No fracking Salt Fork! – Save Ohio ParksThey simply won’t leave Salt Fork State Park alone. An unnamed gas and oil company has nominated Salt Fork for fracking for thesixth and seventh times since this process began.That’s right, there are TWO new nominations to frack Salt Fork State Park:

24-DNR-0007, covering 371.42 acres
24-DNR-0008, covering 513.11 acres

We know it’s tedious, but it’s important that the citizens of Ohio weigh in to tell the Oil and Gas Land Management Commission to DENY these nominations for Salt Fork State Park.Our resistance has contributed to four previous nominations for Salt Fork being withdrawn, one being denied, and one whose bid was not awarded. We need to keep up the fight! Please go to the commission’s Comment Portal and leave a comment using Nomination #24-DNR-0007. Then go back to the commission’s Comment Portal and leave the same comment using Nomination #24-DNR-0008.***Because these are two separate nominations, you need to leave two separate comments for your comment to count for both nominations.***Tell the Commission: No fracking Salt Fork!Salt Fork State Park is Ohio’s largest and most iconic state park with more than 20,000 acres in Guernsey County. At Salt Fork, you can visit the iconic Hosak’s Cave and historic Kennedy Stone House, swim in Salt Fork Lake from the longest inland beach in Ohio, explore miles of hiking trails, camp, boat, fish, birdwatch, ride horses, and stay in the expansive state park lodge. None of these activities are compatible with fracking! Need some ideas for what to say in your comment? You can find the comments so far by your fellow Ohioans here:

You can also use our sample comment below, but please personalize this to explain what fracking in Salt Fork State Park means to you:

DEP Finds Shale Gas Wastewater Pipeline Sprayed & Leaked 12,600+ Gallons For Nearly 3 Hours In Gilmore Twp., Greene County -- On September 11, 2024, DEP did an inspection of the NITMH023 shale gas wastewater pipeline in Gilmore Township, Greene County in response to a notification by EQM Gathering OPCO LLC of a spill from the pipeline at the Trust Well Site owned by EQT Production Company.The inspection found the pipeline still leaking at the time of arrival. The pipeline had been leaking and spraying shale gas wastewater for nearly three hours before being stopped.An estimated 12,600 gallons of wastewater was released from the leak in the pipeline. This estimate is based on the fact that three vac tank trucks were able to recover 12,600 gallons of wastewater from the start of the spill.DEP’s inspector said it wasn’t clear what caused the pipeline to leak and spray wastewater.The owner said the pipeline was new, having only been installed at the site for the past month and a half without issues.A follow-up contact from the owner to DEP later in the day said ontamination has also been found below the pipeline on the Trust Well Site.There was no indication in the inspection report where the 12,600 gallons of wastewater went or whether it posed a threat to any drinking water wells nearby.The Trust Well Pad, owned by EQT Production Company, is located at 212 Hoy Hill Road, Holbrook-- Latitude: 39.76133 Longitude: -80.28292, according to DEP’s Oil & Gas Mapping Tool.Typically neither DEP nor the site owner notifies neighboring well owners of spills that could impact their private water supplies.If you live near this location and could be affected, contact DEP’s Southwest District Oil and Gas Office in Pittsburgh at 412-442-4000 or New Stanton Office 724-925-5500. DEP’s inspection report included multiple violations related to the release and requested the owner to submit a plan by October 3, 2024 on how the site will be cleaned up and brought into compliance.To report oil and gas violations or any environmental emergency or complaint, visit DEP’s Environmental Complaint webpage.

Wastewater Spill at EQT Well Pad in Greene County, PA -- Marcellus Drilling News -- We spotted a report about an aboveground pipeline that flows shale wastewater that sprung a leak and released an estimated 12,600 gallons of brine (salty water from deep below the surface) on the ground in Gilmore Township, Greene County, PA. The pipeline is owned by EQM Gathering, another name for Equitrans Midstream, which is now owned by EQT. The leaking pipeline connects to the Trust Well Site owned by EQT. It sure sounds like a serious spill (12,600 gallons) with the potential to contaminate local water supplies—until you dig into the state Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) report on the incident. Read

WhiteHawk Energy Adds Marcellus Shale Mineral, Royalty Assets -- WhiteHawk Energy LLC said on Sept. 18 it had acquired Marcellus Shale natural gas mineral and royalty interests covering 435,000 gross unit acres across southwestern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia.Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. In November 2023, WhiteHawk said it had acquired 475,000 gross acres for a total purchase price of $54 million.The new acquisition adds to WhiteHawk’s Marcellus position, with assets operated by Antero Resources, EQT Corp., Range Resources and CNX Resources. With the acquisition, the company’s fifth in the Marcellus, WhiteHawk said its owns natural gas mineral and royalty interests across more than 1 million unit acres and 3,400 producing wells. The company also holds mineral and royalty interests in the Haynesville Shale.“This acquisition further adds additional diversity and cash flow to WhiteHawk’s portfolio of core mineral and royalty assets. Increasing our asset base to include core positions in West Virginia is an exciting next step for WhiteHawk,” said CEO Daniel C. Herz. “These assets are directly in-line with our Company’s thesis – diversified acreage positions in the core of well-established basins, operated by best-in-class companies, generating significant cash flow with no additional capital expenditures.”With the acquisition, WhiteHawk’s Marcellus assets cover approximately 700,000 gross unit acres, with production from approximately 2,029 horizontal shale wells, the company said. WhiteHawk also owns mineral and royalty interests in 135 wells-in-progress, 76 permitted wells and 1,267 undeveloped Marcellus locations, with additional potential from the underlying Utica Shale.WhiteHawk’s position in the Haynesville covers approximately 375,000 gross unit acres and approximately 1,371 producing horizontal shale wells.WhiteHawk’s Marcellus deal was financed by EIG.

GOP Senators Propose Law to Protect Pipelines from Protesters -- Marcellus Drilling News -- A group of 10 Republican U.S. Senators, led by the great Ted Cruz (from Texas), have introduced a new bill titled “The Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act.” The proposed law expands criminal penalties to cover vandalizing, tampering with, or disrupting the operations or construction of a pipeline. The Senators say current laws criminalize eco-terrorism and the destruction of infrastructure but don’t go far enough and don’t have “enough teeth” when it comes to acts disrupting the operation or construction of a pipeline. Like the situations we saw with protesters constantly delaying the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia.

With MVP Now Flowing, Roanoke Gas Looks to Add New Customers - Marcellus Drilling News - On Friday, June 14, Equitrans Midstream, the builder and majority owner of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) that runs from Wetzel County, WV, to Pittsylvania County, VA, announced the pipeline had, after a decade of planning and building, finally begun to flow Marcellus/Utica molecules (see Confirmed: M-U Gas Now Flowing Through Mountain Valley Pipeline). Who is buying the molecules flowing through MVP? We know of at least one company. In a separate announcement, Roanoke Gas Company (a large local utility) said it had begun to purchase M-U molecules from MVP on June 14. Roanoke Gas said for the first time since 1965, the Roanoke Valley now has access to a new interstate natural gas pipeline via two interconnections Roanoke Gas has with MVP. Roanoke Gas wants to expand its footprint and add new customers now that more gas supply is flowing via MVP.

Radicals Pressure Mass. Gov. Healey to Block Algonquin Pipe Project - Marcellus Drilling News - The Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline (owned by Enbridge) transports up to 3.09 Bcf/d of natural gas through 1,131 miles of pipeline. Algonquin connects to Texas Eastern Transmission (TETCO), Millennium Pipeline, and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline and supplies New England with critically needed natural gas supplies for power generation and consumer use. As we told you in September 2023, Enbridge conducted an open season to gauge interest in expanding Algonquin’s capacity to flow more gas into New England — mainly from the Marcellus/Utica — called Project Maple (see Enbridge Open Season to Expand Algonquin Pipe in New England). A coalition of “90 environmental organizations” (many of them one- or two-person operations) sent letters to the governors of the New England states and New York State in January demanding (they always demand) that the governors publicly oppose Project Maple (seeRadicals DEMAND Northeast Governors Oppose Enbridge Pipe Project). That effort didn’t work because now 45 nutball “state and local elected officials” in Massachusetts are demanding Gov. Maura Healey deny any permits requested to build the project. Read More

FERC Chairman Says Court “Erred” in Vacating Transco REAE Cert -- Marcellus Drilling News -- The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in late July vacating (nullifying) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of Transco’s Regional Energy Access Expansion (REAE) project to bring gas from Pennsylvania to New Jersey and Maryland (see DC Circuit Libs Reverse FERC Approval of Transco Northeast Expansion). At a FERC open meeting yesterday, FERC Chairman Willie Phillips (a Democrat!) said, “I want to make clear that I think the court erred in vacating our authorization.” However, Phillips said that decision and one other will force FERC to rethink how it reviews gas infrastructure projects moving forward.

EQT Joins MiQ, Uniper in Pilot to Demonstrate LNG Supply Chain Emissions Reporting--EQT Corp. said Wednesday it would supply Germany’s Uniper SE with 4 Bcf/d of independently certified natural gas in a pilot transaction with MiQ aimed at better verifying and differentiating the emissions profile of U.S. LNG cargoes. Chart of the destination for U.S. LNG by major portfolio players. The collaboration, which was announced at Gastech 2024 in Houston, has been designed to demonstrate the potential for full liquefied natural gas supply chain emissions reporting using MiQ’s Supply Chain Protocol. EQT, the nation’s largest gas producer, has most of its natural gas production operations certified by MiQ’s methane standard. MiQ’s protocol integrates information from its certification of EQT’s production sites with the best available data for other supply chain segments, the company said. The 4 Bcf/d that EQT is providing to Uniper, which has U.S. LNG offtake capacity, is about the equivalent of one cargo of the super-chilled fuel.

Biden Administration’s LNG Pause ‘Elevates Politics over Progress,’ Says Chevron Chief -Chevron Corp. CEO Mike Wirth is calling out the Biden administration for taking cheap shots on the natural gas industry, urging that a directive be lifted that has deferred approvals of some U.S. LNG projects. Commercially advanced LNG project affected by the DOE pause. "The case for natural gas is so strong that only politics can get in the way," Wirth said Tuesday before a standing-room-only audience at Gastech 2024 in Houston. The administration's “attacks” on industry, including a decision to pause liquefied natural gas exports pending a review, "elevates politics over progress." Wirth, who helms one of the largest integrated energy companies in the world, said the moratorium on project approvals would increase costs and threaten global supplies. Without natural gas, many overseas customers would depend on coal, he said, which has higher emissions.

Is Newly Permitted New Fortress LNG Facility Signaling Green Light for More? -- When a federal judge in Louisiana ruled in July that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) pause on new worldwide export permits for LNG projects was unlawful, it sparked a series of questions. North American LNG Projects Impacted by DOE Review.Energy investors and natural gas infrastructure developers were left asking whether this meant DOE would have to immediately restart considerations for non-free trade agreement (FTA) permits. They also questioned how soon until the next liquefied natural gas project is authorized, and which one could it be?DOE answered at least two of those questions in a stealthy Labor Day weekend order. The agency authorized New Fortress Energy Inc. to export up to 1.4 million metric tons/year to non-FTA countries from its Fast LNG facility offshore Altamira, Mexico.

Woodside Hones in on Driftwood LNG Equity Partners to Boost Global Portfolio -- As it awaits the closure on its acquisition of Tellurian Inc., Woodside Energy Group Ltd. is forging ahead landing equity partners and customers that can help it optimize the Driftwood LNG project and its new North American foothold, CEO Meg O’Neill said. The Australian oil and gas giant disclosed in July that it planned to acquire the 27.6 million metric tons/year (mmty) proposed Driftwood export project in Louisiana. That deal is expected to close by the end of the year, pending approval by shareholders in October and positive regulatory reviews. In the roughly two months since then, O’Neill said the firm has moved from searching for ways to build its North American portfolio at scale to gathering the right partners, both in the U.S. upstream and abroad. This would be a precursor to the liquefied natural gas project.

Glencore signs offtake deal with KTG and Commonwealth LNG - Kimmeridge Texas Gas (KTG) and Commonwealth LNG have entered into a Heads of Terms agreement with Glencore LTD, one of the world's largest globally diversified natural resource companies, forming a strategic natural gas and LNG partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, Glencore will purchase 2 million tonnes per annum of LNG for 20 years from Commonwealth, as well as equivalent natural gas supply from KTG under a netback agreement at international prices. The definitive agreements are expected to be finalized among the parties in Q4 2024. Commonwealth anticipates a final investment decision on its LNG export facility in Cameron, Louisiana in 1H 2025, with the first LNG production expected in 2028. David Lawler, KTG CEO and President, said: "Our partnership with Glencore represents another tangible step forward for the KTG platform in becoming a fully integrated provider of reliable, secure and clean energy from wellhead to water. With Commonwealth by our side, we look forward to reaching critical international markets in partnership with Glencore, who shares our vision of responsible LNG production and usage." Maxim Kolupaev, Glencore Global Head of LNG, Gas and Power, commented: "We are excited to partner with Kimmeridge Texas Gas and Commonwealth, two leading companies in the natural gas space, under a novel framework that leverages Glencore's premier LNG marketing platform and investment grade credit rating to facilitate access to international pricing. This agreement is the result of a strong relationship between Glencore and Kimmeridge, building upon our common vision of helping economies accelerate their energy transition ambitions."

Chevron not looking to invest in building US LNG plants - Chevron does not want to invest in the construction of U.S. LNG plants, as it is not the best use of the company's capital and it can easily sell its U.S. gas, said a top official on Thursday. The head of Chevron's midstream, Colin Parfitt, also ruled out taking an equity stake in Woodside Energy's impending purchase of Louisiana-based Driftwood LNG. "We chose not to do the owning and operating but we do deals that allow us to have production of gas in the U.S. and translate it into liquefied natural gas (LNG) for our customers," Parfitt said in an interview. Woodside has said it is prepared to sell up to 50% stake in the proposed 27.6-MMtpy Driftwood project. The U.S. is unique in that Chevron can monetize its gas production without having to convert it to LNG since the country has a large midstream market. One of the ways that Chevron plans to benefit from LNG output in the U.S is through sales and purchase agreements with LNG developers. It has separate agreements with Cheniere Energy and Venture Global LNG, the latter of which has been in contract disputes with big customers. "I have sat with Venture Global in the past and I am very well aware of the noise that's out there. Our view is if we have an issue with a supplier then we talk to them and we do talk to Venture Global very directly," Parfitt said. Large projects are prone to delays and the Biden pause on export reviews that held up LNG export approvals to non FTA countries will also slow down the next phase of projects, Parfitt said.

US natgas rises 3% on higher demand outlook, output cut (Reuters) - U.S. natural gas futures rose 3% on Monday, buoyed by forecasts for higher demand over the next week, while the market also factored in production cuts due to last week's storm. Front-month gas futures for October delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose 6.8 cents or 3% to settle at $2.373 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). "We believe that the market is really going to be focused on the inventory this week as well as the weather going forward. If this market is going to find support, it's gonna need help from Mother Nature and you usually don't get a lot of that support in the shoulder season," Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said utilities added 40 billion cubic feet (bcf) of gas into storage during the week ended Sept. 6. That was lower compared with an injection of 50 bcf during the same week a year ago and a five-year average (2019-2023) increase of 67 bcf for this time of year. "After Hurricane Francine, the productions been off for a while, but because it's shoulder season the market isn't as concerned, but it definitely should cut into our supply surplus," More than 12% of crude production and 16% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were still offline in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said on Monday. The U.S. Gulf of Mexico accounts for about 15% of all domestic oil production and 2% of natural gas output, according to federal data. Dutch and British wholesale gas prices declined on higher forecast temperatures this week and supply outages easing. Meanwhile, the fifth cargo of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 was picked up by a vessel managed by a company under U.S. sanctions, according to ship tracking data. Financial firm LSEG said gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states slid to an average of 102.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in September, down from 103.2 bcfd in August. Meanwhile, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, rose from 99.6 bcfd last week to 100.2 bcfd this week and is seen rising to 100.9 bcfd next week. LSEG forecast average gas supply in the Lower 48, including exports, unchanged this and next week at 101.9 bcfd.

US natgas slips 2% as output rises after Hurricane Francine — U.S. natural gas futures fell 2% on Tuesday after hitting a more than two-month high earlier in the session, as Gulf of Mexico producers slowly ramp up production after Hurricane Francine, easing concerns over supply and prompting some profit taking. Front-month gas futures for October delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 4.9 cents or 2% to settle at $2.324 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). "Now with the production coming online, the market is less concerned about tightening supply and that's been weighing the prices," About 10% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was offline in the aftermath of Francine, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said on Tuesday. That is compared with 53% of natural gas output shut after the tropical storm barreled across the U.S. South last week. Meanwhile, a natural gas liquid (NGL) pipeline owned by Energy Transfer ET caught fire in La Porte, Texas, on Monday morning, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses and prompting a widespread evacuation. The fire continues to burn itself out. "The explosion in Houston/Deer Park was on a line carrying NGLs and although there is other gas infrastructure in the immediate area which are under force majeure or pressure reductions, we do not see it as impactful to forward markets," Financial firm LSEG estimated 134 cooling degree days (CDDs) over the next two weeks. The normal for this time of year is 94 CDDs. Meanwhile, LSEG forecast average gas demand in the Lower 48, including exports, to rise from 100.0 bcfd this week to 100.5 bcfd next week. LSEG forecast average gas supply in the Lower 48, including exports, at 101.9 bcfd this week to 102.2 bcfd next week. LSEG said gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states slid to an average of 102.1 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) so far in September, down from 103.2 bcfd in August. "Nearby futures are bumping up against resistance at the $2.42 level and are likely to push higher during the next couple of sessions as speculative shorts continue to exit or roll positions forward into the deferred contracts amid production slippage, steady LNG export activity, coal to gas switching and warmer than normal temperature forecasts into month’s end," Elsewhere, Dutch and British wholesale gas prices on Tuesday morning traded slightly higher after hitting seven week lows the previous day when milder weather curbed demand. U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) developer Venture Global LNG signed a five-year deal with Gastrade SA to regasify up to 1 million metric tons of LNG in Greece for a five-year period beginning next year from two of its Louisiana export facilities, the company said on Tuesday.

EIA Reports Natural Gas Storage Jumped 58 Bcf --With much of the nation enjoying mild weather, the U.S. grew its natural gas storage levels to 3.445 Tcf during the week ending Sept. 13, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The weekly storage report, released Sept. 19, showed a 58 Bcf increase from the week before, missing consensus market expectations of 53 Bcf, according to East Daley Analytics. While slightly higher expected, the surplus to the five-year average shrunk by 22 Bcf to 274 Bcf. East Daley predicted that Hurricane Francine, which swept through the Gulf of Mexico during the same week the storage report was released, may have caused demand destruction that will result in a higher storage addition in next week’s EIA report. The Henry Hub Front Month Futures Price was unaffected by the news. After a drop off in the morning, prices had rallied by noon on Sept. 19, rising to $2.33/MMbtu, a 2% increase from the day before.

Pipeline explodes in Houston suburb, forcing evacuations (AP) — A pipeline explosion near Houston erupted in a towering flame over neighborhoods for hours on Monday, forcing evacuations and shelter orders and melting playground equipment as firefighters struggled to keep nearby homes from burning.Operators shut off the flow of natural gas liquids, but so much remained in the 20-inch (51-centimeter) pipeline that firefighters could do nothing but watch and hose down adjacent homes until it burns itself out. That could take hours, perhaps into Tuesday, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. said.“The fire, it’s very hot, so a lot of the house structures that are adjacent to that are still catching on fire even though we’re putting a lot of water on them,” Mouton said. Local authorities would not speculate about the cause of the fire and what role a burned car near the source of the flame may have had. The pipeline’s owner, Dallas-based Energy Transfer, said in a statement that it was “aware of early reports” that a car had struck some valve equipment but did not offer more details, including the origin of those reports.Firefighters were dispatched at 9:55 a.m., after an explosion at a valve station in Deer Park and right next to La Porte rattled adjacent homes and businesses. Nearly 1,000 homes are in the evacuation area, said Lee Woodward, a spokesperson for La Porte. Geselle Melina Guerra said she and her boyfriend heard the explosion as they were having breakfast in their mobile home. “All of a sudden we hear this loud bang and then I see something bright, like orange, coming from our back door that’s outside,” said Guerra, who lives within the evacuation area. Her boyfriend woke up his brother and they ran to their car. Students at several public schools were told to shelter in place as law enforcement blocked off a wide area. Some evacuees gathered at nearby San Jacinto College, which closed its campus after the explosion. Letting the fire burn out is better, from an environmental perspective, than trying to attack the flames with some kind of suppressing foam or liquid, said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, a petroleum engineering professor at the University of Houston. “Otherwise it’s going to release a lot of volatile organics into the environment,” he said. Still, there will undoubtedly be negative environmental consequences, including a release of soot, carbons and organic material, he said. Energy Transfer said air monitoring equipment was being set up near the plume of fire and smoke, which could be seen from at least 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. A statement from Harris County Pollution Control on Monday afternoon said no volatile organic compounds had been detected. The statement said particulate matter from the smoke was moderate and not an immediate risk to healthy people, although “sensitive populations may want to take precautions.” Natural gas liquids are used primarily in the manufacturing of plastics and basic and intermediate chemicals, Krishnamoorti said. Houston, Texas’ largest city, is the nation’s petrochemical heartland and is home to a cluster of refineries and plants and thousands of miles of pipelines. Explosions and fires are a familiar sight in the area, including some that have been deadly, raising recurring questions about the adequacy of industry efforts to protect the public and the environment.

LIVE: La Porte pipeline fire near Spencer Highway causes road closures, evacuations, 4 total injuries reported | FOX 26 Houston - A pipeline fire near Spencer Highway and Summerton has caused major disruptions in La Porte. The incident, affecting a 20-inch natural gas liquids pipeline, was reported this morning. Energy Transfer, the pipeline operator, has isolated the line to allow the chemical Y Grade NGL (liquid natural gas) to safely burn off. A timeline for this process is not yet available.Preliminary reports suggest that an unknown passenger car may have entered the right-of-way and struck the valve location, potentially causing the fire. Air monitoring equipment is being set up to further assess the situation. The Fire Department is advising residents to evacuate the area between Luella and Canada. Emergency crews are actively working to control the fire. Harris County Hazmat and other HCFMO resources are also responding to the scene. Unified Command is in place, with Deer Park managing the west side and La Porte handling the east. A mobile command post is located at East Blvd. and Spencer Hwy., and HC Pollution Control is on site. Currently, a strike team is responding, and CenterPoint is evaluating infrastructure damage. Officials released the latest update on the pipeline fire in La Porte saying, "The pipeline fire is still burning off remanence, but it is reducing. With the information that Energy Transfer has provided, they have estimated that the burn off will carry on into the early morning of Tuesday, September 17th. Energy Transfer and Harris County Pollution Control are continuing to conduct air monitoring. No air monitoring issues have been reported at this time. Harris County Hazmat and Resources will be conducting an investigation once the fire diminishes. CenterPoint is currently staged at Walmart and will begin power restoration once the grounds have cooled down. Energy Transfer is taking steps to reduce product in the line by adding additional flares. For anyone displaced and/or impacted by the Energy Transfer Pipeline Fire, Energy Transfer has created a help line: (855) 430-4491. Those impacted are encouraged to call. The San Jacinto College Central Campus will re-open on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, for scheduled classes, operations, and activities. There is no fire on campus and the campus is safe for employees and students to return. College Administration and the Office of Emergency Management continue to closely monitor the pipeline fire. Air quality monitoring will be conducted by Energy Transfer at the Central Campus on Tuesday. Employees and students affected by this incident should work with their leader and faculty, respectively, for any arrangements they may need for missed work and class coursework. La Porte ISD also released a statement saying that all La Porte ISD schools will be open on Tuesday. They added, "We understand that some families may face challenges in light of the fire today. As always, we encourage you to do what is best for your family."Evacuated residents may contact the pipeline owner, Energy Transfer, at 855-430-4491for claims related to the event. Evacuees with animals should contact the City of La Porte's Animal Shelter at 10901 Spencer Highway or 281-842-3700.The line has been isolated so that the residual product in it can safely burn itself out. Responders continue to work with Energy Transfer and will remain onsite. Increased LPPD patrols will be present in impacted areas. There may also be an increased number of governmental and responding agencies in the community. Follow the direction of law enforcement and do not attempt to drive around barricades. Follow official sources on social media for further information.The City of Deer Park has released some updated information regarding the pipeline fire. Here is their full statement:At approximately 10 a.m. on September 16th, 2024, a white sport utility vehicle drove through a fence on the west side of Wal-Mart's parking lot located at 9025 Spencer Highway, Deer Park, TX 77536. The vehicle entered the adjacent pipeline right-of-way and struck an above-ground pipeline valve. The Deer Park Police Department (DPPD) and local FBI agents conducted the initial investigation, with preliminary reports suggesting no terroristic activity. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the DPPD, and supports that this appears to be an isolated incident. The investigation is ongoing, including the positive identification of the vehicle and driver. No other information about the investigation is available as of the time of this press release.

La Porte pipeline fire: blaze could last hours longer, evacuation orders still in place – Houston Public Media -- Evacuation orders were issued in La Porte after a large natural gas pipeline fire erupted Monday morning. The fire continued blazing more than three hours after initial reports, and could take hours longer to diminish, officials said. “The Railroad Commission of Texas pipeline safety inspectors are investigating the fire that occurred at an Energy Transfer natural gas liquid pipeline in La Porte Monday morning,” according to the commission. Energy Transfer has shut down the portion of the pipeline that caught fire. RRC inspectors will work with state and local emergency responders at the scene.” The fire occurred in a pipeline corridor, and the commission is notifying other pipeline operators in the corridor of the incident and getting information on measures they are taking to ensure safety, according to the commission. Cassidy Lamb, a spokesperson for Energy Transfer said the line has been isolated so that the residual product in the line can safely burn itself out. “We have no timeline at this point on how long that process will take, but we are working closely with local authorities,” Lamb said. “We are aware of early reports indicating that an unknown passenger car entered our right-of-way and struck the valve location. Air monitoring equipment is in the process of being set up in the area. We will continue to release details as they become available.” The fire that has blazed since around 10 a.m. Monday could take several hours longer to diminish, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said during a press conference. “The cause is under investigation,” he said. “It’s way too early to speculate.” One fireman is being treated for minor injuries. No other injuries have been reported in connection with the pipeline fire. Grass fires caused by residual heat have been contained, Mouton said. “Once it is safe, we will let people back in,” he said. The La Porte Fire Department was dispatched to a fire in the 8700 block of Spencer Highway around 9:55 a.m. Several houses and a burned vehicle could be seen from helicopter footage at the scene. The fire was not contained and continued burning nearly two hours after alerts were first issued. A spokesperson for the La Porte Office of Emergency Management said residents between Luella and Canada roads evacuated and those on Spencer and Freemont were urged to go west. Residents near the area are likely to be evacuated because of power loss. An area surrounding Wal-Mart and H-E-B is blocked off to traffic, according to the Deer Park Office of Emergency Management. Anna Ritter-Lewis, a La Porte resident said she had taken a friend to the eye doctor at Walmart. They were standing by the door because they had just walked in when the explosion happened. “They immediately escorted everyone to the back and out through the back of Walmart and then had us walk across East Street to the HEB,” Ritter-Lewis said. “They evacuated us all to the Jimmy Burke center in Deer Park,” she said. “They would not allow us to get our vehicles or anything.” San Jacinto College students were urged to shelter in place until an all-clear is provided. There is no fire currently on campus, according to the San Jacinto College Office of Emergency Management. The college’s central campus is closed for the rest of the day. Classes and activities are expected to resume Tuesday morning. A La Porte Independent School District campus near the fire was under a modified shelter-in-place order Monday. The more than 500 students at Heritage Elementary School are being kept inside and outdoor activities are being cancelled. “We’re taking all precautions, safety and security are our top priority,” Adam Holland, a spokesperson for La Porte ISD said. “Our kiddos are safe, and we’re trying the best we can to proceed as we normally would.” Several students from other campuses live in the area affected by the evacuation. “Therefore, we are unable to transport those children home by bus,” according to the school district. “The district is in the process of contacting parents who will need to arrange for pickup of their students.”

Cause of Houston pipeline explosion and fire identified as authorities rule out terroristic activity | Fox News -- A massive pipeline explosion that shot a pillar of flame toward the sky after a vehicle drove through a fence and struck an above-ground valve on Monday was not terror-related, authorities said. Police and local FBI agents investigated and found no preliminary reports that would suggest a coordinated or "terrorist" attack on the liquefied natural gas pipeline, saying "this appears to be an isolated incident," according to officials in Deer Park. Sherry and Chad Richard told KTRK-TV that the SUV caught their attention "because the car was moving so slow" before it "just veered off." The vehicle went through a fence before striking the valve, leading to a "boom" and "fire everywhere," Sherry Richard told the station. Chad Richard told KTRK that he initially thought the driver suffered a medical emergency because the SUV "drifted" and "really wasn’t going that fast" until getting past the fence.The explosion incinerated the vehicle and the flames scorched a wide radius, severing adjacent power transmission lines and igniting homes at a distance. Nearly 1,000 homes were evacuated and residents sheltered in schools.Police did not immediately provide any information about the driver’s identity or condition.The tower of flame lit up the sky for more than 12 hours. Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. said the ladder trucks showered houses within its radius from above due to the intense heat."A lot of the house structures that are adjacent to that are still catching on fire even though we’re putting a lot of water on them," Mouton said at an afternoon news conference.On Tuesday morning, the city of Deer Park said in a statement that the spouting flame had subsided, but the fire continued to burn."Progress has been made as first responder crews worked through the night. The fire is significantly smaller," the statement said.No volatile organic compounds had been detected, Harris County Pollution Control said in a statement Monday afternoon. The statement said particulate matter from the smoke was moderate and not an immediate risk to healthy people, although "sensitive populations may want to take precautions." The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said it was also monitoring the air.The pipeline’s owner, Dallas-based Energy Transfer, said air monitoring equipment was being set up near the plume of fire and smoke, which could be seen from at least 10 miles away at one point.

Deer Park pipeline burnoff estimated to last through early Tuesday morning, company says - ABC13 Houston (KTRK) -- The company that owns the pipeline that exploded and ignited in a daylong fire in Deer Park estimated a burnoff lasting until early Tuesday morning. Energy Transfer gave an update late Monday evening, hours after the blast off in the 9000 block of Spencer Highway. As of 10 p.m., the company said flames were still burning but reduced. It added that no air monitoring issues were reported. The update comes after Deer Park police said that an SUV hit an above-ground pipeline valve. Preliminary reports also suggests no terroristic activity and that it was an isolated incident, police added. According to police, the SUV drove through a fence on the west side of a nearby Walmart parking lot in the 9000 block of Spencer Highway. The vehicle entered the adjacent pipeline right-of-way and hit the valve. Police are working to identify the vehicle and the driver. The resultant explosion started in Deer Park and then spread south under Spencer Highway to La Porte, as the highway separates Deer Park to the north and La Porte to the south. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Deer Park Office of Emergency Management, which handled the west side of the fire, and La Porte, which handled the east side. Energy Transfer, the company that owns the pipeline, said liquid natural gas is burning, and it will be hours before the fire burns off. Energy Transfer sent Eyewitness News the following statement: "We experienced an incident this morning in La Porte, Texas, at a valve station along Spencer Highway for a 20" natural gas liquids line that resulted in a fire. There are no reports of injuries at this time. The LaPorte Fire Department is on the scene and has evacuated all homes and businesses within a half mile of the incident site. The line has been isolated so that the residual product in the line can safely burn itself out. We have no timeline at this point on how long that process will take, but we are working closely with local authorities. We are aware of early reports indicating that an unknown passenger car entered our right-of-way and struck the value location. Air monitoring equipment is in the process of being set up in the area. We will continue to release details as they become available." Aerial views show firefighters spraying homes right behind the fire with water. The front of the houses appeared to have smoke and fire damage. A Deer Park official told ABC13's Daniela Hurtado that four people were injured from the event, including a firefighter for minor injuries. The four also includes two hospitalizations and two heat-related injuries. The flames grew at one point, creating smaller grass fires that crews are working to keep under control. City officials said the impact zone is about 1/2 mile from the fire itself. During a press conference, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said the fire is in a contained area, but local authorities have implemented evacuations and shelter-in-place orders for nearby areas, including HEB, Walmart, Heritage Elementary, College Park Elementary, James H. Baker, San Jacinto College. Energy Transfer said in part of a public statement that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.

Roaring pipeline fire near Houston subsides but still burns - (AP) — A flame that towered over a southeast Houston suburb subsided Tuesday but was still burning following a pipeline explosion that happened when a vehicle drove through a fence along a parking lot and struck an above-ground valve, officials said. “Progress has been made as first responder crews worked through the night. The fire is significantly smaller,” according to a statement from Deer Park. The city said Energy Transfer, the Dallas-based owner of the pipeline, expects the fire to burn itself out later Tuesday. City officials said police and FBI agents found no preliminary evidence to suggest a coordinated or terrorist attack, and said it “appears to be an isolated incident,” but they haven’t offered any details on how they came to that conclusion. Investigators were trying to learn more about the driver of the sport utility vehicle. The car was incinerated by the explosion, which scorched the ground across a wide radius, severed nearby power transmission lines, melted playground equipment and ignited nearby homes. Over 24 hours after the explosion, the driver still had not been publicly identified. The valve, which appears to have been protected by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, is located within a long grassy corridor where high-voltage power lines run. Below the ground run several pipelines. On one side of the corridor is a neighborhood of homes; on the other is a Walmart. Officials say the driver went through a fence alongside the Walmart parking lot and across the grassy right-of-way before striking the valve. Officials have not given any information on the condition of the driver. Deer Park spokesperson Kaitlyn Bluejacket said four people were injured, but provided no details about the seriousness of the injuries. Authorities said one firefighter sustained minor injuries. The roaring fire shot orange flame and then black smoke hundreds of feet into the air, prompting authorities to evacuate nearly 1,000 homes and order people in nearby schools to shelter in place. By Tuesday, the City of La Porte said it slightly reduced the evacuation area south of the fire, but did not say how many people were affected. Operators shut off the flow of natural gas liquids after the explosion rattled homes and businesses in Deer Park and the adjacent suburb of La Porte shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday. But Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said 20 miles (32 kilometers) of pipeline stretched between the two closed valves, and all the chemicals inside had to burn off before the fire would stop. Robert Hall, a senior advisor at the nonprofit Pipeline Safety Trust, said it’s not surprising that it’s taken more than a day for the material to stop burning. “You’re talking about 20-inch pipelines and miles between valves, so it takes a long time to burn down,” Hall said. The fire was burning so hot that all firefighters could do is use ladder trucks to hose down nearby houses that began smoking in the radiant heat. Houston, Texas’ largest city, is the nation’s petrochemical heartland and is home to a cluster of refineries and plants and thousands of miles of pipelines. Explosions and fires are a familiar sight, and some have been deadly, raising recurring questions about industry efforts to protect the public and the environment. Hall, who previously oversaw pipeline and hazardous materials investigations for the National Transportation Safety Board, said there are few regulations that govern the location of pipelines near homes and businesses. “That becomes a very local issue, community by community,” said Hall, who added that some jurisdictions require bollards — sturdy pipes filled with concrete — to prevent vehicles from crashing into sensitive infrastructure. Energy Transfer did not immediately respond Tuesday to a question about what safety precautions were in place near their valve.

What to know about the pipeline fire burning for a third day in Houston's suburbs - NBC4 (AP) — A pipeline fire that forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in the Houston suburbs burned for a third day Wednesday, with officials saying they don’t expect it to be extinguished until sometime Thursday evening. Officials said residents who had to evacuate would be allowed to return to their homes starting Wednesday evening. Authorities have offered few details about what prompted the driver of an SUV to hit an aboveground valve on the pipeline on Monday, sparking the blaze. Officials say the underground pipeline, which runs under high-voltage power lines in a grassy corridor between a Walmart and a residential neighborhood in Deer Park, was damaged when the SUV driver left the store’s parking lot, entered the wide grassy area and went through a fence surrounding the valve equipment. Authorities have offered few details on what caused the vehicle to hit the pipeline valve, the identity of the driver or what happened to them. The pipeline company on Wednesday called it an accident. Deer Park officials said preliminary investigations by police and FBI agents found no evidence of a terrorist attack. Deer Park police won’t be able to reach the burned-out vehicle until the flame has been extinguished. Once the area is safe, the department will be able to continue its investigation and confirm specifics, city spokesperson Kaitlyn Bluejacket said in an email Wednesday. The valve equipment appears to have been protected by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. The pipeline’s operator has not responded to questions about any other safety protections that were in place. Energy Transfer is the Dallas-based owner of the pipeline, a 20-inch-wide (50-centemeter-wide) conduit that runs for miles through the Houston area. It carries natural gas liquids through the suburbs of Deer Park and La Porte, both of which are southeast of Houston. Energy Transfer said the fire had diminished overnight and was continuing to “safely burn itself out” on Wednesday. Energy Transfer also built the Dakota Access Pipeline, which has been at the center of protests and legal battles. The company’s executive chairman, Kelcy Warren, has given millions of dollars in campaign contributions to Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. What’s being done to extinguish the fire? Energy Transfer said its crews were working Wednesday to install specialized isolation equipment on both sides of the damaged section that will help extinguish the fire. Once the equipment is installed, which could take several hours of welding, the isolated section of the pipeline will be purged with nitrogen, which will extinguish the fire, company and local officials said. After that, damaged components can be repaired. “The safest way to manage this process is to let the products burn off,” Energy Transfer said. Late Wednesday afternoon, Deer Park officials said repair work on the pipeline to help speed up the process to put out the fire wasn’t expected to be completed until 6 p.m. on Thursday. Once finished, the fire was anticipated to be extinguished within two to three hours. Authorities evacuated nearly 1,000 homes at one point and ordered people in nearby schools to shelter in place. Officials said that starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, residents in Deer Park and La Porte who had to evacuate would be allowed to return to their homes. A portion of a highway near the pipeline would remain closed, officials said. Hundreds of customers lost power. Officials said Wednesday afternoon that only two customers remained without electricity in the Deer Park and La Porte area. Repairs to all of the power distribution lines affected by the fire had been completed. Deer Park’s statement said Energy Transfer was “prioritizing the safety of the community and environment as it implements its emergency response plan.” “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all residents during this ongoing situation,” Deer Park officials said. By late Tuesday, about 400 evacuees remained, and some expressed frustration over being forced to quickly flee and not being given any timeline for when they will be able to return. “We literally walked out with the clothes on our backs, the pets, and just left the neighborhood with no idea where we were going,” said Kristina Reff, who lives near the fire. “That was frustrating.” What about pollution from the fire? Energy Transfer and Harris County officials have said that air quality monitoring shows no immediate risk to individuals, despite the huge tower of billowing flame that shot hundreds of feet into the air, creating thick black smoke that hovered over the area. Houston is the nation’s petrochemical heartland and is home to a cluster of refineries and plants and thousands of miles of pipelines. Explosions and fires are a familiar sight, and some have been deadly, raising recurring questions about industry efforts to protect the public and the environment.

Deer Park pipeline fire a criminal investigation after body found — The pipeline fire in Deer Park is finally out around 80 hours after it started Monday morning. The fire was caused by an SUV that crashed through a fence and into the pipeline valve above ground, setting off an explosive fire. On Thursday morning, human remains were recovered from the white SUV and Deer Park officials said this has developed into a criminal investigation. According to the Deer Park Office of Emergency Management, the Harris County medical examiner was able to process the vehicle and recover the human remains. They are now working through their identification process, which will take time.This comes after crews brought a flatbed truck to tow the charred and melted white car that was still near the above-ground valve along Spencer Highway where the fire was burning.Views from Air 11 showed Deer Park police setting up a command center along Spencer Highway near the scene of the fire. We could also see a gurney and canopy set up near the command center. On Tuesday, dashcam video provided a closer look at the moment the vehicle hit the above-ground valve that sparked the massive pipeline fire. RELATED: Only on KHOU 11: Video shows moment SUV crashed through fence, hitting valve and sparking Deer Park pipeline fire. The fire started just before 10 a.m. Monday at Spencer Highway near East Boulevard near the Brookglen neighborhood. Monday evening, the City of Deer Park confirmed the fire was caused by an SUV crashing through the fence of a nearby Walmart and hitting an above-ground valve.At a news conference Thursday, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the incident stressed the need for more protection around pipelines that are above ground.“One of the things that we want to look at going forward is what can we do so that elsewhere in the county these pipelines and valves that are above the earth can be protected by concrete as opposed to these fences that, obviously, we saw you can ram through," Hidalgo said.She said state law might limit the extent of regulations imposed on a county or city level.Hundreds of residents who were evacuated when the pipeline burst into flames were allowed to return on Wednesday but a lot of them have major damage to their homes and vehicles. One family said they haven't been able to find one of their missing cats.

Shallow M5.1 earthquake hits near Ackerly, Texas -A shallow M5.1 earthquake struck near Ackerly, Texas, at 00:49 UTC on September 17, 2024 (19:49 CDT on September 16), shaking the Midland-Odessa region and prompting over 1 700 reports of tremors. The USGS is reporting a depth of 8.2 km (5.1 miles) and epicenter approximately 34 km (21 miles) west-southwest of Ackerly. Location of M5.1 earthquake in Texas at 00:49 UTC on September 17, 2024. Credit: TW/SAM, ESRI The epicenter was located 34.7 km (21.5 miles) WSW of Ackerly (population 231), and 46 km (28.6 miles) N of Midland (population 132 950), Texas, United States. 1 000 people are estimated to have felt moderate shaking, 500 000 light and 741 000 weak. The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick masonry and reinforced masonry construction. The quake was preceded by an M1.5 tremor at 16:10 UTC on September 16, at a depth of 7.9 km (4.9 miles), and followed by an M2.8 at 05:46 UTC on September 17. Moderate shaking was reported in the vicinity of the epicenter, but there are no reports of significant damage or injuries at this time. USGS forecasts a 45% chance of aftershocks with magnitudes of 3.0 or greater in the week following the event. The region where the earthquake occurred lies within the Permian Basin, a major oil-producing area. The Midland-Odessa region is not frequently subject to significant seismic activity, making this earthquake notable. This is the 6th strongest earthquake in Texas history – sharing this place with the M5.1 quake 17 km (10 miles) NNE of Hermleigh on July 26, 2024.

US seeks up to 6 million barrels of oil for strategic reserve (Reuters) - The U.S. is seeking to buy up to 6 million barrels of oil to help replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve after a historic sale from the facility in 2022, the Energy Department said on Wednesday. Reuters reported exclusively this week that the solicitation would take place on Wednesday as the administration of President Joe Biden buys oil for the SPR while prices are relatively low.

With Mexico LNG Facility Permitted, Could More Approvals Follow? - When a federal judge in Louisiana ruled in July that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) pause on new worldwide export permits for LNG projects was unlawful, it sparked a series of questions. Commercially advanced LNG Projects impacted by DOE review chart. Energy investors and natural gas infrastructure developers were left asking whether this meant DOE would have to immediately restart considerations for non-free trade agreement (FTA) permits. They also questioned how soon until the next liquefied natural gas project is authorized, and which one could it be? DOE answered at least two of those questions in a stealthy Labor Day weekend order. The agency authorized New Fortress Energy Inc. to export up to 1.4 million metric tons/year to non-FTA countries from its Fast LNG facility offshore Altamira, Mexico.

What Could the Natural Gas Market Look Like Under Mexico’s Sheinbaum? — Column -- Editor’s Note: NGI’s Mexico Gas Price Index, a leader tracking Mexico natural gas market reform, is offering the following column by Eduardo Prud’homme as part of a regular series on understanding this process. On Oct. 1, Claudia Sheinbaum will assume the presidency of Mexico with questions lingering over her potential energy policy. Her academic credentials have raised positive expectations regarding the type of projects that could be a priority under her leadership. Her progressive vision on environmental policies has promised an electric generation matrix more oriented towards clean energy and emphasized its efficient use. This would create important investment opportunities. However, her nationalist profile and apparent ideological baggage could stifle the development of new energy infrastructure. Among her most conspicuous challenges could be the excessive dependence on U.S. natural gas imports for generation and the deficiencies in the electrical transmission network.

LNG Canada Carefully Weighing Second Phase FID as Project Startup Nears, CEO Says -- There is no timeframe for LNG Canada to sanction its second phase as the project’s partners remain focused on getting the first two trains online after more than a decade of development. NGI's chart of North American LNG Projects. “The kind of prerequisites are there. We put in a lot of pre-investment into the facility to tie in Phase 2,” CEO Jason Klein told NGI this week on the sidelines of Gastech 2024 in Houston. “It really comes down to it’s a globally competitive business and our partners are going to look at the capital costs, the delivery costs, the investment climate and their markets, and when they want to make investments in Canada versus other opportunities in the world.”

ConocoPhillips Chief Says ‘Substantial’ Growth Ahead for Global LNG Business --All signs point to North America becoming the worldwide price setter for natural gas, ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance said Tuesday. ConocoPhillips U.S. E&P assets. Lance, who helms the world’s largest independent, spoke before a global audience at Gastech 2024 in Houston. U.S. exploration and production (E&P) companies have led the world in unearthing reserves through unconventional drilling, technology they now are sharing – along with LNG exports – with allies overseas. “The gas reserves here in North America are substantial,” Lance said. He estimated more than “a century of gas” is likely available, ensuring energy security like never before.

Call for Low-Carbon Shipping Continues to Drive Global LNG Vessel Fleet, Bunkering Demand Growth --As international natural gas shippers look to lower their overall carbon footprints, LNG is increasingly becoming the maritime fuel of choice to meet emissions regulations. NGI's Spot LNG Vessel Rates Chart. There are currently 830 liquefied natural gas vessels, about 250 of which are still under construction or on order, according to shipbroker Poten & Partners Inc. By 2029, the global fleet of LNG carriers is forecast to grow by 40% and exceed more than 1,000 vessels, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest gas market report. Despite a rise in orders for ships that can utilize alternative fuels like methanol and ammonia, Rystad Energy reported LNG is still the most popular choice for dual-fuel vessels. Half of the operational LNG-fueled vessels are carriers capable of using boil-off gas as fuel, reducing their reliance on external LNG bunkering.

Germany: Habeck expects a gas surplus and falling prices in 2025 -Handelsblatt Germany’s economy and climate minister, Robert Habeck, has emphasised that the country’s gas storage facilities are full ahead of winter, with gas distribution “functioning well”, reports Handelsblatt. As a result, Habeck expects “natural” gas prices to decrease next year, adds the outlet. Die Zeit says that, more than two years ago, Germany declared “the alarm level” of its gas emergency plan in response to a significant reduction in Russian gas supplies. Since then, the country has successfully reduced its dependence on Russian gas. In light of this, the environmental organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe has called on the government to “immediately downgrade the alarm level of gas supply emergency” to the early warning level because the current level of emergency justifies and simplifies the construction of new liquified “natural” gas terminals in Germany, says Die Zeit. Meanwhile, Der Spiegel reports on a new study on Germany’s preparedness for extreme weather events, as parts of central Europe face widespread flooding. Analysis by 73 researchers from the University of Hamburg calls for more efforts to protect people from such events, the outlet says. It quotes co-author Prof Beate Ratter, who warns that Germany is responding “too slowly” to the increasing likelihood of more frequent heavy rainfall, heatwaves, and droughts. Deutsche Welle reports that Dresden, in eastern Germany, has already put up barriers to guard against extreme flooding. Further north, Brandenburg “is looking anxiously at the Oder river, which is expected to bring more water in the coming days”, notes the Local. Finally, Reuters reports that Germany’s power grid battery capacity, used to stabilise electricity networks, has risen by nearly a third this year, reflecting the country’s efforts to support the grid as it integrates more renewable energy sources.

Apollo Paying $1B for Stake in Azerbaijan-to-Europe Trans Adriatic Natural Gas System -- The BP plc-led Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP), a leg of the Southern Gas Corridor system that moves natural gas from Azerbaijan to European markets, has gained a new partner. Pipeline route map for TAP. Private equity giant Apollo Global Management agreed to pay $1 billion to purchase a stake in BP subsidiary TAP Ltd. BP owns a 20% share in the system and would continue as the controlling shareholder. TAP, which began commercial operations in 2020, extends 547 miles, transporting supply from the BP-operated Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to markets in Europe, including Greece and Italy. TAP had initial capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, and an expansion is underway to double capacity. Related Tags

TotalEnergies signs LNG supply agreements with BOTAŞ and CNOOC -In line with its strategy to grow its long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales, TotalEnergies has announced the signing of a heads of agreement (HoA) with BOTAŞ for the delivery of 1.1 MMtpy of LNG for ten years starting from 2027, and a 5-year extension of its sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with CNOOC for the delivery of 1.25 MMtpy of LNG to China until 2034. BOTAŞ. This agreement allows TotalEnergies to strengthen a long-term presence in the Turkish LNG market. Natural gas plays a crucial role as a transition energy, addressing the intermittency of renewable energy sources and reducing emissions by replacing coal in electricity generation. CNOOC. Thanks to this agreement, TotalEnergies strengthens its long-term positions in the growing Chinese market. In China, natural gas serves as a crucial transition energy, mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy sources and reducing emissions when used as a substitute for coal in electricity generation. “We are pleased to initiate and continue long-term collaborations with BOTAŞ and CNOOC, key partners for the company in Türkiye and China, respectively. These agreements enable us to secure long-term sales and reduce our exposure to spot market gas price fluctuations,” said Gregory Joffroy, Senior Vice President, LNG at TotalEnergies.

Egypt Forecast to Draw More Winter LNG Cargoes, Adding to Global Spot Competition == Egypt’s growing appetite for LNG to balance its domestic natural gas market is making a wild card for international buyers, putting upward pressure on Europe as it navigates winter supply. Chart of Egyptian LNG imports3 European natural gas prices jumped last week after state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. (EGPC) bought 20 liquefied natural gas cargoes for delivery from October to December at a reported premium over Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) prices. “The 20 cargoes of LNG recently bought reflects the depth of Egypt’s energy woes since it is the first time the country has issued a tender to buy to cover winter demand since 2018,” Middle East Institute’s Li-Chen Sim, a non-resident scholar, said.

Iraq to start exporting gas by 2030 - Iraqi News– The Deputy Oil Minister for Extraction Affairs, Basim Khudair, revealed on Wednesday that Iraq will have enough gas to meet its needs and will start exporting gas by 2030. Khudair told the state news agency (INA) that the government has achieved, through the Ministry of Oil, a major change in the gas sector as many projects aiming to utilize flared gas are underway. The Iraqi official said in May that the state-owned Midland Oil Company signed a contract with a consortium of Jereh Group, a Chinese oil field services company and manufacturer of oilfield equipment, and Petro Iraq to develop the Mansouriya gas field. The contract is part of the Oil Ministry’s efforts to utilize Iraq’s gas resources following a contract signed to develop the Akkas gas field, a natural gas field in western Iraq. Mohammed Yassin Al-Obaidi, the director general of the Midland Oil Company, confirmed that the production of the Mansouriya gas field in the northeastern governorate of Diyala will reach 100 million cubic feet within 18 months. Al-Obaidi explained that the highest production will be 300 million cubic feet within four to five years. Earlier in September, during a meeting with US officials and representatives of oil firms in Houston, the United States, the Iraqi Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, stated that gas flaring in Iraq will completely stop by the end of 2028. Abdul-Ghani explained that Iraq will be one of the countries that contribute greatly to reducing gas emissions and utilizing this energy to generate electricity. The percentage of associated gas utilized in Iraq was 51 percent in 2022 and rose to more than 65 percent in 2024, according to Abdul-Ghani. The increased percentage of associated gas utilization in Iraq followed several projects carried out by local and international companies. The World Bank released its Global Gas Flaring Tracker report in mid-June, naming Iraq, Russia, Iran, the United States, Venezuela, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, and Mexico as the countries with the most gas flares in 2023. The report explained that these nine countries account for 75 percent of gas flaring globally and only 46 percent of global oil output. The analysis also revealed that Iraq’s flaring intensity has grown, with approximately 17 billion cubic meters of gas burned. When crude oil is produced from oil wells, raw natural gas linked to the oil also rises to the surface. Large volumes of such related gas are frequently flared as waste or useless gas, particularly in parts of the world without pipelines or other gas transportation infrastructure. The natural gas not combusted by a flare is released into the atmosphere as methane. Methane’s global warming potential is projected to be around 32 times greater than that of CO2 over a century. Iraq is largely burning surplus gas from oil wells. The practice significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, resulting in serious environmental harm and climate change. It also endangers the lives of those who live near flaring locations.

Saudi Aramco wants to be a major LNG gas player, gas chief says The world's largest oil producer, Saudi Aramco, wants to become a major LNG player, the head of its natural gas business said on Tuesday. Saudi Aramco has taken the first steps to reach a goal of becoming a major LNG player, said Abdulkarim Al-Ghamdi, an Aramco executive vice president, at the GasTech energy conference in Houston. The Saudi oil giant last year acquired from EIG Global Energy Partners LLC a minority stake in MidOcean Energy for $500 million, its first foray into LNG abroad. This month, it increased its stake to 49%. In June, Aramco and NextDecade struck a non-binding agreement for a 20-year liquefied natural gas offtake from NextDecade's Rio Grande LNG project at the Port of Brownsville, Texas.

Russia deepens African foray with new oil pipeline in Congo - Russia has approved plans to construct a massive oil pipeline in rich oil Republic of Congo sendinf a strong signal that the country means business in Africa. The project will be undertaken by ZNGS Prometey, a contruction behemoth in Russia with enormous construction fleet. The company will own 90% of the venture, while the National Petroleum Company of Congo will own the reminder. The project will adopt a build-own-operate-transfer model with Congo expected to offer tax relieve opportunities in the deal set to be signed in the coming months. The oil pipeline will connect the country’s port city of Pointe-Noire to the settlement of Makoulou Pichot, about 40 kilometers (29 miles) northeast of the capital Brazzaville. The pipeline will also pass through the town of Loutete, about 155 kilometers (96 miles) west of Brazzaville.

Blaze-hit major Greek refinery taking 30 tankers a month forced to slash production - A big Greek refinery called at by more than 30 tankers per month has driven down production after a fire caused serious damage to some of its facilities on the night to Wednesday. Motor Oil, which operates a tanker terminal alongside its distillation units about 70 kilometres (43 miles) west of Athens, said in a stock exchange filing that it managed to put out the blaze but operates “at reduced capacity for the time being”. The company, which is part of Greece’s sprawling Vardinoyiannis business empire, did not elaborate on how big the disruption to its operations is and how long it will continue. Market sources are telling TradeWinds that one of the company’s two crude distillation units was damaged as a result of the fire and that it will be offline for repairs for several weeks, perhaps even a few months. As a result, the company is expected to reduce its seaborne crude oil imports in the short to medium term. On the other hand, it will probably increase purchases of alternative feedstocks to use in its upgrading units. One market source said that Motor Oil was relatively fortunate that the damage took place just shortly before the beginning of its scheduled periodical maintenance. According to Signal Ocean platform data, Motor Oil’s Agioi Theodoroi terminal is serving an average of 31 vessels per month. About 180 port calls have been registered there over the past six months. MR tankers made of 60% of those calls, with MR2s and suezmaxes accounting for 13% each. Vessels wait an average of 2.2 days there. Βurning Greek tanker towed to safety in the Red Sea without oil spill Read more The cause of the fire, which broke out Tuesday afternoon at the southern part of the refinery and has been extinguished, remains unclear. Three subcontractor workers suffered minor injuries from the fire and are currently in good health, the company said.

Chinese Refineries Go Bankrupt Amid Plummeting Margins | OilPrice.com - Slumping refining margins amid tepid fuel demand in China have already claimed victims among the refineries in the Shandong province, where two plants operated by chemicals giant Sinochem were declared bankrupt in recent days.Zhenghe Group Co and Shandong Huaxing Petrochemical Group Co were declared bankrupt after creditors failed to agree on restructuring plans for the refineries, local court statements showed on Tuesday, as carried by Bloomberg.A third refinery operated by Sinochem in the Shandong province, home to China’s independent refiners, is expected to begin meetings with creditors later this month. This is Shandong Changyi Petrochemical Co, per a separate local court statement cited by Bloomberg.Most of the processing units at all three plants have been idled for months, due to the plummeting refining margins that have hit the refineries in Shandong especially hard. The three refineries have a combined nameplate capacity to process 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude.China has seen weaker-than-expected road fuel demand this year, which has prompted a decline in refining margins, leaving many plants in debt.Underwhelming demand this year has lowered oil refining output as independent Chinese refiners are particularly sensitive to low margins and prefer to reduce refinery throughput when margins and demand are weak.Refining margins across Asia fell in the first week of September to their lowest level for this time of year since 2020, which could lead to more curbs on run rates at Asian refiners, including in China.In August, Chinese refiners were estimated to have processed around 12.6 million bpd of crude oil, down by nearly 10% compared to July and 17.5% lower compared to August last year, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a Monday note.The numbers suggest that apparent oil demand fell below 12.5 million bpd, down by more than 15% year-over-year and to its weakest level since August 2022.“The numbers also indicate that crude oil inventories in China built at a pace of around 3.2m b/d in August, the largest monthly build in Chinese crude oil inventories going as far back as 2015,” ING’s analysts noted.

India will still buy cheap Russian oil despite sanctions - India is ready to continue purchasing relatively cheap oil from Russian companies authorised to do so, with the Asian nation ready to simply buy from the cheapest seller. During an interview with a US media organisation at Houston’s GasTech conference, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed that India is willing to procure oil and gas at the most competitive prices from any source. Sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia due to its conflict with Ukraine have limited not only the price Russia can demand for its crude oil but also the markets it can sell to. Russia has since pivoted its exports to India and China, and away from Europe. In late August, it was reported that Russia’s oil exports to India surpassed those going to China, although Chinese refiners backing away from Russian oil may have spurred the move. Russian crude oil accounted for 44% of India’s overall imports in July, according to market data compiled by several US news outlets. This equates to just over two million barrels a day (mbbl/d), more than 4% higher than the previous month and 12% above the year-ago figure. China’s oil imports from Russia in July were 1.76mbbl/d.

Why No Major Oil Company Is Rushing To Drill Pakistan's Huge Oil Reserves -A long exploration effort has led to the reportedly massive discovery of oil and gas reserves in Pakistan’s territorial waters, a cache so large that it is said it could change the economic trajectory of the beleaguered country. But no one is rushing to drill in Pakistan, and experts are concerned about jumping the gun. According to DawnNewsTV, the three-year survey was undertaken to verify the presence of the oil and gas reserves. “If this is a gas reserve, it can replace LNG imports and if these are oil reserves, we can substitute imported oil,’’ former Ogra (Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority) member Muhammad Arif told DawnTv. However, Arif has cautioned that it would take years before the country could be able to exploit its newfound fossil fuel resources, adding that exploration alone required a hefty investment of around $5 billion and it might take four to five years to extract reserves from an offshore location. Pakistan covers 29% of gas, 85% of oil, 50% of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and 20% of coal requirements through imports, according to the Economic Times. Pakistan's total energy import bill in 2023 clocked in at $17.5 billion, a figure projected to rise to $31 billion in seven years, as per an Express Tribune report. The new discovery is no doubt a big boon for the struggling economy. Since 2021, Pakistan has been hit with mounting debt and skyrocketing inflation, with inflation hitting nearly 30%. Meanwhile, the economy only expanded 2.4% in 2023, missing the 3.5% target. This has forced the country to rely heavily on foreign aid, which is often elusive. In January this year, Pakistan sought $30 billion for gas production to cut its fuel import bill. According to Pakistan’s Energy Minister Mohammad Ali, Pakistan has 235 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves, and an investment of $25 billion to $30 billion would be enough to extract 10% of those reserves over the next decade to reverse the current declining gas production and replace the import of energy. The persistently high inflation could push Pakistan over the edge, "There is no precedent in Pakistan’s history of such a long and intense spell of inflation gripping the country," columnist Khurram Husain has written in Dawn. Although Pakistan's hydrocarbon resources are yet to be quantified, some estimates suggest that this discovery constitutes the fourth-largest oil and gas reserves in the world. This could be a potential game-changer in the region’s energy flows. Back in July, S&P Global Commodity Insights reported that four largely unexplored sedimentary basins in India could hold up to 22 billion barrels of oil. In effect, lesser-known Category-II and III basins namely Mahanadi, Andaman Sea, Bengal, and Kerala-Konkan contain more oil than the Permian Basin which has already produced 14 billion of its 34 billion barrels of recoverable oil reserves. Currently, only 10% of India’s 3.36 million sq km wide sedimentary basin is under exploration. However, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says that that figure will jump to 16% in 2024 following the award of blocks under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) rounds. According to Puri, India’s Exploration and Production (E&P) activities in the oil and gas sector offer investment opportunities worth $100 billion by 2030.So why is no one rushing to Pakistan to drill? Shell announced it was selling its Pakistan business stake to Saudi Aramco in June last year, and an auction for 18 oil and gas blocks at the same time last year got a muted response from international bidders, at best. No international companies even bid on 15 of the blocks, according to The Nation. In July, the country’s Petroleum Minister, Musadik Malik, told a parliamentary committee that no international companies were interested in offshore oil and gas exploration in Pakistan,and those in the country largely had the exit door in view. It comes down to security, and risk versus reward with Malik explaining to the committee that the cost of security is a major deal-breaker because “in areas where companies search for oil and gas, they have to spend a significant amount to maintain security for their employees and assets”. And security is provided by Pakistan, which has not been up to the task. In March this year, five Chinese engineers were killed in a suicide attack in Pakistan’s northest, when a vehicle rigged with explosives rammed into a bus transporting staff from Islamabad to the giant Dasu dam project in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The project is part of the $62-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This incident sparked a series of temporary shut-downs across other projects, as well. Earlier that same month, insurgents attacked Chinese assets in Pakistan’s southwest, storming the Gwadar Port Authority complex, which is run by China. The attacks were perpetrated by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), separatists fighting for an independent Balochistan, as reported by the Lowy Institute. Essentially, what this means is that it will be China or bust for Pakistan, as state-owned or state-controlled Chinese explorers have a vastly different appetite for risk. And these massive reserves are not likely to get out of the ground without Aramco showing more desire or the Chinese stepping in, for which discussions are already underway, according to Malik. In the meantime, Iran is said to be smuggling a billion dollars in fuel into Pakistan every year, as the country’s oil and gas crisis emboldens the black market trade.

Nigeria’s oil output rises as OPEC struggles to meet targets - TV360 Nigeria -- The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) experienced its lowest oil output since January 2024, according to a Reuters survey released on Monday. The survey revealed that OPEC’s production fell to 26.36 million barrels per day (bpd) in August, a decrease of 340,000 bpd from July. The decline in output was largely attributed to unrest in Libya, which disrupted oil supplies and contributed to the overall drop. Libyan production, significantly impacted by political tensions over the central bank, fell by 290,000 bpd, bringing output to an average of 900,000 bpd for the month. This disruption, alongside voluntary supply cuts by OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, has played a role in boosting global oil prices. Other contributing factors include reduced exports from Iraq, which has been working to align its output with OPEC targets, and the ongoing increase in exports from Iran. Nigeria, however, saw a slight increase in its oil output, which helped elevate its exports. The survey also noted that OPEC’s production exceeded the implied target for nine member countries covered by supply cut agreements by about 220,000 bpd, with Iraq being the primary contributor to this excess. The findings suggest that the disruption in Libyan supply and ongoing cuts might influence OPEC+ decisions, potentially supporting a planned output increase starting in October.

Oil spill in Abu Dhabi channel under control: Police - Khaleej Times -- An oil spill in the northern channel of the Mussaffah area in Abu Dhabi is under control, the police have said. The force's Crisis and Disaster Management section praised a joint operation undertaken by the police, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Ports and the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities to control the spill. "The UAE takes great pride in protecting the environment and preserving its natural resources. Such practices are a prerequisite for sustainable, balanced and comprehensive growth," the police said. "Federal law No 24 of 1999 issued by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is one of the most prominent laws in the field of environmental protection." The law focuses on protecting the environment, fighting pollution, and mitigating short- or long-term environmental damage resulting from economic, agricultural, industrial or urban plans.

Saudi Arabia cuts oil exports to 5741 million b/d - Saudi Arabian crude oil exports reached their lowest level in almost a year in July, according to data provided by the Joint Organizations Data Initiative. The decline comes as the country, as the world’s largest crude exporter, adjusts its strategy in the face of fluctuating market dynamics. Exports fell to 5.741 million barrels per day, down 5.1% on the 6.047 million barrels per day recorded in June. This situation raises questions about the impact of OPEC+ decisions and global demand trends.. Despite this drop in exports, Saudi production rose slightly to 8.941 million barrels per day, compared with 8.830 million barrels per day the previous month. This paradox between rising production and falling exports can be attributed to a number of factors, not least an increase in domestic consumption. Indeed, the volume of crude processed by Saudi refineries decreased to 2.397 million barrels per day, while direct crude combustion increased by 211,000 barrels per day to 769,000 barrels per day. These figures indicate a reorientation of resources towards the domestic market, which could be a response to growing energy needs. Price adjustments on the oil market are also indicative of concerns about demand. Saudi Arabia cut the price of its flagship crude, Arab Light, destined for Asia, reaching its lowest level in almost three years. The decision was prompted by growing concerns about demand in the region, exacerbated by downwardly revised forecasts from OPEC and the International Energy Agency for oil demand growth in 2024. The outlook for Chinese demand, in particular, is weighing on the market, with Chinese refinery output down 6.2% year-on-year in August. OPEC+’s recent decisions to delay a production increase scheduled for October and November underline producers’ caution in the face of an uncertain market. OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed their willingness to suspend or reverse production increases if necessary. This strategy is aimed at stabilizing oil prices and responding to fluctuations in global demand. Market players are keeping a close eye on these developments, as they could influence supply and demand trends in the short to medium term.

Saudi Arabia’s Crude Oil Exports Slumped to an 11-Month Low in July Saudi Arabia exported 5.74 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in July, down by 306,000 bpd from June, and the lowest export level since August 2023, the latest data from the Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI) showed on Thursday.Saudi Arabia, the world’s top crude oil exporter, typically lowers its crude oil exports in the summer as it uses more crude domestically for direct burn at power plants. Electricity demand in the desert in the summer months is soaring amid scorching temperatures. Saudi Arabia saw its direct use of crude rise by 211,000 bpd in July, to 770,000 bpd, a 7-month high, according to the JODI data which compiles self-reported figures from individual countries.Crude oil production in Saudi Arabiaincreased in July, by 111,000 bpd to 8.94 million bpd. Despite the rise in production, exports fell, suggesting that the increase was used up by direct crude use for power generation.Even with the July rise in crude oil production, Saudi Arabia fulfilled its pledge to keep output “at around 9 million bpd” as it said when it announced its voluntary 1-million-bpd cut on top of its share of reduction as part of the OPEC+ deal.Going forward, Saudi Arabia is looking to attract more customers in Asia, where demand has underwhelmed so far this year.Earlier in September, the Kingdomslashed its official selling prices (OSPs) for October to Asia, amid worsening refining margins in China and the wider Asian region and weaker Dubai benchmark prices. The price of Saudi Arabia’s flagship grade, Arab Light, to Asia for October was cut by $0.70 per barrel compared to the September pricing. As a result, demand from the largest refiners in China has increased, while nominations from major private refiners with allocated import quotas have held stable for the next month.

Oil Net Short For First Time in History | OilPrice.com - Brent crude oil is currently priced at $72.14 per barrel, showing a slight increase of $0.17 (+0.24%) for the day. However, behind this small rise is a much larger story unfolding in the oil markets.According to energy investor and market commentator Eric Nuttall, the financial demand for oil, known as "net length," has dropped to its lowest point in history. Essentially, "net length" refers to the difference between the number of investors betting oil prices will rise (long positions) versus those betting they will fall (short positions). When net length is low, it means there is a reduced belief that prices will increase.What's even more striking is that, for the first time ever, the paper market for Brent crude is "net short." This means there are now more investors betting that oil prices will fall than those expecting them to rise. This is significant because it's rare to see such pessimism in the market, especially when physical global oil inventories are falling at a rate of about a million barrels per day.Why does this matter? Typically, when oil supply is low, prices tend to rise due to scarcity. However, the current setup is unusual—while physical oil barrels are declining, the financial market appears to be betting on lower prices. For contrarians who thrive on going against the crowd, this could signal an opportunity. They may believe the market is underestimating the potential for future price increases, given the tight supply situation. This tension between the financial and physical sides of the oil market suggests that volatility and price swings may be on the horizon. Keep an eye on these dynamics as they unfold.

The Market Awaits a Likely Cut to U.S. Interest Rates by the Federal Reserve -- The oil market on Monday traded higher as it retraced some of its losses seen on Friday, as the market awaits a likely cut to U.S. interest rates by the Federal Reserve. The market traded mostly sideways in overnight trading and posted a low of $68.65 before it retraced its previous losses. The market breached its previous high as it rallied to a high of $70.70 by mid-morning. The oil market remained supported by some supply worries as some capacity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico still remains offline in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. The market later gave up some of its gains and traded mostly sideways ahead of the close. The October WTI contract settled up $1.44 at $70.09 and the November Brent contract settled up $1.14 at $72.75. The product markets ended the session in positive territory, with the heating oil market settling up 1.25 cents at $2.0968 and the RB market settling up 3.8 cents at $1.9682. The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said more than 12% of crude production and 16% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico were offline on Monday in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine. There were 213,204 barrels per day of oil and 298 million cubic feet of natural gas still offline after Francine hit the coast last week. Exxon Mobil said it is working to safely restart operations at its Hoover offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Last week, Exxon shut operations at its Hoover offshore platform due to tropical storm Francine. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 805,000 bpd of capacity in the week ending September 20th, cutting available refining capacity by 71,000 bpd. Offline capacity is expected to increase to 878,000 bpd in the week ending September 27th. Exxon Mobil Corp reported operations requiring flaring at its 609,024 bpd Beaumont, Texas refinery. Marathon Petroleum Corp reported flaring at its 363,000 bpd Wilmington, California refinery. Separately, Marathon’s Galveston Bay, Texas refinery reported emissions. UBS cut its fourth quarter Brent crude price forecast to $75/barrel from a previous forecast of $83/barrel. It cut its 2024 Brent price forecast by $4/barrel to $80/barrel and its 2025/26 price by $5/barrel to $75/barrel. S&P Global Commodity Insights is reporting that Europe is expected to receive at least four more diesel-laden VLCCs during September and October originating in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Shipping data is estimating that over 1 million mt of diesel will be delivered from these four cargoes.

Oil prices climb on hurricane impact ahead of US rate decision | Reuters (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Monday as the ongoing impact of Hurricane Francine on output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico offset persistent Chinese demand concerns ahead of this week's U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut decision. Brent crude futures for November settled at $72.75 a barrel, up $1.14, or 1.59%. U.S. crude futures for October settled at $70.09, up $1.44, or 2.1%. "We've still got the remnants of the storm," "The impact is more on the production side than on refining. Therefore, it leans a little bit bullish." More than 12% of crude production and 16% of natural gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico remained offline in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said on Monday. Overall, however, the market remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Wednesday. Traders are increasingly betting on a Fed rate cut of 50 basis points (bps) rather than 25 bps, as shown by the CME FedWatch, opens new tab tool that tracks Fed fund futures. Lower interest rates typically reduce the cost of borrowing, which can boost economic activity and lift demand for oil. "A quarter-percent Fed rate cut could heighten traders' concerns about the pace of oil demand growth," The market may see conflicting trends if the Fed delivers a more aggressive rate cut, Seigle said. "Bulls will feel more confident about resilient oil demand with a soft landing, while bears pushing spreads into contango will welcome reduced physical carrying costs," Seigle said. Contango is when front-month contracts are cheaper than future months. Weaker Chinese economic data over the weekend dampened market sentiment, with the low-for-longer growth outlook in the world's second-largest economy reinforcing doubts over oil demand, Industrial output growth in China, the world's top oil importer, slowed to a five-month low in August while retail sales and new home prices weakened further. China's oil refinery output also fell for a fifth month as weak fuel demand and export margins curbed production. Brent and WTI each gained about 1% last week but remain comfortably below their August averages of $78.88 and $75.43 a barrel, respectively, after a price slide around the start of this month driven in part by demand concerns.

The Latest U.S. Retail Sales Data Pointed to a Resilient Economy The oil market on Tuesday traded higher as the market’s focus turned to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting that ends on Wednesday after the latest U.S. retail sales data pointed to a resilient economy. The crude market was also supported by the expectations of lower U.S. crude stocks, with the weekly inventory reports expected to show a small draw of about 200,000 barrels in the week ending September 13th and concerns over U.S. production that was still resuming in the aftermath Hurricane Francine. The market traded sideways in overnight trading and posted a low of $69.61. However, the market bounced off its low and extended its gains to over $1.80 as it posted a high of $71.92 in afternoon trading. It retraced more than 50% of its move from a high of $77.60 to a low of $65.27. The October WTI contract later erased some of its gains ahead of the close and settled up $1.10 at $71.19 and the November Brent contract settled up 95 cents at $73.70. The product markets also ended the session higher, with the heating oil market settling up 3.99 cents at $2.1367 and the RB market settling up 3.37 cents at $2.0019. Marathon Petroleum reported it experienced an emergency flaring event at its 365,000 b/d Carson, California refinery on Monday morning. PBF Energy Inc reported unplanned flaring due to a malfunction at its 160,000 bpd Torrance, California refinery. Platts is reporting that according to secondary sources, Iraq produced 4.228 million b/d in August down 50,000 b/d from July levels, but well above its OPEC+ commitments. Platts estimated Kurdish production has been at 250,000 b/d. Iraq’s state oil marketer reportedly warned Kurdish officials that Kurdish output will be restricted to 46,000 b/d, with any additional volumes going forward would result in the withholding of budget payments to the Kurdish Regional Government. Alberta’s premier warned late last week that the planned Canadian government legislation to impose a cap on greenhouse gas emissions will potentially force Alberta’s heavy oil producers to reduce output by 1.2 million b/d by 2030. Production at U.S. factories increased in August amid a rebound in motor vehicle output, but data for the previous month was revised lower, suggesting that manufacturing continued to tread water. The Federal Reserve said factory output increased 0.9% in August after a downwardly revised 0.7% decline in July. Production at factories increased 0.2% on a year-on-year basis in August. Overall industrial production increased 0.8% in August after decreasing 0.9% in July. Capacity utilization for the industrial sector increased to 78.0% from 77.4% in July. The operating rate for the manufacturing sector increased to 77.2% in August from 76.6% in July. U.S. retail sales unexpectedly increased in August, suggesting that the economy remained on a solid footing through much of the third quarter. The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said retail sales increased 0.1% in August after an upwardly revised 1.1% increase in July.

Oil prices end higher after exploding-pagers attack on Hezbollah members in Lebanon Rising Middle East tensions help restore war risk premium: analyst - Oil futures finished higher Tuesday, appearing to get a lift after pagers carried by Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon exploded around the same time in an apparent attack - raising fears of a broader Middle East conflict that could threaten crude flows from the region. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery rose $1.10, or 1.6%, to close at $71.19 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.November Brent crude, the global benchmark, settled with a gain of 95 cents, or 1.3%, at $73.70 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe. Back on Nymex, October gasoline rose 1.7% to finish at $2.0019 a gallon, while October heating oil advanced 1.9% to $2.1367 a gallon. October natural gas fell 2.1% to $2.324 per million British thermal units. The blasts left more than 2,700 injured and eight dead, according to the Wall Street Journal. Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Lebanese government blamed Israel for the attack, the report said, and Hezbollah threatened to retaliate, while the Israeli military declined to comment. Oil futures have retreated sharply from summer highs as fears of a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran ebbed after earlier flare-ups. Crude appeared to take a cue from headlines surrounding the incident, adding to gains in morning trade, The incident may serve to "put war risk premium back into the market that was taken out," Crude rose Monday, with support tied to lingering effects on U.S. production after Hurricane Francine last week forced the shut-in of offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Concerns remain on the demand front, however, after lackluster economic data and oil consumption figures from China over the weekend. Investors are also awaiting a Wednesday decision by the Federal Reserve, with fed-funds-futures traders pricing in a roughly 65% probability that policymakers will opt to cut the central bank's key rate by 50 basis points, or half a percentage point, rather than 25 basis points, or a quarter percentage point. Oil futures have bounced somewhat after both front-month Brent and WTI saw their lowest close since December 2021, with WTI rising more than 8% from last week's intraday low to Monday's session high. But the rebound "must be put into perspective as crude lost 23% between early July and last week's low. Crude was exceptionally oversold ahead of this rally, and even with the latest pickup, it remains oversold," "But even with the bullish trigger of supply disruptions due to Hurricane Francine, and the prospect of lower interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve, crude hasn't bounced sharply enough to set off a serious bout of short-covering which should have driven prices much higher,"

WTI Holds Gains As 'Tank Bottoms' Loom After Big Draw At Cushing Hub -- Oil prices continued their recent rally off three-year lows this morning (rebounding from weakness overnight following the unexpected crude build reported by API) ahead of today's FOMC decision and pushed higher by re-awoken geopolitical risk premium after Israel's pager-op on Hezbollah prompted the start of retaliations.The weak preliminary inventory data from API and recent trends in product spreads are adding to concerns about demand in the US, said Robert Yawger, director of the energy futures division at Mizuho Securities USA. “If you don’t need the product, you don’t need the crude oil to make the product,”“That is the most important math in energy — everything else is noise.”The big question is will the official US crude stockpile data confirm API's.

Crude Oil Price Increases As Refineries Reduce Run Rates - Oil prices soared in the global commodities market as refineries throughout the world began to cut run rates. Brent crude is trading 0.3% higher at $72.93 a barrel, while WTI, the US benchmark, is up 0.5% to $70.44. Oil prices have risen and fallen due to imbalances in the global commodities market. There is also sentiment, or rather expectation, that a US rate cut will lower energy costs in the face of an uninspiring Chinese crude demand picture. China data implies that demand will stay weak in the short term until GDP catches up. Analysts projected that demand would rise after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates at its meeting from September 17 to 18. Brent settled 1.59% higher yesterday, possibly as shorts in the market cover their positions ahead of Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, ING said in a Tuesday note. Analysts maintained that the global commodities market is still torn between a 25 basis point or 50 basis points cut from the US Fed. There are also lingering concerns over Libyan oil supply, which continues to be disrupted due to political fighting over the central bank’s control, according to ING. In addition, in the US, a little more than 12% of US Gulf of Mexico oil production remains shut-in following Hurricane Francine. Refinery margins around the globe remain under pressure. Unsurprisingly, this weakness is leading refiners to reduce their run rates. In Spain, it is reported that Repsol will be cutting run rates by around 5%. While in Italy, ENI will reportedly reduce run rates by as much as 10% at some of its refineries. ING commodities strategists said a reduction in run rates is obviously not great for crude oil demand. European natural gas prices came under further pressure yesterday. TTF settled 4.4% lower on the day and finished at its lowest level since late July. Warmer weather weighed on prices. EU storage continues to tick higher despite reduced flows from Norway, where heavy scheduled maintenance is ongoing. Undeniably, storage builds have slowed significantly due to these reduced flows, but EU storage still stands at more than 93% full.

The Latest Oil Price Crash Appears to Have Come to an End - Oil prices have fallen dramatically in recent weeks, but supply disruptions and optimism around a potential U.S. interest rate cut appear to have halted that downward momentum.

- The marked shift in oil sentiment recently has been to a great deal prompted by a widespread concern of Chinese demand peaking this or next year as LNG displaces diesel in long-haul trucking, EV sales overtaking conventional cars since July and rail expansion eating into jet fuel recovery.
- Chinese refinery runs have been declining for five straight months, with the National Bureau of Statistics reporting throughput rates at 13.91 million b/d in August amidst a widespread decline in Shandong teapot runs, as low as 55% last month.
- Meanwhile, Asian refiners’ margins slumped to the lowest seasonal levels since 2020 as high inventories of diesel and gasoline become an increasingly worrying factor as peak summer demand tapers off.
- China’s clampdown on tax evasion is aggravating the pressure on refiners after a Shandong court ruled two refiners run by state-owned firm Sinochem, the Huaxing and Zhenghe plants totalling 220,000 b/d in capacity, fully bankrupt.
- US upstream firm APA said it would sell non-core assets in the Permian basin to an undisclosed buyer for some $950 million, reducing its debt after the $6.7 billion acquisition of Callon Petroleum.
- Japan’s largest trading company Mitsubishisigned a framework agreement with ExxonMobil to join the Baytown blue ammonia and hydrogen project, right after ADNOC signed on, too.
- China’s national oil company PetroChina has signed two petroleum sharing contracts with Suriname’s state oil firm Staatsolie for two shallow-water blocks, saying they’ve missed the Guyana bonanza and do not want to miss Suriname.

After several tumultuous weeks, the downhill slide seems to have ended for crude oil futures, with ICE Brent trading relatively rangebound at $72.50 per barrel. Supply disruptions in Libya and the US Gulf of Mexico prevented concerns over China's economy from triggering an even bigger slide and the US Federal Reserve’s much-anticipated interest rate cut could lift the market mood slightly higher. Short positions held by hedge funds and other money managers in the ICE Brent futures contract surpassed long ones for the first time on record, with a net short of 12,680 contracts reflecting widespread concerns over Chinese demand and the US economy.. The new top financial officer of Brazil’s state oil firm Petrobras Fernando Melgarejo said the company’s new 2025-2029 strategic plan would have a more upstream-focused vision to prevent a decline in oil and gas reserves around 2030. Oil and gas producers are resuming production in the US Gulf of Mexico with only 12% of output (and 24 platforms) shut in as of Monday, some 213,000 b/d, as peak closures reached 732,000 b/d last week or 42% of total offshore output.

Crude +1.96MM (Exp. -0.5MM)
Cushing -1.4MM
Gasoline +2.34MM
Distillates +2.3MM

DOE

Crude -1.63MM (Exp. -0.5MM)
Cushing -1.979MM - biggest draw since Jan
Gasoline +69k
Distillates +125k

The official data contradicted API with a 1.63mm barrel draw and Cushing saw stockpiles tumble 1.979mm barrels - the biggest draw since January... The big draw at Cushing pushed stockpiles near 'tank bottoms'...Total crude stocks (ex-SPR) dropped to their lowest in a year as the battle between physical-demand and paper-punting continues...

Oil prices fall as Fed rate cut stirs economic worries, storage report mixed (Reuters) - Oil prices slipped lower on Wednesday as a rate cut announcement from the Federal Reserve raised worries about the health of the U.S. economy, while investors largely shrugged off a crude oil inventory decline that they attributed to the impact of short-lived weather. Brent crude futures for November settled at $73.65 a barrel, losing 5 cents, while WTI crude futures for October settled at $70.91 a barrel, falling 28 cents. The U.S. central bank cut interest rates by half a percentage point, a larger decrease in borrowing costs than many expected, stoking concern the central bank may see a slowing job market. Interest rate cuts typically boost economic activity and energy demand, yet a weaker labor market can slow the economy. Meanwhile, crude inventories fell by 1.6 million barrels to 417.5 million barrels in the week ending Sept. 13, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 500,000-barrel draw. The crude draw, which resulted in inventories dropping to the lowest in a year, helped limit price declines. While the EIA's report was more supportive of oil prices than Tuesday's American Petroleum Institute figures, investors likely linked the drawdown to Hurricane Francine, a short-lived event, "The problem with a 'Hurricane” report is that the numbers have a tendency to boomerang back in the opposite direction in the next week's report, after oil infrastructure comes back online," Gasoline and distillate inventories, meanwhile, rose slightly last week. Brent had staged a recovery since Sept. 10 when it fell below $70 to its lowest since December 2021. It faces resistance at around $75 due to weak global refinery margins that signal sluggish demand, he added. Earlier in the session, oil found support from risks of increased violence in the Middle East disrupting supply after Hezbollah accused Israel of attacking the militant group with explosive-laden pagers in Lebanon. Hezbollah promised to retaliate against Israel, whose military declined to comment on the blasts. "The end of peak summer demand and a negative shift in traders' sentiment have contributed to the price drop, though potential conflicts in the Middle East still pose a risk of supply disruptions,"

Crude oil futures trade flat despite US interest rate hike - The Hindu Business Line - At 9.57 am on Thursday, November Brent oil futures were at $73.67, up by 0.03 per cent, and November crude oil futures on WTI (West Texas Intermediate) were at $69.85, down by 0.04 per cent. September crude oil futures were trading at ₹5924 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹5913, up by 0.19 per cent, and October futures were trading at ₹5866 against the previous close of ₹5840, up by 0.45 per cent. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 4.75-5 per cent per cent. This was the first reduction in interest rates since March 2020. While the market was expecting an interest rate cut, there was speculation whether it would be a 25 basis points cut or 50 basis points cut. In their Commodities Feed, ING Think’s Warren Patterson, Head of Commodities Strategy, and Ewa Manthey, Commodities Strategist, said while oil prices saw a brief spike following the Fed’s 50 basis points rate cut, the market settled marginally lower on Wednesday. Expectations for a 50 basis points cut had grown in recent weeks, so the move was largely priced in, they said. “For oil, that means attention will likely turn back to demand worries. China has obviously been the key concern when it comes to demand, but there have also been reports of refiners in Europe cutting run rates due to poor margins,” they said. Meanwhile, the data released by the US EIA (Energy Information Administration) for the week ending September 13 showed a decline in crude oil inventories in the US. According to the US EIA, commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 1.6 million barrels from the previous week. At 417.5 million barrels, US crude oil inventories were about 4 per cent below the five-year average for this time of year. Total motor gasoline inventories increased by 0.1 million barrels from last week and were slightly below the five-year average for this time of year. Total products supplied over the last four-week period averaged 20.3 million barrels a day, down by 2.7 per cent from the same period last year. Over the past four weeks, motor gasoline product supplied averaged 8.9 million barrels a day, up by 1.1 per cent from the same period last year. ING Think’s Commodities Feed also said that the US administration is looking to buy 6 million barrels of crude oil for the strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) for delivery February-May 2025. Given the recent weakness in oil prices, it makes sense for the Department of Energy (DoE) to increase purchases to refill the SPR. The DoE’s target price is below $79.99 a barrel, while WTI early 2025 forwards are trading sub-$69 a barrel currently, the Feed said. September aluminium futures were trading at ₹232 on MCX during the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹230.75, up by 0.54 per cent. On the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), September guargum contracts were trading at ₹10798 in the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹10599, up by 1.88 per cent. September cottonseed oilcake futures were trading at ₹3860 on NCDEX in the initial hour of trading on Thursday against the previous close of ₹3792, up by 1.79 per cent.

Oil Market Rises on Fed's Interest Rate Cut - The oil market traded higher on Thursday as the market focused on the Federal Reserve’s decision on Wednesday to cut interest rates by half a percentage point. The market was also well supported by the increased tensions in the Middle East. In overnight trading, the market opened lower as demand concerns seemed to initially outweigh supply risk. The crude market opened at a low of $70.13. However, the market bounced off its low and retraced its earlier losses. The market breached its previous high of $71.92 and extended its gains to over $1.50 as it rallied to a high of $72.49 in afternoon trading. The market traded higher following the news that the Israeli military launched attacks against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Thursday and Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said the attacks on its members amounted to a declaration of war. The October WTI later retraced some of its gains and settled up $1.04 at $71.95. The November Brent contract settled up $1.23 at $74.88. The product markets ended the session in positive territory, with the heating oil market settling up 2.45 cents at $2.1720 and the RB market settling up 4.93 cents at $2.06. Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon on Thursday, as Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said two days of attacks on its members amounted to a declaration of war. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Commander Hossein Salami told Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah that Israel will face “a crushing response from the axis of resistance following attacks on Lebanese Hezbollah’s communication devices. The axis of resistance refers to Iran-aligned armed groups in the Middle East, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces. Lebanon and Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the attacks on Tuesday and Wednesday that killed 37 people and wounded around 3,000, although Israel has not directly commented on the attacks, which security sources say were probably carried out by its Mossad spy agency.The EPA reported that the U.S. generated 639 million biodiesel blending credits in August, down from 828 million blending credits in July. It also reported that the U.S. generated 1.32 billion ethanol blending credits in August, up from 1.33 billion in July.Exxon Mobil reported a process unit upset at its 609,024 bpd Beaumont, Texas refinery.The Joint Organizations Data Initiative reported that Saudi Arabia’s crude output in July increased by 111,000 bpd to 8.941 million bpd. Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports in July fell to 5.741 million bpd, the lowest level since August 2023 from 6.047 million bpd in June.The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week. The U.S. Labor Department said initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell by 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 219,000 in the week ending September 14^th. The number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid fell 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.829 million during the week ending September 7^th. Traders added to bets the U.S. Federal Reserve’s next rate cut will be smaller than the one it delivered on Wednesday, after economic data showed an unexpected decline in unemployment insurance claims.

U.S. crude oil rises more than 1% after Fed cuts rates, Israel-Hezbollah tensions escalate - U.S. crude oil rose more than 1% on Thursday, one day after the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates for the first time in more than four years and as tensions in the Middle East continued to escalate.The Fed surprised the market on Wednesday with a bigger-than-expected cut of a half percentage point. Oil prices, however, closed slightly lower as rate reductions had largely already been priced in.The U.S. benchmark has now clawed back its losses this year, though it is still down more than 11% in the third quarter.Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at the Price Futures Group, said the Fed cut appears to be "shaking out some hedge fund shorts from their bearish oil obsession." Here are Thursday's closing energy prices:

West Texas Intermediate October contract: $71.95 per barrel, up $1.04, or 1.47%. Year to date, U.S. crude oil is up less than 1%.
Brent November contract: $74.88 per barrel, up $1.23, or 1.67%. Year to date, the global benchmark is down nearly 3%.
RBOB Gasoline October contract: $2.06 per gallon, up 2.45%. Year to date, gasoline is down roughly 2%.
Natural Gas October contract: $2.348 per thousand cubic feet, up 2.8%. Year to date, gas is down more than 6%.

Crude futures are on the rebound again as tensions soar between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah in Lebanon. Prices are also finding support after U.S. oil stockpiles fell by 1.6 million barrels last week.Israeli warplanes and artillery carried out strikes targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Thursday. The strikes come after pagers and walkie-talkies used by the militia exploded this week, killing dozens and wounding thousands across Lebanon. U.S. officials told NBC News that Israel was behind the pager attack. Israel has not taken responsibility for the attacks.Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that his country's focus is shifting from Gaza to the northern border with Lebanon, where some 60,000 Israelis have been evacuated, as a "new phase" of the war begins.Oil market analysts have warned for months that an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, which until now have traded rocket fire, could force OPEC member Iran to directly intervene, raising the risk of disruptions to Middle East crude oil supplies."We continue to highlight Lebanon as the main pathway to oil disruption through direct Iranian involvement in a wider regional war," Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, told clients in a Thursday note.

Oil prices cut losses to remain on track for weekly gains after hefty Fed cut -- Oil prices cut losses Friday, to remain on track for a weekly gain as a bumper U.S. interest rate cut helped quell some fears of slowing demand. At 1:43 p.m. ET (1743 GMT), Brent oil futures rose 0.01% to $74.89 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude futures added 0.3% to $71.39 a barrel. Crude prices have staged a strong recovery from near three-year lows hit earlier in September, with a bulk of their rebound coming this week as the dollar retreated on a 50 basis point rate cutby the Federal Reserve.Brent and WTI futures were trading up around 4% for the week. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensified, aiding crude as Israel struck Beirut and claimed to have killed a senior Hezbollah commander. Earlier this week, Israel allegedly exploded pagers and walkie talkies belonging to Hezbollah members, sparking vows of retaliation. Fighting in and around Gaza also continued. A softer dollar also helped prices after the Fed cut interest rates by the top end of market expectations and announced an easing cycle, which traders bet will help spur economic growth in the coming quarters.Lower rates usually bode well for economic activity, which in turn is expected to buoy crude demand. The number of oil rigs operating in the U.S. was unchanged at 488 from a week earlier, according to data Friday from energy services firm Baker Hughes. The unchanged rig count comes as production was disrupted recently in the wake of the impact from Hurricane Francine. But China remained a key point of contention for crude markets, as economic readings from the world’s biggest oil importer showed little signs of improvement. The People’s Bank of China kept benchmark lending rates unchanged on Friday, despite mounting calls on Beijing to unlock more stimulus for the economy.Data released earlier in September showed Chinese refinery output slowed for a fifth straight month in August, while the country’s oil imports also remained mostly weak. Concerns over China dragged oil prices to a near three-year low earlier this month, and have limited any major recovery in crude."China has obviously been the key concern when it comes to demand, but there have also been reports of refiners in Europe cutting run rates due to poor margins," said analysts at ING, in a note.

Oil prices log weekly gains after Fed rate cut, rising Middle East tensions -Oil futures fell Friday but booked solid weekly gains, boosted by the Federal Reserve's decision to deliver a large interest-rate cut as well as a renewed rise in tensions in the Middle East after a series of pager and walkie-talkie explosions aimed at Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery CL00 fell 3 cents, or less than 0.1%, to close at $71.92 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The more actively traded November contract fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $71 a barrel.November Brent crude, the global benchmark, dropped 39 cents, or 0.5%, to settle at $74.49 a barrel on ICE Futures Europe.October gasoline fell 1.2% to close at $2.036 a gallon, while October heating oil declined 0.5% to $2.162 a gallon.October natural gas NGV24 gained 3.7% to $2.434 per million British thermal units. Brent rose 4% for the week and WTI advanced 4.8%, lifted by the Federal Reserve's decision Wednesday to cut its key interest rate by 50 basis points, or half a percentage point. Crude jumped in Thursday's session, alongside global equities, as worries over an economic hard landing abated. Meanwhile, fears of a broader Middle East conflict that could threaten oil flows from the region also contributed to gains. Iran-backed Hezbollah blamed Israel for pager explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday that injured 2,800, including Iran's ambassador to Lebanon, and killed 12. That was followed Wednesday by explosions of walkie-talkies and other devices used by the group. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate. Israel on Friday said it killed a top Hezbollah commander and other senior military officials in a strike on Beirut. Lebanon's health ministry said the attack left at least 14 dead and 66 wounded, according to a Wall Street Journal report. "Oil prices were boosted from two sides this week: On the one hand, the Fed cut its key interest rate more than many had expected, raising hopes that a sharp drop in oil demand in the largest market would be avoided," . "On the other hand, the situation in the Middle East has continued to escalate, causing the geopolitical risk premium to rise. No doubt, a further deterioration of the situation could push prices even higher," she said. Iran remains the wild card, Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, said in a note. Iran so far hasn't shown a desire to move the conflict out of its current "gray zone," she said, with the country benefiting financially from elevated oil sales and slack enforcement of energy sanctions. "Tehran may indeed judge that it is in its best interest to bide its time and avoid a repeat of the April rocket attacks. Of course, the policy of strategic patience may not survive an Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon. We continue to highlight Lebanon as the main pathway to oil disruption through direct Iranian involvement in a wider regional war," Croft wrote. Oil-field services firm Baker Hughes Co. (BKR) on Friday reported the U.S. oil-rig count was unchanged this week at 488.

Red Sea operation to tow stricken tanker and avert oil spill – Middle East Monitor -The operation has started to tow a Greek-registered oil tanker stranded in the Red Sea after an attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement last month, a shipping source told Reuters on Saturday. Towing the 900-foot MV Sounion to safety is the first step in a risky operation to salvage the vessel that caught fire after it was attacked repeatedly on 21 August. The second step will be the transfer of its cargo of about one million barrels of crude oil. Saudi Arabia, a key player in the region, will offer its assistance with that project, sources have said. Any oil spill could be one of the largest from a ship, risking catastrophic environmental damage in an area that is particularly dangerous to enter. An initial effort to salvage the vessel was paused earlier this month due to safety reasons. At least two tugs owned by a Greece-based salvage company are involved in the latest towing attempt, Reuters reported on Thursday. Aspides, the European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, said on Saturday that its assets were in the area to protect the vessels involved in the operation. It described the operation as a “complex endeavour”, adding on Facebook that, “Creating a secure environment is necessary for the tugboats to conduct the towing operation.” The salvage operation of the MV Sounion is essential in order to avert a potential environmental disaster in the region, added Aspides. “To achieve this, several public and private actors are working together.” The Houthis announced on 23 August that they had “targeted the ship Sounion in the Red Sea, due to its violation of the ban on access to the ports of occupied Palestine.” The Houthis have been targeting Israeli and Israeli-linked vessels in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing Israeli aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip has so far killed more than 41,200 Palestinians, wounded at least 95,337 others, and caused the displacement of 90 per cent of the Strip’s population, according to UN data. Another 11,000 are missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by Israel.

Burning oil tanker towed to safety to avert Red Sea spill - A burning oil tanker that was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi movement has been towed to a safe area in the Red Sea without any spill, an EU naval mission says. The Greek-owned and flagged MV Sounion, carrying about a million barrels of crude, was abandoned by its crew after being hit by missiles on 21 August. Houthi fighters later detonated explosives on board, sparking several fires. A photo released on Monday night showed three vessels belonging to what the EU mission described as “private stakeholders” carrying out the salvage operation, protected by a warship. The Sounion’s destination was not given, but Saudi Arabia has reportedly offered to help the salvagers offload its oil. “The completion of this phase of the salvage operation is the result of a comprehensive approach and close co-operation between all stakeholders committed to prevent an environmental disaster affecting the whole region,” the EU’s Operation Aspides said on X. A potential spill from the Sounion could be almost four times larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, which saw 2,100km (1,300 miles) of coastline contaminated after a tanker ran aground off Alaska, according to the US. The Iran-backed Houthis said at the end of August that they had agreed to allow the Sounion to be towed away from Yemen after being contacted by “several international parties”. They also stressed that the attack on the tanker showed their “seriousness in targeting any ship that violates the Yemeni embargo”. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, sinking two vessels, seizing another and causing the deaths of at least four crew members. They say they are acting in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have claimed - often falsely - that they are targeting ships only linked to Israel, the US or the UK. They have not been deterred by the deployment of Western warships to protect merchant vessels, nor by US and British air strikes on territory they control in north-western Yemen. Israel also bombed Yemen in retaliation for a deadly drone strike on Tel Aviv, and it has vowed to make the Houthis pay a “heavy price” for a missile attack on Sunday. In a separate development on Monday, the Houthis said they had shot down a US-made MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen’s Dhamar province and released videos which they said showed the charred wreckage on the ground. The US military said it was aware of the claim.

Βurning Greek tanker towed to safety in the Red Sea without oil spill | TradeWinds -- European Union warships and salvage vessels have successfully towed a stricken Greek tanker to safe waters in the Red Sea. The move puts the 163,800-dwt Sounion (built 2006) further north from where it had been anchored while burning and abandoned after repeated Houthi attacks for nearly a month. The European Union Naval Force’s EUNAVFOR Aspides operation said in a social media post on Monday that the Sounion is now in a “safe area”. No oil has leaked from the Iraqi crude cargo the ship was carrying when the Yemen-based militant group attacked it several times in the second half of August. “The completion of this phase of the salvage operation is the result of a comprehensive approach and close cooperation between all stakeholders committed to prevent an environmental disaster affecting the whole region,” EUNAVFOR Aspides said in its statement. TradeWinds has reported since Thursday that the salvage operation, involving at least two vessels from Piraeus company Megatugs, was under way. Sources had told TradeWinds that the vessel would be towed to a position safe from the Houthis further north, where the flames still raging on and below its deck would be put out. At a later stage, the Sounion’s cargo is to be reloaded in a ship-to-ship transfer. The ship continues to pose a serious environmental threat, even though sources have been telling TradeWinds for quite some time now that there is no imminent structural reason for the fire to cause it to sink. Some spillage that was observed from the Sounion since it was attacked last month concerned fuel that leaked out after its engine was hit by a Houthi missile on 21 August. About a week later, Houthi militants boarded the abandoned ship and used explosives to set its deck vents alight. The flames and smoke still visible on the Sounion on Monday are the result of gases that continue burning in the vents. This is the second attempt undertaken by salvors to rescue the Sounion. Salvage armada starts towing stricken Delta Tankers vessel in Red Sea Read more An initial attempt that involved different tugs was abandoned about two weeks ago, with the salvors involved at the time citing safety concerns. The Houthis have made no statements about the ship’s rescue. However, they are not known to have made any attempts to prevent salvors from approaching the Sounion. According to some reports, the Houthis even signalled they would not attack salvors, to avoid an environmental disaster on their own shores as a result of their own actions.

Blazing oil tanker disaster averted by salvors | News | Maritime Journal --A million barrels of crude oil have been saved from going into the sea after salvors successfully towed the blazing tanker Sounion to safety. Protection forces have confirmed that the difficult and risky operation to rescue Sounion after being attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea is progressing well, so far avoiding any oil spill.

Research Study: Red Sea Attacks Cause 85 Percent Drop in Ship Traffic -A research study showed that traffic at ports in the Red Sea has decreased by 85% since the beginning of Houthi attacks on commercial ships, while traffic in the Suez Canal has decreased by about 66% during the same period. Data from the US company Lloyd's List showed that the Iranian-backed Houthi rebel group carried out more than 85 attempted attacks on oil tankers, bulk carriers and container ships since November last year, mostly through missile strikes. As a result, shipping companies largely preferred to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including taking a longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. This disruption had a significant impact on trade flows in the Middle East, including a drop in Suez Canal transit revenues in Egypt by up to 50% in the first months of the conflict. Research by Sea Intelligence, a Denmark-based analytics and consulting firm, indicates that the number of visits to deep-sea ports in the Red Sea has fallen from an average of more than 200 visits per month last year to less than 40 in the first six months of this year. That number rose to 60 in July, although CEO Alan Murphy says it “remains to be seen whether this will continue, or whether this is a temporary spike.” Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port, both in Saudi Arabia, have been the hardest hit. Sea Intelligence says Jeddah Port is now seeing an average of 37 visits per month, compared with 135 before the crisis. He added that port visits in the Gulf of Aden and the eastern Mediterranean remain about a third lower than they were before the crisis. Shipping giant Maersk, which says it will only return to sailing through the Red Sea when the safety of ships can be guaranteed, said in an advisory issued on September 5 that the impact of the conflict on Channel Programs LIVE AR shipping and supply chains “continues to increase.” “With ships being diverted around the Cape of Good Hope, we are seeing significant increases in transit times and operating costs,” Maersk says. “These disruptions have led to service reconfigurations and volume shifts, straining infrastructure and resulting in port congestion, delays, and shortages of capacity and equipment,” she added. The number of ships transiting the Suez Canal is believed to have fallen by two-thirds since the Houthi attacks began.

Suez Canal revenue drops by almost half due to Red Sea crisis -- The revenue of Egypt's Suez Canal has declined by almost half this year following attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the Houthi which have seen many vessels divert via the Cape of Good Hope.According to Egypt’s Al-Mal News, data released this week for last month shows that revenues of the Suez Canal dropped by 64.3% to approximately $337.8 million, compared to $648 million recorded in May 2023.The number of vessels transiting the canal in May also dropped to 1,111, which is lower than 2,396 ships that crossed during a similar period last year. As a result of reduced ship traffic, the cargo volume passing through the Suez Canal dropped by 68.5% last month to about 44.9 million tonnes. In May 2023, the total cargo tonnage was 142.9 million tonnes.The Suez Canal Authority Chief Osama Rabie said in media statements last week that the canal's income decreased to $428 million in January compared to $804 million in the same period in the previous year. According to the head of the Suez Canal Authority Osama Rabie, the traffic of ships in the waterway witnessed a 30% decline compared to the same period of 2023.During the fiscal year 2022/2023, the returns from the Suez Canal hit a record-breaking $9.4 billion.The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has extended fee discounts for a range of vessels on selected long-distance trades. Initially, SCA had introduced the fee reductions back in January, with some discounts as high as 75% for product tankers and crude carriers on voyages between Americas and Asia.

Houthis Launch Long-Range Missile Into Central Israel - The Israeli military said Sunday that a long-range missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis struck central Israel.The missile traveled over 1,200 miles from Yemen, demonstrating a significant long-range capability from the Houthis. The Israeli military initially said the missile landed in an uninhabited area and that it exploded in the air but was not destroyed by Israel’s air defense systems.The missile sparked a fire near the Ben Gurion International Airport. No casualties were reported in the strike, but an Israeli official said nine people were injured as they were moving toward shelters after alarms sounded.Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, fired a “new hypersonic missile” that traveled to central Israel in less than 12 minutes.The Israeli military denied that the missile was hypersonic and said it’s currently examining the debris to determine its type and capability. The military insisted that none of its adversaries, including Iran, possess hypersonic missiles.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Yemen would pay a “heavy price” for the missile attack. In July, a Houthi drone hit Tel Aviv, killing one civilian, and Israel responded by launching major airstrikes on the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, which killed seven civilians and caused $20 million worth of damage to fuel infrastructure.Last year, the Houthis began targeting Israeli-linked shipping with drone and missile attacks in response to the Israeli onslaught in Gaza. The US launched a new bombing campaign against the Houthis back in January and continues to bomb Yemen frequently. But the US strikes have only escalated the situation and have done nothing to deter the Houthis, who have said they will stop if there’s a ceasefire in Gaza.

US Says Four ISIS Leaders Were Killed in Iraq Raid Last Month - US Central Command claimed on Friday that a raid it conducted with Iraqi forces in Western Iraq last month killed four ISIS leaders. Seven US troops were wounded in the raid, which was carried out on August 29. CENTCOM initially said 15 ISIS “operatives” were killed in the operation but revised the death toll to 14. CENTCOM said in a press release that it “can confirm that four ISIS leaders were killed including: Ahmad Hamid Husayn Abd-al-Jalil al-Ithawi, responsible for all operations in Iraq, Abu Hammam, responsible for overseeing all operations in Western Iraq, Abu-‘Ali al-Tunisi, responsible for overseeing technical development, and Shakir Abud Ahmad al-Issawi, responsible for overseeing military operations in Western Iraq.”Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has been calling for an end to the US-led anti-ISIS coalition and has repeatedly said that Iraqi security forces can handle ISIS remnants without the US. He reiterated this point in a meeting with the head of the US-led coalition just a few days after the August 29 raid.“The remnants of ISIS no longer pose a threat to the Iraqi state, as they have become isolated groups hiding in remote areas to avoid capture,” al-Sudani said on September 1. Despite al-Sudani’s position, US military forces continue to be involved in operations against ISIS. The continued US presence in Iraq and the occupation of Syria put US troops in danger of attacks from elements in both countries who want the US to leave. American soldiers werewounded in rocket and drone attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria in two separate incidents last month.Back in January, three US troops were killed in a drone attack on Tower 22, a secretive base in Jordan on the Syrian border, the culmination of hundreds of attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria that started in response to US support for the Israeli slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza. While American troops have been killed and wounded in combat this year, Vice President Kamala Harris falsely claimed in her debate with former President Trump that no US soldiers were deployed in a war zone. “As of today, there is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone in any war zone around the world, the first time this century,” she said. \Region ‘closest to war since 1973’: Saudi envoy to UK | Arab News -The Middle East is facing its greatest threat of regional war since 1973, the Saudi ambassador to the UK has warned. On the Sky News program “The World with Yalda Hakim,” Prince Khalid bin Bandar said “renewed efforts” are required to end the bloodshed. “I’d like to say I was optimistic, but it’s difficult to see where that optimism would come from,” he added. “The situation on the ground is getting worse and worse ... I think this is the closest we’ve been to a regional war since 1973.” The Israel-Palestine conflict is at the heart of the tensions, and both sides have a responsibility to avoid escalation, Prince Khalid added. “The Israeli-Palestinian problem affects people all around the world in a way that very few conflicts have,” he said. “You see in protests (around the world), everyone is affected and motivated by what’s happening on the ground. “So Israelis and Palestinians have a responsibility — whether they like it or not — to the world.” The conflict could have global consequences, requiring the international community to “push harder” in a bid to end the fighting, he said. “A conflict that spreads beyond where it is, spreads to the region. If it spreads to the region, it spreads to the world, and that’s not a scenario that anybody wants to see,” he added. “It’s time we put renewed efforts in to stop the fighting … We need more of the international community to push harder.” His comments come as Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a “new phase” in fighting against Hezbollah following the detonation of the Lebanese group’s communication devices this week. Senior international figures, including the UN secretary-general, have warned that the Israeli attacks could precede a larger operation in Lebanon. Hezbollah has vowed to respond to the attacks, which killed more than 30 people and injured thousands.

Lebanon: 12 Killed, 2,800 Wounded By Israeli Sabotage Attack That Exploded Hezbollah Pagers - At least 12 people have been killed, and 2,750 have been wounded in Lebanon after pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded at the same time in a coordinated Israeli attack. Pagers also exploded in Syria, where unconfirmed reports say at least 14 people were wounded. At least two children were killed in the attack in Lebanon: a nine-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. Among the wounded was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, who suffered a “superficial injury,” according to Iranian media. At least 300 of those injured are in critical condition. “We hold the Israeli enemy fully responsible for this criminal aggression that also targeted civilians,” Hezbollah said. CCTV captured the moment a man’s bag exploded in a supermarket in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, September 17 (video via Reuters Connect) The Lebanese government has also pointed the finger at Israel, calling the indiscriminate attack an act of “Israeli aggression.” Israel has not taken credit, but according to Axios, an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted Israel was responsible in a now-deleted tweet.US officials later told The New York Times that Israel was responsible for the attack and planted explosives and a detonator switch in the pagers.The Axios report said that Netanyahu’s office had cautioned government ministers not to speak publicly about the situation for the time being. The attack came as Israeli officials were threatening to escalate in Lebanon.According to The Associated Press, the pagers that exploded had been recently acquired by Hezbollah as the group’s leaders warned against using cell phones that could be easily tracked by Israeli intelligence.A Hezbollah official told AP that the pagers were a brand that they hadn’t used before. The US officials speaking to the Times said the pagers were ordered from Gold Apollo, a company in Taiwan. The pagers began heating up and exploding around 3:30 pm local time. Blasts were reported in homes, crowded streets, markets, and other areas where civilians would be located.

Israel Blamed as Pager Explosions in Lebanon Kill 12 & Injure 2,800; Hezbollah Vows to Respond | Democracy Now! At least 12 people were killed and over 2,800 people were injured Tuesday in Lebanon when electronic pagers used by many members of Hezbollah — who had switched to the older technology over concerns of mobile phones’ vulnerability to security breaches — exploded simultaneously across the country in a coordinated attack on the group. Individual explosions occurred in supermarkets, cafes, houses and in other public places. Many of the injuries were sustained by civilians who were not carrying the pagers themselves, including at least two children who died from their wounds. According to a Reuters report, Israel’s Mossad spy agency had managed to plant explosive material in a batch of pagers bought in recent months by Hezbollah, which has vowed to retaliate, deepening the risks of a broader regional war. We discuss the attack with three guests: Beirut-based journalist Mohamad Kleit, Human Rights Watch’s Ramzi Kaiss and Palestinian American journalist Rami Khouri. Kaiss says the “indiscriminate attack” on the Lebanese population — which Kleit additionally describes as “terrorist” — is “unlawful under the rules of war.” “What the Israeli attack using the pagers did was completely throw out the rulebook,” says Khouri, as eyes are on the region in preparation for another possible Israeli escalation. Transcript: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman.In Lebanon, at least 12 people were killed, over 2,800 injured Tuesday when electronic pagers used by members of Hezbollah exploded at the same time. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack. Hezbollah vowed to retaliate against Israel, as fears grow of a broader regional war.According to a report by Reuters, Israel’s Mossad spy agency had managed to plant explosive material in a batch of pagers bought in recent months by Hezbollah. The pagers were sold under the name of the Taiwanese brand Gold Apollo, but the company said the pagers were actually made by a firm in Budapest that had a license to use the Gold Apollo name.Victims of the attack included a 10-year-old girl who died when her father’s pager exploded. The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured by an exploding pager. The New York Times reports he lost an eye in the blast.The nature of the simultaneous attack shocked many in Lebanon. [translated] What happened yesterday shocked us. It was unimaginable. No one could have thought that pagers could explode like that. The scene was shocking, how people were torn apart right in front of you. Hezbollah relied on pagers in part to avoid Israel’s surveillance of other communication networks, like cellphones. Lebanese lawmaker Tony Frangieh Jr. condemned the attack as an act of terrorism. [translated] Catastrophic repercussions for the crisis today, but this, as I have previously explained with several stations, is terrorism being practiced against Lebanon. And we — and, I believe, the majority of the Lebanese people — do not submit to the language of terrorism.Earlier today, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken said the U.S. did not know about nor was involved in what he called, quote, “these incidents.” Blinken made the comments in Cairo, Egypt, where he held a joint news conference with the Egyptian foreign minister and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Axios reports Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shortly before the operation began.

Israel Detonates Thousands of Hezbollah Walkie-Talkies, Killing at Least 20 - On Wednesday, Israel blew up thousands of two-way radios used by Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing at least 20 people and wounding 450. Lebanon’s official news agency also reported that solar energy systems blew up in Beirut and in the south, wounding one girl. The walkie-talkie attack came after Israel blew up Hezbollah pagers in Lebanon, killing at least 12, including two children and four healthcare workers. The pager attack also wounded around 2,800, and about two-thirds of them require surgery to their face, hands, or eyes, according to Lebanese Health Minister Firas Abiad. At least one of the walkie-talkie blasts on Wednesday occurred during a funeral in Beirut organized by Hezbollah for a person who died the day before. An eyewitness told CNN that the man whose device blew up at the funeral was covered in blood and had his hands blown off. People gather as smoke rises from a mobile shop in Sidon, Lebanon September 18, 2024. A funeral was also held on Wednesday for Fatima Abdullah, a nine-year-old girl who was killed in the pager attack on Tuesday. Fatima’s aunt told The New York Times that she picked up her father’s pager as it beeped to bring it to him, but then it exploded, mangling the fourth grader’s face and covering the room in blood. A security source told Reuters that the walkie-talkies that exploded on Wednesday were purchased by Hezbollah five months ago, around the same time as the pagers. Images of the exploded walkie-talkies show a label that says “ICOM,” a company based in Japan. Axios reported that the walkie-talkies were booby-trapped by Israeli intelligence before they reached Hezbollah.The pagers that exploded on Tuesday were reportedly packed with explosives and a detonator before they reached Lebanon. US officials said the pagers were ordered from Gold Apollo, a company based in Taiwan. But Gold Apollo said they were manufactured by another company, BAC Consulting, which has a license to use the Gold Apollo brand and has an address in Hungary.

Israel’s war on Gaza live: Lebanon on edge after walkie-talkie blasts | Israel-Palestine conflict News | Al Jazeera

More communication devices exploded in coordinated attacks across Lebanon, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 450, a day after simultaneous explosions of pagers killed 12 people and wounded thousands.
Israel’s Defence declared the start of a “new phase” of war, saying forces and resources will be diverted from Gaza to the northern border with Lebanon.

Hezbollah's Nasrallah Says Israel Has 'Crossed All Red Lines' - Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah delivered a speech on Thursday and said Israel “crossed all red lines” by exploding pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon over the past two days.“With this operation, the enemy crossed all laws and red lines. It didn’t care about anything at all. Not humanity, not morality, not legality,” the Hezbollah leader said. During the speech, Israeli warplanes flew over Beirut and appeared to drop flares.Nasrallah said the Israeli operation “could be considered war crimes or a declaration of war.” He called the attack “unprecedented” and said it dealt a “blow” to Hezbollah. “We cannot be broken by this blow, no matter how big or strong it is. And I can assure you faithfully and with confidence, this hard, unprecedented blow did not bring us to our knees – and it will not,” he saidNasrallah said that senior Hezbollah officials did not carry the electronic devices that were blown up and added that “what happened did not impact our command, control or infrastructure.”Israel blew up pagers purchased by Hezbollah on Tuesday, killing 12 people, including two children and four medical workers, and wounding thousands. The following day, Israel detonated walkie-talkies, killing 25 and wounding over 600.Nasrallah said civilians were targeted in the attack since explosions occurred in private homes and public places, including hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, and crowded streets. A source close to Hezbollah told Middle East Eye that the pagers were used by a “wide network of people, including administrators, medical workers, paramedics, media workers, and other civilian members.”Nasrallah vowed Hezbollah would respond to the Israeli attack and that attacks on Israel would continue until there was a ceasefire in Gaza. “It will be met with tough retribution, just retribution, and just punishment where they expect it and where they do not,” he said.Hezbollah rockets hit northern Israel on Lebanon, killing at least two Israeli soldiers, and Israeli fighter jets struck Lebanon. The two sides have been trading fire across the border since October 7. According to a count from Al Jazeera, as of September 6, Israel has launched 7,845 attacks on Lebanon since October 7, 2023, killing 646 people. In that time, Hezbollah launched 1,768 attacks on Israel, killing 32 Israelis.

Turning People Into Involuntary Suicide Bombers To Fight Terrorism - Caitlin Johnstone - Israel just turned thousands of Lebanese people into involuntary suicide bombers in the name of fighting terrorism. At least nine people have been killed and thousands injured in an attack in Lebanon which reportedly involved pagers packed with explosives being remotely detonated around the country, often in civilian areas. An eight year-old girl is reportedly among the dead.According to The New York Times, unnamed officials from the US and elsewhere are saying that Israel planted the explosive materials in the pagers before they reached Lebanon after Hezbollah ordered them from a Taiwanese manufacturer. The US is denying any foreknowledge of the attack, but that’s what they always do. We’re always asked to believe that the US never knew anything about attacks conducted by nations like Israel and Ukraine until they read about it in the news, and that their massive intelligence cartel and sprawling surveillance networks never pick up any information and exist for no reason. This was a terror attack by any possible definition. If Hezbollah had detonated a bunch of devices held by Israeli forces in public spaces without knowing who was near them when they went off, every paper in the western world would have called it a terror attack. But because it was Israelis targeting Hezbollah (apolitical party which is part of the Lebanese government and has many civilian members), it’s only being called “explosions”. “Hezbollah blames Israel after deadly pager explosions in Lebanon,” reads the headline from the BBC. “Thousands injured in Lebanon as pagers used by Hezbollah explode,” says The Washington Post.“Exploding pagers belonging to Hezbollah kill at least 8 and injure more than 2,700 in Lebanon,” says NBC News.No condemnations from western officials. No thoughts and prayers for the victims. No pledges to bring the terrorists to justice. Just the news media going oh wow, some pagers exploded.Got that, kids? It’s only terrorism when the Official Bad Guys do it. When the Official Good Guys do it, it’s just giving those Bad Guys a sorely needed exploding.Do Lebanon explosions violate the laws of war? | Hezbollah News | Al Jazeera – The explosions of wireless communication devices across Lebanon this week in a series of attacks widely believed to have been carried out by Israel likely constitute a breach of the laws of war, experts say.That includes the possible violation of prohibitions on indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, as the blasts have killed dozens of people and injured thousands more. “You’re not supposed to booby-trap objects that civilians are likely to pick up and use, or objects generally associated with normal civilian use,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, a lawyer and director of the US-based rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).“And this is exactly why we’ve seen the devastation that we’re seeing in Lebanon,” she told Al Jazeera. “Anybody could pick up one of these pagers. We also have no idea who had the pagers, or whether or not they’re legitimate military targets.” Pagers, walkie-talkies, cellphones and other devices that were apparently associated with members of the Lebanese group Hezbollah exploded in two waves of attacks across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hezbollah immediately blamed Israel for the attacks, but the Israeli military has yet to comment.While many details of the blasts remain unclear, they caused devastation across Lebanon: At least 32 people have been killed, including two children and one medic, and more than 3,000 others have been injured.The series of simultaneous explosions also prompted scenes of panic in the country of more than five million people, with medical centres facing a flood of wounded patients and residents running out into the streets, terrified and confused. While Israel has not confirmed its involvement in the attacks this week, it typically argues that its military operations are justified as part of a fight against “terrorism”. Israel’s supporters have celebrated the explosions in Lebanon, describing them as “precise”, but the blasts went off around civilians – at funerals and in residential buildings, grocery stores, and barber shops, among other places. International humanitarian law (IHL) – a set of rules spelled out in global treaties meant to protect non-combatants during armed conflict – prohibits attacks that “are not directed at a specific military objective”. Whitson said the high casualties of the attacks demonstrate that booby-trapped devices are “inherently indiscriminate”.“They’re incapable of being directed at a specific military target, and it’s very obvious from what we’ve seen and what was completely predictable that it would injure military targets and civilians without distinction,” she told Al Jazeera. Whitson added that the explosions were a “deliberate decision on the part of Israel” to create chaos in Lebanon. “This is exactly why booby traps of ordinary civilian objects are illegal – because not only do they cause physical harm and injury, they cause psychological and emotional harm.”

Hezbollah Begins First Cross-Border Attacks Since Pager Blasts; EU Condemns 'Indiscriminate' Israeli Op --Hezbollah is vowing retaliation against Israel, which it holds "fully responsible" for the pager explosion attacks that left at least 300 people in critical condition. The death toll has risen to 12, with two among these children who were in the vicinity of exploding pagers. Some blasts went off inside homes. The Lebanese government is concerned about 'all-out war' breaking out with Israel. After about 4pm Beirut time on Wednesday, Hezbollah announced that it has begun its first cross-border attacks on Israeli military border posts since the pager explosions. This could be the beginning of major retaliatory operations which slide into a third Lebanese war. At least 2,750 people total were injured in the Tuesday pager attacks, including some civilians, while some reports claimed as many as 4,000 were wounded when on Tuesday pager devices widely used by the Lebanese paramilitary group blew up after apparently being triggered by an external signal sent by Israeli intelligence. It is being widely assumed that most of the dead and injured are Hezbollah operatives who rely on low-tech telecoms to evade Israeli intelligence from sweeping up cell communications. The Lebanese health ministry in fresh Wednesday statements put the actual number of wounded between 2,750 and 2,800. The number in critical condition has been revised upward to at least 300 - many of these in intensive care. The wounded are being treated across one hundred hospitals. Lebanon’s Minister of Health Firass Abiad has in a press conference identified that among the dozen killed were four medical staff, an eight-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy. In a press briefing in Beirut, Abiad also weighed on the conflicts in Gaza and in southern Lebanon, accusing Israel of "steering away from a diplomatic solution." He added: "We have to be ready and alert." This has prompted EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to condemn the "indiscriminate" nature of the covert operation. "Even if the attacks seem to have been targeted, they had heavy, indiscriminate collateral damages among civilians, including children among the victims." Borrell said.

Gaza Health Ministry Releases Names of 710 Infants Under 1-Year-Old Killed By Israeli Forces -Gaza’s Health Ministry has released a 649-page document that lists the names of 34,344 Palestinians who have been killed by Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip.The document lists 11,355 children, including 710 infants under the age of one, as Palestinian babies have been killed throughout the genocidal campaign. The infants are listed on the first 14 pages of the document. Last month, after three-day-old twins were killed by Israeli forces, the Health Ministry said the number of newborns killed since October 7 reached 115. Newborn babies have also starved to death, and Israeli troops left four premature babies to die at the al-Nasr hospital last year.Gaza’s Media Office says more than 16,700 children have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The list released by the Health Ministry includes the names of only those who have been fully identified. The ministry is working to identify the remaining over 7,000 bodies it has counted and said Monday that the death toll is currently at 41,226. Infographic released by Gaza’s Health Ministry.Out of the 34,344 people who have been identified, 60% are children, women, and elderly. The remaining 40% are men ranging in age from 18 to 59.The numbers from Gaza’s Health Ministry are considered an undercount since it doesn’t include the Palestinians who are missing and presumed dead under the rubble, which was previously estimated to be 10,000 people. It’s also unclear how many indirect deaths have been caused by the US-backed Israeli siege.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.

Video shows Israeli soldiers throwing the bodies of Palestinian men off buildings | Middle East Eye --A shocking video has surfaced showing Israeli soldiers throwing the bodies of Palestinian men from buildings during an assault on the town of Qabatiya, north of the West Bank, on Thursday.Palestinians shared the footage on social media, showing Israeli occupation soldiers mutilating the bodies of three Palestinians killed in Qabatiya before throwing them from the roof of a house that morning.The video captures three Israeli soldiers climbing onto the roof, holding the bodies, and throwing them one by one from the top.Earlier that day, the Israeli army launched a military operation in Qabatiya, besieging a house and killing three Palestinians inside. In total, at least seven Palestinians were killed throughout the day.The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that at least five others were wounded by Israeli fire, though they remain in stable condition.Reacting to the footage, Hamas released a statement saying: “The brutal scenes committed by the Zionist occupation army in the town of Qabatiya, west of Jenin, confirm once again the barbarity and brutality of this occupation, which has been committing massacres and genocide against our people in Gaza for a year amid international silence and American political and military cover.”

Israel’s war of annihilation against Palestinians puts King Abdullah’s regime in Jordan on a knife edge -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s goal of erasing Hamas, with the full backing of US imperialism and its European allies, is the prelude to a far broader, regional war against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen that puts Jordan firmly in the line of fire. It is destabilising King Abdullah’s autocratic rule that has little or no popular legitimacy. Jordan was carved out of the former Syrian province of the Ottoman empire by British imperialism in the aftermath of World War I as a frontline state to defend Britain’s strategic interests in the oil-rich region. It would be ruled by the Hashemite family from the Hejaz in what is now Saudi Arabia. Always unviable, the Hashemite monarchy was from the very beginning dependent on aid from first Britain and since 1957 from the United States. Washington currently provides about $1.5 billion a year in economic and military aid, an amount equal to almost half the state budget. Abdullah, who inherited the throne from his father 25 years ago, rules as an absolute monarch. He has maintained his corrupt and venal rule—amassing untold riches at the expense of the Jordanian people—by pitting the local Arab population, or “East Bankers”, against Palestinian refugees. Driven out or fleeing Israel’s wars of 1948 and 1967, Palestinians make up just over half of the country’s nearly 11 million population. While a few have become exceedingly rich, the vast majority are brutally exploited and largely deprived of political rights. Palestinians who left the occupied territories after 1988 when Jordan relinquished claim to the West Bank do not qualify for Jordanian citizenship. Parliamentary elections earlier this month were fraudulent, with just 32 percent of the 5.1 million eligible voters turning up to cast their vote. Playing no role in determining the government, the parliament serves only as a talking shop and cover for Abdullah, who appoints and dismisses prime ministers at will to deflect criticism away from his corrupt rule that depends on censorship, surveillance and a system of military patronage drawn largely from the East Bankers. To criticise him in casual conversation is to court arrest amid a powerful security apparatus that works closely with Israeli and western intelligence services and the United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, the elections were held under new rules whereby 41 out of the 138-seat parliament, which has long been dominated by tribal and pro-government factions, could be contested by political parties. And they saw support for Palestinian Hamas surge, with the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood to which Hamas is affiliated, winning 31 seats. Though led by upper-class Jordanians from East Bank families, the championing of Palestinian issues means that much of the IAF’s rank-and-file consists of Jordanians of Palestinian origin in refugee camps. While it is the largest vote for the bourgeois clerical group since 1989, when the Muslim Brotherhood gained 22 out of 80 seats in parliament, the parliament remains largely in the hands of tribal and pro-government members.

Germany has stopped approving war weapons exports to Israel: Report --Germany has put a hold on new exports of weapons of war to Israel while it deals with legal challenges, according to the Reuters news agency. A source close to the Ministry of Economy cited a senior government official as saying it had stopped work on approving export licences for arms to Israel due to legal and political pressure from legal cases arguing that such exports from Germany breached humanitarian law.The ministry has not responded to requests for comment. However, the German government did issue a statement after the Reuters story was published.“There is no German arms export boycott against Israel,” government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said.Last year, Germany approved arms exports to Israel worth 326.5 million euros ($363.5m), including military equipment and war weapons, a 10-fold increase from 2022, according to data from the Economy Ministry, which approves export licences.However, approvals have dropped this year, with only 14.5 million euros worth ($16.1m) granted from January to August 21, according to data provided by the Economy Ministry in response to a parliamentary question.Of this, the weapons of war category accounted for only 32,449 euros ($36,016).In its defence of two cases, one before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and one in Berlin brought by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, the government has said no weapons of war have been exported under any licence issued since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, apart from spares for long-term contracts, the source added.Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians since October 7, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. It has also displaced most of the population of 2.3 million, caused a hunger crisis and led to genocide allegations at the World Court, which Israel denies.No case challenging German arms exports to Israel has yet succeeded, including a case brought by Nicaragua at the ICJ.But the issue has created friction within the government as the Chancellery maintains its support for Israel while the Greens-led economy and foreign ministries, sensitive to criticism from party members, have increasingly criticised the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Legal challenges across Europe have also led other allies of Israel to pause or suspend arms exports.The United Kingdom this month suspended 30 out of 350 licences for arms exports to Israel due to concerns that Israel could be violating international humanitarian law.In February, a Dutch court ordered the Netherlands to halt all exports of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel over concerns about their use in attacks on civilian targets in Gaza.President Joe Biden’s administration this year paused – but then resumed – shipments of some bombs to Israel after US concerns about their use in densely populated areas in Gaza.Approvals and shipments of other types of weapons, in more precise systems, continued as US officials maintained that Israel needed the capacity to defend itself.Alexander Schwarz, a lawyer at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, which has filed five lawsuits against Berlin, suggested that the significant decline in approvals for 2024 indicated a genuine, though possibly temporary, reluctance to supply weapons to Israel.“However, I would not interpret this as a conscious change in policy,” Schwarz added.

Ukrainian Drone Attack Hits Military Warehouse Inside Russia, Sparking Massive Blast - Ukraine launched another major drone barrage against targets inside Russia on Wednesday and hit a Russian military warehouse in the town of Toropets in the Tver Oblast, causing a massive explosion.Toropets is about 300 miles from the Ukrainian border and 250 miles northwest of the Russian capital of Moscow.A Ukrainian official speaking to The Associated Press said the attack was carried out by Ukraine’s Security Service, along with Ukrainian Intelligence and Special Operations Forces. The official claimed the warehouse housed Iskander and Tochka-U missiles, glide bombs, and artillery shells.Video of the blast in Toropets from social media (via SouthFront.press)Russia has stayed relatively quiet about the attack. Russia’s RIA Novostinews agency reported that air defenses were working to repel a “massive drone attack” on Toropets, and Russia’s Health Minister said 13 peoplewere wounded in the Tver region.The attack came as Ukraine was pushing for the US to allow the use of NATO-provided missiles to strike deep inside Russia. AP reported Wednesday that the US is still not convinced it should support long-range strikes on Russian territory and said it is seeking more information about what sort of targets Ukraine would want to hit.Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a strong warning about the matter, saying if the US decided to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of the missiles, it would mean NATO is at war with Russia.“It would mean that NATO countries, the US, European countries, are at war with Russia. If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face,” Putin said last week.

Putin orders expansion of Russia's military to 1.5M active troops --Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s military to expand to 1.5 million active troops, bringing the total military personnel to nearly 2.4 million, according to a decree dated Monday.The decree, which will take effect on Dec. 1, would increase the number of active troops by 180,000. It marks Putin’s third official expansion of Russia’s military since the war with Ukraine began in early 2022.In August 2022, Putin ordered the military to expand by the start of the next year, adding 137,000 troops, bringing the total to 1.15 million. In December 2023, Putin ordered another official expansion of 170,000 active troops, bringing the total to 1.32 million.The latest expansion comes as the battle with Ukraine intensifies. Ukraine invaded Russia’s Kursk region in early August, capturing miles of territory and hundreds of prisoners. Russia has fought back and vowed to clear Ukraine from the area.The incursion, however, has increased pressure on the Biden administration to reverse its long-held policy preventing Ukraine from using Western weapons to hit deep inside Russia. Recent reports have indicated President Biden is close to letting Ukraine use long-range missiles. Putin warned that such a reversal in policy would be seen as a major escalation from NATO.“This would in a significant way change the very nature of the conflict,” Putin said Thursday. “It would mean that NATO countries, the U.S., European countries, are at war with Russia.”“If that’s the case, then taking into account the change of nature of the conflict, we will take the appropriate decisions based on the threats that we will face,” Putin said to a state television reporter.

Putin Says Russia Is Ramping up Drone Production Tenfold (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was ramping up drone production by around ten times to nearly 1.4 million this year in a bid to ensure the Russian armed forces win in Ukraine. Since Russia sent tens of thousands of soldiers into Ukraine in February 2022, the war has largely been a story of grinding artillery and drone strikes along a heavily fortified 1,000-km (620-mile) front involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers.The conflict has been a crucible for drone development - and an illustration of the importance of drones to modern warfare, from terrorising infantry and collecting intelligence to sabotaging infrastructure and attacking arsenals."In total, about 140,000 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types were delivered to the armed forces in 2023," Putin said. "This year, the production of drones is planned to increase significantly. Well, to be more precise, almost 10 times.""Whoever reacts faster to these demands on the battlefield wins," Putin said at a meeting in St Petersburg about drone production.Both Russia and Ukraine have bought drones abroad and ramped up their own production while drone videos have illustrated the horror of the battlefield, showing deadly strikes on infantry, artillery and tanks.Inexpensive first-person view (FPV) drones - originally developed for civilian racers - are controlled by pilots on the ground and often crash into targets, laden with explosives.For just a few hundred dollars, soldiers on both sides can inflict vast damage on the other side. A large-scale Ukrainian drone attack on Russia triggered an earthquake-sized blast at a major arsenal in the Tver region on Wednesday.Putin said that Russia was making almost weekly advances in drone technology and needed to also develop its drone defences, essentially technology which senses, confuses and then shoots down the attacking drones.

Police Fatally Shoot a Blasphemy Suspect in Pakistan in 2nd Such Killing in a Week (AP) — Police in southern Pakistan shot dead a blasphemy suspect during an alleged shootout with armed men, officials said Thursday, the second such apparent extra-judicial killing in a week, drawing condemnation from human rights groups.Police identified the slain man as Shah Nawaz, a doctor in the Umerkot district in the Sindh province, who had gone into hiding two days ago after being accused of insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and sharing blasphemous content on social media.Local police chief Niaz Khoso said Nawaz was “killed just by chance” on Wednesday night when officers signaled two men riding on a motorcycle to stop in Mirpur Khas, a city in the southern Sindh province. He said instead of stopping, the men opened fire and tried to flee, prompting police to return fire. One of the suspects fled on the motorcycle, while the other was killed, he said.Khoso claimed that it was only after the shootout that officers learned that the slain man was the doctor being sought by them for the alleged blasphemy.Videos circulating on social media showed local clerics throwing rose petals at police and praising officers for killing the blasphemy suspect. There was no immediate clarification from the Sindh government about the circumstances in which the suspect was killed. The killing of Nawaz drew strong condemnation from the country’s independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, or HRCH, which said it was “gravely concerned by the alleged extrajudicial killing of two people accused of blasphemy."“This pattern of violence in cases of blasphemy, in which law enforcement personnel are allegedly involved, is an alarming trend,” it said in a statement. HRCP also asked the government to conduct an independent inquiry to ascertain who was responsible for Nawaz’s death and ensure those responsible for it were punished.The killing of Nawaz in Mirpur Khas came a day after Islamists in a nearby city, Umerkot, staged a protest demanding his arrest. The mob also burned Nawaz's clinic on Wednesday, officials said.The latest killing comes a week after an officer opened fire inside a police station in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, fatally wounding Syed Khan, another suspect held on accusations of blasphemy. Khan was arrested on Wednesday after officers rescued him from an enraged mob that claimed he had insulted Islam’s Prophet.But he was killed by a police officer, Mohammad Khurram, who was quickly arrested.However, the tribe and the family of the slain man said they pardoned the officer, saying Khan hurt the sentiments of Muslims by insulting Islam's Holy Prophet Muhammad.Though killings of blasphemy suspects by mobs are common, the extra-judicial killings by police are rare in Pakistan, where accusations of blasphemy — sometimes even just rumors — often spark rioting and rampage by mobs that can escalate into killings.Under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death — though authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy.

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