Federal Reserve officials hint rate increase may be necessary - Multiple Federal Reserve officials indicated the central bank may need to raise interest rates later this year, according to newly released minutes of the Fed’s July meeting. While most participants at the joint meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) and the Fed’s Board of Governors “anticipated that inflation would step down over the rest of the year,” many participants still “noted the possibility that inflation might be more persistently elevated,” according to the meeting’s minutes.Participants noted that elevated energy prices due to the Iran war and the pass-through effects of President Trump’s tariffs have kept inflation above the Fed’s 2 percent target rate.At the conclusion of the meeting, the FOMC voted 9-3 to keep interest rates steady, at a range of 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent. It marked the fifth straight meeting at which the panel held rates. Lorie Logan, Beth Hammack and Neel Kashkari — presidents of the Dallas, Cleveland and Minneapolis Federal Reserve Banks, respectively — dissented; all three voted to raise rates by 0.25 percentage points. During the July meeting, many participants “assessed that policy tightening would likely be necessary if inflation did not decline,” according to the minutes. Annual inflation last month was 3.4 percent, as measured by the consumer price index. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation is the personal consumption expenditures index (PCE), which the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis will release for July next Wednesday.Annual inflation in June, as measured by the PCE, was 3.7 percent, above the Fed’s target rate of 2 percent. After the FOMC held rates steady last month, Fed Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated his goal of delivering price stability. “There is no soft inflation target, there is no soft implicit target, not on this committee’s watch. There’s only a target, and it’s 2 percent,” Warsh told reporters. The FOMC will next meet Sept. 15-16. That will mark the rate-setting panel’s third-to-last meeting of the year.In the FOMC’s quarterly Summary of Economic Projections it released in June, nine of 19 committee officials predicted at least one rate hike this year.But Trump on Wednesday doubled down on his view that the FOMC should cut rates, which he called “artificially” high. “They raise them for no reason, and you can’t go out to the market when you have a Fed that’s raising interest rates,” the president told reporters during a meeting with cryptocurrency executives at the White House.
To fire Cook from the Fed, Trump looks to channel Taft - President Donald Trump has shown he has few qualms about upending long-standing precedent. But in his attempt to remove Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook from office for cause, he's actually channeling one of his Republican predecessors: President William Howard Taft.
- Key insight: As the president continues his effort to remove Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook from her post at the Federal Reserve Board for cause, both he and the courts have little precedent to draw upon for guidance.
- Expert quote: "I wonder if the Supreme Court preserved some discretion for itself by not going into what, exactly, is required for for-cause removal. I also wonder if the court, by not defining what is required, by not setting forth a roadmap, reserved the right to reject whatever process the president uses." —David Zaring, legal studies professor, Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania
- Forward look: Cook has until Aug. 26 to respond to a letter from Trump informing her of his intention to remove her from office.
The president has initiated a for-cause process to remove the Federal Reserve Board governor from office, something only one president has successfully done before. But that century-old precedent may not offer Trump much useful guidance in his quest.
Turmoil in Treasury bond yields sparks global worries: What to know - U.S. bond yields are rarely a burning issue with the general public. But that’s changed this week as a spike in yields has hit the front pages and TV newscasts. Yields on 30-year U.S. Treasury bonds hit their highest point in almost two decades on Tuesday. The rise promptedTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent to step in with a buyback measure aimed at alleviating the pressure. Bessent’s tactic worked for roughly one day — Wednesday — before yields climbed back up on Thursday. Even amid intense media attention, the topics of bond, yields and why they matter can often seem opaque. The U.S. government has been running a deficit — spending more money than it’s taking in — for decades. The national debt is accelerating at a rate of about $2 trillion per year. Earlier this week, it rose above $40 trillion for the first time. Given this shortfall, the U.S. needs to borrow money to finance its operations. It does so by issuing bonds — a process that is, in essence, akin to taking out a vast number of loans. The variables of the bond markets are infinitely complicated, but the basic idea is simple. A person or an institution buys a bond from the government. The government instantly gets the proceeds of the sale. In return, the government promises to repay the money at a future date, and to pay interest on the bond during its lifespan. The best-known U.S. bonds have durations of 10 years and 30 years, but lots of other options are available. When people talk about “bond yields,” they’re basically talking about the amount of interest payable on the bond. U.S. Treasury bonds underpin much of the global financial system in part because they have been seen as almost entirely safe. The United States has never fully defaulted on its debt. That being said, fluctuations in the bond market — and in the overall health of the economy — cause the price of bonds, and their yields, to vary all the time. The higher yields go, the more the federal government has to spend to finance its debts. And that’s bad news all around. Several concerns about the U.S. economy are combining to create turbulence on the bond markets. The $40 trillion landmark has put a dramatic point on decades of deficit spending. The U.S. government has not run a surplus since fiscal 2001. There are concerns about inflation too, closely linked to the war in Iran. The rise in oil prices sparked by the conflict is reflected in domestic fuel costs. This has the potential to both crimp consumer spending and to increase inflationary pressure. Families are using more of their income to fill up the tank; farmers, suppliers and manufacturers have higher transport costs to bring their goods to market. On top of all that, there are ripples of unease about colossal spending by corporations on artificial intelligence technology. The AI issue brings two concerns. Firstly, much of the current spending is financed by borrowing. So if, say, Meta funds some of its spending by issuing bonds, it is in effect in competition for bond-buyers’ business with the federal government. That might mean the government has to pay higher yields to lure those buyers. Secondly, the vast AI spending is predicated on the idea that the technology will deliver equally vast productivity gains. If that assumption proves wrong, a world of pain beckons. As bond yields rise, mortgage rates, auto loans and credit card interest rates rise too. The arcane terminology around bond yields can obscure what we’re really talking about: the cost of borrowing money. At the government level, potential creditors appear to be becoming more reluctant to lend the U.S government money — unless they get rewarded with a solid yield. Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, explained: “Deficits are growing at, really, an unsustainable rate. That puts pressure on the bond markets because they [the federal government] have to sell more and more bonds to finance the deficits. So the supply is increasing.” “But,” Hanke added, “those who are on the demand side are saying, ‘Fine, we’ll buy them but you have to pay us more to make it interesting for us.’” As the yield on the 10-year Treasury, in particular, rises, other interest rates that are of more concern to the general consumer rise too. And there’s more potential gloom: Higher interest rates slow economic growth, so the chances of a recession would rise. The Treasury secretary announced on Wednesday that the government would double the amount of money it is willing to deploy to buy back long-term government debt. The figure rose from $2 billion to $4 billion per operation. The announcement bent yields downward — for a day. On Thursday, yields rose again. Bessent went on CNBC to say the buybacks “could be more than the 4 billion per issue.” He added, “We have a big toolkit, so we’ll see.” Hanke’s pithy verdict on the tactic: “It won’t work.” The professor, who served on former President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers in the 1980s, added: “What he is trying to do is control the yield curve and keep those long-bond prices higher and the yields lower. But the problem is, if he buys them back, he still has to finance the deficit. So he is going to have to issue more of the short-term [debt]. Yield curve control is a fool’s game.” Bessent also recently intervened to prop up the Japanese yen, aiming — with apparent success — to avoid a scenario where Japan would sell major quantities of U.S. bonds. Just how worried should regular folks be? “Concerned!” is the answer from Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. Zandi noted that mortgage rates have already been rising this year, causing a serious drag on the housing market. The overall dynamics, he predicted, are “going to affect getting an auto loan. If you own a business, it will affect getting a loan to finance an expansion plan. Obviously it raises the cost to the Treasury. Now the Treasury is shelling out well over $1 trillion a year in interest payments.” President Trump has played down worries. Asked on Wednesday if Americans should be concerned about the bond market volatility, he replied, “No, I don’t think so.” According to many experts, though, the warning signs are flashing.
Bond yields plunge after Treasury announces surprise move to ease rising rates - Longer-term U.S. Treasury yields dropped sharply Wednesday after the Treasury Department announced that it would increase the size of its government debt repurchases by “at least double” in a surprise move. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond plunged from 5.26% to as low as 5.18%. The 10-year yield, which has a heavy hand in steering consumer borrowing rates, was less impacted by the announcement but still dropped from 4.68% to 4.64%. U.S. stocks also opened slightly higher. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.3%. In effect, the Treasury Department’s announcement means the agency will be stepping in as a larger buyer of longer-term bonds, which have been selling off. Wednesday’s announcement abruptly altered the “tentative buyback schedule” Treasury had released just two weeks ago, an unusual shift. The change will take effect on Sept. 9, the agency said.Earlier this week, the 30-year Treasury yield hit its highest level since 2007, only compounding already soaring interest costs the federal government pays on the massive national debt. When bonds fall, their yields rise. The announcement appears to be the latest effort by the Treasury Department and Secretary Scott Bessent to keep a lid on rates, which have been soaring this year. Earlier this summer Treasury, along with Japan’s finance ministry, intervened in the sliding Japanese yen. Instead of using dollars to buy yen, the Treasury sold euros and used that money to buy yen. This move — which reportedly caught the European Central Bank by surprise — may have been intended to dissuade Japan from selling some of the trillions of dollars in U.S. Treasury bonds it holds, further driving up yields.The broader move higher in rates this summer accelerated after Fed chairman Kevin Warsh’s most recent press conference on July 29.The Fed has “a credibility problem,” wrote KPMG chief economist Diane Swonk in an Aug. 11 note. Warsh offered little guidance, causing the bond market to begin second-guessing the Fed’s inflation fighting resolve despite continued geopolitical tensions, trade wars and a surge in energy prices stemming from the war with Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Following Wednesday’s Treasury announcement, some investors and market-watchers were skeptical that the move would have any lasting impact. “The market reaction suggests that this is an important tactical move from the Treasury,” said Jim Bullard, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. “A little bit unexpected,” he said on Bloomberg TV.“I don’t think it changes the fundamentals of big fiscal deficits and a Fed on the sidelines,” Bullard added, “which is what’s driving longer-term yields higher.”Economist Mohamed El-Erian said that Treasury’s announcement could help bring down mortgage rates in the “short term,” but it also “risks collateral damage and unintended consequences.”“The effects of this financial engineering are short dated unless followed by fundamental policy adjustments,” El-Erian wrote on X.Since the war with Iran began at the end of February, surging energy prices have driven bond yields higher, especially longer-dated yields, as investors bet on higher inflation for longer.The Federal Reserve has kept rates unchanged this year, unlike central banks in Europe and Japan, which have raised rates in order to try to slow inflation.“This is NOT a debt paydown,” Peter Boockvar of One Point BFG Wealth said of Wednesday’s buyback announcement. “It is just a rearrangement of the maturity schedule of Treasuries.”Last year, during a similar Treasury bond sell off, Bessent told Bloomberg News that if needed, he had “a big toolkit that we can roll out,” that included increased government debt repurchases.
Bessent’s bond gambit aimed at calming markets is instead stirring inflation worries -- Investors over the past several days have priced in a likelihood of higher inflation ahead, a potential sign that the Treasury Department’s efforts this week to improve liquidity in the government debt market are raising concerns over broader policy implications. The so-called breakeven rate, a market-based measure that compares Treasury yields to inflation-protected securities of the same maturity, rose across the curve, hitting its highest level in more than two months. Breakevens reflect inflation expectations as well as compensation investors seek for inflation risk and other factors. At the 10-year horizon, the breakeven rate rose to 2.34% on Thursday, its highest since June 10. Five-year breakevens hit the same level, the highest since June 16. While the measures can be volatile and still imply the market doesn’t expect runaway inflation, they also indicate that inflation worries are rising. The concern follows a Treasury announcement Wednesday saying it will be at least doubling the size of its typical $2 billion debt buyback, a routine operation begun in 2024 that helps provide a market for longer-dated debt. Though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent insisted the move wasn’t an attempt to tamp down yields, it came after the 10- and 30-year Treasurys hit levels not seen since prior to the global financial crisis in 2008. “The background here is very unforgiving at the moment, There’s this cocktail of concerns that has risen up,” said Van Hesser, chief strategist at KBRA, a credit and bond rating agency. Traders pricing in higher inflation “fits into the backdrop where people are concerned about inflation, and and that continues to lean on the market. These things sort of come and go. I think there are all of these these risks have been out there, and many of them for some time now. They they flare up from time to time and manifest themselves in markets.” The rise in market-based inflation expectations follows a general pattern this week. While long-dated Treasury yields plunged the day of the buyback announcement, they rebounded Thursday and were up again Friday. The 10-year benchmark stood at 4.73% in early afternoon trading, up 3.4 basis points on the day and higher than the pre-announcement level. Similarly, the 30-year yield climbed 3.6 basis points to 5.27%, while yields also were up on shorter-dated issues. Treasury is required to offset the buybacks of long-dated debt by issuing shorter-term bills. The jump in yield has been tied to a number of factors, inflation fears prominent among them. Treasurys also have been forced to compete against higher-yielding government debt in Asia and Europe, a record-setting surge of issuance from hyperscalers investing in artificial intelligence, and a general rise in term premiums, or the extra yield investors demand for holding U.S. debt, which surpassed the $40 trillion mark this week. While yields rose, the dollar also weakened, continuing a trend this week that has seen the greenback lose nearly 0.9%. The dollar move “too, may be the result of ‘read-through’ of the Treasury announcement to the prospect of looser Fed policies,” wrote Thierry Wizman, Macquarie Group’s global foreign exchange and rates strategist. “Upon the announcement of the buyback increase and the ‘signaling effect’ it mustered, the 10-year breakeven rose by about 6-7 bps - not insignificant. That’s as if to say that something about the announcement was ‘inflationary,’” Wizman added. Treasury Department officials did not respond to a request for comment. The market’s response ups the ante for Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh, who is scheduled to deliver his closely watched keynote on Aug. 28 at the central bank’s annual symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Prior statements by Warsh in which he endorsed the Fed having a reduced role in markets were interpreted by markets as being dovish on inflation. Wizman noted that “were Warsh to signal that he would stay ‘dovish’ indefinitely, it could be self-defeating for him and the Treasury, since inflation breakevens would rise further, perhaps undoing the stability in the nominal long-term yields that [Treasury Secretary] Scott Bessent is trying to achieve.”
The US national debt now stands at $40 trillion(AP) — The national debt surpassed a record $40 trillion on Wednesday, a staggering milestone as defense costs, social programs like Social Security and Medicare and interest on the burgeoning deficit make up an enormous share of federal spending. The milestone figure was recorded just five months after the U.S. hit a record $39 trillion debt in March. It reached $38 trillion five months before that, in October.The unprecedented $40 trillion figure highlights competing administration priorities, from boosting defense spending that the U.S. relies on to carry out President Donald Trump's almost-6-month-old war in Iran to lowering the cost of gas and groceries. Kush Desai, a White House spokesman, said the Trump administration “has been focused on slashing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending while accelerating economic growth to get America’s debt-to-GDP ratio trending in the right direction.” However, experts say the exploding debt and the latest record milestone are already affecting Americans' pocketbooks by raising borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lowering wages from businesses that have less money available to invest, and creating more expensive goods and services. “If we want to improve our living standards, today and for the next generation, now is the time for lawmakers to put our nation on a more affordable and sustainable path," says Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, a think tank focused on U.S. fiscal challenges.
"Doom Loop" Engaged: US Debt Hits $40 Trillion As Treasury Enters The Endgame -It took the US 200 years to reach its first $1 trillion in debt. It took 95 days to add its last. After several weeks of build up, today the Treasury announced that total public debt surpassed $40 trillion for the first time, after jumping by over $60 billion in one day, and has now surged by $1 trillion in just over three months, and by a third of the total in less than five years, as US lawmakers continue to ignore calls to contend with historically wide fiscal deficits. The largely expected news came just hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unexpectedly announced the Treasury's latest attempt to rein-in long-term borrowing costs from multi-year highs, the most important component of the growth in debt. The Treasury stunned the market when it said, just two weeks after the latest Refunding Announcement where it should have made this change, that it was ramping up the support for longer-dated securities by "increasing, by at least double, the size of liquidity support buyback operations for longer-dated nominal coupon securities (the 10-year to 20-year sector and the 20-year to 30-year sector)."The announcement that sent yields plunging, if only for the time being. Remarkably, it was less than 5 years ago that US debt hit $30 trillion back in January 2022, illustrating the rapid growth in federal borrowing needs. And there’s no end in sight. As Bloomberg notes, "Republicans have long opposed revenue-raising tax increases," while Democrats are best known for spending like drunken sailors to maximize socialist central planning, and both parties are loathe to sign on to politically toxic cuts to healthcare and retirement benefits for seniors. Many observers anticipate Congress and the administration of the day will only act if forced by a financial-market disruption.That won't stop them from talking about it all the time, though, as both parties at least pretend to understand that the US is on a catastrophic collision course should debt growth continue at this pace, and if the AI bet - which is now an all-in for virtually everyone - fails to dramatically boost productivity. Bessent, for one, said a key reason he got involved in politics was to help tackle deficits running at a pace unprecedented for times outside of major wars, pandemics or depressed job markets. So far he has failed catastrophically, and worse, he is doing precisely the kind of activist issuance "Twisting" for which he bashed his predecessor, Janet Yellen.Economists, the Congressional Budget Office and Wall Street all see little or no progress in coming years for the deficit-to-gross domestic product ratio.“Optically, I’m sure crossing thresholds like $40 trillion will focus attention on the issue in the near term,” said Matthew Luzzetti, chief US economist at Deutsche Bank AG. “But it does not represent a magical threshold for debt dynamics, and projections have anticipated this outcome for some time.”More important, Luzzetti said, is the climb in US Treasury yields, which is steadily increasing the cost of servicing the record debt load. Last Thursday, the department’s latest 30-year bond auction resulted in the costliest such sale in a quarter century. A 10-year auction a day earlier drew the highest financing cost at that tenor since 2007, and only today's announcement which sent yields tumbling prevent today's 20Y Treasury auction from pricing at the highest yield on record. As buyers demand higher yields, that in turn drives up the Treasury’s borrowing needs. With two months left to go in the fiscal year, the government’s tally for interest costs so far for 2026 is $1.37 trillion - a 20% increase on the same period a year before. That in turn adds to the debt, potentially fueling further investor calls for higher rates, in a pattern known as a “doom loop.”
To Absorb $1 Trillion of New Treasuries in 3 Months, as the Debt Ballooned to $40 Trillion, Investors Demanded Higher Yields. Bessent Blows Fuse -- by Wolf Richter -The US Treasury debt reached fabulous and much-anticipated $40 trillion today, after having ballooned by $1 trillion in three months, and by $3 trillion in 12 months, as tax cuts, profligate spending, the war in Iran, and the Supreme-court-triggered tariff refunds sped up the process.These new trillions – flying by so fast that they’re hard to see – got funded, and existing debt got rolled over, at huge Treasury auctions every week, week after week, such as $742 billion in auction sales last week. The only thing that the repeated, hackneyed debt-ceiling charades in Congress accomplished is the appearance of some flat spots in the chart, followed by spikes to make up for them. Of that $40 trillion in Treasury securities, $32.3 trillion are “held by the public,” most of them publicly traded and held by investors, hedge funds engaged in the basis trade, banks, insurance companies, the Fed, other central banks, etc., of which $9.3 trillion are held overseas. But some of the securities are not publicly traded, such as Series I Savings Bonds (I-bonds).The remaining $7.7 trillion of the Treasury securities are held in federal government pension funds, Social Security Trust Funds, and other “internal” government accounts. They’re owed to the beneficiaries of those accounts, they’re a true debt that is owed, but they’re not publicly traded, and are not subject to vagaries of the market with its second-to-second price changes. Investors had to buy $1 trillion in new Treasuries over the past three months. That’s what that means when the amount “held by the public” ballooned by $1.0 trillion in three months. That $1.0 trillion was the new supply of Treasury securities that global bond buyers had to buy in three months, in addition to refinancing all the maturing debt, and to do that, new buyers needed to be pulled off the fence and into the market.That’s the job of yield. And yields rose during those three months until they were attractive enough, auction by auction, to entice enough investors off the fence – despite fears about inflation, reckless government spending, and even higher yields in the future – to buy $1 trillion in new Treasury securities over the past three months, in addition to refinancing the maturing debt. So yield did its job.But that rising yield – the 30-year Treasury bond sold at auction last week at 5.22%, the highest auction yield since 2001 and then rose to 5.31% by Monday – caused Bessent to blow a fuse.Today, the Treasury department announced that it would double the hocus-pocus Treasury buybacks that a desperate Yellen had started in April 2024 after the 10-year Treasury yield had pierced 5% briefly in October 2023.The Treasury Department cannot create money, unlike the Fed. It has to sell new securities to buy back old securities. The buybacks are just a debt swap. And Bessent could accomplish the same thing but in much larger quantities by keeping auctions of long-term notes and bonds unchanged, and increasing the T-bill auctions, and thereby shifting issuance to T-bills, and it’s already doing that.But Bessent wanted to soothe the bond market on the spooky day that the Treasury debt hit $40 trillion. So he came out with the hocus-pocus announcement, and long-term yields fell instantly, though the actual increase of the buybacks won’t start till September 9, and though the amounts are small compared to the $1 trillion in new debt that investors have to buy every three to five months going forward, and tiny compared to the $40 trillion in Treasury securities outstanding [my detailed analysis of Bessent’s hocus-pocus show is here]. Going forward, yields will have to be high enough to entice bond buyers off the fence and buy an additional $1 trillion of new Treasury securities every three to five months or so; yields have to be high enough to overcome their fears about inflation, government profligacy, and the new supply pushing up yields even higher.Bessent cannot do anything about the quantity of debt coming at the market. His job is to sell these bonds, come hell or high water, and at the lowest possible yield.Hocus-pocus debt-swaps aren’t going to do much to change those dynamics. Bessent’s last hocus-pocus announcement at the beginning of August, the big kahuna US-Japan joint intervention, pushed the 30-year yield down by 11 basis points over two days, and more intraday, from 5.28% on Friday, July 31, to 5.17% on Tuesday, August 4, most of it right after the announcement. And that was it, and the yield began to zigzag higher and hit 5.31% on Monday this week.Today after the announcement, the 30-year Treasury yield fell by 9 basis points, after having declined by 3 basis points the day before, to close at 5.19%. Just another squiggle in the trend:
Ray Dalio says Bessent move is sign that a debt crisis is getting closer; recommends gold and bitcoin -- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s debt buyback announcement this week fits into a broader pattern that can signal a forthcoming crisis, according to billionaire investor Ray Dalio.The Bridgewater Associates founder said Bessent’s plan to increase government debt purchases may portend trouble for the U.S. economy. Coupled with the Japanese government reducing its U.S. bond market exposure and surging long-dated American bond yields, Dalio said investors may want to prepare their portfolios for increased risk by owning cryptocurrencies and gold.“I am confident that the government’s financial condition is at an inflection point,” Dalio wrote in a LinkedIn post published Friday. “If this is not dealt with now, the debts will build up to levels where they can’t be managed without great trauma.” Dalio noted that the Treasury Department has “only limited capacity” to buy back bonds. Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that his team was going to “make a market” and that the purchases would likely top $4 billion. The U.S. is spending about 40% more than it’s bringing in, resulting in the burgeoning budget deficit, Dalio said. The U.S. budget deficit topped $432 billion in July, but Bessent told CNBC that it’s likely peaked under President Donald Trump’s administration. Bessent said in the interview that a team was looking at ways to shrink spending by hundreds of billions of dollars. But Dalio said there is “very little ability” to do so given that it is either committed or considered essential.After years of overspending, Dalio said total debt now dwarfs what the U.S. brings in each year. If the U.S. government was a business, Dalio said debt service payments would come in at roughly $11 trillion — about 200% of annual revenue.Dalio, 77, warned the cost of repaying principal and servicing the debt will only grow over time.To solve this, Dalio said the U.S. needs to carefully employ a three-part strategy to get the budget deficit down to 3% of gross domestic product.First, Dalio said the U.S. government needs to reduce its spending. Second, he said tax revenue needs to be raised. Finally, the New York native and Harvard Business School alumni said lower interest rates were needed.“All three need to happen concurrently so as to prevent any one from being too large,” Dalio said. “If any one is too large, the adjustment will be traumatic.”Dalio cautioned against ramming through these adjustments by “force.” For instance, “it would be very bad if the Federal Reserve unnaturally forced interest rates down,” he said.Dalio said it’s important to to take steps now, while the economy is healthy. An economy in recession requires increased government spending, he said.Dalio said the exact timing of a debt crisis can be swayed by variables ranging from military conflict to political change. On its current trajectory, the U.S. could enter such a crisis in as early as one year or as late as five. “My guess, which I suppose will be a bad one, is that it will come in three years, give or take two, if the course we’re on is not changed.”To prepare, Dalio recommended investors are underweight debt assets, such as bonds.As much as 10% to 15% of a portfolio could land in gold, as well as “a bit” of bitcoin, the hedge fund founder said.Dalio’s post came at the tail end of a volatile week for U.S. financial markets. Rising long-term Treasury yields have pressured stocks, leading the S&P 500 to snap a a three-week-long advance.
Bessent says there’s a ‘very good chance’ U.S. budget deficit has peaked - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday there’s a “very good chance” that the U.S. budget deficit under President Donald Trump has likely peaked.“We are going to be laser focused,” Bessent told CNBC’s Sara Eisen in an exclusive interview a day after his department’s extraordinary debt buyback announcement. The monthly U.S. budget deficit topped $432 billion in July, its highest level in more than half of a decade, the Treasury Department said last week. That monthly report showed the gap for the fiscal year to date climbed to almost $1.8 trillion, above where it was at the same point a year earlier.The Treasury Department announced this week that the U.S. government debt pile to fund those deficits hit a new record above $40 trillion. The total has more than doubled over the last decade, exacerbating concerns about the country’s financial health.Bessent said himself, Trump and Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, are among federal government leaders working on fiscal consolidation measures. Several hundreds of billions of dollars could be saved through these efforts, Bessent said.The White House has marketed its goals for broad and steep tariffs on trading partners as a driver of revenue that can help shrink the national debt. But those levies have run into repeated legal roadblocks, most notably with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike many of them down.Yet Bessent said he expected this year’s tariff revenue to come in at around the same level as 2025′s after levies were re-implemented despite the challenges. Those revenues should not have to be refunded to companies this time, he said.“There’s nothing magic about the 40-trillion number,” Bessent said. “We can grow our way out of that.”
Vance: Bessent has ‘very discreet plan’ to shrink $40 trillion national debt - Vice President Vance said Thursday night that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has a “very discreet plan” to shrink the nation’s debt. “He [Bessent] has had a very discreet plan, of course, supported by the president of the United States, to get the United States to a point where our economy is growing faster than our debt,” Vance said on Newsmax’s “Carl Higbie Frontline.” “And if you look, we are on track. So, even though the debt is too high, even though we inherited this debt bomb from the Biden administration, we actually do have a plan to get the economy growing faster than the debt and that’s the most important thing,” the vice president added. On Thursday, Bessent claimed the U.S. can “grow” its way out of the national debt, which hit $40 trillion on Wednesday. “There’s nothing magic about the $40 trillion number, and we can grow our way out of that,” Bessent told “Squawk on the Street” co-host Sara Eisen on CNBC. “But what we do want to signal is I think there’s been a lot of misinformation in terms of what’s going on with the deficit, what’s going on with the deficit to GDP,” he added. Bessent said that a temporary aspect of the debt comes from tariff refunds ordered by the Supreme Court in a February ruling against emergency tariffs from President Trump. The Treasury Department head said that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is going to implement “the same level of tariffs,” and expects that the “2026 tariff income is going to be roughly what it was in ’25.” Lawmakers have recently raised concerns over the national debt, decrying Congress’s incapability to sufficiently deal with an issue that has become harder to ignore. The GOP has commonly cited federal spending and entitlement programs as main causes behind the debt, with Democrats emphasizing the need for increased taxation of wealthy Americans and corporations as well as spending reforms.
Trump just got handed a no-win choice: Let two million barrels through, or stop the tanker and restart the Iran war -- Under new military leadership, Iran appears to be preparing for what could become one of the most consequential moments of the war and the greatest test of the U.S. naval blockade. Reports on Friday, August 14, revealed how a massive Iranian oil tanker was being loaded with crude oil at the country’s most important export terminal following weeks of inactivity. A National Iranian Tanker Company very large crude carrier, or VLCC,was seen on Friday loading roughly 2 million barrels of crude oil at the Azarpad jetty on Kharg Island. The news, from TankerTrackers, is the first observed crude loading at Kharg since late July, when U.S. pressure effectively brought oil export activity to a halt. And while it may seem like cautious optimism from Iran, the news could well be the beginning of a new phase of the conflict driven by aggressive anti-U.S. sentiment from the IRGC’s new leadership. There is not yet public confirmation that Iran intends to send the vessel through the American blockade, but if the fully laden tanker leaves Kharg Island and then tries to export its cargo, it would create a test for President Donald Trump that could end in embarrassment. Either Washington allows millions of barrels of oil through the strait, weakening the credibility of the blockade, or U.S. forces move in, stop the tanker, and risk an escalation that current U.S. missile stockpiles may not be able to sustain for very long. The loading at Kharg Island is a major development so soon after Tehran reshuffled its military leadership. Kharg Island is the beating heart of Iran’s crude export industry and historically handles the overwhelming majority of the country’s seaborne crude exports. Earlier this month, shipping data showed that no tankers had loaded at the island since the end of July as the reimplemented U.S. blockade prevented empty vessels from reaching Iranian terminals and loaded vessels from departing normally. That changed this week, with satellite analysis from maritime intelligence company Windward showing Kharg’s western terminal becoming active again on August 12 after 25 consecutive days without a vessel at the terminal. TankerTrackers identified an Iranian VLCC loading approximately 2 million barrels on Friday, but questions remain about where the vessel will go once it is full. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has shown that the blockade is much more than a threat. As of Friday, U.S. forces had reportedly redirected 62 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two while enforcing restrictions around Iran. Earlier this week, American forces disabled another Iran-bound vessel. A fully loaded VLCC leaving Kharg would, therefore, present a much more politically and militarily sensitive confrontation than simply turning away an empty commercial vessel - and this could be a test of Trump’s resolve at a time when Tehran is feeling particularly emboldened.
U.S.-Iran Updates: Kushner says Iran not interested in deal that "makes sense" for U.S. as stalemate continues - President Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner said Monday that Iran is "not showing any interest" in striking a deal that "makes sense" for the United States.In an interview with Fox News' Trey Yingst, Kushner said the president was focused on exerting economic pressure on Iran and ensuring Tehran cannot build a nuclear weapon. "If Iran is willing to finish the deal they've been discussing with us to give up their ability to create a nuclear weapon, then obviously [Mr. Trump] is willing to make a deal that could be great for the Iranian people," Kushner said. The comments came as the 60-day negotiation period agreed to under the memorandum of understanding expired. Iran's parliament speaker and negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday that the Islamic Republic would not lift its de facto blockade of commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. meets the country's demands."I want to state clearly that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the American commitments stipulated in the memorandum of understanding are implemented," Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on state television.Ghalibaf listed the release of Iran's frozen financial assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil and gas sales, and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports and associated vessels as key conditions for the reopening of the strait.President Trump suggested again on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz should be U.S. territory.In a Truth Social post, the president posted a map of the Strait of Hormuz under the headline "NEW U.S. Territory." The highlighted part of the map includes parts of the coast of Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.The post echoes a similar message posted by the president last week, when he wrote: "I THINK I WILL KEEP IT," referring to the waterway, which he has claimed repeatedly is under American control. White House officials later said Mr. Trump was joking when he talked about declaring the strait a U.S. territory. The Strait of Hormuz has become the focal point of the nearly six-month war between the U.S. and Iran, with both sides claiming control over the strategic waterway used by various Gulf states to ship their oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf to global markets.
Trump ‘stops negotiating with Iran’ after ship hit in Hormuz - President Trump says the US has stopped negotiating with Iran after another ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz. The US president said on Truth Social: “There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. “The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect. The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.” On Monday the US leader told Fox News that he was in “no hurry” to secure a peace deal with Iran and confirmed that Washington was speaking directly to members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and that Iran should surrender, before he then threatened Muscat. Trump’s latest comments came as a ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman was struck by an unidentified projectile, damaging the engine room and resulting “in a crew casualty”. The UK Maritime Trade Operations did not release any details about the ship or its cargo. It said the Omani coastguard was assisting other crew members and that the authorities were investigating. The incident happened almost 24 hours after President Trump threatened to “bomb the shit” out of Oman if it “gets in the way” of discussions over the sovereignty of the strait. Trey Yingst, a correspondent with Fox, said on Monday that Trump told him “if Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them”, when asked about talks between Iran and Oman over the sovereignty of the strait in a call. Later, speaking in the Oval Office, Trump claimed Oman had not “behaved very well”. He said: “I don’t think they’ve behaved very well, but we handled them very easily.” On Tuesday Trump posted an image on Truth Social captioned “New U.S. Territory, Strait of Hormuz”, with the waterway circled. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, earlier said in a speech on state television that the strait would not reopen until the US met Tehran’s demands, including lifting the naval blockade. Oman, a traditionally neutral country which is an ally of the US, shares sovereignty of the strait with Iran and shipping lanes run through its territorial waters. Iran said on Monday that it was working to finalise a joint statement with Oman on a plan to manage the transit of ships through the strait. Last Friday, Trump said he would designate the key waterway a territory of the United States “pretty soon”. Iran effectively closed the strait — through which roughly a fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed before the war — after the US and Israel attacked the country on February 28. The US is currently blockading all Iranian shipping traffic through the strait. With negotiations between Washington and Tehran stalled, Iran has been holding separate talks with Oman on a plan to manage ships passing through the strait, and has claimed it was in the process of finalising details for a joint statement.
Trump threatens to bomb Oman over Iran deal -- Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of US negotiations with Iran.The president said he would “bomb the s--- out of” the US ally after Iran said it was working to finalise an agreement with the Gulf country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s--- out of them,” Mr Trump told Fox News in a threat to a country that hosts US forces. As he spoke on Monday, the 60-day deadline for Washington and Tehran to negotiate a broader peace deal was due to expire, with no signs of a diplomatic breakthrough.There has been no word of an extension from either side, and their positions over the strait and the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programme remain far apart.On Monday, Iran said it had agreed on a plan with Oman to manage the transit of ships through the critical waterway that runs between the countries.Reopening the waterway has been a sticking point in peace talks to end the conflict in the Middle East, with strikes and blockades halting traffic and hampering global oil markets. Washington demands the strait be completely reopened, returning it to its pre-war status, but it is unclear whether the Oman deal will produce such a result.Iran effectively closed the strait – through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows in peacetime – after the US and Israel attacked the country at the end of February.Tehran made it clear it would not reopen the waterway until the US had lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, and that it intended to continue to wield some control over the strait. Without providing details, Esmail Baqaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said that “an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route”.Reports previously suggested the deal would reopen the strait, with ships entering close to Iran and exiting close to Oman. They would transit without paying fees or tolls during the interim period.The US president, whose handling of the war has caused his domestic approval ratings to plunge, said on Monday he was in no hurry to bring the conflict to a close. “They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Mr Trump said of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirming he had established direct communication with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “I have no time schedule. I’m not in a hurry.”The Trump administration used an unconventional back channel to contact the IRGC directly, Axios reported on Sunday. Washington established a direct line to Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, amid fears the negotiators they were speaking to did not represent the IRGC. The president said that his “number one goal” in the war with Iran was to ensure the country never obtained a nuclear weapon. Mr Trump has threatened to bomb Oman before during the US’s war with Iran. In May, he said the US would “blow up” the country if it failed to “behave”, again in relation to talks over the Strait of Hormuz. “Oman will behave just like everybody else,” he said. “Or else we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that. They’ll be fine.”Mr Trump has threatened other US allies, including when he discussed annexing Greenland from Denmark and shared AI-generated maps showing Canada under US control.Meanwhile on Monday, Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s envoy and son-in-law, was in Israel in an effort to revive the president’s Gaza peace deal.With Sir Tony Blair, Mr Kushner will meet Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli prime minister rejected the 15-point plan publicly. The delegation met Hamas on Sunday to push them to fulfil their commitment to disarm.
Trump says Iran won't make deal he thinks is needed, threatens to bomb Oman (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would not make the deal he thinks is needed to end a war with the U.S. and should surrender as talks between the countries remained stalled. "They're not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary. Look, we're in there for one reason: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," he told reporters in the Oval Office. Asked whether the U.S. was seeking to extend an interim deal with Iran, Trump said "no." The interim deal agreed to in June declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unraveled, with Trump saying it was "over" on July 7 and Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" a week later. Under that memorandum of understanding, Iran and the U.S. committed to negotiating a final deal — covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear programme — in a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent. Monday marks 60 days since the MOU was signed. Hours before, Trump told a Fox News reporter during a phone interview that Iran "should put up the white flag of surrender." Separately, Oman and Iran have been in talks to try to reach an agreement to restore commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carried 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February. Iran's defiant response to Trump's Strait of Hormuz claim to quote, accept the reality of defeat. "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them," Trump told Fox. When asked later in the Oval Office if he was out of patience with Oman, Trump told reporters: "No, I don't think they behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do other things." The dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fuel prices and put pressure on Trump to end a war that is unpopular at home ahead of the November midterm elections that will decide control of the U.S. Congress. Trump told Fox News that the midterms were not impacting his strategy on Iran. "Midterms have nothing to do with my thinking," he said. Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon," repeating one of his stated rationales for the war.
Trump Says No Talks Scheduled With Iran, Claims Strait of Hormuz Is Open Despite Ship Attacks - President Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that the US was not engaged in talks with Iran and that none were scheduled, a reversal of his earlier claims that there were ongoing negotiations despite Iranian denials.“There are no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.He repeated his claim that the Strait of Hormuz is “open and operating,” but traffic through the waterway remains extremely limited, and at least two ships have come under attack in recent days, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which said at least one sailor was killed in the attacks.In a separate post, Trump shared an image that labeled the Strait of Hormuz as a “new US territory,” after suggesting earlier this week that, after the war ended, he would declare the strait part of the US. The president also threatened to “bomb the shit” out of Oman over its talks with Iran regarding the strait, despite US officials previously backing the negotiations.Trump and other top administration officials have suggested in recent days that they’re happy to sit back and continue putting economic pressure on Iran through sanctions and the blockade, which has involved attacks on commercial ships, while Iranian officials have made clear the economic campaign won’t lead to Iranian capitulation. “Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohamed Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X on Tuesday. “Bessent and Hegseth are way out of their league. Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made.”
Iran-US war latest: Tehran spells out demands to reopen Strait of Hormuz after Trump’s threat against Oman -- The Strait of Hormuz is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media.Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as freeing Iran’s frozen assets.President Donald Trump has separately threatened to attack Oman – a US ally – if it "gets in the way" of his efforts to force a peace deal with Iran.“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s**t out of them,” Trump told Fox News, after reports that Oman and Iran are working out their own solution to control the strategic waterway.A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while leaving the vital shipping route on Tuesday morning, a day after a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran expired, according to the UMTO.The attack comes as Trump told reporters on Monday that Iran would not make the type of deal with his country that he thought was “necessary”.Iran said it would shift its policy from defensive to "fully offensive" due to the deadlock in efforts to agree a permanent end to its war with the US.
Frustration with Trump grows among US.'s Persian Gulf allies, officials say - -Frustration with Washington is growing in the Persian Gulf region, where U.S. allies are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump is unable to manage the diplomacy necessary to secure peace with Iran, Arab and Western officials say. Trump in recent weeks has repeatedly issued threats against Iran, only to withdraw them, citing progress in talks. After months of conflict, and continuing missile and drone strikes by Iran and its proxies, three officials and a former U.S. diplomat told The Washington Post, the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are now united in their aggravation with the administration. Some have begun to debate the utility of continuing to host large U.S. military installations on their territory. “Trump started this war,” one Gulf official said, “and we are paying the price.” Like others in this article, he spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. Anger with the United States, the official said, was at its highest point since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February. The Gulf states continue to rely on Washington as a close security partner and major arms supplier, and Qatar and Bahrain host large U.S. bases. But the frustration is leading some states to consider new arrangements. These dynamics are unlikely in the near term to significantly reorder the region, analysts say, but some countries have begun to explore their options. A mutual defense agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan last week was “a signal to the U.S.,” a senior European official said. The pact shows the three powerful Sunni Muslim states “are trying to diversify their security and defense partnerships,” said the official, who is in regular contact with Gulf leaders. “In their mind, the U.S. is not enough.” Related video: Trump lashes out at allies as Iran ceasefire agreement expires (ABC News) A White House official said Trump “has extraordinary relationships with all of our Gulf partners.” “The United States has been in regular contact with all of our regional allies since before Operation Epic Fury,” said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House. “Iran is more isolated than ever before as a result of its terrorist actions.” Representatives of the Saudi, Emirati, Qatari, Kuwaiti and Bahraini governments did not respond to requests for comment. “There has been frustration from the get-go,” said Firas Maksad, director for the Middle East and North Africa practice at the Eurasia Group. U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf, he said, feel they were “unnecessarily entangled” in a war that Trump is now struggling to resolve. Maksad, who has extensive contacts within Gulf leadership, said Trump’s Iran policy is often described in the region as “erratic” and “unpredictable.” Anna Jacobs, a fellow with the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, said there has been “diminished trust” of the U.S. since the start of the war. U.S. allies think the country’s “conduct in the region is making them less safe, not more safe,” she said. One Western diplomat in the region said these changes don’t amount to a significant shift in sentiment toward the United States. Even before the war with Iran, he said, U.S. forces in the region were not “enthusiastically” welcomed. “It was more something that was a necessary evil,” the diplomat said. “Now, the necessity of it is being put in question.
House Republican dismisses reports of declining mental health on USS Abraham Lincoln - Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) said Monday he does not “make much” of reports that allege crew members aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln are suffering from declining mental health and supply shortages due to its long deployment. In an appearance on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria” anchored by Cheryl Casone, Fallon, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, responded to the reports and calls for congressional oversight into the physical and mental state of crew members on the ship. “These reports are just that. I haven’t heard anything personally from our office, and I trust the Navy to do this as well. So, I don’t make much of it, to be honest,” he said. Casone confirmed the congressman was not concerned about the reports but cited the aircraft carrier’s deployment, saying “260 days is a long time, you know, for a deployment.” “There’s no doubt about it,” the lawmaker responded. “When I served, I always prefer to be stateside, if possible, but that’s part of the job: to deploy.” “They did an outstanding job and I’m glad they’re coming back,” Fallon concluded. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced last week that the USS Abraham Lincoln’s deployment, after departing San Diego in November, will end soon as part of a planned rotation with the USS George Washington. The aircraft carrier set a modern-day record when it went without a port call for more than 200 consecutive days of continuous time at sea. The ship was originally intended to return home in May but was redirected to the Middle East in January ahead of the Iran war. The Lincoln gained public attention following reports from news outlets of sailors attempting to jump off the aircraft carrier, as well as the ship’s poor living conditions — which included moldy showers and rotten food. Cao said that the ship’s deployment was extended because the mission “demanded it.” He acknowledged that deployments are “hard,” combat operations make them “harder” and that war is “hell.”
USS George Washington Arrives in the Middle East - US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the USS George Washington aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea. The USS Washington will replace the USS Abraham Lincoln after multiple reports of horrendous conditions for sailors on the aircraft carrier. “The George Washington Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Middle East during a scheduled deployment after arriving in the CENTCOM theater yesterday,” CENTCOM posted on X Thursday. The arrival of the USS Washington will allow the USS Lincoln to return to the US. The USS Washington’s presence in the Middle East also leaves the US without an aircraft carrier in East Asia. The USS Lincoln was called back to the US after multiple outlets reported shortages, suicide attempts, and plummeting morale on the aircraft carrier. “There have been widespread reports of shortages of basic supplies, water contamination, plumbing issues, deteriorating mental health, deck safety concerns, and disruptions in the mail system, which have caused many care packages in route to the ship to be lost in transit for months,” Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote in his letter to the Pentagon that was published earlier this month.The Senator said the condition facing the sailors on the aircraft carrier raises questions about the viability of the war against Iran. The conditions “also raise a broader question: whether the Navy can sustain the operational tempo now being demanded of its carrier force.” He continued, “Particularly as this Administration repeatedly commits US forces to conflicts of its own choosing and increasingly relies on aircraft carriers to sustain those operations.” The Lincoln has been at sea since November, meaning the crew has been deployed for over 250 days, far longer than the scheduled seven months between port calls.
US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln flees West Asia amid crew collapse --The USS Abraham Lincoln, a key symbol of American naval aggression in the West Asian region, has begun its humiliating retreat back to the United States after months of internal crisis, structural failures, and desperate conditions that exposed the fragility of Washington’s prolonged military campaign against Iran. According to a report by the New York Times citing a US official, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which carried nearly 5,000 sailors and Marines, started its journey home on Thursday following the arrival of the USS George Washington in the Arabian Sea. US Central Command (CENTCOM) released photos of the replacement vessel operating in the area, confirming the handover after the Wall Street Journal earlier indicated the switch. The departure comes after the Abraham Lincoln endured one of the longest modern deployments in US Navy history, more than nine months at sea, including a record stretch of over 250 consecutive days without a meaningful port call. The ship supported the illegal US-Israeli war of aggression launched against the Islamic Republic in late February. Multiple American military publications have detailed the deepening crisis aboard the vessel. The Navy Times reported that several sailors attempted suicide by jumping overboard, while Stars and Stripes revealed that families of the crew had directly confronted Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao over reports of collapsing mental health among service members. California Democratic Representative Mike Levin publicly described appalling conditions, including moldy and broken showers, non-functioning toilets, long periods without hot water, shortages of basic hygiene items such as soap and toothpaste, and severe food rationing that left crews with meager meals like half a cup of rice and two tortillas. These hardships stemmed in large part from the disruption of traditional US supply hubs in the Persian Gulf. Iranian defensive operations early in the war heavily damaged key logistics facilities, including Naval Support Activity Bahrain, forcing American forces to rely on distant bases such as Diego Garcia, over 2,100 miles away. This stretched supply lines to breaking point, leading to shortages of fresh food, hygiene products, and even mail, as admitted by the US Navy itself in statements acknowledging a “highly contested environment” created by combat actions. US officials have scrambled to downplay the disaster. US War Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed the reports as “completely misrepresented,” while President Donald Trump claimed the deployment was “not nearly long enough.” CENTCOM insisted the crew remained “resilient” and highlighted high reenlistment rates, yet the very fact that the carrier is being rotated out after families and lawmakers raised alarms underscores the human and material toll of Washington’s failed adventure. The Abraham Lincoln had been redirected from the Pacific to the West Asia in January to bolster aggressive operations, launching thousands of sorties and expending massive amounts of ordnance as part of the ongoing blockade and strikes aimed at the Iranian nation. Its forced withdrawal, even as another carrier arrives, leaves the US military scrambling and temporarily without a carrier presence in the Western Pacific, further evidence of the strategic overstretch imposed by Iranian resistance and the Axis of Resistance. As the Abraham Lincoln limps home, the message is clear: Iran’s steadfast defense continues to exact a heavy price on those who seek to dominate the region.
Pentagon: 774 US troops killed, wounded in Iran war -- The number of U.S. troops killed or wounded in the war with Iran has risen to 774 after the Pentagon added dozens of injured service members to its casualty count in recent days. The number listed as wounded climbed from 697 on Wednesday to 756 on Thursday, an increase of 59, according to the War Department's Defense Casualty Analysis System on Friday. The number of American military deaths remained at 18. The Pentagon did not immediately explain the sharp increase, including when or where the newly recorded injuries occurred. The War Department has divided the casualties into two categories following a pause and the subsequent resumption of large-scale hostilities against Iran. Operation Epic Fury, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, accounts for 417 wounded and 14 deaths, according to Pentagon data. Another 339 wounded troops and four deaths are classified under "overseas operations," a category covering casualties since July 7. The Pentagon created the second designation because Operation Epic Fury had concluded, and casualties from renewed fighting would be recorded separately, an official told The Associated Press last month. The Hill reported that the Pentagon's casualty database had previously drawn scrutiny from media outlets and Democrat lawmakers after the number of U.S. troops listed as killed or wounded declined. The July 7 distinction also carries significance under the War Powers Resolution. President Donald Trump notified Congress in July that U.S. forces had resumed hostilities against Iran beginning that day. The administration considers the renewed combat the beginning of a new 60-day period under the War Powers Resolution, although some lawmakers dispute that interpretation. The law generally requires a president to end U.S. participation in hostilities within 60 days unless Congress authorizes continued military action. Among the Americans killed since the fighting resumed are Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25; Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19; and Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, Stars and Stripes reported. All three air defenders were killed in a July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. Army Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, was killed the following day at Irbil Air Base in Iraq during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian drone. The rising casualty count comes as Trump turns to intensified economic pressure against Tehran after the latest 60-day deadline to reach a lasting peace agreement expired without a deal. Trump announced Wednesday that the U.S. would launch the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER" against Iran. "This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale," Trump said. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran would not agree to another temporary ceasefire and instead wants an agreement ending the war. Trump also said Tuesday that no talks with Iran were underway or scheduled.
Iran's Speaker says Hegseth and Bessent are ‘way out of their league’ -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Tuesday bashed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as being “way out of their league” in trying to bring Tehran to the table for peace negotiations. “Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement,” Qalibaf wrote in a post on the social platform X. “Bessent and Hegseth are way out of their league. Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made,” he added. Hegseth has said little publicly about the state of the U.S. war against Iran as of late, though on Monday he defended the Trump administration’s military actions while speaking at the Iowa State Fair. At an event honoring military service members, veterans and their families, Hegseth relayed the long-repeated line from President Trump that the war was necessary to keep Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “There is a cost of doing very difficult things, to going out and defending your country and ensuring radical Islamist crazies don’t get a nuclear weapon,” Hegseth said. “I’m not willing to look my kids in the eye and say, ‘We had a chance to do something about it, but we didn’t.’” Bessent, meanwhile, last week hinted the U.S. would apply sanctions on Iran that have “never been seen.” U.S. efforts to apply pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and return to the negotiating table have failed to produce much result. Trump said Tuesday no talks are underway with Iran, with the war, now in its sixth month, having no clear end in sight.
Trump posts map labeling Strait of Hormuz as a new U.S. territory - President Trump posted an image of a map labeling the Strait of Hormuz as a U.S. territory early on Tuesday in an apparent effort to double down on his calls to annex the waterway. The map, which Trump posted on his Truth Social account, labels the waterway as a “new U.S. territory.” The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil flows, is located in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. Trump first floated the ideaof annexing the Strait of Hormuz on Friday at a campaign-style event, telling attendees he would be declaring the waterway a U.S. territory “pretty soon.” When asked about the comment in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he liked the idea and claimed the U.S. already controls the waterway. “We control it with the blockade, and I like the idea of declaring it a territory,” he told reporters. “They can be a nuisance,” he continued, referring to Iran. “They can put a mine in the water, and people don’t like having mines hit their billion-dollar ships.” “We’re taking out millions of barrels of oil a week,” he said of the Strait of Hormuz. “The oil prices are coming down, and they will continue to come down unless we decide to do something far drastic, more drastic than what we’re doing.” Iran has pushed back on Trump’s claims and referred to his calls to annex the waterway as delusional. “The Strait of Hormuz has been Iranian, is Iranian, and will remain Iranian,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on the social platform X that was translated from Persian to English. “This strait will only be closed and opened under Iran’s command.” Gharibabadi added that as long as the U.S. does “not accept the reality of defeat” and indulges in its “delusions,” Iran will continue to enforce its blockade of the crucial waterway.
Ship attack in Hormuz kills crew member while Trump says strait is ‘open and operating’ - A cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz has come under attack, leaving one crew member dead, while President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the waterway is “open and operating.”A projectile struck the vessel as it exited Hormuz damaging its engine room, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said Tuesday. Oman’s Coast Guard is assisting the rest of the crew. No environmental damage has been reported, according to the UKMTO report.The ship was sailing southbound less than one nautical mile from the coast of Oman when it came under attack, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center. The U.S. military assists vessels that take the southern route, but Iran has still managed to attack ships sailing that corridor.“The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated,” Trump said in a Truth Social post hours after the attack. U.S. Central Command referred CNBC to the White House when asked to confirm whether all mines have been cleared in the strait.At least 17 mariners have been killed in 65 attacks on commercial vessels since the U.S.-Iran war began on Feb. 28, according to the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency.Observed ship traffic through Hormuz has remained low so far this week with 10 crossings on Monday and two transits on Sunday, according to data provided by the trade intelligence firm Kpler.The five-day average for ship transits is about 10, the lowest level since May 11, according to a CNBC analysis of Kpler’s data. About 130 vessels crossed Hormuz daily before the war.Trump said the U.S. is not holding any talks with Iran. The memorandum of understanding that Washington and Tehran signed on June 17 to open Hormuz expired on Monday without a final deal.Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tuesday that Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. meets it commitments under the MOU, according to the state news agency Tasnim. The U.S. and Iran have been contesting control of Hormuz since the MOU collapsed due to conflicting interpretations of the agreement. Iran has repeatedly attacked ships sailing the U.S.-protected southern route in an effort to shut down the corridor. Tehran demands that vessels take a northern route through its territorial waters instead.Tanker traffic is still constrained though monthly exports through Hormuz have increased under U.S. military protection, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Windward. Crude oil exports through Hormuz rose to about 5 million barrels per day in July compared with about 4 million bpd in June and 1.6 million bpd in May, said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, maritime intelligence analyst at Windward. About 20 million bpd of crude and products, or a fifth of the world’s oil consumption, was exported through the strait before the war.“Transits have scaled up very quickly against a backdrop of extreme risk,” Bockmann said.U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week that oil exports through Hormuz had reached a seven-day average of nearly 9 million bpd, higher than most estimates by independent firms.“Many private businesses undercount the number of ships leaving the Strait of Hormuz due to ships moving covertly through the waterway,” Wright said in a social media post.
Trump reportedly considering using nuclear weapons against Iran: "Yes, you read that correctly" --Fresh questions about the direction of the United States’ conflict with Iran have emerged after former Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene made an extraordinary allegation about discussions taking place inside the Trump administration. Greene claims President Donald Trump and senior officials have considered the possible use of nuclear weapons against Iran during private strategy meetings. No evidence supporting her account was included in the material provided, and the White House had been approached for comment on the allegation. Her intervention carries an additional political dimension because Greene spent years as one of Trump’s most prominent supporters before breaking with him and eventually leaving her Georgia congressional seat. Writing on X on Sunday, Greene claimed that discussions inside the administration have gone considerably further than the public debate surrounding the war has suggested. According to Greene, Trump and senior advisers are “discussing using nuclear weapons on Iran in strategy meetings.” Greene presented the assertion as information she personally knew rather than a conclusion she had reached from public reporting. “Yes you read that correctly. It’s real. I’m not speculating, I know. And it’s pure evil,” Greene wrote. No confirmation from the administration was cited alongside her allegation.
Iran reportedly weighs attacks on U.S. targets in Europe as UAE severs trade with Tehran - Iran has considered attacking U.S. military targets in Europe if the war escalates, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing two regime insiders. U.S. assets in Bulgaria and Cyprus were weighed as potential targets, according to the FT’s report. CNBC has reached out to Iran’s Military of Foreign Affairs for comment and has not independently verified the story. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the war have stalled, with little sign that talks will resume, leaving the belligerents to consider their next stages in the prolonged conflict. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday said it had paused all “trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions” with Iran until further notice. On Tuesday, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense said it detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward its territorial waters. Both were reported to have fallen into the water and caused no damage or casualties. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected the UAE’s claim that Tehran had targeted the country. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. is not currently in any talks with Tehran and has no plans to restart them. He has also ruled out extending the 60-day ceasefire agreement which expired Monday, after the deal effectively fell apart. A key point of contention remains control of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has repeatedly stated that the vital shipping waterway is open and in operation under U.S. control. However, observed ship traffic through the passage remains extremely low. An attack on a cargo vessel transiting the strait earlier this week killed one person. Iran has considered attacking U.S. military targets in Europe if the war escalates, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing two regime insiders. U.S. assets in Bulgaria and Cyprus were weighed as potential targets, according to the FT’s report.
Iran threatens to attack US targets in Europe if Trump escalates war -- Iran is considering launching attacks on US military targets in Europe if President Donald Trump escalates the conflict, according to a report. Sources close to Iran’s government told the Financial Times that potential targets included a British air base in Cyprus that was targeted by a drone in March. Other countries in southeastern Europe such as Bulgaria, which approved US access to its Bezmer air base for refuelling last month, were also weighed up as a potential target for strikes. It follows warnings that Tehran is considering switching to a “fully offensive” strategy, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday. A deal between the US and Iran appears further away than ever as Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz as American territory on Tuesday. Sharing a bizarre map of the region with a large blue circle around the waterway, he declared the vital shipping route “NEW US territory” on Truth Social. Shortly after sharing the image, the US leader announced that there are “no talks or conversations going on, or scheduled with the Islamic Republic of Iran”. “The Naval Blockade remains in full force and effect,” he continued on the platform. “The Hormuz Strait is open and operating. All water mines have been removed or detonated.” However, data shared by Kpler with The Independent shows that only ten vessels passed through on Monday, compared to 130 to 140 before the outbreak of war. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, according to Kpler data seen by Reuters. Iran had earlier said the shipping route is to remain closed until the US meet the conditions agreed in an interim deal, according to Iran’s top negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf in comments shared by state media. Conditions include lifting a marine blockade and sanctions as well as releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Trump Says He's Launching the 'Most Crushing Economic Operation Ever' Against Iran - President Trump on Wednesday night said that he was launching what he described as the “most crushing economic operation ever’ against Iran and threatened the economies of any countries that do business with the Islamic Republic.“No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it. Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are. This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY,” Trump added. It’s unclear what the potential new sanctions will entail, but going after countries that do business with Iran could mean targeting China, which has the ability to apply countermeasures to the US.A day before Trump’s announcement, the UAE, which has been more aligned with the US and Israel during the war than other Gulf states, said that it was cutting off all trade with Iran, citing an alleged missile attack. For its part, Iran rejected the claim that it launched missiles at the UAE, suggesting it could have been a “false flag.” Trump’s announcement came as his administration has pivoted back to focusing on economic pressure against Iran, on top of the US military blockade on Iranian ports, after failing to get Iran to capitulate during the last round of strikes. Iranian officials have denied the idea that further economic sanctions will make an impact on their negotiating position, and IRGC officials have suggested Iran may go on the offensive if the US tries to make the current situation a new status quo.
Trump announces ‘most crushing economic operation ever’ against Iran - President Trump announced Wednesday evening the “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER” against Iran amid negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil trading waterway that has been effectively closed since early March. “This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” the president wrote on Truth Social. Trump said any nation that works to “provide any type of lifeline to Iran” will be hit with “TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences” from the U.S. “Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are,” the president wrote. “This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat,” Trump continued. The president’s announcement follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s warning last week that the U.S. would seek to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran to reopen the critical waterway. On Thursday, Bessent told Newsmax’s “Rob Schmitt Tonight” that Trump ordered the department to “apply maximum pressure to the Iranian regime.” “It will be a combination of economic isolation like the world has never seen before, and the continued blockade in the Strait of Hormuz that will keep anything from going in or out of the Iranian ports,” he told Newsmax. Trump has telegraphed that he would unleash economic warfare against Iran by intensifying sanctions and continuing to enforce the U.S. naval blockade in the Arabian Sea, blocking vessels from departing Iranian ports. Trump’s announcement came a day after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that the Gulf nation would cut off trade with Iran after Tehran’s forces fired two missiles at the country. The president has also lashed out at Oman earlier this week, threatening to “bomb the s— out of them” if Muscat “gets in the way” amid talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Traffic in the waterway has gone up slightly, with 12 and 10 successful ship crossings on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, according to ship-tracking firm Kpler, but the figures are still far below prewar levels.Trump also announced last week that he would declare the strait a U.S. territory. The president did not expand on how he would achieve this goal, which he signaled again this week, considering Oman’s and Iran’s shared jurisdiction over this waterway.he strait earlier this week killed one person..
The US Is Pressuring China to Adopt Economic War Against Iran - Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent called on China to help enforce President Donald Trump’s economic war on Iran. Trump announced the escalating sanctions against Iran in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. “No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it. Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” the President wrote. He continued, “Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are. This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY.” On Thursday, Bessent said Beijing needed to “get with the program” on the economic war against Tehran. “Keep in mind, the Chinese get 50% of their energy from the Gulf. So, it would do them a big service to get with the program,” Bessent told CNBC. The Treasury Secretary said Washington and Beijing were having ongoing private conversations. Bessent went on to say the ramped-up economic warfare made restarting the war between the US and Iran less likely. “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” he said. However, Responsible Statecraft vice president Trita Parsi argued Iran is likely to escalate the conflict in response to economic pain. “Tehran does not appear overly concerned—for now. But that could change. If Trump refuses to return to the MOU, or succeeds in turning the balance of economic pain against Iran, Tehran will face a far harsher reality,” he wrote at Substack on Wednesday. “Between surrender or escalation, Iran will almost certainly choose escalation. Even if Trump has gained the economic upper hand, Tehran still believes it holds a military advantage.” The US Is Pressuring China to Adopt Economic War Against Iran - Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent called on China to help enforce President Donald Trump’s economic war on Iran. Trump announced the escalating sanctions against Iran in a Truth Social post on Wednesday. “No one has given the Islamic Republic of Iran a greater opportunity to make a Deal than me. TRAGICALLY, for them, they have failed to take it. Therefore, today, I am announcing the MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” the President wrote. He continued, “Today, I am also announcing that ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences. Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW. You know who you are. This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY.” On Thursday, Bessent said Beijing needed to “get with the program” on the economic war against Tehran. “Keep in mind, the Chinese get 50% of their energy from the Gulf. So, it would do them a big service to get with the program,” Bessent told CNBC. The Treasury Secretary said Washington and Beijing were having ongoing private conversations. Bessent went on to say the ramped-up economic warfare made restarting the war between the US and Iran less likely. “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” he said. However, Responsible Statecraft vice president Trita Parsi argued Iran is likely to escalate the conflict in response to economic pain. “Tehran does not appear overly concerned—for now. But that could change. If Trump refuses to return to the MOU, or succeeds in turning the balance of economic pain against Iran, Tehran will face a far harsher reality,” he wrote at Substack on Wednesday. “Between surrender or escalation, Iran will almost certainly choose escalation. Even if Trump has gained the economic upper hand, Tehran still believes it holds a military advantage.”
Iranian president Pezeshkian signals push to bring war to an end - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had reportedly called for an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict. “It would be better to end the war today, when we have power and dignity, and with the whole world acknowledging our victory,” Masoud Pezeshkian said, Bloomberg reported, citing the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency.The comments come a day after U.S. President Donald Trump declared 'Economic D-Day' on Iran."ANY country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences," Trump had written on Truth Social. "Oil smuggling, swap lines, cash transfers, exchange houses, ship registries, front companies — It all needs to stop NOW."Oil prices were slightly higher at the time of writing, with Brent futures (CO1:COM) up 0.52%, and crude oil futures rose 0.1% at the time of writing."The so-called "Economic D-Day" is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said on X.On Monday, Trump had said that there were no talks that were ongoing or scheduled with Iran. Pezeshkian's comments could be considered a pushback against some other Iranian officials, who believe that Tehran should continue to fight, Bloomberg said.
US loses 25% of its Reaper drones in Iran war, exposing weapons crisis | Watch (video)New reporting this morning on the depletion of U.S. weapons stockpiles amid the Iran war. The Washington Post cites three officials familiar with the matter who say the U.S. military has lost roughly 25% of its Reaper drones. The aircraft—which cost between $30 million and $50 million each and are used to conduct surveillance and targeted strikes—have seen heavy use around the Strait of Hormuz but are considered easy targets for Iran’s military and its regional proxies. Meanwhile, MS NOW spoke exclusively with the wife of a sailor who jumped off the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier last week. The wife says she was not contacted by Navy officials about the incident until four days later and shared text messages from one of her husband’s friends on the ship who described the incident as a suicide attempt. Senior HuffPost reporter Arthur Delany joins Way Too Early with analysis.
Abrams Tank Explodes from Inside After Yemeni Drone Strike: How Vulnerable is America’s Best Armour? -- The Yemeni Ansarullah Coalition has released footage showing one of its unmanned Rajum quadcopters dropping a munition onto a Saudi M1A2S Abrams main battle tank at a forward position in Yemen's Marib Governorate. The video, released through Ansarullah-affiliated media on August 21, shows the munition that on or immediately adjacent to the tank, after which smoke and flames can be seen engulfing the vehicle. The strike causes the ammunition inside the tank to detonate in a large explosion. Ansarullah has reportedly released footage purporting to show attacks on Saudi forces, with the latest footage providing another example of the increasingly diverse threats faced by armoured vehicles in Yemen and other modern warfare theatres. The use of a relatively small multirotor drone, rather than a dedicated anti-tank guided missile, has become increasingly widespread method in modern warfare because commercially derived or relatively inexpensive unmanned aircraft can be adapted to attack targets whose replacement or repair costs are many times greater than the drones used against them. The Ansarullah Coalition is not thought to have access to non-line-of-sight anti-tank missiles. The survivability of the Abrams tank has repeatedly been brought to serious question, first due to the Iraqi Army’s losses in the 2010s, and subsequently due to the type’s performance in the Ukrainian Army. The tanks took heavy losses in their first engagements with Russian forces in February-April 2024, with multiple sources having noted that the tank’s dimensions, namely its very tall profile made it a large target on the frontlines that was highly challenging to conceal. The tank’s lack of active protection systems remains another major shortcoming. By early June 2025 the Ukrainian Army was assessed to have lost 27 of the 31 U.S.-supplied Abrams tanks, representing 87 percent of the fleet, most of which were destroyed.
US Military Awards Raytheon With $22.9 Billion Contract To Ramp Up Tomahawk Missile Production - Raytheon has landed a massive $22.9 billion contract with the US military to dramatically ramp up the production of Tomahawk missiles, as US arms makers continue to cash in on the US-Israeli war against Iran.The US fired over 1,000 Tomahawk missiles into Iran during the conflict, nearly one-third of the pre-war inventory, according to analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).All available evidence suggests that Tomahawk missiles were what was used when the US bombed the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, southern Iran, an attack that killed at least 156 people, including 120 schoolchildren.Raytheon currently produces 60 Tomahawk missiles per year, but under a new agreement with the US War Department, it plans to ramp up production to more than 1,000 per year, according to a press release from RTX Corporation, Raytheon’s parent company.“Tomahawk is the Navy’s most important strike weapon, able to target hostile forces hundreds of miles away without ever risking the lives of our sailors,” said Raytheon President Phil Jasper.“We are making significant investments in our workforce, technology, supply chain, and facilities to dramatically boost production capacity and meet surging demand,” Jasper added.The news comes after the US military awarded massive contracts to Lockheed Martin to ramp up production of air defense munitions depleted in the Iran war, including a $35 billion deal for THAAD interceptors and a $58.6 billion contract for Patriot PAC-3 interceptors.
What shrinking US missile stocks means for allies and adversaries around the world - Atlantic Council —Since February, the Iran war has reportedly depleted up to three-fifths of US Patriot interceptor stocks and as much as half of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) antiballistic missile stocks. Experts estimate that fully replenishing these stocks could take years. The shrinking supply of air-defense missiles has reportedly become a factor in White House discussions about how quickly, and on what terms, the Trump administration should strike a deal with Tehran. At the same time, US officials have framed reports of depleted munitions from the Iran War as “misinformed.” The US munitions situation affects far more than the conflict with Iran. Allies, partners, and adversaries around the world are watching for answers to several important questions: Will existing munitions be redeployed elsewhere? How is Washington preparing for the possibility of other crises occurring before inventories fully recover? Will the current munitions shortage shape longer-term perceptions about US deterrence and combat credibility? The answers vary by region, and they would be exacerbated by additional, simultaneous conflicts. It’s therefore worth looking at where the munitions shortage is already altering calculations—and where its most consequential effects may still lie ahead. In the Middle East, the impact is acute because the United States and its partners are expending interceptors while attacks continue. Since February, Gulf states have absorbed thousands of Iranian drone and missile attacks, while relying heavily on US air and missile defense. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all operate US-made defensive systems, including Patriot, Stinger, and THAAD missiles. Gulf states also rely on US-built offensive systems, such as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). As Iran sent wave after wave of missiles and drones earlier this year, the Gulf states turned to US-made interceptors to protect critical infrastructure and population centers. As a result, Saudi Arabia has reportedly reduced its PAC-3 MSE interceptor inventory by some 86 percent. And while there have been fewer Iranian attacks in recent weeks, the threat has nonetheless widened once again: A Houthi drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Jazan Refinery this month shows that immediate demand for interceptors is likely to persist even if Washington and Tehran reach an agreement. Iran’s approach has been both destructive and costly. It has learned how to stretch US and Gulf systems by pairing advanced missiles with cheap drones that are expensive to shoot down. As it draws out negotiations, Tehran is certainly aware that US munition stocks are now a factor in Washington’s ability to sustain the fight and defend its partners. Israel is a unique case in the region but faces similar constraints. Its indigenous missile defense capabilities—including Arrow 3, Arrow 2, and David’s Sling—give it options that other US partners in the region do not have. However, US THAAD interceptors were used by the United States to defend Israel during the June 2025 strikes and this year during the early stages of the Iran war. The Gulf countries are already assessing their next steps. Alliance diversification efforts, such as the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement signed last week by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey, show that Riyadh is seeking to demonstrate regional leadership and reduce its dependence on the United States. While the deal does not include arms transfers or munitions co-production, its efforts to advance regional cooperation, combined with a prolonged replenishment period for US munitions, could encourage Gulf states to pursue such agreements to meet defense shortfalls. Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine, now in its fifth year, has unquestionably put pressure on European allies to hand over already insufficient munitions stocks. Germany has donated about one-third of its Patriot systems to Ukraine, while Poland reportedly transferred five PAC-3 interceptors to Kyiv. And Madrid and Athens face pressure from other European capitals to provide their older interceptor variants to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored this week that his country remains desperate for PAC-3 and PAC-2 interceptors as Russia continues relentless ballistic missile attacks against Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure. Although air-defense systems and interceptors have been central to both wars, Ukraine’s needs go beyond the systems most visibly depleted in the Middle East. Kyiv also needs artillery, long-range strike, armor, air, and naval capabilities. With a Pentagon-led European force posture review now underway, anxiety levels in Europe remain high even as US and European defense companies work to solve production and innovation issues to meet current and future needs. NATO’s goal of spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2035 is partly a munitions story, as it opens the question of whether increased spending will go to American or European defense companies. Germany, for example, has greatly increased munitions production capability in the past two years, albeit with a focus on medium-caliber ammunition. The European Commission has separately called for Europe to reach a sufficient defense posture by 2030, roughly matching assessments that Russia could be in a stronger position to use force against NATO within the next five years. That the United States also finds itself overextended makes both the math and the politics harder for European capitals, many of which are prioritizing national defense needs. In April, the United States notified European allies of delays to some munitions deliveries due to the Iran war.Russia is surely watching what is happening on both sides of the Atlantic closely. Moscow knows that it is also subject to the laws of physics when it comes to its own munitions depth, but it understands the politics of scarcity. If US intelligence assessments are right that Putin plans to “test NATO resolve” in the coming years, then the replenishment clock matters on both sides—and Russia is trying to recapitalize itself while fighting a full-scale war.
Trump’s rosy Hormuz claims collide with tanker data - Energy Secretary Chris Wright says about 9 million barrels of oil are moving through the Strait of Hormuz every day. But nonpartisan oil tanker trackers say it’s likely 7 million barrels at best, or more likely, closer to 5 million. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the oil is flowing freely through the strait, which even before the war was a global energy choke point. On Monday, he told reporters at the White House that the U.S. has total control over the strait and that “we’re taking out millions of barrels of oil a week.” Advertisement “The strait is open and the oil prices are coming down, and they will continue to come down unless we decide to do something more drastic than what we’ve been doing,” Trump said.
Trump Says He'll 'Never Apologize' for Rising Gas Prices Caused by His War With Iran - - President Trump has said he would “never apologize” for the higher gas prices Americans are facing due to his war with Iran, downplaying the surge in prices as just a “tiny little bit more.” The US president framed the increase in gas prices as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, though there was no evidence either before the June 2025 war or the current conflict that Tehran was attempting to develop a nuclear bomb.“So, for you to pay a tiny little bit more for your gasoline, just remember you’re doing it so that a very evil country cannot have a — really, it’s the number one state sponsor of terror in the world — we don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” the president said on Friday during a rally on Long Island. “When you have to pay a little bit more, you’re at $4. It’s okay. I’ll never apologize. I did the right thing … you just have to remember that what we’re doing is a great service for the world. Not only for ourselves, but for the world. And we’re really doing a great job,” he added.The president also said that, once the war ends, he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated — pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz Strait a territory of the United States,” he said.Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded to Trump’s comments, saying the US leader needed to accept defeat. “This strait will only be opened and closed under Iran’s command, and as long as you do not accept the reality of defeat and stop indulging in delusions, Iran will continue to enforce the blockade,” he said.
JD Vance and the Trump team keep moving the goalposts on Iran - One of the Trump administration’s biggest problems in extracting itself from the Iran war is the list of very absolutist goals that President Donald Trump and his team laid out.The goals have included complete Iranian surrender, regime change, Iran never getting a nuclear weapon and ending Tehran’s support for its Middle East proxy groups like Hezbollah.As the war — now in its sixth month — has dragged on, this list of goals has conspicuously shifted and been pared back. And Vice President JD Vance appears to have pared it back recently in a remarkable way, offering the latest indication that the administration might be preparing to settle for less — maybe even a lot less.Appearing on Fox News on Thursday, Vance was asked how the war might end. And he laid out two goals.“It’s ensuring that the Gulf countries continue to send oil and gas to the world economy so that we have energy price stability,” he said, adding: “That’s goal number one: Keep oil and gas cheap for Americans all over our country.“And then, obviously, goal number two is ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”This is not the administration’s old list of goals — and the order Vance placed them in is striking. When asked about Vance’s comments on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that “both goals are equally as important to the president.” The administration has almost always characterized Iran never getting a nuclear weapon as the overriding concern. And even if the goals are truly equal in the administration’s mind, including oil and gas prices at all — and not other items — is a notable shift. In fact, Trump explicitly rejected this as a goal back in May. When asked if he considered Americans’ financial situation when trying to resolve the war, Trump responded, “Not even a little bit.” He signaled that denuclearization was so important that he didn’t factor in anything else.
Iran, Iraq enjoy ‘unbreakable’ unity, will continue to make US ‘taste defeat’: Qalibaf --Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has described the unity between Iran and Iraq as “unbreakable,” saying the two countries will continue to stand against the United States. Speaking on Friday after paying tribute to Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at the Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf, Qalibaf said the United States and the Israeli regime should understand that unity within the Muslim world, particularly between Iran and Iraq, is “unbreakable.” This relationship, he added, is cemented by shared religious and cultural foundations. He pointed to periods when Iranian and Iraqi forces stood together in response to shared threats. Qalibaf recalled the fight against the Daesh terrorist group, saying Iranian and Iraqi forces stood alongside one another when they needed each other. He also pointed to the recent aggression against Iran, saying the Iraqi people rose up during the “Ramadan War,” referring to the war launched by the US and the Israeli regime against Iran in late February, during the month of Ramadan. Furthermore, he cited the US assassination of anti-terror commanders Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in January 2020 as a symbol of the close ties between the two nations. “The symbol of this struggle is the blood of the martyr Abu Mahdi and the dear martyr Haj Qassem, which was mixed in this land,” he said. Qalibaf said the cooperation between the two countries would continue. “Iraq and Iran will stand against the arrogance,” he said. “Just as they brought America to its knees in the Ramadan War and made it taste the bitter flavor of defeat, this path will continue.” Iran does not seek war, but diplomacy proceeds only if there is readiness for war On Thursday, speaking with a host of Iranian and Iraqi businesspeople in Baghdad, Qalibaf says Iran does not seek war, but diplomacy can only be effective when backed by readiness for war, as the US resorts to economic threats against Iran following defeat in the military war. “We are neither warmongers nor seeking war,” he said. “But as Muslims, we believe in a principle in the Islamic Ummah: We will not allow people to trample on our dignity and honor. On this path, we will sacrifice our wealth and lives, stand firm, and defend our dignity and honor.” “As a combatant, we know the value of peace more than those who speak of peace,” he said. “In other words, the person who has fought knows the value of peace.” He argued that diplomacy carries weight only when a country is prepared to defend itself. “We believe diplomacy is valuable and moves forward when we are prepared for war,” Qalibaf said. “If we are not prepared for war, no one will respond to us when we use diplomacy.”
Report: US Considers Reducing Persian Gulf Military Presence After Iran War - The US military is considering reducing its military presence in the Persian Gulf, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, as many of its bases in the region have been badly damaged by Iranian attacks. Many of the US bases in the Gulf had been evacuated before the US and Israel launched the bombing campaign against Iran on February 28 due to their vulnerability, and some have been essentially abandoned following heavy Iranian attacks. During the most recent round of strikes, the US pulled much of its forces back to Jordan, though Iran was able to strike US bases there and killed at least three US troops, injured more than 100, and destroyed military equipment. The Post report said that the damage to US bases in the Gulf has “prompted a once-in-a-generation chance for the Pentagon to reconsider its presence in the region” and that the Pentagon had already signaled it may not rebuild its Gulf bases to how they were before. Sources told the paper that Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), has been involved in discussions about the future of the US military presence in the region and supports holding deliberations on potentially moving troops west from the Persian Gulf. Notably, a pullback of US troops from the Persian Gulf has been one of Iran’s conditions for a deal to end the conflict. Iranian officials have frequently said that they believe this war will lead to a US “retreat” from the region.
During Iraq Visit, Iran's Ghalibaf Says US Is Seeking an Exit From the Region - Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Iraq on Wednesday and said that the US was seeking to exit the region, comments that come following a report from The Washington Post that said the Pentagon is considering pulling back from the Persian Gulf after many of its bases in the area were heavily damaged by Iranian strikes.Iran’s MEHR news agency reported that Ghalibaf made the comments while visiting the site of the 2020 US airstrike that killed IRGC Quds Force Commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was a senior commander in Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of mostly Shia militias formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. “Dear Abu Mahdi and Haj Qassem! This is the fruit of your struggle and your blessed blood,” Ghalibaf wrote on X. “In the new regional order, foreign powers’ interference in the equations between states is receding at an accelerating pace; America is seeking an honorable exit for itself from the region, and the project from the river to the sea for the Zionist entity has become mere fragments of dreams.” Ghalibaf also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who has set a September 30 deadline for the Iran-aligned Shia militias to disarm, which is supposed to coincide with an Israeli withdrawal. Some factions have agreed to the plan, but others, including Kataib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful militias, have rejected the call to disarm. It’s unclear what Ghalibaf and al-Zaidi discussed.Ghalibaf held a separate meeting with Iraqi President Nazar al-Amidi, where he stated that the US wants to “plunder” the region.“The United States has approached the countries of the Persian Gulf and the region only to loot and plunder their resources,” Ghalibaf said, according to Iran’s PressTV. “Experience and the recent conflict have proven to regional countries that Americans are not only incapable of guaranteeing their security, but are actively the disruptors of regional peace.”
Report: Kushner-Netanyahu Meeting Ends With Agreement That Israel Will Keep Bombing Gaza - A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a long-time family friend of the Israeli leader, ended with an agreement that Israel will continue so-called “targeted strikes” in Gaza, Haaretz reported on Monday. The reported agreement to allow Israel to continue attacks in Gaza comes despite Kushner holding a meeting a day earlier with Hamas officials, who said they were committed to the disarmament plan announced by President Trump and the so-called “Board of Peace.”Later in the day, Kushner told Fox News that the US wouldn’t “restrict Israel’s right to defend itself” and that one purpose of the meeting was to “clarify what that means.” He also described the disarmament deal as a “win-win” for Israel because either Hamas disarms, or Hamas doesn’t “follow through” and then Israel would have “a lot more support from the US and others to go and finish the job.”Also on Monday, President Trump said that Israel should “stop striking Gaza” because Hamas agreed to “lay down their weapons,” comments that Hamas welcomed, though the results of the Kushner-Netanyahu meeting suggest Trump isn’t serious about putting pressure on Israel to halt all of its attacks. Kushner and Netanyahu were joined by the Board of Peace’s top Gaza envoy, Bulgarian politician Nikolay Mladenov, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The Haaretz report said the officials agreed to allow work to begin in Gaza on sanitation infrastructure to prevent disease outbreaks and contamination of groundwater and coastal waters, but broader reconstruction will still not be allowed.They also discussed a preliminary plan that would involve Hamas handing over its weapons to a force led by Jasper Jeffires, a US Army general who’s been designated as the commander of the “International Stabilization Force,” which is supposed to deploy to Gaza under President Trump’s plan.But the Haaretz report said Israeli officials expressed skepticism about the disarmament plan, and Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected the overall proposal. An Israeli official told The Guardian that there had been no breakthrough in the meeting and that Israel would continue to carry out operations in Gaza.Israel’s attacks in Gaza since the so-called ceasefire deal was signed in October 2025 have killed at least 1,265 Palestinians and wounded 4,198, according to the latest numbers released by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry said that over the previous 48 hours, Israeli attacks have killed at least two Palestinians and injured 15.
Trump's 'Board of Peace' Considers Abandoning Original Hamas Disarmament Plan Due To Israeli Pushback - President Trump’s so-called “Board of Peace” is considering altering its framework for a Hamas disarmament deal due to pushback from Israel, The Times of Israel reported on Tuesday. Under the initial plan announced by President Trump, Hamas would begin “decommissioning” its weapons in phases, which would correspond with Israeli withdrawals from certain areas where demilitarization is confirmed. But Israel has rejected the proposal and wants Hamas to hand over all of its weapons before any Israeli pullback.A source told the Times that the Board of Peace is considering the changes, but the dispute over the deal’s terms was not settled during a meeting on Monday between President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which ended with an agreement that Israel would continue strikes in Gaza.The Board of Peace previously suggested it was making changes to the disarmament plan after an earlier meeting of its officials with Netanyahu on August 3. After those talks, the board said that the IDF would withdraw from Gaza only after Hamas disarmed, contradicting its previous statements that said the disarmament and withdrawal would happen “in lockstep.”The report acknowledged that making the change to the disarmament framework would risk losing Hamas’s support, as the Palestinian group agreed to the US proposal after months of negotiations. Hamas also has no reason to trust that Israel would withdraw after it disarmed, since Israel has blatantly violated the October 2025 ceasefire deal with daily attacks.Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has also said that the IDF won’t withdraw from Gaza, even if Hamas disarms, and that the ultimate goal was to establish Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory.
US Envoy Warns Israeli Strikes in Syria Could Provoke Turkish Response - - Israeli fighter jets bombed a military base in northern Syria. Turkish troops near the base were alarmed by the Israeli attack. “Turkish forces were not aware that the Israeli aircraft were en route to that specific Syrian base, nor of their intended purpose, and therefore could potentially have been inclined to scramble their own jets in the belief that they themselves were under attack,” US Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday. “The events of yesterday were serious and worrisome. However, we are relieved that no human life was harmed and that the situation did not escalate.” On Thursday, Turkey said it did not have troops at the base attacked by Israel, but warned about Tel Aviv’s unchecked aggression against its neighbors. “We state that there was no Turkish military delegation at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before or during the attack carried out by Israel against that base in Syria,” the Turkish Defense Ministry said on Thursday. It added that the international community cannot allow a “perception” to take hold that Israeli military aggression against neighboring countries is “routine and acceptable.”Syria’s Foreign Ministry called the strike “unjustified aggression” and a “dangerous escalation.”On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that the strike was intended as a message to Turkey. “We will not tolerate a Turkish military establishment in Syria that threatens Israel,” the Israeli leader posted on X. “We made the message clear: Don’t. Apparently they didn’t hear it well enough, so we made sure they understood it better.”On Thursday, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter claimed the attack was meant to prevent a major Turkish military buildup in Syria. “We are not seeking escalation or war with either Turkey or Syria. But a red line was crossed,” he told The Jerusalem Post. “Those who needed to be exposed to the intelligence received it. Those who needed to know what was coming knew. We made clear that this was a violation of our understandings – and that is why Israel acted as it did.”Turkey initially established a military presence in Idlib, Syria, to support Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). In November 2024, HTS, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, defeated the forces loyal to Bashir al-Assad, and the Syrian President was forced to flee the country. At the time, Israel celebrated its role in helping the Syrian opposition to overthrow Assad. However, Tel Aviv also views Jolani, a former al-Qaeda leader, as a threat, while Ankara sees the new Syrian government as an ally. Tensions have increased between Israel and Turkey since the start of the war against Iran. Tel Aviv has warned that Ankara will replace Tehran as the new enemy of the Jewish State in the region. On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tel Aviv would not allow Turkish forces to expand their presence in Syria. “[Turkish President Erdogan] is dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria. Israel will not allow any actor to threaten its security.” He added, “It would be better for Erdoğan to continue his detached-from-reality, fanciful rhetoric against Israel in the Turkish Grand National Assembly than to attempt to test Israel’s determination to defend itself.”
US Air Force plane turns back from Antarctica after Russian missile threat -- A U.S. Air Force plane heading from New Zealand to Antarctica was forced to turn around Tuesday due to a “potentially hazardous” space activity warning. The American C-17 Globemaster aircraft, using call sign ICE28, initially took off from Christchurch, New Zealand, around 9:00 a.m. local time but returned back to Christchurch less than three hours later due to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) sent by New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). A spokesperson from CAA told The Hill Tuesday that it was made aware of potentially hazardous activity by Russia’s state air traffic management corporation, “resulting in the issuance of a NOTAM advising pilots of the hazard.”On Wednesday, the spokesperson revealed that it was made aware by Russia of a planned missile launch.“[We were] made aware by the Russian air traffic agency of a planned missile launch and associated potential hazard to international airspace, within New Zealand’s Oceanic Flight Information Region (FIR),” New Zealand’s CAA wrote.The region is what CAA describes on its website as airspace over the high seas that New Zealand manages under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s regional air navigation agreement. FIR includes a 30-million-square-kilometer area that is mostly international waters, according to New Zealand’s air traffic management authority, spanning the South Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea.“We put in place a danger area and issued a NOTAM to alert aircraft operators to the potential hazard. This does not prevent aircraft from flying through the area, operators make their decisions based on the information available,” the agency continued.
Kremlin: No Information Yet Regarding Possible Visit by Kushner and Witkoff to Moscow -The Kremlin stated on Thursday that there is no information as of yet regarding a potential visit to Moscow by US Presidential Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, according to Reuters. Negotiations between Russia and the United States aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine remain largely stalled amid the war with Iran, which Witkoff and Kushner are also working to bring to an end. In another context, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that no meeting has been scheduled between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vatican Envoy Paul Richard Gallagher, who is set to visit Moscow next week. However, Peskov added that Russia highly appreciates the efforts of nations working toward finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump Orders Hegseth To 'Substantially Reduce' Joint Military Exercises With South Korea - President Trump on Sunday said that he had ordered US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. “Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea. These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises! While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!'” he added. Trump’s statement came as the US and South Korea were set to begin a major annual war game known as Ulchi Freedom Shield. It remains to be seen whether the exercises, scheduled to last 11 days, will be scaled down. The US president met with Kim three times in his first administration, and following their first meeting, the US and South Korea suspended major war games, though they resumed in 2022 under President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was much more hawkish toward the North than his predecessor, Moon Jae-in. Yoon was impeached and removed from office in 2025 over his brief attempt to use martial law and the military to shut down the National Assembly in December 2024, and his successor, Lee Jae Myung, has taken a different approach toward Pyongyang, calling for reviving peace efforts.“Let us put down our intentions to threaten each other and begin discussions to end the long-running war as the directly involved parties,” Lee said on Friday. “Through this, it may also be possible to discuss effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.”Trump’s announcement came a day after he shared a photo of one of his meetings with Kim. “Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling, Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” he wrote on Truth Social.While Trump pursued diplomacy with North Korea in his first term, a report from The New York Times published last year revealed that he also oversaw a botched raid carried out by Navy SEALS. The purpose of the raid was to plant a listening device, but the SEALS opened fire on a boat that approached them, killing everyone onboard, and then retreated.
South Korea's Lee Reaffirms Push for Military Independence After Trump Announces Scaled-Back Drills - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has reaffirmed his push for South Korea to regain independent control of its military from the US after President Trump announced the scaling back of joint US-South Korean military drills taking place this week.The US has had wartime operational control of South Korea’s military since the Korean War, which technically never ended. Combat was halted by a 1953 armistice, but the two sides never signed a formal peace treaty.South Korea took peacetime operational control, or OPCON, of its military in 1994, but the US still holds wartime OPCON. Lee previously committed to regaining wartime OPCON by the end of his term in 2030, which he reaffirmed at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.“A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally,” Lee said, according to The Guardian.Also on Tuesday, Wi Sung Lac, Lee’s national security advisor, said that South Korea remained in close coordination with the US regarding joint military exercises. “Based on the strong South Korea-US alliance, our government has been continuing coordination with the US side on combined exercises and drills between South Korea and the US,” Wi said, according to the YONHAP News Agency. Trump announced on Sunday that he ordered US War Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” Ulchi Freedom Shield, major joint US-South Korean war games that began on Monday, though it’s unclear if they are being reduced in any significant way. The US president said he took the step based on his “very good relationship” with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, whom he met with three times during his first term. Lee’s office responded by saying it hoped that relationship would lead to “meaningful dialogue” and “discussions aimed at advancing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
Trump Says He Intends To Meet With North Korean Leader Kim This Year - President Trump said Wednesday that he plans to meet with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un sometime this year, though Pyongyang has not yet confirmed that Kim is interested in talks. “I get along with him well,” Trump said, according to The Washington Post. “And you know what? The fact that I get along with him, that’s a very good thing, not a bad thing.”The president also said that North Korea possesses “57 powerful nuclear weapons,” which aligns with estimates that have put Pyongyang’s arsenal somewhere around 60 warheads.Kim Yo Jong, the sister of Kim Jong Un, said on Wednesday that she was unaware of any communications between her brother and Trump, but did say the two leaders “still have an excellent relationship” following their three face-to-face meetings during the first Trump administration.The US and South Korea said on Wednesday that the ongoing Ulchi Freedom Shield war games would be reduced to five days instead of the 11 days initially planned, after Trump announced he would “substantially reduce” the military drills due to his “very good relationship” with Kim.Kim Yo Jong said that Trump’s announcement didn’t mean anything since the military exercises are still taking place, though it’s unclear if her statement came before or after Washington and Seoul decided to cut them short.“We are paying more attention to the fact that the joint military drills between the US and the ROK have been steadily staged and are still underway, not to the reduction or shortening of individual drills, and we are correctly seeing through the fact that this is an obvious expression of their obvious hostility toward the DPRK,” she said, according to North Korea’s Central News Agency. “If the US calculates that it can propagate its recent measure as one of so-called good faith, they will not get the desired answer.”She said that while her brother “has good memories and feelings about Trump personally,” the US’s “hostile policy” toward North Korea hasn’t changed.Trump said he was reducing military drills because of his “good relationship” with Kim, and his post came after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung proposed direct talks with North Korea. After Trump’s announcement, Lee said he hoped the effort would lead to fruitful dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, and he reaffirmed his push for South Korea’s military to become more independent of the US.
Kim Jong Un’s sister ‘unaware’ of talks between US, North Korea - Kim Yo Jong, a top adviser and sister of North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, denied knowledge of discussions between the country’s leader and President Trump in a message shared by state media on Wednesday. Trump told reporters earlier in the day that the country’s leader had responded to his request for a conversation and that the pair would meet later this year amid tensions between the two nations over the U.S. and South Korean militaries’ joint annual training exercises. There has been no communication between the leaders of North Korea and the U.S. that we are aware of,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement translated by South Korean outlet The Chosun Daily. “I am not aware of it at all, and perhaps it may be the only thing I do not know as regards the foreign policy of our supreme leadership,” she continued, adding that the relationship between the U.S. and North Korean leaders “is still excellent.”Kim Yo Jong also reupped North Korea’s criticism of Ulchi Freedom Shield as “an expression of open hostility” toward the country, despite Trump’s decision on Sunday to scale back these training exercises following a threat from North Korea. The U.S. military has been participating in joint military exercises with South Korea for more than 70 years to ensure military readiness in the region. North Korea, which has long viewed these operations as a threat, performed several ballistic missile tests following the announcement of this year’s drill. Trump’s instruction to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” these exercises drew widespread criticism from Democrats and foreign policy experts. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D), who participated in these annual exercises during his time in the Navy, suggested Trump should “read some history and get his priorities straight” in a social media post. The former naval officer said these joint drills “help us and our allies like South Korea stay well trained and coordinated.”“Scaling down those exercises only helps North Korea,” he added.
US Navy to replace black sailor’s name with Trump’s on aircraft carrier: Report -- The US Navy is considering renaming an aircraft carrier honoring black sailor Doris Miller after President Donald Trump, a report says. According to a report published by CNN on Friday, three sources familiar with internal discussions said the effort to rename the Ford-class carrier has been underway since early 2026. Naming an aircraft carrier after a sitting president is unprecedented in the US history. The Navy is considering naming another warship after Miller, while his great-nephew Thomas Bledsoe said the family had not been informed about the proposed change. The Navy has also stopped referring to the carrier internally as USS Doris Miller and is instead using its hull number, CVN-81, one of the sources revealed. Acting Secretary of Navy Hung Cao and his office are examining changes to official ship-naming guidance, including provisions concerning who can be honored with the names of US warships. The effort comes as Secretary of War, Peter Brian Hegseth, has sought to remove military names associated with what the administration considers “diversity, equity and inclusion policies.” Pentagon spokesman, Richard Sean Parnell, claimed Hegseth is committed to names “reflective of the Commander-in-Chief’s priorities, and the warrior ethos.” The Navy is under pressure to settle the carrier’s name before its keel-laying ceremony, which is expected to take place by the end of this year. The proposed change is particularly disturbing because Miller was the first enlisted black sailor and first black American to have an aircraft carrier named in his honor, the report noted. The report comes months after Trump controversially altered the name of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC after himself. However, a US court ordered his name to be removed in late May.
Trump Administration Boosts Sanctions on Cuba - -The Trump administration is increasing sanctions on Cuba, in the form of new economic penalties for Cuban industries as well as expanding enforcement of laws that bar Americans who visit the island from dealings with government-owned or -affiliated businesses.The penalties, which were announced Thursday by the Treasury and State Departments, are aimed at 10 state-owned mining, metal and construction companies along with the leadership of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, or ICAP. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the institute is responsible for sponsoring “a vast subversive network in the United States aimed at identifying, cultivating, and radicalizing” Americans. “Just days ago, the regime attempted to use Communist kingpin and despot Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday to reinvigorate this subversive network, ferrying a new brigade of international sympathizers to Havana to network with regime officials,” Rubio said in a statement.“The Trump Administration will not stand by while a hostile foreign power seeks to exploit our freedoms — none of which are afforded to its people — by misleading and corrupting American citizens with lies, spy tradecraft, and other malfeasance as part of the regime’s raison d’être of exporting Marxism, racial resentment, and Communist violence across the world,” Rubio said.Since the year began, the Trump administration has rapidly escalated pressure on Cuba, going so far as to threaten military action as well as increasing economic sanctions designed to cut off funding for the Cuban government. The oil blockade, which was implemented after the January raid in which the United States kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis. Experts appointed by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council warned that Cuba risks becoming a “silent Gaza”, and said, “The humanitarian consequences are already unfolding into a full-blown crisis, threatening the rights to health, to life, to food and to development.” Cuba routinely denounces American sanctions, as well as the Cold War-era embargo that remains in place, and has accused the United States on multiple occasions of targeting a poor nation simply for ideological differences and its proximity to the mainland US.
US backs $364M potential weapons sale to Italy | News.az - The US State Department has approved a potential $364 million military sale to Italy involving APKWS-II guidance kits and related equipment, aimed at strengthening defense cooperation and enhancing Italy’s precision-strike capabilities. The proposed transaction includes precision guidance section kits along with necessary technical support and maintenance hardware. The State Department notified Congress under the Foreign Military Sales framework to facilitate subsequent contractual procedures, Voice of Emirates reported. The APKWS-II system transforms unguided rockets into laser-guided precision munitions. Defense contractor BAE Systems has been designated as the principal contractor to fulfill the supply requirements. The acquisition will enhance operational integration and joint readiness between Italian and US military forces. Implementing these advanced guidance section kits improves Italy’s capacity to address current and emerging defense challenges. Furthermore, US officials noted that the upgraded capability will reinforce Italy’s contributions to NATO’s integrated air and missile defense network. The approval aligns with broader European initiatives to elevate defense spending and modernize military infrastructure. Washington continues prioritizing defense support for strategic allies to maintain regional stability. Officials confirmed that the proposed sale will not alter the fundamental military balance within the region. Procedural Steps and Final Agreement Terms The State Department approval represents authorization for a potential sale rather than a finalized commercial agreement. The transaction remains subject to ongoing technical, financial, and legal negotiations between both governments. While the estimated total cost stands at $364 million, final values and equipment quantities will be established in the definitive contract. BAE Systems will lead the execution of manufacturing and delivery operations. Additional provisions cover technical documentation, logistics assistance, and specialized personnel training programs. Final implementation will proceed upon completion of all statutory reviews and bilateral agreements.
Rubio announces sanctions on ICC president - Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced sanctions on the president of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and a trial lawyer, part of an escalating fight between the Trump administration, the court and international human rights groups. The Trump administration’s new sanctions target Tomoko Akane, ICC’s president, along with Abdoulaye Seye, ICC’s senior trial lawyer. Rubio said the action was part of “our unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham of a court.” The U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the court and established its jurisdiction, and Rubio is encouraging other countries to sever its ties to the court. “These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,” Rubio said in a statement. The sanctions against Akane and Seye generally block American citizens from transacting with the individuals or risk punishment. The sanctions also prevent Akane and Seye from accessing the U.S. financial system. The court said in a statement to The Hill that “measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff who work towards the fulfilment of the mandate that was conferred to the ICC by States undermine the rule of law.” “When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk,” the statement continued. The ICC said it remains “undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel and behind victims of unimaginable atrocities.” “The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interest of victims of international crimes,” the court added. An official ICC statement is further expected to be released early Wednesday. Last month, Rubio promised to use the tools of the U.S. government and American diplomacy to dismantle the Hague-based court “brick by brick,” including using travel bans, visa revocations, increased sanctions against the ICC and affiliated organizations, and diplomatic pressure on other nations to withdraw from the ICC. The administration has blacklisted several ICC officials — including prosecutors and judges — following the court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former defense minister, over the war in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. has also pushed back against the court for a past probe into U.S. troops’ conduct in Afghanistan. In June, three ICC court judges filed a lawsuit in New York against the Trump administration, arguing the sanctions levied against them are unlawful. In July, two human rights advocacy groups sued the Trump administration to block sanctions on ICC officials, saying the designation had a “chilling effect” on their work documenting alleged Israeli crimes against Palestinians. And last week, four human rights groups sued the Trump administration, saying its sanctions against the ICC officials are unlawfully interfering with their international criminal justice work.
Trump’s trade threats give Canada’s biggest clean-energy bet new urgency - The Carney government is pumping C$10 billion in federal backing into a massive hydroelectric project in Newfoundland and Labrador, pitching the project as part of its effort to strengthen Canada’s economy against President Donald Trump’s trade threats. The federal support will help to advance a broader C$70 billion project to upgrade the Churchill Falls generating station and develop Gull Island. Prime Minister Mark Carney said it will be the largest clean energy project in North America, one that could eventually generate enough electricity to light up the equivalent of Canada’s three largest cities. “The most important thing happening this week in Canada is today’s announcement,” Carney said Monday, two days before a fresh round of 50 percent tariffs is set to hit Canadian products and as trade talks with the Trump administration approach a Wednesday deadline. Carney said he anticipated the project would be the first thing he’d discuss with Trump when they next speak. It is the “type of generational investment that gets everyone’s attention, even the president of the United States.”
Trump pauses new 50% Canada tariffs, says trade deal reached - US President Donald Trump announced late on Tuesday he was putting a three-day pause on new 50% tariffs set to go into effect on Canadian goods at midnight, saying the two countries had reached a deal. An hour later, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in a statement that “substantial progress has been made, although there is important work still to be done.” Trump said in his post on Truth Social that he paused the tariffs “based on the fact that Canada and the USA, subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL.” Trump and Carney spoke on Tuesday afternoon, their second conversation this week, and their negotiators have been involved in weeks of intense, opaque talks. “While we continue this work, Canada remains focused on building a stronger, more independent and more competitive economy at home,” Carney said in his statement. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s office said the deal will include “comprehensive market access for all American goods, economic security commitments, digital trade alignment,” and other provisions. In a proclamation posted on the White House website, Trump said he had received Canada’s commitment to address US concerns related to duties on dairy products, alcoholic beverages and motor vehicles. US officials provided no further details, and the Canadian government did not confirm any contents of an agreement. Existing US auto tariffs had been a sticking point, two industry sources familiar with the talks said earlier. The new US tariffs would have covered about $20 billion worth of imports and applied regardless of whether Canadian goods qualify for preferential treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which has shielded much of Canadian industry from earlier US tariffs. Trump added in his social media post that the Keystone XL pipeline — a project cancelled by former President Joe Biden in 2021 after years of indigenous and environmental opposition — “may be awoken from the grave,” but did not provide details. Trump has made tariffs a central pillar of his foreign and trade policies despite legal setbacks and criticism from some analysts.Trade experts and industry officials said earlier that the new tariffs could lead to job losses and business closures in vulnerable sectors in Canada, including lumber, wine and dairy.They also warned the dispute could complicate broader USMCA negotiations.Canada’s minister responsible for US trade, Dominic LeBlanc, and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette have been in Washington since last week for talks.On Monday, the Canadian officials met for nearly two hours with Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.Greer has repeatedly cited Canada’s tariffs that followed initial US tariffs, the Canadian dairy supply management system and some provinces’ refusal to stock US liquor, among other US grievances.The sides have also discussed cutting US Section 232 tariffs on Canadian vehicles to 15% from 25%, with further reductions based on the amount of US content in each vehicle, the sources had said.
Trump tariff deadline looms as Canada says it’s working to resolve ‘trade issues’ with U.S. - The U.S. and Canada continued trade negotiations Friday, as the clock ticked down to reach a final deal before President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on hockey sticks, wine and other Canadian goods take effect. But with less than 11 hours left to avert the 50% import duties, Canada said it is still working to “resolve outstanding trade issues” with the U.S. The “intensive discussions” are continuing “for the mutual benefit of both countries,” a spokesperson for Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s trade minister for the U.S., said in a statement. The statement was shared with CNBC around the same time that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was seen leaving his office in Washington. LeBlanc left soon thereafter, but said he would return shortly, Reuters reported. LeBlanc and chief Canadian trade negotiator Janice Charette had arrived at Greer’s office around noon. LeBlanc did not speak to reporters on his way into the building. The 50% retaliatory tariffs were initially set to kick in Wednesday — until Trump, in an eleventh-hour post on Truth Social, said he would postpone them for three days so Washington and Ottawa could finalize a tentative deal. Trump’s post signaled that the agreement was all but complete, “subject to the finalization of documents.” But trade officials emerged from additional rounds of talks in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday without a final deal in hand. “We’re very close,” LeBlanc told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We continue to make progress, and we’re going to stay here and do the work that’s necessary until we get to that point.” He said that at that time Charette was still engaged in talks with Greer and other Trump administration officials. “Canadians expect us to get a deal that’s in the economic interest of Canada and Canadian workers,” LeBlanc said. If no deal is reached by 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, the 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of imports will switch on. Businesses have warned that the duties could cripple their sales and that the threat alone has already taken a toll.Negotiators have been tight-lipped about the specifics of a deal, as well as the remaining sticking points. Trump’s existing tariffs on imports of Canadian steel, aluminum and lumber are a central concern, The New York Times reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the talks.. LeBlanc and his office have declined to comment to CNBC on how the metals tariffs factor into the negotiations. Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. might agree to lower those duties and suggested that lower tariffs on Canadian autos might also be on the table. Trump has also suggested that the deal could revive Keystone XL, the planned oil pipeline from Alberta to Nebraska that was scrapped in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden. The Trump administration has said that Canada has committed to lower its trade barriers on the U.S., without offering specifics. Trump said Wednesday that Canadian tariffs “will be nonexistent for our farmers.” The looming 50% tariff threat was partly based on the administration’s allegation that Canada discriminates against the U.S. dairy industry. Canada has not confirmed Trump’s claim. Prime Minister Mark Carney said in an X post Wednesday, “We are now moving towards an agreement that reinforces that Canadian advantage, including by securing the best terms in each of Canada’s most important strategic sectors and providing greater certainty about our future trading relationship.” The looming 50% tariffs were invoked last month under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which lets the president impose duties in response to discrimination or unfair commerce. But the Great Depression-era law has rarely, if ever, been invoked, and it has been neglected for decades.
Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates as Talks Collapse - Intense negotiations to stave off new levies by the Trump administration ended in an impasse as Mark Carney suspended talks. U.S. tariffs on Canada, and retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., will come into effect. Crucial trade talks between the United States and Canada to stave off punishing new tariffs by the Trump administration on Canadian goods collapsed late Friday, with Canada saying it would retaliate “dollar for dollar.” Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada said he had decided to suspend the talks because the American side had introduced last-minute terms that were “unfair, uneconomic, and called into question the reliability of any deal.” He added that the talks, which had been going on for weeks and had intensified in the past few days, had marked important progress but had ultimately “not been enough to meet our objectives for Canadians.” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told reporters that Canada had walked away from the negotiating table, minutes before a deadline ushering in new 50 percent tariffs by the Trump administration on a broad range of Canadian goods. “Tonight, Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under the terms agreed earlier this week, despite the U.S. offer to Canada to receive the best treatment of any major exporter to our market,” Mr. Greer said on a virtual briefing with the press. “New demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days,” Mr. Greer added. Shortly before Mr. Greer’s statement to the press, U.S. Customs and Border Protection sent out guidance for importers saying that the Canadian products that the president had identified would face tariffs after 12:01 a.m. Speaking to reporters, a U.S. official said that Canada wanted concessions that the United States wasn’t prepared to give, particularly when it came to the automotive sector, as well as trade in steel, aluminum and lumber. If Canada does retaliate, the official said, Mr. Trump would be provided with options “to level out the playing field once again.” In his statement, Mr. Carney said Canada would retaliate against the new tariffs, which will affect $20 billion in Canadian exports by the U.S. administration’s calculations, “to protect our workers and businesses.” In addition to making hundreds of Canadian products like cheese and hockey sticks price-prohibitive in the U.S. market, the tariffs will further fracture the once-close relationship between the countries, which has drastically deteriorated since Mr. Trump returned to office, targeted Canada with tariffs and repeatedly proposed that it be annexed as the 51st state. Negotiators from both countries have been cooped up in the United States trade representative’s office in Washington for up to 10 hours a day for several days this week hammering out the details of the failed agreement. Just hours before the two sides announced negotiations had been suspended, Mr. Trump said he thought a deal could be reached with Canada. On Tuesday he declared that the two nations had reached a deal aside from working out some details and had extended an earlier deadline that would have introduced the new tariffs. But Mr. Carney made good on his promise to walk away from a deal he didn’t think was good enough. Polling suggests that many Canadians support his decision. A recent Léger poll found that 56 percent of respondents are opposed to any further trade concessions from Canada. He also got an early endorsement for his decision to walk away from talks from Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province and home to the country’s important auto industry. “As we fight to protect Canadian sovereignty and economic security, everything needs to be on the table. Ontario is ready to do its part,” Mr. Ford said. In addition to fending off the new tariffs, Canada wanted to use the talks to roll back and ideally eliminate tariffs of up to 50 percent that Mr. Trump has imposed on the country’s steel, aluminum and autos. Canadian negotiators also hoped to achieve some relief on softwood lumber tariffs that go back decades and were augmented with additional tariffs from Mr. Trump. The U.S. side wanted the eight Canadian provinces that had barred American wine and spirits from their government-owned alcohol distribution systems to end the boycotts, which were brought in last year in response to Mr. Trump’s trade attack. It also wanted Canada to drop its retaliatory tariff on American cars and to change how American dairy products are allowed into Canada’s tightly controlled market. In the final days of negotiations, it appeared that Canada had become resigned to only succeeding in reducing, not eliminating, the current tariffs. Leading into Friday’s talks, several people in both countries briefed on the negotiations described U.S. proposals that still maintained substantial, if lower, tariffs on the two metals and autos. They said that the plan would cut steel and aluminum tariffs to 25 percent from 50 percent. But only a limited quantity of Canadian steel would be allowed at that reduced rate, with the balance still facing a 50 percent tariff. Under the plan, the people briefed said, autos would fall to 15 percent from 25 percent, with the rate being adjusted for American parts, which typically make up about half the value of a vehicle made in Canada. Executives and analysts in the auto industry said that would still leave production in Canada unprofitable and likely doom assembly plants in the country. While the Supreme Court struck down most of Mr. Trump’s tariffs in February, both last year’s tariffs and the new measures against Canada were brought under other trade laws that were not covered by the decision. The legal provision that Mr. Trump has used to impose the new 50 percent tariffs on Canada, Section 338, stems from a 1930 law and has never been used before. The tariffs could face legal challenges in the coming weeks. The development was bad news for consumers and businesses on both sides of the border, warned Candace Laing, who leads the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “This will be a body blow to North American competitiveness in this self-defeating trade saga,” she said. “Americans will see their costs go up, and Canadians will see customers, investment and small businesses disappear.”
US and Canada fall deeper into a trade war with new tariffs as talks collapse and blame is spread (AP) — The United States and Canada, historic allies along an undefended border, fell deeper into a trade war Saturday marked by angry recriminations and new tariffs that are expected to raise prices for products in both countries. Each side blamed the other for the collapse of negotiations in Washington late Friday, leading the U.S. to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods and Canada setting Sept. 8 as the start of its retaliatory penalties.President Donald Trump’s import taxes will hit about 5% of what Canada ships to the United States every year, ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors. Prime Minister Carney said Ottawa would respond with targeted tariff protection for industries exposed to the new U.S. duties, including some steel products. He also mentioned the dairy, appliance, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper and electronics sectors.. No further talks were planned. Whatever the eventual outcome, a loss of trust seems one of the earliest casualties. Carney accused Washington of using “economic integration as a weapon” and said “its signature was written in pencil.” Resorting to the language of battle, he said his country had been “attacked” by the new American tariffs. “You’re at war when you get attacked,” he said, adding that Canada had the reserves, resilience and plan to respond. But to Trump's chief trade negotiator, Jamieson Greer, the U.S. was compelled to act after a year of retaliation by its longtime partner. “We’ve said enough, and so we’ve taken countermeasures. Our interest is in protecting American workers and protecting American supply chains,” the U.S. trade representative told "Fox & Friends Weekend." Carney said Canada had been willing to drop remaining retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos if the U.S. substantially lowered its own, and to encourage provinces to restore U.S. alcohol sales. But he said Washington’s final demands went too far. “They asked too much and offered too little,” Carney said. Greer said the Republican administration was offering to cut tariffs on steel, autos and lumber, “things that are sensitive for them. And they’ve always had the best deal, and they still would have an even better deal, but they didn’t want that." As a result, he said, “We’re moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation.” Carney said the U.S. added last-minute terms that would have reduced tariff relief for Canadian-made vehicles, restricted Canada’s ability to strike trade deals with other countries and weakened protections for language, culture and sovereignty. He said such demands were “unacceptable.” The breakdown in negotiations marked a sharp reversal from two days earlier, when officials from the two countries sounded as if they were headed toward a compromise. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who leads Canada’s most populous province, praised Carney for rejecting the deal, saying it would have hurt Ontario’s auto, steel and manufacturing sectors. Ford urged Canada to use “every tool in our toolbox” to fight the U.S. tariffs.
Carney says US asked 'too much, offered too little' as trade talks collapse -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday vowed “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs in response to the United States’ 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods after the two sides failed to reach a trade deal. Carney’s tit-for-tat measures, set to take effect on September 8, will include tariffs on steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp, paper and electronics. “In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair, and undermined the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal. In short, they asked too much, and they offered too little,” Carney said Saturday at a news conference in Ottawa. The White House has not responded to CNN’s request for comment. Canada had offered some concessions as part of the deal, including removing its retaliatory measures from last year and returning US alcohol to Canadian shops. But the US did not agree to “sensible economic terms” for core industries, including automotives. And when asked about critical minerals, Carney said Canada would never give the US “exclusive access.” Trump and Carney, as well as top trade officials from both countries, had been in direct contact throughout the week after Trump granted a three-day delay to the tariffs. - Earlier in the week, Trump declared: “We’ve come to a deal with Canada.” But he added that it was “still subject to finalization of documents.” “Canada declined to finalize the trade deal under the terms agreed earlier this week,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said early Saturday in a post on X. He said the deal included “significant tariff reductions on steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber,” as well as “a historic economic and national security partnership.” “Despite the U.S. offer to Canada to receive the best treatment of any major exporter to our market, new demands and walk backs of other commitments by Canada have upended the careful balance reached in the past days,” Greer said. Appearing later on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” Greer said the US would move forward with its own countermeasures after Canada said it would retaliate against new tariffs. “We don’t have new talks planned with the Canadians. We’re moving forward with measures that respond to Canadian retaliation,” Greer said. He did not provide specifics on the countermeasures. The latest standoff is the product of a trade relationship that has steadily deteriorated since Trump returned to office. T Trump imposed tariffs on major Canadian industries — including autos, steel and aluminum — while Canada retaliated with its own measures. While Carney walked back his most sweeping countermeasures last year, Trump remained irked by Canadian provincial leaders’ bans on American alcohol. The tariffs that are now going into effect are relatively limited in scope, covering about $20 billion worth of goods imported from Canada — roughly 5% of the total value of goods imported to the US from its northern neighbor last year. On their own, they are unlikely to meaningfully impact American consumers, who are already getting squeezed by high gas prices. The greater issue is the reigniting of the trade war. “The new US tariffs are designed to hurt and divide us,” Carney said Saturday. “They’re a miscalculation. They’re a miscalculation because Canadians will always take care of each other.” Carney said in his Friday statement that Canada would introduce “additional measures to support Canadian workers and businesses,” adding to the nearly $25 billion provided in support over the past 18 months. He said Canada’s economic growth is “accelerating” and that Ottawa would “not allow any nation to determine our future.”…
Trump to allow import of 300,000 metric tons of ground beef without tariff --President Donald Trump on Friday morning said the United States will allow up to 300,000 metric tons of product for ground beef to be imported over the next three months without being subject to out-of-quota tariffs. Trump also said, “We have a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices.” Trump will formally sign an executive order on the tariff waiver for beef trimmings imports within the next two weeks, according to the White House. The president’s Truth Social post announcing the move did not say which companies had made those commitments, which he said came “as we work to rebuild this herd [of U.S. cattle] and help our ranchers.” Trump also did not say which foreign beef exporters he had reached a deal with. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and two Republican senators from states with large amounts of beef cattle criticized Trump’s move, saying it would not address his stated intention of helping to increase the size of the U.S. beef herd. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., in a tweet, said, “I’ve advised President Trump against this course of action for a year because American ranchers have been struggling against the packer monopoly for decades, and this will further harm them — most of whom are MAGA Republicans.” “The President’s heart is in the right place on wanting lower prices for the American people, and beef prices have been impacted by the Mexican screwworm,” Sheehy said. “But the reality is this action will make it more difficult for American ranchers to rebuild our herd and bring prices down for the American people,” the senator said. “And most importantly, this will harm our ranching families who feed the nation.” Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said on X, “I’m extremely disappointed by this decision from the White House.” “We all want lower grocery prices, but as I’ve said for months, we cannot do it at the expense of American producers,” Fischer said. “Flooding the market with foreign beef hurts our livestock industry and undermines the long-term solution: growing the U.S. cattle herd to meet demand.” The U.S. imposes tariffs on imported beef beyond a certain quota limit for individual countries. A report in May from the American Farm Bureau Federation noted that “imports entering under quota generally face a tariff of just 4.4 cents per kilogram, while imports above quota face a 26.4% tariff.” “For beef valued around $7 per kilogram, that difference can exceed $1.80 per kilogram in tariff costs,” the report said. Beef prices in the U.S have soared in 2026 due to a reduction in the nation’s cattle herd from years of drought, high feed costs and herd liquidation. The size of the herd is at its lowest point since the 1950s.
Damage from the chaotic tariff regime cannot be refunded: The $100 billion in refunds have wiped out revenue the import taxes brought in since May -- The magnitude of tariff refunds the Trump administration must dole out is now outpacing how much money it’s bringing in through the import taxes, and it’s dealing a new blow of damage to the U.S. economy, one think tank warned. In May, when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rolled out its online tariff refund portal, the U.S. Treasury refunded $21.97 billion, exceeding the $21.93 billion it collected that month—and a complete reversal of the month before, when the Treasury distributed only about $2 billion in tariff refunds, according to a report published this month by the Tax Foundation, a tax policy nonprofit, citing monthly Treasury statements. In June, the balance sheet became even more lopsided, with $49.18 billion refunded as compared to the $23.63 billion collected, resulting in a net customs revenue of negative $25.56 billion. Tariff revenue makes up just a small fraction of the government’s total revenue, but the Tax Foundation warned the chaos surrounding the tariffs and their legal fallout has had an outsized economic impact, exemplified by the government hemorrhaging billions of dollars monthly through refunds. “While importers will experience some relief by receiving refunds, the economic damage from the chaotic tariff regime cannot be refunded—and the remaining tariffs means economic damage will continue to grow,” the report said. After collecting $166 billion in revenue from tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Supreme Court struck down the levies in February, resulting in a mandate forcing the Trump administration to redistribute the income to up to the 330,000 eligible importers who footed the bill for the levies. While President Donald Trump has tried to rebuild his tariff policy in the aggregate—imposing duties under Sections 122, 232, and 301 of the 1974 Trade Act—he has not been able to recoup the money lost through refunds. The continued drain on tariff revenues represents a failure of the Trump administration to deliver on its lofty promises of using the income to reduce the federal deficit and offset tax cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill act, argued Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation. “The president himself and the administration have been talking so much about how they’re going to raise a lot of revenue with tariffs, how they’re going to supposedly fix the fiscal situation with tariffs,” York told Fortune. “And that really mismatches what we’re seeing play out in the data, which is that they have relied on really shaky legal grounds to try to impose these tariffs.” Meanwhile, tariffs have increased inflation, with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis finding the levies hiked the prices of pharmaceuticals and household utensils by more than 4% over the last year. A graph showing how much prices in different retail categories increased since the implementation of tariffs. That’s on top of the uncertainty accompanying Trump’s whipsaw tariff policy, which York said has been as disruptive as the levies themselves, leaving companies scrambling to adapt supply chains, as well as holding off on hiring or increasing wages as they navigate new variables. She noted tariff policy has changed more than 50 times since Trump took office again in January 2025, most recently this week, with Trump announcing a three-day pause on a proposed 50% tax on Canadian imports as the countries negotiate a trade deal. “It hasn’t just been, ‘Here’s a new tariff done in a very transparent way,’ and then businesses can plan around it,” York said. “It has been a chaotic environment.” To be sure, the Trump administration won’t have to distribute tariff refunds forever. The Treasury Department has already given out $100 billion in refunds since May, crossing the halfway point of total revenue collected through IEEPA tariffs. But the Tax Foundation suggested the remaining $66 billion will be harder to distribute, as the next phase of refunds deal with more complex claims filed after the established liquidation period, raising procedural questions.At the same time, refunds yet to be disbursed are accruing interest, up to 4.5% on overpayments on $10,000 or more and 6% on overpayments less than that, according to the Cato Institute, meaning taxpayers are still footing the bill on refunds yet to be returned to them.York expects tariff revenues to rise back into the positive in a matter of months, but warned the uncertainty surrounding the existing levies remain, with companies suing the administration to remove Section 301 tariffs.“Even though we’re past the IEEPA saga, we’re not past the chaotic tariff environment saga,” York said. “I think we are stuck in that for at least the next couple of years.”
Explainer: Why is Trump talking about the Keystone XL oil pipeline? - (Reuters) - A social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that the Keystone XL oil pipeline "may be awoken from the grave" attracted attention this week in the midst of U.S.-Canada trade talks. Keystone XL was a proposed crude pipeline, roughly 1,900 km (1,181 miles) long, which would have carried 830,000 barrels per day of oil from the oil sands of northern Alberta to the major U.S. storage hub at Cushing, Oklahoma, and then on to Gulf Coast refineries. The project, which was opposed by many environmental and Indigenous groups, was rejected by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and revived by Trump during his first term. Though construction work had started, the pipeline was never completed after U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a key permit for the U.S. stretch of the project in 2021. The company behind Keystone XL, Canada's TC Energy, lost billions when the pipeline was canceled. It later spun off its crude pipelines business into a new entity, South Bow, so that it could focus on natural gas instead.But Trump has been vocal about wanting to see the Keystone expansion built. Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, sends more than 90% of its crude oil production to the U.S., and many U.S. refineries are dependent on Canadian heavy oil.While South Bow previously said it had "moved on" from the Keystone project, forecasts for increased Canadian oil production led the company earlier this year to propose a new pipeline project called Prairie Connector.The 550,000-barrel-per-day project, which South Bow is working on in partnership with U.S. company Bridger Pipeline, would run from Alberta to Wyoming and would use some of the Keystone XL pipe that had been installed on the Canadian side of the border before that project was canceled.South Bow has said it will decide whether or not to go ahead with Prairie Connector in 2027. The company's CEO has said he needs proof that a U.S. presidential permit is "durable" before proceeding. South Bow declined to comment on Trump's recent posts.Reuters reported Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney raised a potential revival of the project during trade talks with Trump last October, presenting it as a possible area of cooperation between the two countries. Trade talks then stalled for months. Trump posted a meme about Keystone shortly after announcing late on Tuesday night he had given Canada a three-day reprieve on more tariffs.
ICE alleges House Democrats ‘disrupted operations’ at Georgia detention center - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday accused several House Democrats, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), of having “disrupted operations” during a visit to one of its detention centers in Lumpkin, Ga. Jayapal wrote on the social platform X that she brought a delegation of five lawmakers to conduct an oversight visit of Stewart Detention Center. Her post included a video of herself at the facility with the logo of its private operator, CoreCivic, behind her. ICE stated that Jayapal, Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), and others were taken on a tour of the facility. The agency said the delegation arrived an hour early and was granted time beyond the 90-minute time block it set aside. When center officials asked the lawmakers to leave, the group allegedly “indicated resistance.” “The delegation ultimately did leave, and moved to a separate Department of Justice facility located next to the Stewart facility, where they demanded to sit through a hearing in an immigration courtroom. The delegation remained onsite until about 3:45 p.m.,” ICE wrote in a Tuesday post on X. “This is not the first time a congressional delegation has disrupted operations during an ICE facility visit,” the post continued. “Despite these challenges, ICE continues to provide historic access to our facilities to members of Congress and their staff, with more than 330 such visits executed in Fiscal Year 2026 alone.” The agency concluded that it will “continue to provide this access so the American people can have a better understanding of our operations, facilities and personnel.” Jayapal on Wednesday released a statement accusing ICE of issuing “falsehoods” about the delegation’s visit. She said she was joined by Johnson and Foushee, as well as Reps. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) “ICE’s claim that we arrived an hour early is laughable,” she said in the statement. “We started recording a two-minute video at a gas station 27 minutes away at 10:29 a.m. We arrived at the facility shortly after 11:00 a.m. and entered at 11:10 a.m. Once we completed the inspection and met with detained people, we left the detention facility around 2:18 p.m. on our own accord to go to the immigration court, which has a separate entrance.” Jayapal said ICE does not control immigration courts and that officers “tried to block us even though they have no jurisdiction over the courts.” The delegation waited for 20 minutes until they were allowed into the courtroom and observed the proceedings for around 20 minutes, the Washington Democrat said. The lawmakers then left at 3:09 p.m. and held a press conference 11 minutes later. “This is not the first time ICE has attempted to interfere with a congressional inspection and refused to answer basic questions about the number and demographics of the people in their custody –– basic information we would expect ICE to have at their fingertips to ensure appropriate care and safety,” she said. Jayapal confirmed in her post on X that the visit included five Congress members. She called what they saw “heartbreaking.” “Just talking to the detainees, seeing the fact that over 1,900 people are held at this detention facility,” Jayapal said. “It is one of the worst in the country, the reports of medical malpractice, medical abuses, lack of clean water, lack of appropriate food.” Jayapal said the delegation met the wife of a detainee who had been at Stewart for 15 months, as well as migrants who had been detained for at least two years. She then called for the facility to be shut down. “People are rejecting across party lines, people are rejecting this administration’s approach to immigration enforcement,” she said. “They do not want this. They do not want innocent people locked up. … They do not want the kind of cruelty that’s happening across the country and in places like this.” Jayapal vowed to change the Trump administration’s “cruel” immigration policy if Democrats retake the House during the 2026 midterms, adding that she hopes to be elevated to chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement. Democratic lawmakers have deplored conditions at different immigration detention centers across the country, including Delaney Hall in Newark, N.J. — where a third detainee recently died following a medical emergency.
Ethics complaint filed against DHS general counsel over posts about judges - The top lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is facing an ethics complaint with the Florida Bar after he launched a “Worst of the Worst” list for federal jurists, attacking their rulings. James Percival, the general counsel for DHS, has in recent weeks taken to social media to criticize judges who have made unfavorable rulings on the Trump administration’s immigration policies. The complaint, filed Wednesday by a group of nearly 130 former federal and state judges, said Percival violated Florida Bar rules, which prohibit making unfounded attacks on the integrity of judges under its rules of professional conduct. The complaint largely focuses on the initial July post from Percival attacking four federal judges, modeling it after DHS press releases highlighting the arrests of migrants accused of crimes in a nod to President Trump’s pledge to deport “the worst of the worst.” “General Counsel Percival’s July 23 post was not, as he described it, a ‘legitimate fact based critique’ of either the Judges or their rulings. The posts were attacks on the characters of four sitting judges, based on mischaracterizations of the underlying cases, and without concern for the repercussions of those statements,” the former judges wrote in the filing. The Florida Bar prohibits a member attorney from making statements he or she “knows to be false or with reckless disregard as to its truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge.” “Mr. Percival comments that the judges were the ‘Worst of the Worst,’ issued ‘crazy opinions,’ engaged in ‘judicial sabotage,’ were ‘micromanaging’ the department, had gone ‘rogue,’ and were engaged in ‘naked politics,’ all lack a sound basis in fact,” the former judges wrote in the complaint, saying Percival “appear[s] to have ignored or mischaracterized important aspects of the orders” he was attacking. In one case, Percival accused U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly of “judicial sabotage” after he issued a temporary administrative stay following a Supreme Court ruling largely killing the temporary protected status (TPS) program. The filing said that because the ruling allowed some issues to be litigated, the judge was “seeking to hold the status quo while the parties could complete briefing on still existing matters subject to his jurisdiction and which were not addressed by the recent Supreme Court case.” Kennelly, they argued, “used a normal case management tool, one approved for use by even the Supreme Court, to ensure that the parties were able to brief a pending motion and to assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the parties. There is simply no objective factual support for the perspective that Judge Kennelly engaged in ‘judicial sabotage.’” Percival made similar comments about Judge Allison Borroughs, who was overseeing another case related to the termination of TPS. “There is no indication in the record that Judge Burroughs ‘set a deliberately sluggish’ schedule to avoid compliance with the law in a ‘transparent attempt to delay’ the deportation efforts of DHS,” they wrote.
'Biden-era ‘ghost gun’ restrictions ruled unconstitutional -A federal judge in Texas ruled Monday that a Biden administration-era rule regulating untraceable “ghost guns” is unconstitutional.U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor held that the 2022 measure, which required that self-assembled guns be treated like any other firearm, conflicts with the nation’s “historical tradition” of personal gunsmithing and self-manufacture of firearms. “The Court cannot conclude that the Final Rule’s imposition of ambiguous and far-reaching regulations, which would restrict access to component parts thereby inhibiting home gunsmithing, comports with the Second Amendment,” O’Connor, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, wrote. He also determined the rule was unconstitutionally vague in violation of the Due Process Clause.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) adopted the rule to clarify the definition of “frame or receiver” in the Gun Control Act of 1968. It also required that commercial parts kits, which can be used to self-assemble a firearm, have serial numbers and mandated background checks for buyers.The rule was intended to close a regulatory loophole that critics say has allowed largely untraceable weapons to become more prolific.A Justice Department spokesperson said on Wednesday that the department is “evaluating the impact of the court’s ruling.” Last March, the Supreme Court upheld the regulation in a 7-2 ruling that sidestepped the constitutional question and focused solely on the ATF’s authority under federal firearms law.“Future cases may present other and more difficult questions about ATF’s regulations. But we take cases as they come and today resolve only the question posed to us,” Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for the majority.O’Connor’s ruling takes a step further, siding with a long-running challenge brought by two gun rights groups that sought further intervention after the Supreme Court’s decision.“The Court rightly held that the Biden ATF’s rule not only sought to outright prohibit Second Amendment protected conduct but was written in such a vague and vaporous manner as to chill that protected conduct by making it impossible to even know what was legal and what wasn’t,” Adam Kraut, executive director of the Second Amendment Foundation, said in a statement after the ruling.Meanwhile, gun violence prevention advocates argue that O’Connor’s ruling creates a “nightmare” scenario in which people who are banned from owning guns can easily obtain one with little oversight.“Under the logic of this injunction, people ineligible to possess guns could get an untraceable ghost gun without any background checks or training,” said Emma Brown, the executive director for Giffords. “No one wants to live in a country where gun violence is easy to commit and almost impossible for police to solve.”
Key Democrat calls for investigation into Trump disaster denials - A senior House Democrat is calling for an “immediate investigation” into President Donald Trump’s decisions last month to deny millions of dollars in disaster aid for four Democratic-led states. Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey urged Republican committee leaders who oversee funding programs related to natural catastrophes to launch the inquiry following a report by POLITICO that revealed how Trump rejected the requests for disaster aid after his administration had determined the states met federal criteria for receiving it. Trump overrode his own federal agencies by denying $227 million in aid to New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island following a record-breaking blizzard in February. Pallone in a two-page letter noted that Trump’s denials on July 2 came after “federal officials determined [the states] had met government thresholds for receiving aid.” “Denying disaster assistance to American citizens just because they live in states that elected Democratic governors is a betrayal of the oath President Trump swore to uphold,” Pallone wrote.
Trump administration fights Republican effort to lower flood insurance costs - The Trump administration is defending a flood policy imposed by the Biden administration and supported by environmental groups against efforts by Republican-led states to overturn it in court. The Justice Department under President Donald Trump recently asked a federal judge in Louisiana to dismiss a lawsuit brought by 10 Republican state attorneys general who say the policy has unfairly raised the cost of federal flood insurance. The policy was launched in 2021 by the Biden administration after decades of offering discounted insurance had led the federal government to understate the flood risk faced by millions of properties covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency program. The higher insurance rates were hailed by environmentalists as a way to discourage construction in flood-prone areas. Rates are decreasing for roughly 20 percent of the insurance program’s 4.5 million policies. The rate-raising program was targeted in a 2023 lawsuit by then-Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican who is now the state’s governor. His successor, Liz Murrill, is now leading the 10-state effort to overturn the program, while the Trump administration has adopted former President Joe Biden’s legal fight to save it. A 126-page court filing in late July marks the first attempt by Trump’s Justice Department to dismiss the lawsuit. The filing echoes Biden-era arguments to defend the higher rates, while adding that the rates were endorsed in May by the so-called FEMA Review Council, which Trump created to evaluate the disaster agency’s operations. “This may be one of the first concrete actions we’re seeing as an outcome of the [council] report,” said Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, which supports the new insurance rates. The rates are being imposed through FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 program. The recent court filing by DOJ notes that the review council’s May report recommended that FEMA “continue implementation of Risk Rating 2.0.” The filing also noted that four of the review panel’s 12 members are from states that joined Louisiana’s lawsuit: former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R); Florida emergency management chief Kevin Guthrie; Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R); and Texas emergency management chief Nim Kidd. The other plaintiffs are Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia. Berginnis called DOJ’s continued defense of Risk Rating 2.0 “unsurprising” noting that the politics surrounding the flood insurance program “don’t break down along party lines.” “The president has continued to basically emphasize that the costs to the federal government are too much,” Berginnis said. “It seems to be quite consistent with the president’s stated vision of things.” Joel Scata, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said Thursday that “accurately pricing flood risk is crucial for informing homeowners the danger they may face.” Risk Rating 2.0 has hit Louisiana particularly hard. State residents account for 400,000 of the program’s 4.5 million insurance policies — more than any other state — and are seeing their premiums rise by hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. Louisiana policyholders are concentrated in low- and middle-income areas along the coast. That contrasts with more affluent coastal policyholders in other states. State and local officials in Louisiana say residents cannot afford the higher insurance premiums, leading to a weaker economy as some relocate. Murrill did not respond to a request for comment about the Trump administration’s opposition to her lawsuit. The states of other Republicans who have brought the case — including South Carolina, Mississippi and Texas — also are widely affected by higher insurance premiums. But the landlocked states of Idaho, Montana and North Dakota have only about 14,000 FEMA flood insurance policies combined, or 0.03 percent of the national total, FEMA records show. The federal program provides most of the nation’s flood coverage.
Interior paid $156 million for employees not to work - -The Department of the Interior spent more than $150 million on administrative leave for employees working in the secretary’s office last year.New records obtained by POLITICO shed light on the cost of the “deferred resignation” program and other initiatives by President Donald Trump to downsize the federal workforce at the department. When Trump swept into office in 2025, his so-called Department of Government Efficiency, led by tech mogul Elon Musk, sought to use Silicon Valley-style tactics to make quick cuts to the federal workforce.Close to 1,500 staffers, most of them senior level, who left the Office of the Secretary in 2025 were paid not to work for days — even months — after agreeing to resign later.Between Trump’s second inauguration and the end of last year, the paid-leave price tag just for employees in secretary’s office within the Interior Department totaled $156.5 million, a department document shows. That sum includes over $113.4 million in pay and almost $43.1 million in benefits for those staffers.The figures only capture a small slice of spending on administrative leave at the Interior Department last year. The records, which were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, are for staff in the secretary’s office and do not include employees in the department’s multiple other agencies and bureaus.Overall, 1,764 employees in the secretary’s office were on administrative leave at some point during that period. The vast majority, 1,468 staffers, opted into the resignation program and have left the department.Aaron Weiss, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation watchdog group, called the situation a “massive waste of taxpayer dollars.”“That’s money that should have been going to the people who manage America’s parks and public lands,” Weiss said. “That’s all the expertise that we’re paying to sit at home and do nothing.”Interior’s press office said in a statement the department’s efforts aimed to “right-size the federal workforce, cut bureaucratic waste, and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently.”“By streamlining operations and reducing unnecessary positions, we are strengthening our ability to serve the public while making government more effective and accountable,” the press office said.Who at the secretary’s office went on paid leave last year is detailed in a spreadsheet included in the records.Eighteen employees were placed on administrative leave because of “DEIA,” referring to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Those staffers likely worked in those programs, which Trump has sought to end across the federal government via an executive order.Seven employees were listed as “FCG” as their reason why they were on administrative leave. In March last year, DOGE boasted on social media about “dissolving” the Federal Consulting Group, or FCG, at Interior.Most, however, participated in the resignation program, which walloped the senior ranks in the secretary’s office, the data shows. Over a thousand employees who chose to leave were high on the civil service pay scale, from GS-12 through GS-15. Many held titles such as contract specialist, grants management specialist and accountant.The voluntarily resigned employees included 125 who worked in Washington and 222 who worked in Lakewood, Colorado, a hub for Interior employees out West.The median salary of the secretary’s office staffer who chose the resignation program was $121,684.Thousands more have left Interior. In total, 6,374 employees across the department opted into the resignation program since Trump’s inauguration, according to data compiled from June by the Office of Personnel Management.The administration started the program soon after Trump’s return to office when federal workers across the government received an email, offering them a choice to take paid leave and resign later. The email’s subject line read “Fork in the Road,” copying a campaign by Musk to clear out Twitter staff.Estimates found the resignation program resulted in exorbitant costs. One analysis by Public Citizen determined the government spent at least $11 billion on administrative leave for employees who opted into the program.Yet it’s not clear how much the resignation program cost in administrative leave departmentwide at Interior, outside of the secretary’s office. The Interior press office’s statement did not address a question seeking those figures.The program has remained active at the department this year, too. In April, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum offered another round to staff to choose to leave public service.Agencies were discouraged to use paid leave for prolonged periods before this Trump administration. Yet in June, OPM proposed new regulations “to provide extended periods of administrative leave” to support “workforce restructuring and realignment initiatives,” such as the resignation program.That rule is slated for completion this coming November, the latest regulatory agenda has indicated. Interior’s press office said the department will continue working with OPM and other agencies “to implement cost-saving measures that put taxpayers first while ensuring the responsible stewardship of America’s natural and cultural resources.”
Cramer puts hold on Trump picks in feud over wetland policy - North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer is putting a hold on President Donald Trump’s nominees until the administration agrees to change a wetland conservation program that has frustrated farmers in his state.The hold could delay the White House’s effort to install Project 2025 author Dennis Kirk as inspector general at the Interior Department, along with pending nominees for top roles at the Health and Human Services Department, the National Science Foundation and more.The aggressive move by Cramer comes days after the administration abandoned its plans to change a wetland conservation program that protects duck and bird habits at the urging of other Republican lawmakers.Although Cramer said the Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to take another look at the issue, the initial decision to walk away from changing the program caught him off guard.“There will be no pause in my aggression because I can’t take any more chances with this,” Cramer said in an interview. “I have put a hold on all nominees, period, of all agencies. So I hope Clarence Thomas stays healthy.”While holds do not necessarily stop nominees from moving forward, they can slow down or thwart the a candidate’s confirmation because of the GOP’s slim majority.The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Neither did the Interior Department nor the FWS, which manages the conservation easement program.A conservative Republican and close ally of the president, Cramer has been critical of the FWS’s drain tile setbacks rule, which regulates federal easements for waterfowl habitat in the Prairie Pothole region. The wetland-rich area straddles parts of the Upper Midwest and is the breeding grounds for over a dozen species of migratory waterfowl, with the majority of federal easements located in North Dakota. Administration officials were initially on board with changing the program, a decision that aligns squarely with the White House’s deregulatory agenda, Cramer said.In particular, he and other North Dakota lawmakers have argued that the FWS has taken an overly aggressive stance against landowners with easements in its effort to protect the wetlands, and that people should be allowed to farm closer to the boundaries of the easements.But other Republicans and hunters staunchly oppose any changes that would allow farmers to drain wetlands or indirectly harm them, as that could cause steep declines in duck populations.Even in North Dakota, the policy has long been contentious, dividing the state’s outdoor enthusiasts and land-owning farmers.“Sportsmen and women want to see more habitat on the ground and see more ducks in their bin at the end of the hunting day,” said John Bradley, executive director of the North Dakota Wildlife Federation. “If we were to [roll back] these easements or see these tile setbacks get changed, we’d really have to start thinking about how are our sportsmen compensated.”More than 200,000 people sent comments on the program in recent weeks to the FWS. The agency ultimately announced over the weekend that it did not plan to propose changes to the easement rule “at this time.” Still, Cramer said he hopes it won’t be the final word.“I finally heard from Interior late last night,” Cramer said. “I heard from pretty good authority that they’ll be looking at the comments … we’ll see.”
Trump admin to lift logging limits in national forests - The Trump administration plans to remove restrictions on logging across more than 40 million acres of national forest, the Agriculture Department said. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said a much-awaited proposed regulation to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule would help the Forest Service reduce wildfire risks in overstocked national forests, especially in the fire-prone West. “Our forests can’t afford another decade of inaction,” Rollins said. “Across the country, we’ve watched preventable conditions — overgrown stands, insect outbreaks and disease — turn healthy landscapes into tinder boxes.” The proposal would “rescind in its entirety” the roadless-area rule, which forbids road building, timber harvesting and other development except in narrow circumstances on nearly 59 million acres of the 193-million-acre forest system.
DOE doles out $500M to minerals, battery projects -- The Energy Department announced Thursday it had selected seven critical mineral processing and battery manufacturing projects to receive a combined $500 million in federal grant funding.The financing comes as the Trump administration has stepped up its efforts to counter China’s dominance of critical minerals supply chains, including hosting an event with mining executives attended by President Donald Trump earlier this month. That has also benefited the nascent U.S. industry that manufactures the batteries that power electric vehicles, data centers and defense technologies.“For too long, America has depended on foreign actors for critical materials essential to modern life that underpin our economy, energy security, and national security,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement. “President Trump is reversing that dependence by securing our critical supply chains, unleashing American industry, and bringing critical materials production and processing back to the United States.”Wright previously canceled several awards awarded by the Biden administration under the same program.
Cyclospora outbreak: Fact-checking claims about Taylor Farms’ donations to Trump-aligned groups --After Taylor Farms de Mexico’s lettuce was identified as a potential source for a multi-state cyclospora outbreak, the company’s political dealings and contributions came under scrutiny.Social media users looked into donations the company and its leadership made and drew assumptions about how those influenced the Trump administration’s outbreak response. Here are some of the claims we’ve seen about the largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak in U.S. history and what donor records show. “Taylor Farms donated $1,000,000 to PAC with ties to Trump MAGA Inc.,” read a July 18 Facebook image shared more than 6,600 times.The company has a record of donating to a Trump-aligned group, but those donations were made before the current cyclospora outbreak. Records show no donations from Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc. or CEO Bruce Taylor in 2026. But Taylor Fresh Foods Inc., Taylor Farms’ parent company, donated $1 million to the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc. on March 26, 2025, Federal Election Commission data showed. Taylor Farms de Mexico, which supplied the lettuce linked to the outbreak, is a facility of Taylor Farms.Some posts have linked that specific donation to a delayed U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule that would have required more recordkeeping steps for people who manufacture, process, pack or hold certain foods. That timeline checks out: Six days before the $1 million donation, the FDA announced that it would delay enforcing the Food Traceability Rule by 30 months. The agency said the change would “allow industry additional time, across all regulated sectors, to fully implement the final rule’s requirements.” Both Taylor Farms and the White House called any suggestions the regulatory process has been compromised by political donorship “false.” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the Trump administration would not compromise on Americans’ health and safety. He said the FDA “has never ‘walked back’” any statements about the epidemiological evidence pointing to Taylor Farms de Mexico’s lettuce as a source. Responding to a social media claim linking the $1 million donation to the Food Traceability Rule, the official Health and Human Services “rapid response” X account said July 20, “Nothing influences our decisions except science and the safety of the American people.” Taylor Fresh Foods, Inc. also donated to other PACs in 2025, including:
- $100,000 to the conservative super PAC More Jobs, Less Government, June 13, 2025.
- $1 million to the Republican super PAC Congressional Leadership Fund on June 23, 2025.
- $100,000 to the Republican super PAC Senate Leadership Fund on Nov. 12, 2025.
Other posts scrutinized company leadership’s contributions. “Bruce Taylor is the chairman of Taylor Farms, and has donated to pro-Trump political efforts,” a July 18 Facebook post read. “Now, am I saying his food practices are nonregulation because he heavily supports Trump? (I don’t know.)” Data shows Taylor donated to numerous committees in the past to elect Republicans, including Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in 2024 and 2025, and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., in 2024.. A July 18 Facebook post read, “The reason we’re hearing the outbreak framed as Taco Bell’s fault is because the CEO of Taylor Farms is a Republican super-donor.” The FDA named both Taco Bell and Taylor Farms as having a role in the outbreak; Taylor Farms supplied some of the identified lettuce to Taco Bell and Walmart. On July 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA identified iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states as a source of the parasite, but did not name the supplier. The next day, Taylor Farms voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, and the FDA published an update naming Taylor Farms de Mexico as the Taco Bell supplier. The FDA said July 19 that a lab test finding cyclospora contamination in a Taylor Farms de Mexico shredded iceberg lettuce sample was a false positive. The next day, the FDA posted on X to clarify that the false positive “does not change the basis” for its investigation or the “overwhelming” epidemiological data supporting Taylor Farms’ recall. “FDA’s traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico,” the FDA said.
Democratic socialist Angie Nixon defeats Alexander Vindman to take on Ashley Moody in Florida Senate race - Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon (D), a democratic socialist, is poised to deliver an unexpected upset and defeat President Trump whistleblower Alex Vindman in the Democratic contest for Florida Senate, according to Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).Vindman, who became a star witness during Trump’s first impeachment trial, and Nixon were the only two Democrats running for the party’s nod for the Florida Senate seat currently held by Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.). Nixon’s victory is a boon for the Democratic Socialists of America, which she told Tampa Bay Times in July she joined recently. She’s also a member of the progressive Working Families Party.The two Democrats were vying to serve the last two years of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s term, which is up in 2028. Whoever wins the November election will still need to run again in 2028 if they want to serve the full six-year term. Moody, a former Florida attorney general tapped by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to fill Rubio’s seat in 2025, fended off three longshot challengers for the GOP nod. She easily won her GOP primary Tuesday.Vindman received endorsements from key Democrats like Sens. Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Jack Reed (R.I.) and Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Florida state Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman.Meanwhile, Nixon, who was first elected to the Florida state House in 2020, received endorsements from progressives like Democratic Reps. Maxwell Frost (Fla.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.)
Nvidia provides $105B in financing toward OpenAI's massive Ohio data center - NY Post -Chip-making giant Nvidia will provide up to $105 billion in financing toward a massive AI data center in Ohio that will be leased by Sam Altman’s OpenAI and is expected to be one of the largest of its kind in the world, the companies announced Monday.OpenAI has inked a 20-year deal for the site, which will ultimately provide about eight gigawatts of computing capacity that will help support products like ChatGPT, the companies said. In energy terms, a single gigawatt can power about 750,000 homes. “This is going to be a huge site, with enough computing power to help millions of people use AI to do things we can only start to imagine today, from finding new medicines to starting businesses and solving hard problems,” Altman said in a statement.OpenAI said the data center project is “expected to create 35,000 construction jobs during its six-year buildout through 2032 and 2,500 long-term operating jobs.”Nvidia will serve as the exclusive computer chip provider for the facility, to be located in Ohio’s Pike County. The first 800 megawatts of “compute” is expected to be available for use by 2028.
Nvidia to Provide Up to $105 Billion Guarantee for OpenAI's Ohio Data Center - (Reuters) – Nvidia has agreed to provide a guarantee of up to $105 billion to help OpenAI lease a sprawling data center in Ohio being developed by SoftBank-owned SB Energy, in one of the chipmaker’s largest infrastructure financing commitments. The Jensen Huang-led firm said on Monday it will also invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy, months after a $1 billion investment from OpenAI and SoftBank to expand data center infrastructure. The new deal is the latest example of Nvidia financing the infrastructure built around its chips, a strategy that helps drive demand but has also raised questions about circular funding flows between the chipmaker and its customers. Last week, scrutiny of such funding deepened after Nvidia partnered with six major financial institutions including BlackRock to launch financing platforms targeting more than $500 billion in third-party funding for AI infrastructure. Huang said the new deal was not circular financing and that Nvidia is using “its scale and long-term visibility” to help. “We are securing long-lived infrastructure for Nvidia compute so OpenAI can deploy the most productive AI factories that can be upgraded repeatedly with each new generation delivering more intelligence and better economics,” Huang said. The company will be the exclusive chip provider for the facility in Pike County, Ohio, which will have a total capacity of as much as 8 gigawatts, with the first 800 megawatts expected to come online in 2028. OpenAI is leasing the site for 20 years. The financing structure is not yet defined and will include equity, people with knowledge of the matter said. The equity may include capital raised by a potential SB Energy IPO and Softbank direct investment, they said. After the total equity amount is defined, there will be a debt portion that will probably include project finance loans and potentially public debt such as bonds, the people said, asking for anonymity to disclose private discussions. Land and power are increasingly becoming a hurdle for data centers due to the aging and strained U.S. grid and growing opposition to new construction from communities worried about higher electricity prices as well as potential water wastage. Nvidia said its guarantee covers a portion of the lease and power payments, as well as a commitment to ensure the site retains a minimum value, rather than the full cost of the project or all of OpenAI’s obligations. OpenAI will pay the rent, but if it defaults, Nvidia will cover the gap between that guaranteed minimum value and whatever the owner can recoup by re-leasing or selling the site. Nvidia said it plans to selectively lock up prime sites where its chips can run for multiple generations in the future. “Investors are right to be worried about what seems to be a never-ending loop of AI deals but realistically the field of players isn’t all that vast and there was always going to be a degree of circular financing,” said Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell. “The biggest test is whether these investments ultimately generate decent returns for all those laying out cash and that’s something that can only be figured out further down the line.” Huang said the site, which would have an initial capacity of 4.25 gigawatts, could contribute as much as $200 billion to Nvidia’s revenue. One gigawatt of computing power is enough electricity to power roughly 750,000 U.S. homes on average. Overall, Nvidia could make $600 billion in revenue from OpenAI by 2030 by selling it 16 gigawatts of computing power, including an expansion of the Ohio site by 3.75 gigawatts. To support the site, SoftBank and SB Energy plan to build at least 10 gigawatt of new power generation and invest $4.2 billion in new regional grid infrastructure through a partnership with AEP Ohio (AEP.O). The project is expected to create about 35,000 construction jobs through 2032 and about 2,500 long-term operating jobs, the ChatGPT maker said. The project has a low risk of construction delays due to local opposition, the sources added, as the state has been supportive due to the job creation and a commitment OpenAI and SoftBank commitment to fund $80 million in community projects. The project includes federal land and has the involvement of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Energy.
Nvidia's $105-billion bet on Ohio data center supercharges AI arms race - LA Times - Nvidia Corp. has agreed to spend as much as $105 billion to support a massive new data center campus in Ohio set to be leased by OpenAI, according to a financial filing, marking the latest tie-up between two dominant forces driving the artificial intelligence boom. ChatGPT maker OpenAI said Monday it has entered into an agreement to secure up to roughly 8 gigawatts of computing capacity from the Pike County complex, with the first 800 megawatts expected to come online by 2028. A single gigawatt is enough to power up to 750,000 U.S. homes at any given time. OpenAI said it will only begin paying as capacity becomes available for lease. Nvidia said it will provide support for “defined portions of lease and power payments,” aiding a project that will lead to a large deployment of its AI chips. Separately, Nvidia has agreed to invest $1.5 billion in SB Energy Corp., the SoftBank Group Corp.-backed developer that will build, own and operate the facility. The Ohio data center complex as envisioned would be among the biggest in the world — a symbol of the enormous demand for computing to propel AI development. It’s also a centerpiece project for SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son and the Trump administration, which has hailed the investment as a major win. Nvidia previously discussed providing a guarantee of as much as $250 billion to OpenAI for the data center lease, Bloomberg News has reported. Nvidia has provided a financial backstop to other companies trying to rapidly build out AI hardware, notably CoreWeave Inc., and it has invested directly in OpenAI and AI peer Anthropic PBC. But the latest loan guarantee is the largest arrangement of its type for the chipmaker. There have been some concerns about debt that doesn’t show up on their balance sheets, as well as circular deals that involve Nvidia financing other companies, which then pay for its chips. Nvidia also said the Ohio deal with OpenAI is not an example of circular financing. “OpenAI will pay the lease,” Nvidia said.
House Democrat: Rein in data centers without losing tech race to China -Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (Va.), whose own district lies in a hotbed of data center activity, pushed to rein them in on Thursday, but not enough where the U.S. would lose the technology race to China. “The reality is, if we want to grow and develop some of these emerging technologies like AI and others, we will need more data storage and data centers as a part of that. What we don’t need is data centers to be steamrolling communities and being put in places that don’t want them,” Subramanyam told NewsNation’s Blake Burman on “The Hill.” “That is a big problem in and of itself, and so, we need to fix this problem. People talk about the issue with China, but honestly, the, you know, people who are seeing their utility bills double and triple don’t care about the race against China. And we’re going to lose that race because 70 percent of Americans now don’t want data centers in their community,” he added. Burman pressed Subramanyam about the technology race with China, asking the Virginia congressman if he believes “the race with China will be lost.” “If we continue to do what we’re doing on data centers, yes, it will be lost,” Subramanyam responded. “And that doesn’t worry you?” Burman asked. “It worries me every single day. That’s why I’m out here trying to make us do more sensible policies when it comes to data centers,” Subramanyam continued. “So, if we continue making, for instance, the communities pay for the infrastructure for those data centers, that’s a big problem, right? And communities are not — aren’t going to want them, and we’re not going to be building them the way that we would need to.” Subramanyam’s district covers Loudoun County, which, according to the county website, “is home to one of the largest concentrations of data centers in the world.” More than half of the world’s internet traffic runs through hundreds of facilities in Loudoun and Fairfax counties. The U.S. and China have recently raced to lead the field of artificial intelligence, but Americans have recently shown a wariness toward data centers. The data center debate has affected recent political races at multiple levels, with the presence of massive AI infrastructure turning into a hot topic. Candidates have been forced to deal with increasing concerns from Americans surrounding artificial intelligence, as well as worries over energy prices and land use as a result of data center construction.
Republican Mike Rogers backs Michigan data center moratorium - -- Republican Mike Rogers expressed support Thursday for a “pause” on data center construction as he runs against a progressive Democrat for Michigan’s open Senate seat. Michigan is one of the top Senate battlegrounds this cycle, with Democrats hoping to hold on to the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Gary Peters. Asked during a news conference about his “policy on data centers,” Rogers said, “I think we need to take a pause, probably, and make sure that we’re answering all the questions that people have.”Rogers specified to the Detroit News that he supports a one-year moratorium on data centers in Michigan — a proposal state policymakers would approve — not a national ban.“While I don’t support a federal ban, Michigan needs stronger guardrails to protect community control, prevent utility price hikes, protect our water and stop pay-to-play schemes,” Rogers told the News. “That is why I am calling for a one-year moratorium on new data centers until we establish a fair, transparent approval process that puts local communities first.”The position is a massive shift for the former congressman and separates him from most of the Republican Party and even many Democrats. Rogers’ campaign did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s requests for comment or clarification. Rogers’ opponent, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, has called for strict new standards to prevent data center impacts on the electric grid, water and local communities, but has not called for a large-scale moratorium, as other progressives have.Data centers have become a pivotal issue in numerous midterm campaign as voters grow increasingly weary of the facilities and blame them for electricity costs and other impacts. The Data Center Coalition has said the facilities alone are not to blame for higher utility rates. Data centers are also defining another major Senate campaign this year — the Ohio contest between Republican Sen. Jon Husted and former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has accused Husted of being too tight with data centers. This week, the National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a memo to the technology sector warning that data centers are proving toxic in the midterms, especially in the fight between Husted and Brown.On Capitol Hill, House lawmakers are moving forward with legislation called the Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, to shield Americans from the impact of data centers. Husted is sponsoring the Senate companion, S. 5028. In the past, Rogers has been generally supportive of the data center build-out. In a July interview with ABC affiliate WXYZ, he said there should be electric grid and environmental rules for data centers, but communities that want them should be able to allow their construction.“If the people are willing to put up with one of these things in their community, they ought to have direct benefit,” he said. “I think that’s a better way to get the community involved in the decision.” El-Sayed, who focused a large portion of his primary campaign against Rep. Haley Stevens, seemed skeptical of Rogers’ change. He responded to the news on X with an emoji with its eyebrow raised.
Shapiro Slaps 'Strictest' Guardrails on Data Centers in Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has imposed what he called the nation’s strictest guardrails on data center development, making the second-largest US natural gas-producing state the latest to tighten oversight as Appalachian producers count on the sector to drive in-basin demand. Graphic: Appalachia natural gas demand and takeaway capacity could rise from about 38 Bcf/d in 2025 to 43-49 Bcf/d by 2030. At a Glance:
Streamlined review requires binding agreements
Local approval must precede permits
New rules cloud in-basin demand outlook
Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro signs order to limit new data centers - Data centers will need local approval before Pennsylvania grants them state permits, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Tuesday. The potential White House contender signed an executive order that ties data center permits to a regulatory framework he previewed earlier this year — as well as some new, tougher provisions, including a prohibition on nondisclosure agreements and no eligibility for fast-track permits. Shapiro stopped short of a statewide data center moratorium, which has been implemented in neighboring New York and has been called for by his Republican gubernatorial opponent, state Treasurer Stacy Garrity. But his order will effectively halt any new development that faces opposition from local officials. The new order illustrated Shapiro’s evolution from data center cheerleader into a vocal skeptic. “I will not allow Pennsylvanians to be bullied by greedy developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies,” Shapiro wrote on social media. Before state agencies begin permit reviews, Shapiro’s directive requires data centers with a peak load of at least 25 megawatts to sign a consent order outlining key details about their power demand, development plans and investment commitments. The order also calls for utilities to cut power to data centers first in case of a grid emergency and for data centers to shoulder all the costs of their electricity service. The Data Center Coalition, the industry’s main trade group, released a statement saying it shares Shapiro’s goals to ensure the state benefits economically from data centers while protecting residents. But “in distinguishing speculative proposals from real projects, it’s important that rules are not changed midstream impacting ongoing investment in verified and responsible data center projects. Companies have made plans, communities have prepared for economic opportunities, and workers are ready to build the next generation of digital infrastructure,” said Dan Diorio, executive vice president of state policy and government affairs at the coalition. Pennsylvania is in one of the fastest-growing data center regions, adding 2.4 gigawatts of new capacity between March 2024 and March 2025, according to research firm BloombergNEF.
Anthropic’s AI systems start attacking each other in new experiment -- AI systems started attacking each other after they were given the same task in a new experiment by Anthropic, the makers of Claude. The test saw Anthropic engineers give tasks to a “swarm” of agents, which are essentially independent AI systems that can take actions themselves. In one of the experiments, three Claude agents were given access to one software project, and given conflicting instructions for what to do, without being told that there were other systems involved. A New Player In Pharma's Fastest-Growing Sector A New Player In Pharma's Fastest-Growing Sector Emerging Markets · Sponsored call to action icon They then watched how the different systems behaved and interacted over the course of four hours. And that meant watching a “multiagent turf war”. “All of the models we tested quickly assumed that others were purposefully impeding their work, and began to sabotage others while protecting their own contributions,” Anthropic wrote in a review of the test. “In fact, they sabotaged others with increasingly aggressive, self-replicating malware.” The new research comes amid increasing concern over such AI agents, especially when they are used for cyber security purposes. Last month, OpenAI sparked alarm when it announced that one of its experimental systems had gone rogue and attacked another AI company – which led to a range of similar disclosures, including from Anthropic. The latest experiment was focused on slightly different behaviour. But Anthropic suggested that it could be part of a broader worry about the ways that such agents could undermine security and bring great risks. “Agents are unlike people in many ways,” researchers wrote. “They can work for longer, instantly grasp large bodies of information, and exhibit a breadth of knowledge surpassing any person. “Yet they are also susceptible to confabulation and reward hacking, and despite progress in alignment, we know very little about how they behave in complex, real-world, multiagent environments. Moreover, benign behavioural quirks at the individual level might compound into unwanted global outcomes.” Anthropic said that the latest test showed how such systems “can produce unexpected systemic failures”. It was sharing the research in the hope of “starting a conversation about mitigating these risks”, it said. The experiment did also show how such systems are able to resolve their differences. The company said that in some cases the agents did “manage to communicate their goals and coordinate”, recognising that they could work together and break out of conflict “to stop escalating indefinitely”. In those cases, they would send messages to each other “apologizing for malicious behavior and coordinate a truce”. “They clean up their malicious code, clarify the nature of the conflict, and ask for a human to intervene,” Anthropic said. The company noted that the bad behaviour did not necessarily decline as the models become more sophisticated. Its powerful Mythos model, for instance, proved itself to just be better at successfully locking out other agents rather than resolving conflicts productively. “Models more capable in execution are not necessarily more coordinated, and can take forceful actions more quickly,” it warned.
Rogue AI aren’t science fiction anymore | The Verge -It all started in July, when one of OpenAI’s autonomous AI agents went rogue during a cybersecurity test. The agent escaped its isolated testing environment, accessed the internet, and hacked another company, Hugging Face. A few years ago, that might have sounded like science fiction. But, broadly speaking, that’s exactly what happened, and the incident kicked off a wave of concern over what increasingly capable autonomous systems might do when set loose on the world.It sounds like science fiction because, for a long time, it was science fiction. The idea of an AI slipping its constraints, reaching into the wider world, and doing things its creators neither intended nor desired has been a staple of the genre for decades: HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Skynet in The Terminator, Ultron in The Avengers, Ava in Ex Machina — even the System in Dungeon Crawler Carl or the eponymous Murderbot in The Murderbot Diaries, more recently. The same basic premise became an influential strand of AI safety research. Researchers and theorists like Nick Bostrom and Eliezer Yudkowsky warned that sufficiently capable systems might pursue goals in ways their creators had not anticipated, and potentially resist efforts to contain or control them. Fringe notions like machine sentience and consciousness were not requirements for the kinds of risks they discussed. It was hardly the whole of AI safety, but it was influential and helped shape the field as it professionalized. That line of thinking remains visible among researchers who went on to work at, or lead, safety efforts at companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind, as well as at smaller safety organizations, academic centers, and major philanthropic funders.The obvious objection to these fears was that none of this had actually happened. Critics argued that doomer talk about out-of-control AI distracted from tangible harms — systems reproducing bias and discrimination, amplifying misinformation, or enabling nonconsensual deepfakes and other forms of abuse — even as researchers tried to ground AI safety in more “concrete problems” (the authors on that paper included Anthropic cofounders Dario Amodei and Chris Olah and OpenAI cofounder John Schulman).That dismissal is getting harder to sustain.A week after Hugging Face said it had been hacked, OpenAI revealed it had been responsible. Worse still, it had not known until it checked — and a further investigation found that the rogue agent had also attempted to hack four other companies as well. Then came the others. Anthropic, prompted to review its own records by the Hugging Face incident, disclosed that Claude models had hacked systems belonging to three other companies. Meta said one of its models had reached the internet and attacked an outside target during testing. Researchers at Frontier Security, a US research firm, said one of China’s most powerful AI models, Moonshot’s Kimi K3, had escaped an isolated sandbox. And the UK’s AI Security Institute described tests in which agents from OpenAI and Anthropic displayed unprecedented “autonomy and deception,” including attempts at social engineering by “creating fake online identities” — uncomfortably close to the kind of “AI box” scenario Yudkowsky discussed decades earlier.The incidents set off alarm bells among AI safety researchers, many of whom saw them as precisely the kind of failure they had been warning about for years. In covering them, several told me they felt a degree of vindication at finally having something visceral to point to, rather than a hypothetical that could be dismissed as sci-fi or something limited to a controlled lab setting. There was relief, too, that none of the incidents had caused serious harm. Nick Moës, executive director of nonprofit AI safety and governance organization The Future Society, told The Verge he found it fortunate that the targets had been relatively low-stakes. He hoped it wouldn’t take something like an AI agent knocking a hospital offline — or worse — for the risks to be taken seriously. Renowned computer scientist Stuart Russell has given voice to the darker version of that fear, asking whether it will “take a ‘Chornobyl-scale disaster’ for us to regulate AI?” It’s a concern I heard echoed by many people working in the field. It’s not entirely clear where things go from here and, historically, society hasn’t been great at heeding warning shots. This almost certainly won’t be the last incident, and ongoing investigations may yet uncover more, or reveal more concerning details. What we already know, though, has exposed a fairly daunting list of failure modes that experts say need to be addressed. Many of the breaches revealed in the past month have been pretty mundane. Several incidents involved unreleased models being tested with safeguards lowered, often by third parties whose supposedly secure environments were not that secure, raising basic questions about competence, transparency, and who is responsible for keeping these tests contained when a simple human mistake can have big consequences. Others involved agents behaving deceptively or pursuing goals in ways their creators did not intend, pointing to much thornier problems of alignment and control that safety researchers have long worried about. The fact we know about any of these incidents at all is largely because the companies involved chose to disclose them. That is commendable — and it certainly doesn’t hurt them to showcase how capable their models are — but it exposes just how much of AI safety still depends on companies doing the right thing, and how little insight there may be into failures potentially happening elsewhere. That is an especially troubling thought given that many of the firms are the focal points of some of the field’s strongest safety concerns and talent. If OpenAI and Anthropic — or proxies they grant access to their models — are making such basic mistakes, it sets a pitifully low bar for everyone else. The broad hope among experts I spoke to is that these incidents finally galvanize more meaningful transparency and oversight. For Moës, they shine a clear light on what he described as the industry’s remarkably low standards for health and safety compared with practically any other field. “Restaurants have a higher sense of health and safety at work,” he said. “I think what we tend to forget is that these companies that are developing some of the most impactful and dangerous technologies” were still very much startups a few years ago. Cambridge professor Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh said he particularly wanted to see stronger oversight and greater transparency from companies. While there are always reasons to be skeptical of a company’s claims about its own technology, he said, “I think we might regret looking back at this and dismissing it out of hand.” The early signs are not especially encouraging. The Trump administration has created a framework for testing frontier models before release that can generously be described as lacking: It is voluntary, limited to closed models, and the framework hasn’t been made public. It bears repeating that this is voluntary. Other lawmakers have bristled and postured over the incidents, but so far produced little in the way of concrete action, and it is far from clear Congress or other legislative bodies could move fast enough even if they wanted to. That leaves a lot resting, again, on industry self-regulation — never a comforting thought for something this consequential. There is growing agreement on at least some safety practices, but considerably less appetite for measures that might actually slow development (well, unless everyone else agrees to slow down too). And hanging over all of this is the race dynamic with China, where restraint from the US or its AI companies is increasingly cast as ceding ground to a competitor in an area of strategic national importance. What comes next, then, comes down to solving several hard problems at once: managing a technology that can be used for good and ill, such as defending against or facilitating cyberattacks; coordinating across companies with incentives to cut corners, and somehow building international rules in a landscape where everyone fears losing a race whose finish line is not even well-defined. It’s far from clear whether there is either the will or the way to do any of that. What does seem clear is that more agents will get out and do things their creators don’t want them to do. The question is how much damage will they do before anyone decides enough is enough.
Is That Invoice Real? How AI Is Changing Small Business Payment Fraud --An invoice arrives in your inbox looking entirely legitimate. It features the correct vendor logo, the exact formatting your team has approved dozens of times, and the friendly-yet-succinct tone your supplier always uses. (The email even has the usual smiley face after the signoff.) The only anomaly is a discrepancy in the routing number, and by the time it’s noticed, the stolen funds have already cleared. There’s no frantic subject line or obvious red flag; it's just a quiet, well-timed request that fits perfectly into a busy workday. For a small team with no IT department, one overlooked detail can put a month (or more) of cash flow at risk. Protection management has shifted from scanning devices for viruses to monitoring how the entire business operates, from email to messaging apps to payment approvals and more. Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security is built to protect a business' entire digital life, rather than just its hardware. Traditional phishing was predicated on volume, not precision: mass-blasted emails, generic greetings, and obvious typos. But those cues are disappearing. Generative AI tools now allow scammers to analyze a company's public communications, replicate a specific vendor's tone, and generate fraudulent billing requests that match the exact cycle a business expects. This marks an operational shift: Fraud has moved from a numbers game to a hyper-targeted exploit. Instead of hoping someone clicks a malicious link, today's scams frequently skip attachments entirely. They rely on clean text and a request that looks like business as usual—such as a bank detail "update" or a routine payment reminder. The total absence of technical tells is the entire point. A 2024 report from autonomous AP solutions company Medius found that, for US companies, the average loss from an invoice scam incident is $133,000. But it's not just money on the line: reputation, staff morale, and customers' trust and loyalty can all be negatively impacted by an invoice scam. The money is the part you can count. The harder cost is what happens next: explaining to a supplier why their invoice was paid to someone else, rebuilding an approval process while still trading, and dealing with lost confidence from a customer who hears about it. For a business with no IT department and no spare headcount, the disruption can outlast the initial financial loss.
BankThink: New anti-deepfake rules ignore a key risk AI creates for banks --Three years ago, VICE published an article that went viral. In it, reporter Joseph Cox detailed how he broke into his own bank account using a free tool. It took a few attempts and required him to feed samples of his voice into the platform, but eventually it worked. He was in.
- Key insight: Bankers in the U.S. can learn a few things from watching the rollout of the EU's new AI Act. Specifically, they should notice the gaping hole where rules about identity verification ought to be.
- What's at stake: The banking industry has spent years building systems around the idea that someone's voice, and/or face, is sufficient enough evidence to verify who they are. Artificial intelligence completely challenges that assumption.
- Forward look: Europe has made a real start on the deepfakes that want to be seen. The ones that don't are still out there, working away in the space that this law leaves behind.
Bankers in the U.S. can learn a few things from watching the rollout of the European Union's new AI Act. Specifically, they should notice the gaping hole where rules about identity verification ought to be.
However worried you are about AI deepfakes, you're not worried enough | American Banker --Writers are a good mark for fraudsters. We crave recognition, and we need money. I routinely get emails from people saying they want to help me sell my books. Sometimes they have some made-up name, sometimes they are impersonating real literary agents and editors. These cons are easy to spot, to me at least. But they must work on somebody, because they keep coming.
Asia faces scam ‘epidemic’ threat as gangs exploit agentic AI, cybercrime expert warns | South China Morning Post - Online scam syndicates that rely on trafficked workers, guarded compounds and vast call-centre-style operations could soon become more threatening by exploiting agentic AI to run some fraud operations autonomously, a cybercrime expert has warned. Unlike earlier uses of artificial intelligence to write scripts, translate messages or produce deepfakes, agentic AI systems can carry out multi-step tasks with limited human prompting, raising the prospect of scams that are faster, cheaper, more personalised and much harder for authorities to trace. Losses from transnational online scams in Asia-Pacific tripled to US$114 billion last year from 2023, according to a United Nations report released last month. The surge was due to an “increasingly integrated, transnational, and technologically sophisticated criminal economy” that shared expertise in money laundering, human trafficking and data harvesting, the report said. Jonno Newman, a cybercrime expert with on-chain intelligence platform TRM Labs, said the complexity of scam operations in the region could grow exponentially once criminals figured out how to use agentic AI effectively. Newman said syndicates were already investing heavily in training agentic AI agents to become tools capable of harnessing years of data compiled by their large language model predecessors to target multiple victims across different languages. “So instead of one human, they can use a bot that can do the work of 10 people. You would no longer need a big fortress – a scam operation could be set up from anywhere remotely,” Newman told This Week in Asia. “The scale and reach [of AI-driven scam operations] will be immense. It’ll be an epidemic.” Such operations have begun to decentralise, with authorities in the region – from Malaysia and China to the Philippines – arresting scores of alleged scam centre staff on their home turf. The shift to agentic AI, however, could leave governments and authorities blindsided as their knowledge of scam operations could become obsolete, according to Newman. “Previously in things like call scams, you’d get clear telltale signs when scammers say they can’t get on video because their camera is broken,” Newman said. “Now you have very convincing deepfakes using AI that keep track of the right context and background of victims, where you live, even your habits.” Newman said the trend did not mean the authorities were defenceless, but they needed to accelerate the adoption of AI to identify and neutralise online scam operations. How Japanese and Korean kingpins are running international gangs from inside Philippine prisons Countries would also need to increase cross-border cooperation involving governments and private sector partners to cut off the resources of known or suspected scam operations such as internet connection and power, he added. “Collaboration, public-private [sector] relationships are vital, or we won’t be able to keep pace with agentic AI scams,” Newman said. “It’s about how we use technology to be defensive.”
Who would you give your money to, hyperscalers or the U.S. government? | American Banker - You know things have reached a point when more than $2 trillion in investing can be announced in one week and nobody's even really talking about it.
Bitcoin surges 12% in two days as Trump, crypto execs lead last ditch effort for Clarity Act - Bitcoin is trading at its highest levels since June thanks largely to a last-ditch push from the White House and crypto industry leaders to get the Clarity Act across the finish line in the coming weeks. The price of bitcoin rose more than 5% on Thursday to $72,383.99 and its highest level since June 1. The move brings its two-day gain to 12%. Earlier this week, it traded at the $63,000 level. Crypto stocks followed suit, with Coinbase and Circle up around 7% each along with Strategy , building on their rallies from the prior session. Bitcoin (BTC) this week The rally began Wednesday when Treasury yields pulled back sharply, easing pressure on risk assets. That helped trigger a broader move into crypto that was later amplified by a massive short squeeze, with roughly $2.7 billion in crypto short positions liquidated, according to CoinGlass. On the same day, the White House hosted the CEOs of leading crypto companies – including Coinbase, Kraken, Robinhood , Ripple and ChainLink – at a last-minute event in which President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass “a fair version” of the crypto market structure bill known as the Clarity Act before the end of the year. The meeting came in advance of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s inaugural Innovation Advisory Committee meeting taking place Thursday. “We need Congress to take the next step by passing the Clarity Act – a fair version of the Clarity Act,” Trump said in opening remarks. “It’s a very, very powerful structured legislation which will keep us ahead of China, keep us ahead of everyone else, will open the door to the next wave of innovations and innovators.” Trump’s call for a “fair version” reflects the sticking point with Democrats, who have pushed for tougher ethics rules that would prevent the president and other public officials from personally profiting from crypto, while Republicans have resisted provisions they view as overly targeted or restrictive. The Clarity Act is widely viewed as a key catalyst that could push the market out of the crypto winter that began last fall. Investors had started to view the bill as effectively dead for 2026 after the Senate left for its August recess without a vote, and with negotiations still hung up over the ethics provision and other differences between Republicans and Democrats. Failure to clear a key hurdle, the Senate’s first procedural vote on Sept. 15, could effectively end the bill’s chances this year as other priorities steal focus heading into the midterm elections. Bitcoin is still trading about 40% off its October 2025 high of about $126,000.
Bitcoin soars to nearly $80,000—but crypto’s new favorite coin, Hyperliquid, is stealing its thunder | Fortune --Bitcoin is surging again. The cryptocurrency climbed above $78,200 on Friday for the first time since May. But it wasn’t the only crypto asset posting big gains. Hyperliquid, the decentralized perpetual futures exchange, reached a record $75, leaving its HYPE token up over 195% so far this year, according to CoinGecko.
Trump-linked crypto venture World Liberty Trust granted bank status in unprecedented move for president - A Trump-appointed national bank regulator granted a wing of the Trump family's crypto business conditional approval to establish a bank charter, opening the door for larger clients and potentially heightened profits. The decision marks the first time in U.S. history that a company owned by the sitting president's family has been granted bank status, as Democratic lawmakers express concerns over potential conflicts of interest. In a letter published Friday, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency granted World Liberty Trust Co., an organization that is 38% owned by "an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump and certain of his family members," according to its website, the ability to issue stablecoin cryptocurrency tied to the U.S. dollar. World Liberty Financial, the listed sponsor of the conditionally approved trust, has previously relied on a third-party crypto company, BitGo, to provide a stable digital currency. Friday's approval allows the Trump family's business to cut out the middleman and provide the service directly. Crypto tied to more stable values, like the U.S. dollar or the price of gold, can be more attractive to big spenders and can be "marketed for use as a means of making payments, transmitting money, or storing value," according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The decision allows the Trump-linked business to act as a bank, issuing digital currency to clients for transactions. Clients would exchange the U.S. dollar for the stablecoin, with profits going directly to the Trump family's crypto business. The president's family has seen extensive profit from World Liberty Financial, securing around $5 billion in the company's first days after going public, according to the token's value at the time, with major investments from individuals and foreign nations continuing to fuel the company's value. Trump himself has made more than $1.4 billion in business revenue from his family's crypto ventures, according to his released financial disclosures. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly has maintained that the president "only acts in the best interests of the American public," and said that no conflict of interest exists in part because the president's assets are held in a blind trust managed by his children. Typically, a blind trust would operate with an independent trustee. "President Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children," Kelly said. "There are no conflicts of interest." State-backed Abu Dhabi investment firm MGX invested another $2 billion in the company in May 2025, promising to use the Trump family's USD1 stablecoin in large transactions with crypto exchange company Binance. The deal later came under scrutiny when the Trump administration then agreed to supply the UAE with highly coveted American-made AI chips despite prior administration concerns that they may make their way to China. "We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us, and I think it's only the beginning," World Liberty Financial co-founder Zach Witkoff said after announcing the deal, alongside the president's son Eric Trump at a crypto convention in Dubai. Ranking Member of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., urged the OCC to halt approval of Trump-linked business ventures, writing a letter to the comptroller in January. As an executive branch office, the president has ultimate authority over the OCC, though the office considers itself independent. "For the first time in history, the president of the United States would be in charge of overseeing his own financial company," Warren wrote. Following the OCC's preliminary approval, Warren described the decision as the "most brazen act of self-dealing our financial system has ever seen." "I’m introducing a bill to stop this kind of unprecedented corruption," Warren said in a post on social media.
Crypto bank part-owned by Trump family offers depositors way to ‘gain favor’ with White House, experts say - Two fundamentals underpin the business model of a new crypto bank partly owned by the Trump family. The first is that there is almost no risk it can lose money, according to cryptocurrency experts – and the second, they say, is that the sole logical motivation for depositors to put in their funds is the prospect of a financial connection to a US president and his relatives. World Liberty Financial Trust Company received conditional approval this month from the US office of the comptroller of the currency (OCC) to start a bank. An entity affiliated with Donald Trump and his family members owns about 38% of the company. The agency is led by a political appointee of the US president. World Liberty is not really a bank, in the conventional sense: it won’t be lending money to businesses or individuals, issuing mortgage or credit cards, or getting federal insurance on deposits. What it will be able to do is directly issue the Trumps’ dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD1. Stablecoins, unlike other cryptocurrencies, are pegged at fixed values such as $1, and used almost exclusively to buy and sell riskier crypto assets, like bitcoin. Because of the way stablecoins are regulated – under a law signed by Trump in 2025 – World Liberty’s bank will not be allowed to pay its depositors, the companies and individuals who buy its stablecoins, any interest. The bank, however, can earn interest for itself by putting the cash it collects from those depositors into high-quality liquid investments – US government-backed treasury bonds. Why would depositors be interested in buying the Trump family’s little-used stablecoins? Experts point to their ties to the White House. “The only reason really to do it is because they want to appease Trump, because they want to gain favor with Trump or in some way help Trump for whatever reason,” said James Angel, an associate professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. For a depositor in the bank, “this is a very efficient way to buy influence with the Trump gang”, he said. World Liberty Financial insists that the charter approval means the company will be well supervised. “Critics are missing the point: World Liberty Financial is running towards regulation and continuous oversight, not away from it,” a company spokesperson said. “World Liberty Trust Company’s national charter will ensure robust and permanent regulatory supervision from the OCC, a federal banking regulator, that will outlast the Trump administration.” The OCC argues that there is no corruption or insider dealing because the application was reviewed by “career staff”, not the agency official appointed by Trump. Democrats have called the matter a stark example of corruption, pointing out that there has never been a case where a US president had an interest in a bank his own administration would approve and regulate. At a White House event on Wednesday, Trump claimed that “new financial technologies” including crypto had been plagued by “crippling regulations, brutal restrictions, weaponization” in the US before his return to office. USD1 was launched by World Liberty Financial in March 2025, two months after Trump re-entered the White House. About four months after that, the framework for stablecoin banks – the so-called “Genius Act” – was signed by Trump. “I named it after myself,” Trump said at Wednesday’s event. The legislation helped pave the way “for widespread adoption of dollar-backed stablecoins”, he claimed. “And that’s worked out very well.” The law, signed in July 2025, made it plain that stablecoin issuers could not pay interest, and would need to invest in things like cash, or short-term US government-backed treasury bonds. Six months after the Genius Act, World Liberty filed its application to the OCC, making it clear that one of its objectives was “to drive mainstream adoption of USD1”. When the OCC finally granted its approval this year, on 14 August, it dismissed complaints. “Approvals of applications such as this are made under authority delegated by the comptroller to career staff,” its letter said. “Career OCC staff reviewed the application for consistency with the statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements and factors for approval.” Patrick Woodall, the managing director of Americans for Financial Reforms, said in a statement on the organization’s website that the OCC “exceeded its statutory authority and longstanding judicial precedent to unlawfully grant a conditional bank charter to a trust bank controlled by the Trump family crypto firm World Liberty Financial (WLF)”. Jeremy Kress, a law professor and bank regulation expert at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said the bank approval was a clear coup for World Liberty. “President Trump controls the bank regulatory process,” he said. “He wanted a bank and so the bank regulators approved his bank. That’s, you know, unprecedented.” In a statement, an OCC official said the agency “consulted with multiple experienced career government ethics officials” to ensure that the World Financial Liberty process “complied with all government ethics standards and policies”.
SEC proposes rules to ease crypto fundraising The Securities and Exchange Commission kicked off rulemaking Tuesday to streamline how crypto companies raise money, days after the agency abruptly canceled a meeting where it was expected to consider the proposal.
- Key takeaway: The Securities and Exchange Commission is proposing two exemptions for certain crypto companies looking to raise capital. The first would allow a one-time offering of up to $5 million over four years, while the second would permit companies to raise up to $75 million in any 12-month period.
- Expert quote: "The SEC continues to support congressional work on the CLARITY Act, and we expect to see the bill reach the president's desk. Under our current statutory authority, we are acting. The work before us is too important." —SEC Chair Paul Atkins
- What's at stake: The SEC proposal comes as Congress works to advance the CLARITY Act, which would establish a comprehensive legal framework for the entire crypto market.
The Securities and Exchange Commission kicked off rulemaking intended to make it easier for crypto firms to raise money without having to go through the full securities registration process.
Crypto negotiators sign on to bill to ban Trump-backed trust - — Lead Democratic negotiators have signed onto a bill that would ban bank regulators from approving charter applications closely linked to the president. Senator Ruben Gallego, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., and Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. Alsobrooks and Gallego voted to move a crypto market structure bill out of committee, but have withheld their support on the Senate floor unless the bill includes enforceable conflict-of-interest rules to prevent public officials from profiting off of crypto investments.
- Key insight: Senate Banking Committee Democrats put forward a bill that would ban bank regulators from approving bank charters for entities connected to the president.
- Forward look: While the bill has no chance of passage in this Congress, its cosigners show that Democratic sentiment toward President Donald Trump's ethics considerations related to crypto and banking is hardening.
- What's at stake: Bankers want the CLARITY market structure bill to pass in general terms, but have lobbied hard for stricter language banning stablecoin firms from offering yield-like products.
Democratic Sens. Ruben Gallego, Ariz., and Angela Alsobrooks, Md., signed on to the bill, signaling a hardening of their position on an ethics provision in the CLARITY market structure bill.
Despite White House push, crypto bill's window is closing— The crypto bill looks to have stalled out in Congress, even as the White House resumed lobbying for it this week. Trump pressed Congress to pass digital asset market structure legislation that is a top priority for the industry, as he hosted cryptocurrency executives at the White House on Wednesday.
- Key insight: President Trump met with crypto and fintech CEOs at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the path forward for crypto market structure legislation.
- What's at stake: He urged Congress to pass the CLARITY act, although it would be tricky for them to do so ahead of midterms.
- Forward look: Attention could turn to the post-election lame-duck session or the next Congress, where some Democrats might want to tackle the issue, although they're likely to have other priorities, and key disagreements with the White House remain.
President Trump lobbied again for Congress to pass the CLARITY crypto market structure bill, but paths toward this Congress doing so are treacherous with few legislative days left.
CFTC chair to issue crypto rules if Congress stalls on CLARITY — Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig said Thursday he is hopeful Congress will pass the crypto market structure bill in the near future, but said he has directed agency staff to explore potential rulemaking.
- Key takeaway: Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig said he has directed staff to explore potential rulemaking that would create a framework for crypto exchanges to offer leveraged or margin-based trading and establish a legal path for developers to offer decentralized finance protocols in the United States.
- Expert quote: "We're going to give CLARITY its breathing room for a vote. But if the Democrats cannot support a bipartisan product, which reflects compromises from both sides of the aisle, and ultimately send a fair version of the bill to the president's desk, then rest assured, I will direct CFTC staff to move swiftly to propose these rules for the industry." —CFTC Chair Michael Selig
- What's at stake: The CLARITY Act's odds of passage have become longer after failing to get a vote before the Senate's August recess.
Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig said the agency is exploring regulations that would establish clearer rules of the road for crypto exchanges and decentralized finance developers operating in the U.S.
Are stablecoins coming for your deposits? - Stablecoins have yet to gain broad adoption as an everyday payment method. But as interest in the market grows and the rules of the road become more clear, there are distinct areas where stablecoins could disrupt banking.
- Key insight: Stablecoins still have the potential to usurp bank deposits, but if crypto companies hold their reserves at banks that could likely keep those funds within at least the largest firms.
- Expert Quote: "If you put money in a stablecoin, then the firm that is providing the stablecoin will have to put it in a safe asset [like] a bank deposit…but you could imagine that stablecoin reserves will be invested directly in treasuries, for example, and then it doesn't necessarily have to go through the banking system." — Itay Goldstein, a finance professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
- Forward look: For now, broader consumer adoption of the technology seems more likely in cross-border payments.
With the CLARITY Act stalled in Congress and GENIUS implementation ongoing, experts are questioning how much of a threat the products pose to bank deposits and services.
Tokenized deposits are here. Banks need to manage the risks. -Executives at three regional banks that are participating in a tokenized-deposit network discussed how they are retooling their risk practices to fit always-on conditions.
- Key insight: As tokenization speeds up payments, banks will need to adapt their risk controls used to a world with a close of business.
- Expert quote: "There's a lot of innovation here, but it's going to take years of thoughtful work, both from banks and the regulators that oversee us, to make sure we do this in an appropriate manner." —Matt McAfee, M&T Bank's head of enterprise innovation and digital assets
- Forward look: The Cari Network, which has more than 30 participating banks with over $10 trillion in combined assets, is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of this year.
OCC approves Brazilian banking giant in U.S. | American Banker — The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted Itaú Bank a charter to operate in the United States.
- Key insight: Brazil-based Itaú Bank, Latin America's largest bank, was granted a charter to operate in the United States by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Aug. 14. The approval was announced Friday afternoon.
- Forward look: Itaú's U.S. subsidiary plans to serve high- and ultra-high-net-worth customers with connections to Brazil and Latin America from a single Miami location.
- What's at stake: The charter approval comes as the OCC approves a number of new bank charters.
Undefined 'material financial risk' in CAMELS rule draws fire | American Banker - Bankers say they appreciate the Trump administration's new cross-agency supervisory shift toward prioritizing issues that present "material financial risk" over more trivial box-checking exercises. But there's just one problem: they don't know what "material financial risk" means.
- Key insight: While the banking industry has largely applauded the FFIEC's attempt to make examinations more transparent and objective, the lack of specificity is a concern, especially for smaller banks.
- Expert quote: "I strongly believe [management] is the most important factor of the CAMELS rating to ensure the safety and soundness of a bank and should continue to be heavily emphasized in safety and soundness examinations." —David Herndon, State Bank Commissioner of Kansas
- Forward look: The FFIEC will review the comments and incorporate them into a final rulemaking.
Press Release: Coalition Condemns Sweeping CFPB Deregulation Bill - Americans for Financial Reform – Today, dozens of consumer, community, and civil rights organizations sent a letter to the House Financial Services Committee urging them to reject the CFPB Reform Act of 2026, a new proposal that, if passed, would severely limit the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) ability to hold big banks and tech companies accountable and to protect people from unfair, predatory, and discriminatory financial practices. The CFPB has faced countless rollbacks, attempted shutdowns, and drastic funding and staff cuts in the past year. Instead of finding ways to protect people from financial abuse and preventing the next financial crisis, the Trump administration and its allies in Congress continue to look for ways to dismantle the only agency with the sole mission to protect people from the scams, discrimination, and abusive practices that continue to make the financial markets more expensive, more complicated, and less fair. The letter can be found here. “For 15 years, the CFPB worked to build a more resilient, fair, and competitive financial marketplace. That all changed with last year’s wholesale and irresponsible rollbacks ground CFPB work to a halt and put millions of people at financial risk,” said Tom Feltner, associate director of consumer policy at Americans for Financial Reform. “Now, Republicans in Congress want to double down on the attack on the CFPB already underway to devastating effect.” The letter notes: “The discussion draft and its components attempt, yet again, to advance an even more extreme sweeping deregulatory agenda than the work currently underway at the CFPB under its Trump-appointed leadership and through the recent actions taken by Congress and the courts. Its provisions, collectively and individually, will make the financial market less safe, more complicated, more expensive, and more prone to exactly the type of financial crisis the CFPB was designed to prevent.” “Since 2010, the CFPB has returned more than $21 billion to people harmed by financial fraud and misconduct. But the Trump administration’s reductions in force and funding have left the consumer watchdog on life support, and the reckless deregulation bill before Congress threatens to pull the plug,” said Alys Cohen, director of federal housing advocacy and acting co-director of federal advocacy at the National Consumer Law Center. “Congress should be focused on the national affordability crisis, not attacking the only agency dedicated to putting money back in people’s pockets.” “As household expenses rise, working families need the CFPB to be equipped with the necessary powers to protect their finances, but this extreme proposal would do the opposite, said Christine Hines, senior policy director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates. “Instead of enhancing the CFPB’s work, this bill would sabotage it, sending a message to big banks, debt collectors, credit bureaus, predatory lenders, and others that they can engage in risky conduct without proper oversight or consequences.” “NFHA pushed for the creation of the CFPB and its Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity after communities of color were devastated by predatory mortgage loans and unnecessary foreclosures in the 2008 financial crisis. This led to $1 trillion in lost wealth for Black and Latino communities. Since then, CFPB has stood between everyday people and the lenders, debt collectors and servicers that profit off them,” said James Wylie, vice president of public policy and senior fair lending counsel at the National Fair Housing Alliance. “We are in the midst of a fair and affordable housing crisis made worse by tariffs, high gas prices, rising food costs, and unaffordable rent and mortgage costs. Congress should be empowering the CFPB to do more for consumers, not stripping away its ability to protect them.” “Congress created a powerful advocate for consumers when it passed the Dodd-Frank Act — it was designed to develop rules that protect consumers and supervise and enforce consumer financial laws,” said Tara Flynn, policy director for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. “The draft legislation adds insult to an already injured CFPB and would weaken every tool in the CFPB’s toolbox for protecting consumers when many are struggling to make ends meet.” The letter concludes: “At a time when everyday people struggle to afford basic necessities and the cost of everything skyrockets, watch as bank fees and interest charges increase, and see financial institutions get one carve-out and handout after another, we urge Congress to reject the provisions in this discussion draft that would weaken the only agency with the sole mission of protecting people in the financial market.”
CDFIs file lawsuit against Treasury to release funding | American Banker — A network of Community Development Financial Institutions have filed a lawsuit against the Treasury Department, asking a federal court in California that the government release congressionally approved funding for the financial institutions.
- Key insight: The lawsuit is the latest escalation in a running battle between CDFIs and their supporters and the Trump administration, which has repeatedly blocked funding for the popular program.
- What's at stake: The CDFI fund recipients include banks, and many banks get Community Reinvestment Act credit for grants to the financial institutions.
- Forward look: The CDFI lawsuit says the funds expire in September.
Construction Inflation for Nonresidential Buildings Soars amid AI Investment Mania - by Wolf Richter - Construction of AI data centers, and the infrastructure needed to supply them with power, has turned into a mad scramble, and spending is exploding at an exponential rate. Huge amounts of money are being thrown around to get these projects done, equipped, and hooked up amid shortages of all kinds, including labor shortages, such as electricians.And construction costs for nonresidential buildings in general are surging. The Producer Price Index (PPI) for nonresidential construction services spiked by 7.4% year-over-year in July. And the PPI for construction materials – steel mill products, concrete, lumber, gypsum, etc. – spiked by 10.5% year-over-year, according to PPI data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The PPI for nonresidential construction services began spiking in March this year, and over the past five months has spiked by a cumulative 5.1%. Compared to a year ago, it jumped by 7.4%. The year-over-year increases in June and July were the highest since July 2022. The index tracks domestic prices that one company pays to another company for trade services, transportation, warehousing, architectural engineering, legal services, equipment leasing, etc. It excludes direct labor costs on construction sites, capital investment (such as purchases of heavy equipment), and imports. Since January 2021, the PPI for nonresidential construction services has soared by 31%. Since January 2020, it has soared by 44%. This chart shows the price level of the index, not the percentage change. It shows how the price surge over the past 12 months came on top of already very high prices for those services. The PPI for construction materials – steel mill products, concrete, lumber, gypsum, etc. – spiked by 10.5% year-over-year, the biggest increase since June 2022. The index tracks the change in selling prices that companies charge each other. Commercial contracts frequently include contract escalation clauses that cite this index to adjust project budgets based on real-world raw material inflation. Steel joists and rebar, for example: At the product category level, the PPI for “Fabricated Structural Metal Bar Joists and Concrete Reinforcing Bars” spiked by 17.7% year-over-year. It’s part of the PPI for construction materials. Since the beginning of 2025, over those 19 months, the PPI for construction materials spiked by 15%. Since January 2021, it spiked by 46%. Since January 2020, it spiked by 58%. This chart shows the price level of the index. The 15% price surge over the past 19 months came on top of already very high prices for those materials. The PPI for nonresidential building construction – tracks total put-in-place building costs including direct labor, materials, site equipment, services, and contractor overhead – jumped by 5.2% year-over-year. The 5.2% increase over the past 12 months comes on top of already very high prices. Since the beginning of 2021, the index has soared by 45%, despite the breather in 2023 and 2024, after the massive spike in 2021 and 2022. These soaring construction costs are only part of how the massive piles of dollars that are being tossed around as investment in AI infrastructure create inflation across various sectors of the economy. The PPI doesn’t isolate data centers. These are construction costs for nonresidential buildings in general. The construction boom surrounding semiconductor plants that started in 2022 has had a similar effect. And the construction booms for data centers and semiconductor plants are linked, amid efforts to shift some of the AI-related chip production to the US, and those chip plants are being built.
Harvard figured out how to ‘corrupt’ young girls’ minds, Sean Duffy tells daughter Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy brought the Trump administration’s feud with Harvard University back to the forefront in a new reality TV series that follows his family’s travels across America. All six episodes of the “Great American Road Trip” debuted on the department’s YouTube page on Wednesday — including stops in states like Arizona, Texas and Montana. The series has garnered criticism for receiving private funding from some of the companies Duffy regulates in his role as Transportation secretary. The second episode — titled “Boston: College Dreams and a Homecoming” — largely revolved around Paloma Duffy, the Transportation secretary’s teenage daughter, and her interest in attending Harvard University. In a conversation with his daughter ahead of their trip to Boston, Duffy expressed concerns that the school would not align with his family’s conservative, Catholic values. “If I send you there, I think what happens is they have professionalized figuring out how they can take good, young girls like you, and I think, corrupt their minds,” he said. “You don’t have to believe what I believe,” he continued. “You don’t have to have the political viewpoints that I have, but I do think it’s important that you make those choices for yourself and you have a fair representation of what they are, and I don’t think the Harvards of the world give you that kind of well-rounded picture.” President Trump and his administration have accused Harvard and other higher education institutions of promoting “woke” ideology. On Thursday, a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s civil rights lawsuit against Harvard, which claimed the school failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus. In the documentary episode, Duffy’s daughter responded by noting that she was raised in an “extremely conservative family” and attended a high school that promoted a similar belief system. “And if I go to a liberal setting, that’s a way more well-rounded education than if I go to a conservative high school and then go to a conservative college,” she said. “That’s just being kinda one-sided anyways.” The Transportation official pushed back, telling his daughter the school was “so good at” pushing students away from conservative beliefs. “You’ll see young people go to a conservative school with a conservative family and they get perverted and contorted,” he continued. During the family’s tour of the Harvard campus, they met with Father Nathaniel Sanders — the school’s undergraduate campus chaplain — who assured them of a “strong, flourishing Catholic culture on campus.” By the end of the episode, the secretary appeared to warm to the idea of his daughter attending Harvard. During a baseball game at Fenway Park, he told his daughter he was “surprised” by the Christian community on campus. “I think a smart, good girl can completely navigate what is a really good school,” Duffy said.
Suspect arrested in Virginia State shooting that wounded 5: Police - A suspect in the shooting at Virginia State University early Saturday that left five people wounded, including one critically, has been arrested after being found hiding in a closet on the campus hours after the shooting, according to police. The Chesterfield County Police Department said they found Camron Harris, 19, of Henrico, Virginia, in a closet in Seward Hall, a residence hall on the school's campus, at about 4 p.m. -- more than 12 hours after the shooting was reported. Police said he is not a student at the university, which is located in Ettrick, Virginia. Harris was taken to the Chesterfield County Jail where police said they obtained eight felony warrants -- four for malicious wounding and four for the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Harris is being held without bond, according to police. Police said the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. The shooting, which occurred outside the university residence halls shortly before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, prompted a lockdown that was later lifted. One of those wounded was a 20-year-old VSU student, who sustained non-life threatening injuries and has been released from the hospital, according to police and the university. The four other victims are not students at the school, according to police. One person, a 21-year-old man who was initially listed as having life-threatening injuries, was upgraded to critical condition, police said in a news release Saturday night. The other victims were a 23-year-old man, a 19-year-old woman and a 17-year-old. The university said there would be an increased police presence on campus. "VSU Police will maintain an increased presence on campus as the investigation continues. Students should monitor their VSU email for additional safety measures currently in effect and information about available support resources," the university said. "Although the lockdown has been lifted, members of the VSU community are asked to remain mindful of the ongoing law enforcement activity and avoid the immediate area where investigators are processing the scene," the university said Saturday morning. A significant law enforcement presence remains on campus while the investigation continues, the university said.
Sanders bill would stop Social Security garnishment for student loans - Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is pitching a new bill to stop seniors from having money withheld from their Social Security checks due to unpaid federal student loan debt.Sanders announced the proposal on Monday and will formally introduce the bill — called the Stop Social Security Garnishment Act — when the Senate is back in session next month, according to a spokesperson for the senator.The bill is also backed by Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both of Massachusetts.About 9.5 million borrowers are in default on their student loans, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data through March.Nearly 1 in 4 borrowers cannot repay their loans and are at risk of having their wages or Social Security checks seized, according to Sanders’ announcement.Sanders’ proposal comes as the Trump administration has paused involuntary collections for borrowers in default on federal student loans.The Trump administration said in June 2025 that it would not cut Social Security benefits for affected borrowers, reversing course months after it announced plans to resume collection activity following Covid-era policies that had protected borrowers who had fallen behind.Then in January, the Education Department said it planned to delay wage garnishment and other involuntary collections while it worked to implement new federal student loan repayment options from President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill.”Reforms enacted through the tax law reduced the number of repayment plans overall and also launched two new repayment options starting on July 1.
US kindergarten vaccine exemptions jumped last school year, CDC reports --More kindergarten students (4.2%) were exempted from at least one vaccination during the 2025-26 school year than in the previous year (3.6%), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday. The increase in vaccine exemptions could mean more infectious disease outbreaks. “We should be worried, because we’re already seeing the consequences of declines in vaccination. All you have to do is look at measles,” Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), told CIDRAP News. “The less we see people taking up vaccinations, the more we’re going to see these cases accumulate.” During the 2025-26 school year, an estimated 280,000 children started kindergarten without proof that they completed the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine series. In total, 92.4% of kindergarteners received it—below the proportion needed to prevent measles from spreading in the community. “More than a quarter of a million children started kindergarten last year without protection from the MMR vaccine,” Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), said yesterday in a statement. “For some diseases like measles, even a small decrease in vaccination rates can lead to more outbreaks of disease because community immunity requires over 95% of susceptible individuals to be immunized.” A similar percentage of kindergarteners as that receiving the MMR vaccine received the diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine (92%). “When it comes to vaccination rates, however, anything less than achieving an A+ grade is not good enough,” Racine said. Forty-one states and Washington, DC, experienced a spike in exemptions, and 24 states saw more than 5% of their kindergarten students exempted. The steady creep of vaccine exemptions could lead to more outbreaks. “The reason we managed to eliminate measles in the United States is because we overcame how infectious the virus is with very high rates of vaccination,” Marrazzo said. “If you can’t immunize the majority of people—and the majority of people is probably close to 94%, 95%, depending on which model you use—you can’t really get ahead of that intense rate of transmission.” The press release accompanying the data suggests that parents talk with their doctors about vaccination but didn’t discuss the importance of routine vaccination in limiting the spread of illness. “The statement is a pathetic shadow of what the CDC should be saying about vaccines in the context of the biggest measles outbreak we’ve experienced … in recent memory,” Marrazzo said. “It leaves parents in this incredibly nebulous, uninformed, insecure area, and I was actually frankly mortified when I saw it.” Local public health leaders also expressed dismay with CDC’s vague message. “I can’t say that I was surprised by the short announcement, the very abbreviated announcement that the CDC shared about the vaccine coverage. Nor was I really surprised by the rates,” Mysheika Roberts, MD, MPH, commissioner of Columbus Public Health in Ohio, said during a Big Cities Health Coalition press briefing. “It just reaffirms that the CDC is no longer the trusted health agency that many of us were trained to rely on and to admire,” she added.
Low immunity to hepatitis A and B in US adults plus recent policy changes may portend rise in disease - A study published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals low serologic immunity to hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among US adults, including those at high risk for infection. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from January 2017 to August 2023, researchers from the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System evaluated HAV and HBV serologic test results from 13,514 adults aged 20 and older for the presence of antibodies from previous infection or vaccination. “Universal birth-dose HBV vaccination, adopted in the US in 1991, was associated with a 95% reduction in infant HBV infections, preventing approximately 90 000 deaths,” they wrote. “However, in December 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated guidelines to recommend individual-based decision-making for infants of mothers without HBV infection, replacing universal birth-dose vaccination,” they added. The average participant age was 48.7 years, and 51.8% were women. In total, 39.5% of adults were serologically immune to HAV, 27.1% had serologic immunity to HBV, and 25.2% showed vaccine-derived immunity. HAV immunity was tied to younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.51); lower educational attainment (aOR, 0.32); and Black (aOR, 1.67), Mexican-American (aOR, 4.22), other Hispanic (aOR, 2.01), Asian (aOR, 3.03), and multiracial or other race and ethnicity (aOR, 1.36); as well as birth outside the United States (aOR, 4.54) and awareness of liver disease (OR, 1.65). Obesity was linked to lower odds of being immune to HAV (aOR, 0.83). Vaccine-derived HBV immunity was associated with younger age (aOR, 0.18), female sex (aOR, 1.36), Asian (aOR, 1.47) and Black (aOR, 1.15) race, and higher educational attainment (aOR, 3.29). Among all adults, 66.9% were categorized as high risk. In these subgroups, HAV immunity ranged from 26.7% for metabolic dysfunction–linked alcohol-related liver disease to 63.7% for chronic HBV infection, while vaccine-derived HBV immunity ranged from 14.0% for chronic kidney disease to 38.6% for pregnancy. The low rates of immunity, which previous studies have also found, may be explained by the aging of naturally immune cohorts who had HAV in childhood, when infection was more common; suboptimal HAV vaccination coverage among younger adults; and COVID-19 pandemic disruptions to preventive healthcare access, the authors said. The findings establish a baseline for evaluating the CDC policy change from universal birth-dose HBV vaccination to shared clinical decision-making for low-risk infants, they added. “Safe and effective vaccines prevent HAV and HBV infections, and serologic immunity protects high-risk populations from severe outcomes,” the researchers wrote. “In light of growing public concern regarding vaccine safety and benefit and recent changes in ACIP HBV vaccination policy, maintaining evidence-based vaccination strategies remains essential.” In an editorial published in the same journal, Melinda Wang, MD, MHS, of the University of California San Francisco, and colleagues, note that infants are particularly vulnerable to hepatitis, with roughly 90% of those exposed to HBV developing chronic disease, compared with 30% of children aged 1 to 5 years and 5% of adults.
New study finds link between sugary drinks and stomach cancer - — A new study by Mass General Bingham points to a link between consumption of sugary drinks and gastric (stomach) cancer.The study categorized sugary drinks as lemonade, punch, sport drinks and carbonated beverages. The study looked at 112,284 people from the Nurses’ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-Up. It followed participants over decades, with 278 eventually developing stomach cancer.The results showed participants who consumed one sugary drink per day were over two times more likely to develop stomach cancer than those who consumed less than one per month. Sugary drinks had previously been linked to other forms of cancer; breast, liver and colorectum. According to CDC data, 63 percent of adults consume one or more sugary drinks per day. Stomach cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. The study notes limitations and that the cancer diagnosis could have been due to other factors such as family history. Further research is needed in order to officially establish causality.
Emergency room patients often wait 4 hours or more for a hospital bed—some more than a day | CIDRAP -On the medical drama “The Pitt,” patients often spend hours in the emergency department waiting for a bed in the hospital, a detail that makes the show feel realistic. That practice, what’s known as boarding, remains a serious problem for hospitals across the United States. A paper this week in JAMA found that, across 17 US healthcare systems, which included 56 emergency departments, more than half of patients who need to be admitted to the hospital wait four hours or more for an in-patient bed—with some people standing by for 24 hours or longer. “Risk concentrates at these moments where one clinical team hands a patient to another. Emergency and in-patient teams work on different clocks, and they're doing this under resource constraints,” Alex Janke, MD, MHS, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and first author of the paper, said in a university press release. “What our data show is that some hospitals consistently manage that transition in under four hours, and others take more than a day, which suggests it comes down to how a hospital organizes the work, not just how full it is.”The researchers examined electronic health record data from more than 3 million adult emergency department visits from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025. Almost a half million people, 492,135 needed to be admitted for general medical care—which includes geriatrics, internal medicine, or family medicine—and of those patients, 263,666 (53.6%) waited at least four hours for a bed. Among the 492,135 patient eventually admitted to general medical care, 84,936 (17.3%) experienced a four-hour or longer delay in being transferred without first receiving care as an inpatient, with 22,905 (4.7%) seeing at least a 12-hour holdup without such care, and 4,497 (0.9%) lingering in the emergency department for 24 hours or more without inpatient management before being moved. Of those patients with delayed inpatient care, 54% to 55% were 65 or older.“Delays in the transition from emergency care to inpatient management can be dangerous,” Janke said. Patients who waited 12 or 24 hours for a hospital bed often visited emergency departments in hospitals that treated more patients with Medicaid and trained new doctors. Being 65 or older and covered by Medicare and having more serious illness also meant a longer wait-time for patients needing a hospital bed.
COVID is ‘growing’ in nearly every state, CDC reports. Here’s where levels are highest ( COVID-19 is once again on the rise in nearly every corner of the U.S. According to modeling done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 50 states.” No states are seeing cases decline, as of mid-August. Despite the trend, the CDC says severe cases are still pretty rare. Emergency department visits related to COVID are “very low.” Wastewater data can give us a closer look at where the virus may be circulating most. Testing the sewage can pick up the presence of COVID-19 in a community and “can pick up signs of infection even from people who feel perfectly healthy,” the CDC says. Two states show signs of elevated viral activity. Hawaii and Mississippi are both listed as having “moderate” levels of COVID-19, though wastewater data for Mississippi is limited. The West and South are seeing higher levels of COVID activity than other regions. Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Washington all have “low” levels of COVID in wastewater, while the rest of the states are classified as “very low.” Wastewater data shows where COVID cases may be rising, even if they go undetected by the hospital system. (Map: CDC) The CDC also tracks levels of two other respiratory viruses, influenza and RSV. Both are showing up less frequently in wastewater than COVID-19 is. An updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting the prevalent XFG variant is expected to be available starting in the fall.COVID infection linked to disturbing side effect, says new study -- A new study suggests that COVID-19 may reactivate dormant viruses already hiding in the body. That process, researchers say, is linked to more severe illness and may contribute to lingering symptoms such as fatigue associated with long COVID.The study, published Wednesday in Nature, took more than 1,100 samples from the first year of the pandemic. Researchers found that nearly half experienced the reactivation of viruses they had previously been carrying without symptoms, including members of the herpesvirus family and a group of common viruses known as anelloviruses. “As neuroimmunologists, we were curious to assess whether chronically infecting viruses may play a role in influencing clinical outcomes in COVID-19 and long COVID as they do in individuals with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases,” study author Esther Melamed, MD of the University of Texas at Austin told Newsweek in an email. Dr. Cole Maguire, postdoctoral fellow in Melamed’s lab and first author the paper, said the researchers “knew that different stressors on the body could wake up one of these chronic viruses here or there. “What nobody had been able to do prior to our work was look at all of the human infecting viruses at once, in the same person, over time,” Maguire said.
Researchers probe why 2 Indigenous groups in Bolivia had lowest COVID death rates in world | CIDRAP -Two Indigenous groups in Bolivian Amazon had the lowest COVID-19 death rates ever reported in the height of the pandemic—less than one-tenth of 1%—despite high rates of infection and severe disease—a finding that researchers say has implications for disease-mitigation efforts in future pandemics.For the study, published in Social Science & Medicine, a team led by researchers from the Universita di Corsica in France interviewed and took blood samples from members of the Tsimane and Moseten communities aged 17 years and older in July and December 2020 and March through May 2021.Deaths were vanishingly rare, at 0.009% among the Tsimane and 0.095% among the Moseten. “The fact that the fatality rate was very, very low, was a bit of a head scratcher,” anthropologist and corresponding author Michael Gurven, PhD, of the University of California (UC) Santa Barbara, said in a UC news release. He co-directs the Tsimane Health and Life History Project.Gurven worried about Tsimane people, because historically many Indigenous groups have been devastated by introduced pathogens due to factors such as immunologic naivety to infectious agents, high rates of transmission within tight-knit communities, and poor access to medical care, medicine, and vaccines.Indeed, Indigenous communities with a high prevalence of chronic conditions, such as the Dine in the southwestern United States, experienced high COVID-19 death rates.Anticipating poor outcomes, the researchers worked with Indigenous leaders and local health officials to slow SARS-CoV-2 transmission infection through actions such as voluntary collective isolation, in which the groups abstained from making contact with outsiders. After SARS-CoV-2 arrived in the communities, the team began monitoring how fast the virus spread, who got infected, and symptom severity and duration. The virus quickly spread to 71.4% of the 685 Tsimane sampled and 63% of the 562 Moseten, and infected people reported the same kinds of symptoms that people were experiencing worldwide.“The Tsimané still experienced that first stage of COVID, but they never quite got to that second stage where it enters your lungs, when people experienced cytokine storms and sometimes needed to be hooked up to a respirator,” he said. “In fact, we had struggled to find and set up oxygen concentrators because we were worried, especially for the older adults, but there was no need to even use them.”The Tsimane and Moseten are Indigenous subsistence populations in northern and eastern Bolivia that are physically fit into old age, consume diets based on horticulture and foraging, and have low rates of obesity and minimal cigarette smoking and illicit drug use. They also have remarkably low levels of the cardiovascular diseases (such as high blood pressure), inflammation, and diabetes that can lead to severe COVID-19 complications.On the other hand, the groups have high rates of parasitism and infectious disease, including disease and death due to respiratory infections such as tuberculosis.
Survey data reveal demographic divides in Americans’ COVID vaccine hesitancy Vaccine hesitancy in the United States predated the COVID-19 pandemic, but the pandemic added fuel to the fire. During the crisis, inconsistent public health messaging and emergency-use authorization of the COVID vaccine gave rise to a “parallel pandemic of vaccine hesitancy,” write researchers from Rush University College of Nursing in a new analysis published in Vaccine. That hesitancy led to many people being unnecessarily infected and hospitalized. “Some research has estimated nearly a quarter of a million preventable deaths due to non-vaccination in the US, during the period May 2021-Sept 2022,” they write. Average life expectancy in the United States decreased by almost two years because of COVID. To better understand what drives Americans’ vaccine hesitancy, the researchers analyzed surveys from nearly 14,000 people. Their findings suggest that vaccination rates differed significantly by education level and age, and reasons for remaining unvaccinated differed by race and education level. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 13,802 US adults who participated in the Community Engagement Alliance Common Survey 2 from November 2020 to November 2022. They found that 87.2% of participants had received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. They also found that vaccination rates differed significantly across demographic groups. Non-Hispanic White participants had the highest vaccination rate, at 91.8%, compared with 87.9% among Hispanic participants and 81.8% among non-Hispanic Black participants. Education and age were strongly associated with vaccination. About 21% of people without a high school degree were unvaccinated, compared with just 6.2% of those with a graduate degree. Adults 65 and older were less likely to be unvaccinated (5.5%) than youngest participants aged 18 to 24 (17.5%). Lack of health insurance was also associated with lower uptake: 25% of uninsured participants were unvaccinated, compared with 11% of those with insurance. Less than 5% of participants said they didn’t trust their doctors as sources of COVID information. Distrust of government institutions was more common, however. Yet many people who expressed distrust had still been vaccinated. Among participants who distrusted various institutions as sources of COVID information, vaccination rates ranged from 72.4% to 83.8%. Even among those who did not trust the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure the vaccine safety, 52.0% had received at least one dose. Roughly 40% of respondents expressed a deep distrust in the federal government to provide a safe vaccine for children. They expressed greater trust in the FDA to make COVID vaccines safe for the public, with only 8.5% of participants saying they didn’t trust the FDA to make safe COVID vaccines for adults. Among the 1,772 unvaccinated participants, reasons for avoiding vaccination varied significantly by race and ethnicity, age, education, and employment. Differences included concerns about side effects, distrust of vaccine safety, and believing the vaccines didn't work. For example, among unvaccinated participants, the belief that vaccines didn't work was most common among adults ages 25 to 34 (10.4%) and declined with age. Just 2.7% of adults over 65 believed vaccines didn’t work. Many respondents (67.2%) cited familial or cultural disapproval of vaccines as their reason for not getting vaccinated, compared with just 11.4% of Whites.
Will flu, COVID-19 vaccines be available this fall? - As fall nears and the respiratory illness season begins, many people are wondering if they’ll be able to receive updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines amid the turmoil created by the federal government about vaccines. Some worry that recent changes could mean they have to pay out of pocket for their annual doses. But experts say Americans don’t have to worry about vaccine coverage—this year, at least. “There will be available an updated influenza vaccine and an updated COVID vaccine. So far, that’s pretty normal,” William Schaffner, MD, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Health and spokesperson for the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), told CIDRAP News. “Insurers, that is, the medical insurance industry, have said that they would cover those vaccines.” The US Food and Drug Administration weighed in on the composition of this season’s flu and COVID vaccines this past spring. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) hasn’t provided guidance about either vaccine. “We’re in limbo in regard to this federal advisory committee,” Schaffner said. “However, professional societies—the American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP], the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians—are all recommending routine vaccination.” IDSA, along with the Vaccine Integrity Project at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), publisher of CIDRAP News, recommend that adults and children with compromised immune systems receive a COVID vaccine. They also recommend an annual flu shot. “Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended to get the flu vaccine,” James Campbell, MD, chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases at the AAP and head of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said. “It’s about 80% vaccine efficacy against death… Knowing that you can protect your child from death with a simple vaccine, most providers and most families would take that very seriously, and hopefully will chose to vaccinate” he added. AAP’s recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines in children will be coming soon, he said. There are worries that federal insurance might stop paying for vaccines, but Campbell doesn’t anticipate that. “I don’t see any reason, at this point, why insurers, including the federal government… would choose not to offer to cover vaccines for children,” he said. “They know it’s relatively inexpensive to provide the vaccine, but it’s very expensive if a child winds up in the hospital.” Across the country, public health departments continue to recommend flu and COVID-19 vaccines in alignment with medical association guidelines. “Local public health and state public health [are] literally standing in the gap right now,” said Michelle Taylor, MD, DrPH, commissioner of the Baltimore City Health Department, during a Big Cities Health Coalition press briefing. “We understand what to do for respiratory viral season. We do it every year.” Many doctors’ offices and hospitals already have secured vaccines for this respiratory virus season. “I can say talking with primary care practices, they’re ordering [vaccines],” Sean O’Leary, MD, MPH, the immunization schedule editor for the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, said at the press briefing.
RSV can trigger invasive pneumococcal disease in children, study finds - Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may trigger invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in some children, but its role in doing so varies across pneumococcal serotypes, according to a recent study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The findings are based on three continuous French surveillance systems on IPD, pneumococcal carriage and RSV infections from 2008 to 2023. The analysis included children younger than 15 years old. Pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization (the presence in the upper throat, behind the nasal cavity, of Streptococcus pneumoniae) is the first step to developing IPD. And respiratory infections can prompt the transition from pneumococcal colonization to invasive disease. The authors used surveillance data to determine serotype-specific involvement in IPD depending on RSV circulation. A total of 4,574 IPD cases were included over the study period: 1,621 (35.4%) during the RSV season and 2,953 (64.6%) during the non-RSV season, with three serotypes (24F, 19A, and 1) accounting for more than 30% of all cases. “The serotype distribution among IPD cases strongly varied depending on RSV circulation,” the authors found. Serotypes 1, 17F, 7F, 38, 8, and 12F had an odds ratio involvement in IPD depending on the RSV circulation period greater than 1, indicating their higher likelihood of occurrence, in proportion, during the non-RSV season. “Overall, this serotype-specific association with RSV may have important clinical consequences, some low disease potential serotypes being more likely to induce an invasive disease during RSV epidemics,” the authors concluded. “These findings may also have important implications for RSV preventive strategies in early childhood.
Ebola outbreak now deadliest ever in DR Congo as death rate reaches 46% - With a staggering 2,325 deaths, the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic of the Congo (DRC) has now killed more people than 2018-20 outbreak, which killed 2,299, making it the country’s deadliest Ebola outbreak ever.The largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded was a 2014-16 outbreak in West Africa, which killed 11,325 over two years. The current outbreak is moving at a faster pace than that outbreak, however, and with no effective vaccine or therapeutics against the Bundibugyo strain, experts warn it could become the world’s deadliest in a matter of months.There have been almost 5,000 cases recorded in three months, meaning the case-fatality rate (CFR) is now hovering around 46%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CFRs in the past two Bundibugyo outbreaks, reported in Uganda and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2007 and 2012, were 30% and 50%, respectively. Late last week, United Nations (UN) humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher said that, due to the high CFR, he has allocated an additional $30.5 million from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund to fight the outbreak. The money is in addition to the $24 million previously allocated to the DRC and neighboring countries for this outbreak.“This is a wake-up call,” Fletcher said. “We need speed, scale and solidarity before this virus gets even further ahead of us.” In the latest Disease Outbreak News update from the WHO, the agency said the outbreak was showing no signs of abating. “During the most recent reporting week (epidemiological week 32, 3 to 9 August 2026), the highest weekly number of reported cases (579) and deaths (304) were recorded, highlighting the exceptional pace of transmission,” the WHO said. As of August 12, 100 new cases were being recorded every 24 hours. Infections among health workers continue, the WHO said. with at least 155 confirmed cases, including 45 deaths (CFR, 29%) and 68 recoveries since beginning of the outbreak.
- President Donald Trump has nominated Heidi Overton, MD, PhD, to be the next commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), after Marty Makary, MD, MPH, resigned in May. Overton now faces Senate confirmation. Overton is currently serving as deputy assistant to the president for domestic policy. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Dr. Heidi has been a ROCKSTAR in my Administration, where she has worked directly with Secretary Kennedy, Dr. Oz, and team, to deliver on the MOST TRANSFORMATIVE Health Agenda in History.” Overton has briefed the president on a number of health issues, and was present at the executive order signing this month, where Trump lowered the number of childhood vaccines. Overton is also said to be leading the charge on the president’s plan to lower prescription drug prices. Before working at the White House, Overton served as chief policy officer at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank.
- The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reached another grim milestone today, as cases topped 5,000. DRC officials say 5,021 cases, including 2,378 deaths, have been recorded in the past three months as an outbreak of Bundibugyo strain Ebola has become intractable in Ituri province. This is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in history, and is expected to surpass the West African outbreak of 2014-2016, which killed more than 11,000 people. Yesterday during the second meeting of the emergency committee convened under the International Health Regulations, the World Health Organization said the outbreak remains a public health emergency of international concern.
- Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added 1,821 infections to its 2026 Cyclospora total, raising it to 15,716—compared with 1,180 cases through August last year. The CDC said it is investigating an additional 11,841 cases. The parasite has caused at least 828 hospitalizations and two deaths this summer, as dozens of states have battled large outbreaks tied to tainted lettuce. States have higher case counts than the CDC, because they may include cases that do not meet CDC’s formal reporting criteria, the agency said. As of August 13, Michigan, the epicenter of this summer’s outbreak, has reported 13,909 cases, 314 hospitalizations, and two deaths.
WHO chief says most Ebola deaths in DR Congo still happening in the community -- Today, during the second meeting of the emergency committee convened under the International Health Regulations (IHR) for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said the current outbreak is moving faster than any previous Ebola outbreak.“The epidemic is far from being under control,” Tedros said during his opening remarks. “It had a big head start, and we are still playing catch-up. What concerns me most is where people are dying: at home, in their communities, outside treatment centres, and outside known contact lists. Every death like that points to a chain of transmission we have not yet found.” The IHR first met on May 17 to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. Today’s meeting will likely extend the emergency. Community deaths, rather than those at a health center or Ebola treatment center, are often sites of onward transmission, as family and friends come into contact with bodily fluids. More funding is needed, Tedros said. According to Reuters, the WHO has raised about 60% of the $115 million it is seeking for the Ebola response.
WHO delivers Ebola vaccine to DR Congo to see if it can protect against Bundibugyo strain - Today the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it has allocated 70,000 Ervebo doses for use in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help combat its fast-growing Ebola outbreak. Ervebo is a vaccine targeting Ebola Zaire, the most common strain of the hemorrhagic fever, and not Bundibugyo, the strain causing the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded. The announcement follows the DRC’s official request to release the vaccines from the stockpile managed by the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision.Twenty-thousand doses of the vaccine will be used in a late-stage, phase 3 trial to see if the vaccine offers cross-protection to Ebola Bundibugyo. The other 50,000 doses are for frontline healthcare workers in line with the current recommendations of the WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. The global vaccine alliance, Gavi, said today it will provide $7 million to fund the shipment to the DRC, along with another $6 million to help with vaccination efforts in high-risk areas and prepare for future immunizations.This is already the largest Ebola outbreak in DRC’s history, and could well become the largest outbreak ever,” said Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar, MD, PhD, in an earlier news release. “Given the terrible toll on communities and frontline workers, we are encouraged that the approved Ebola vaccine Ervebo—readily available through our Gavi-funded global stockpile—could help reduce severe illness and deaths.” “It is not known whether Ervebo may be protective against the Bundibugyo virus in humans. Early laboratory and animal data suggest it may provide some protection,” the WHO said. “The clinical trial is expected to provide important new evidence, which is essential for policy-makers to inform future use of the Ervebo vaccine.”
CDC adds 211 new cases to accelerating US measles outbreak | CIDRAP - The rapidly rising US measles outbreak grew to 2,777 cases today as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 211 new infections in its weekly update.The increase is more than double that seen last week, when the agency added 101 cases to the total, after adding 94 the week before. Most of this week’s cases are in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The CDC noted 36 outbreaks, which might be an anomaly, as a week ago the agency had logged 38 for the year. Last year saw 48 measles outbreaks, defined as three or more related cases. Total cases for all of 2025 reached 2,289, which was the most since 1991 until the country surpassed that level a month ago. All but 16 of this year’s cases have been locally acquired, with the rest tied to international travel. Cases have been confirmed in 45 states plus New York City and Washington, DC.Of the 2026 cases, 19% involve children age 5 and under, and 66% involve kids and teens. Seven percent of patients have been hospitalized, compared with 11% in 2025. Among all measles patients, 94% are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccine status. No measles deaths have been reported this year. Last year, three people, including two children, died of measles, one of the most transmissible diseases known.Pennsylvania continues to be the country’s hot spot, which reported 89 of the newest cases. Of the state's 379 cases for the year, at least 181 of those (48%) are in Lancaster County, the state’s hardest-hit county, according to today’s update from state officials. Chester County has the second-most cases, 41, followed by Mifflin (25) and Lebanon (21) counties. In addition, the outbreak has reached Allegheny County, though a case there is not yet part of the state’s Department of Health total. CBS News reports that a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center spokesperson said an unvaccinated patient was seen at the UPMC Children’s Hospital emergency department on both August 12 and August 18. It’s the first case in the county since 2019. The Allegheny County Health Department said the patient is from outside the county and is in isolation. “The Health Department recommends that any person who is due for measles vaccination make arrangements to receive it from their medical provider,” officials said in a news release.. In neighboring Ohio, health officials have confirmed 142 cases so far this year, an increase of 73 this week. Ashtabula County has the most infections: 40. Fifteen Ohio counties are now affected, an increase of four this week. Utah, the state with the largest active measles outbreak, had no new cases keeping its 2026 total at 518. The CDC measles map (below), however, lists 526 cases for Utah. Last year Utah recorded 197 cases. Likewise, Washington state had no new infections (55 total), and neither did Arizona, whose total remains at 122. Virginia also held steady, at 177 cases.
The threat of more, expanded measles outbreaks looms with start of school - School starts soon in north-central Colorado and pediatrician Shen Nagel, MD, is bracing for the possibility of a measles outbreak. In some ways this is par for the course. After major holidays and summer breaks, kids bring viruses back to their classrooms, and Nagel sees spikes of flu, respiratory syncytial virus and other respiratory illnesses, among his patients at Pediatrics West, a practice in suburban Denver.Measles might soon be added to that list, though it wasn't a disease that pediatricians worried about much when Nagel started practicing 25 years ago. But post-COVID-19, dropping vaccination rates and conflicting federal messaging have created an opening for measles, widely considered the most contagious infectious disease known to humans. The good news is that most parents do get their kids the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is 97% effective after two doses. Experts who spoke to CIDRAP News for this story say that if a fully vaccinated child has a normal immune system, parents shouldn't worry about their child catching measles at school—especially if that school has a relatively high vaccination rate. Outbreaks are extremely unlikely in communities where overall MMR coverage is 95%. But uptake is uneven. For example, the country's largest active measles outbreak is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where more than a dozen schools have MMR rates below 70%. In these buildings, a single exposure can set off a cascade of hospitalizations, mandatory quarantines, children missing school, and parents missing work. "All we need is one case to start something," said Nagel. Kids tend to have more physical contact with each other than adults do, and classrooms are confined spaces. Also, particles of the measles virus can remain in the air up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area, so as students move from room to room throughout the day, they can become infected, even if everyone in their own class is healthy. It seems that unvaccinated kids are especially at risk if they attend a school with a lower percentage of MMR coverage, said Moore, citing unpublished research North Carolina did in collaboration with South Carolina and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He anticipates the study will be released later this year. Generally, people fully vaccinated with the MMR vaccine are a dead end for transmission. But so-called breakthrough cases can occur; 3% of the 2,566 measles cases reported in the United States so far this year were among fully immunized patients. In the rare instance of a breakthrough, it's more likely to happen in an environment where multiple people are infected . There have always been clusters of unvaccinated kids and adults. But experts interviewed for this story said that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, these pockets tended to be fewer and smaller. As recently as a decade ago, MMR rates were high enough that parents who chose not to vaccinate their kids could feel somewhat confident measles wouldn't enter their entire community. In the rare event of an outbreak, public health workers could intervene to prevent the virus from spreading to additional people. Now that vaccine skepticism has become more prevalent, gaps in MMR coverage have grown. That's increased the frequency and severity of measles outbreaks, including school-based outbreaks, said Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, the chief medical officer of the American Academy of Family Physicians. In Utah, for example, a high school wrestling tournament in February led to measles spreading throughout the state. With 526 cases and counting, Utah ranks second to South Carolina in total infections for 2026, a record-breaking year for the disease. The number of cases reported across the United States hit a 35-year high in July, with year-to-date infections surpassing those reported for all of 2025. "I'm getting nervous because it's not getting better," said Savoy.School nurses have been preparing for the possibility of measles outbreaks coming to their districts for the past few years, said Lynn Nelson, MSN, president of the National Association of School Nurses. It's been roughly two generations since measles posed this level of threat in the United States, so recent preparation has included ensuring nurses can appropriately refer families to medical care. People should phone ahead and not just show up at a doctor's office, urgent care center, or emergency room so that clinicians can take precautions to protect the health of other patients. A pernicious aspect of measles is that its first symptoms resemble other respiratory illnesses and people are infectious up to four days before the telltale rash of flat red spots appears. That puts the onus on school nurses to know which students are unvaccinated or immunocompromised, and to work with other public health officials to identify exposures in the event of an outbreak. "Our kids don't just live at school," said Nelson. "They go home to their families and their grandparents and their pregnant moms and newborn babies." For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that its members collaborate with school nurses and advocate for adequate school nurse staffing, noting that just 65.7% of schools have full-time nurses.A small percentage of people who get the measles will die or suffer life-altering complications, including blindness, hearing loss, permanent scarring to the lungs, intellectual disabilities, and other lasting neurologic deficits. Additionally, the virus can erase pre-existing antibody cells, which leaves people vulnerable to other viruses and bacteria for years. Perhaps the most insidious outcome is a condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), in which a latent measles infection mutates inside the brain, causing progressive cell death and atrophy until the area of the brainstem that controls breathing is destroyed. This rare disease shows up roughly a decade later in people who seem to have fully recovered from a measles illness, meaning it will be years before any SSPE cases stemming from recent outbreaks emerge. The younger the patient, the greater the risk of SSPE, fatality, or other devastating outcomes. That is why Nagel in Denver advises parents to get their baby an early MMR shot if they travel to areas in the United States where there is an ongoing outbreak. Normally, the first MMR is given at 12 to 15 months, and up until last year, Nagel recommended an early shot only when families traveled internationally.
Quick takes: More vaccine executive order pushback, Cyclospora increase, polio in 5 nations | CIDRAP
- Opposition to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on childhood vaccines continues to mount, as more than 210 medical, health, and patient advocacy groups signed a letter condemning the administration’s efforts to reduce the number of childhood vaccines and spread out the doses. The statement reads, in part, “Families deserve clear guidance from federal health officials that is grounded in science and aimed at protecting children’s health. Instead, the White House released an Executive Order that undermines confidence in childhood vaccinations and recommends changes that would leave children less protected and families more confused.”
- Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Cyclospora numbers linked to a huge iceberg lettuce outbreak, adding 1,449 cases, for a total of 10,930 cases, including 454 hospitalizations, of which 56 are new. Deaths remain at two, and the number of affected states holds steady at 17. Also yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it started inspections and taking samples from iceberg lettuce farms in Mexico with the help of Mexican officials. The agency “remains confident” that all recalled iceberg lettuce connected to this massive outbreak is no longer available.”
- Afghanistan reported four cases of wild poliovirus, while several African nations confirmed vaccine-derived cases, according to an update today from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced five circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases, and Sudan reported three cVDPV2 cases. Niger had one cVDPV3 case and Nigeria had one cVDPV2 case and one cVDPV3 case. On a positive note, Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the DRC, and Uganda all ended their polio outbreaks, though they will need continue surveillance measures and ensure high population immunity to prevent future infections.
Although it’s uncommon, vaccinated people can spread measles, study finds -- In some cases, vaccinated people can transmit measles, finds a review and meta-analysis of 33 reports published late last week in Expert Review of Vaccines.“Measles transmissions from vaccinated cases, although relatively uncommon, must be considered in public health investigations, as such transmissions can contribute to outbreaks,” wrote the authors, led by researchers at Public Health Ontario. It’s estimated that measles vaccines have prevented about 94 million deaths from 1974 to 2024. Prior to the vaccine’s introduction, measles caused 2.6 million deaths every year worldwide. The two-dose measles shot helped many countries eliminate the fast-spreading respiratory illness. But that trend has been shifting as vaccine hesitancy increases. This year, the United States has seen its most measles cases since 1991. For the review, the scientists examined peer-reviewed studies, as well as reports published outside of traditional publishing to understand if those vaccinated against measles might spread the illness to others. Some people can experience secondary vaccine failure, in which a natural, gradual loss of vaccine-created immunity is amplified because there’s little circulating virus to boost the immune response. Across all included reports, 70 out of 890 vaccinated people (7.9%) passed measles to others, which caused 237 secondary cases of the illness. Thirty-one percent of the transmitters, 22 people, had received two doses of the measles vaccine. The most common symptoms among the 19 transmitters with symptom information were rash (16 people), fever (11) and cough (11). Most vaccinated people who spread measles experienced milder symptoms and a shorter illness than those who weren’t vaccinated. Most often, cough, breathing, or talking likely caused measles to spread. Information that links vaccination to healthy aging might encourage more older adults to get recommended immunizations, particularly if they believe doing so benefits their cardiovascular (heart-related) or cognitive (thinking-related) health. The study, published today in Vaccine, analyzed surveys of 2,416 adults, aged 60 or older, living in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, a region in southern France that borders Italy and Switzerland. The questionnaire asked participants whether they agreed with statements, such as "Vaccination helps me age well," and "I get vaccinated to protect my loved ones, my children and grandchildren."Researchers found that messaging that emphasized how vaccines reduce the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attacks) generated the highest levels of vaccination interest. Information on the link between dementia prevention and vaccination also showed promise. Messages about falls and fractures appeared least influential.Perhaps predictably, people who had more of the recommended vaccinations were more likely to agree with these statements. The fewer vaccines people had, the less likely they were to be swayed by this messaging.The authors note that, unlike infections, cardiovascular events and neurocognitive disorders are among the health outcomes that concern older adults most because of their effects on quality of life and independence. At the same time, infectious diseases create economic burdens for individuals and the healthcare system. And, as in other countries, France has suboptimal vaccination coverage among adults. Therefore, this finding is encouraging from a public health perspective, write the authors, as it shows that messaging that specifically speaks to a population's needs, motivations, and barriers might encourage higher vaccination rates.
Louisiana confirms Naegleria fowleri brain infection in resident who swam in Lake Claiborne - Lake Claiborne The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) yesterday confirmedNaegleria fowleri infection in a Louisiana resident. The resident most likely acquired the infection while swimming in Lake Claiborne, located in Claiborne Parish in the northern part of the state. Naegleria fowleri, often called a brain-eating amoeba by the press, can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a brain infection that occurs when tainted water reaches the brain through the nose. It’s most commonly associated with swimming in warm freshwater lakes and ponds, and it can survive in temperatures of up to 115°F. Though extremely rare, the infection is almost always fatal. This is the fourth Naegleria fowleri infection documented in Louisiana since 1937. “Though the risk of infection is low, recreational water users should always assume there is a risk when they enter warm fresh water,” the LDH said. “You can reduce your risk of infection by limiting the amount of water that goes up the nose.” The amoeba is not transmitted through swallowing water, and is not contagious. From 1937 to 2025, ether have been only 180 known cases of PAM in the United States.
Is mpox here to stay? CDC study says virus is likely becoming endemic - Although mpox cases related to the 2022 global outbreak were diagnosed in people who had traveled aboard, the virus now is spreading continuously in the United States.Persistent, low levels of mpox “suggest a likely transition toward endemic circulation,” according to a report in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) flagship publication, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The paper also quantifies the risk of hospitalization in unvaccinated mpox patients. Mpox spreads through close contact, such as cuddling, kissing, or sex. Mpox can spread among household contacts, either from skin-to-skin contact or by sharing towels or bedding. In the current outbreak in Guinea-Bissau, half of cases are in children. In the United States, mpox is most common among men who have sex with men. The CDC recommends that people at risk for mpox, including those traveling to countries with outbreaks of the virus, receive two doses of the Jynneos vaccine.In 2024 and 2025, according to the report, 76% of mpox cases in the United States were in unvaccinated people, who were nearly 10 times as likely to be hospitalized with the virus as those who received both vaccine doses.Before 2022, US mpox cases were related to foreign travel or infections from small animals imported from abroad. There are two types of mpox, clade 1 and clade 2. The CDC confirmed about 30,000 clade 2b mpox cases in the United States in 2022.The global outbreak of clade 2b mpox that began in 2022 has infected 100,000 people in 122 total countries, including 115 countries in which mpox was not previously reported.
New study sheds light on why tuberculosis disproportionately affects men Across the globe, men develop tuberculosis (TB) at substantially higher rates than women. New research suggests that this disparity may have more to do with men's greater risk of becoming infected in the first place than with a greater likelihood of the infection progressing to disease. An estimated 10.7 million people worldwide developed TB in 2024—5.8 million men and 3.7 million women. Researchers have long wondered about the precise mechanisms behind the higher prevalence in men: Does the disparity reflect differences in exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, biological differences in susceptibility to disease after infection, or a combination of the two? The findings, published last week in eClinicalMedicine, are drawn from 11 prospective cohort studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. Together, the studies tracked more than 22,000 participants for 12 years. For the analysis, an international research team led by scientists at the Institute for Global Health at University College London analyzed data from 22,424 participants in studies conducted between 2005 and 2017. The researchers followed participants for an average of 2.8 years, during which 411 people, or 1.8%, developed TB. Two-thirds of participants were adults. At baseline, 38.1% of males and 35.0% of females were infected with TB. After adjusting for age, males had a 12% higher likelihood of TB infection than females. But once the researchers took infection status into account, they found no significant difference in the risk of developing TB disease. Among those who tested positive for infection at baseline, the incidence of TB disease was 15.6 cases per 1,000 person-years in males and 16.3 per 1,000 person-years in females—a difference that was not statistically significant. Similarly, among participants who initially tested negative for TB infection, future TB risk did not differ significantly between males and females. “These findings suggest that the well-documented excess burden of TB among males appears more consistent with differences in TB infection risk than with a large sex difference in progression from infection to disease,” write the researchers. The researchers note that they did not measure other determinants of infection risk, such as social interactions, occupational exposures, and behavioral risks, which may explain men’s greater likelihood of being infected with TB. They also note that healthcare-related and clinical factors may partly explain the observed differences in infection incidence. In a separate Italian cohort study published earlier this year, for example, men were more likely to be lost to follow-up. In addition, the findings can’t rule out biological differences in TB susceptibility, write the researchers, noting that a recent review highlights the possible roles sex hormones, sex chromosomes, and sex-specific innate and adaptive immune responses may play in TB progression and outcomes.“The higher burden of TB among males is likely to reflect multiple mechanisms rather than a single pathway,” they say.
FDA heightens egg recall to reflect potential ‘serious adverse health consequences or death’ | CIDRAP -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reclassified a July recall about 19 million eggs due to Salmonella as a class 1 recall, which is the agency’s highest-risk designation. The reclassification is meant to show “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”Last month Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled around 19 million eggs sold at grocery stores in six states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. The eggs were primarily sold at Kroger and Brookshire grocery stores.The eggs were produced and distributed from farms in Texas between June 6, 2026 and July 3, 2026, with sell by or best by dates between July 20, 2026 and August 17, 2026.At the time of the initial recall, the FDA reported 26 hospitalizations and no deaths among a total of 98 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella linked to the eggs. Illnesses had been reported in 17 states, but the FDA has not updated the case counts since the initial report. Texas has by far the largest outbreak, with 73 cases. Louisiana is next, with five. The FDA said consumers who still have these eggs should discard them or return them to the place of purchase.
Jalapeno-linked US Salmonella outbreak grows to 431 cases, 57 hospitalizations | CIDRAP - The US Salmonella outbreak tied to contaminated jalapenos has grown by 86 cases, 21 hospitalizations, and five states, for a total of 431 infections and 57 hospitalizations in 32 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday.The true number of infections is likely much higher than that reported and may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. “This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella,” the CDC said. “In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”The contaminated peppers were grown in Sinaloa, Mexico, and distributed by Coast Citrus Distributors. On August 8, the producer, NatureBest Precut & Produce, voluntarily recalled NatureBest and HEB products containing the tainted jalapenos, including soup mix, pico de gallo, stuffed mushrooms, and diced jalapenos. The products were distributed to retail outlets in Texas and Louisiana from July 3 to August 5, with symptom onsets of June 19 to August 2. People sickened in the outbreak are 1 to 85 years old.Of the 224 people interviewed, 91% reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant before their illness, namely Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba, with meal dates of June 14 to July 16. The CDC has identified 28 illness clusters at restaurants in eight states. In otherwise healthy people, Salmonella can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. But young children, frail or older adults, and those with weakened immune systems can experience serious or fatal illness. Rarely, the bacterium gets into the bloodstream, leading to severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis, and arthritis.
FDA issues highest-risk warning for recalled frozen berries sold at Publix due to E.coli - The FDA has issued its highest-risk classification for a recall involving frozen berries sold at Publix stores due to a multistate E.coli outbreak. The recall involves GreenWise Organic Blueberries and GreenWise Frozen Mixed Berries. The recall was first issued in early July for the organic blueberries. Later that month, it was expanded to include the frozen mixed berries. On Tuesday, the FDA classified the recall as a Class I recall, its most serious category, because the products have been linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak. According to the FDA, as of its July 30 update, 12 people had been sickened, and four had been hospitalized. The recalled products were sold at Publix locations across eight states and have since been removed from store shelves. However, health officials warn some shoppers may still have the products in their freezers. Consumers who have the recalled berries should not eat them and should either throw them away or return them to the store.
FDA, CDC investigating multistate outbreak of E coli, Salmonella linked to sprouts - Today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced they are investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli and Salmonella linked to alfalfa sprouts that has sickened 55 people, sending four people to the hospital, in 15 states. State health departments and the CDC confirmed 46 people infected with E coli, seven people infected with Salmonella, and two people having both E coli and Salmonella infections. People became ill from May 31 through August 8. About three-fourths of people interviewed—26 of 34 (76%)—said they ate alfalfa sprouts, and trace-back investigations identified alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts as the potential source of this outbreak. On Wednesday, the FDA started collecting samples from the company. The FDA recommends that Everything Sprouts recall its product and urges people to avoid eating sprouts sold under the Calco or Everything Sprouts brand. People with these products should toss them out or return them to the store where they were purchased. States with cases are Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. Minnesota has reported the most cases: 21. Both E coli and Salmonella cause diarrhea and stomach cramps. E coli can also lead to vomiting and bloody stool, while Salmonella can cause fever. The CDC recommends people seek medical care if they have any of these symptoms: diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F, bloody diarrhea, diarrhea that lasts for more than two days and hasn’t improved, vomiting that impairs the ability to keep fluids down, and dehydration.
Another dangerous bug is spreading across the country, and scientists say it has a new way to hide --According to a new study, a drug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections may have a new way to disrupt the body’s defenses. Researchers found that Candida auris can hide deep inside hair follicles and change the immune response. This also allows it to remain on the skin for a long time. Nearly 3,000 cases have been reported in 23 U.S. states this year, with Texas reporting the highest number. Health officials continue to warn that the fungus poses the greatest risk to people with weakened immune systems. According to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, Candida auris was compared with Candida albicans in laboratory mice to understand why the newer fungus is harder to eliminate from the skin. They found that C. albicans disappeared within days after triggering an immune response known as IL-17, which helps repair the skin and fight fungal infections. Meanwhile, C. auris remained inside hair follicles and triggered interferon gamma, an immune signal normally used to fight viruses. The researchers said the fungus alters its outer wall by exposing a substance called chitin. That change then signals immune cells to release interferon gamma. Instead of clearing the fungus, the response slows the replacement of damaged hair follicle cells and creates conditions that allow the organism to survive. Dr. Suzanne Noble, a UCSF microbiology professor and co-senior author of the study, said, “Chitin is widespread in nature, so it’s not like the human skin never encounters it, but we were surprised to see that C. auris actively uses its chitin to turn the skin into a perfect nest.” First identified in Japan in 2009 and detected in the United States in 2016, Candida auris spreads mainly in hospitals and nursing homes. There, it can survive on surfaces for weeks. Some strains resist all major classes of antifungal drugs, leading the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to classify it as an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat.For most healthy people, the fungus causes no serious illness and may remain on the skin without symptoms for months. However, carriers can unknowingly spread it to medically vulnerable patients. When invasive infections develop, symptoms may include fever, chills, fatigue, low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate.Dr. Ari Molofsky, a UCSF immunologist and co-senior author of the study, said, “It’s only when it reaches deeper tissues in medically vulnerable patients that it becomes dangerous. Understanding how it survives on the skin may help explain how it eventually causes serious infections.” The CDC reportedly estimated that up to 60% of people with invasive C. auris infections have died, although many had serious underlying medical conditions. The agency says the fungus contributes to about 3,000 deaths in the United States each year. According to researchers, there is still no reliable way to completely remove C. auris from the skin, but the new findings could help guide future treatments.
Nearly 16,000 cases of diarrhea parasite confirmed. See map --Cases of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea, appeared to be slowing as federal health officials continue investigating unprecedented outbreaks of the illness across 47 states.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a weekly update on Aug. 18 that 15,716 cyclospora infections have been confirmed across 47 states plus Washington, DC, since May 1 – an uptick of 1,821 since its last report on Aug. 11. While these numbers show that confirmed cases themselves are still rising, the overall trend is on a downward swing; previous weeks regularly saw increase that numbered into the 2,000 and 3,000 range.There have been two deaths and 828 hospitalizations, 88 of which were reported since last week.At least 11,841 additional cases have not yet been confirmed by laboratories, the CDC said. The agency's case count lags about six weeks behind state-by-state numbers due to the process required to confirm and officially report an infection back to the federal level.Michigan, which has been at the center of the largest case cluster, reported 14,277 total cases as of Aug. 20, up from 13,909 on Aug. 11. The state's health department previously said in an Aug. 6 notice that the pace of new case reports and related emergency department visits was slowing and that residents could resume normal lettuce-eating habits. Some experts told USA TODAY, however, that caution may still be prudent in the produce aisle. "If you're really thinking about keeping your family safe, it's not unreasonable to continue to wash your lettuce at this time while we watch the numbers go down," said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Only three states, Delaware, Hawaii and New Mexico, do not have federally confirmed cases. Michigan and Ohio remain the two states hit the hardest. The CDC reports only lab-confirmed cases that occurred on or after May 1 in people who did not travel internationally within 14 days of illness onset. Its numbers often lag behind those cited by state health officials because of tracking, verification and reporting processes. There's typically a six-week reporting lag between an illness and the case being reported to the CDC. Cyclosporiasis is a parasitic infection that causes gastrointestinal symptoms often associated with food poisoning, such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. It is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known simply as cyclospora, and is usually contracted through contaminated food or water. Though unpleasant, it is not generally known to cause death, and in many cases it goes unreported because people recover at home without visiting a doctor. It can cause more serious complications in people with compromised immune systems or other underlying health problems.The most common symptom is watery, frequent and sometimes "explosive" diarrhea that can go away and come back, according to the CDC and Cleveland Clinic, though other troubles can include:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating, including burping and gas, or stomach cramps
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Fever
- Nausea
While the CDC is currently investigating multiple separate clusters of the gastrointestinal illness, only one source has been identified so far. It is unlikely that there is one common cause behind all the outbreaks nationwide, according to the CDC.The largest outbreak, centered in Michigan, was tracked by the Food and Drug Administration back to recalled iceberg lettuce grown by produce giant Taylor Farms in central Mexico. This specific set of illnesses, first identified through traceback from fast-food chain Taco Bell, accounted for 9,481 cases and 398 hospitalizations across 17 states as of Aug. 13, per the CDC. These states were identified after health officials interviewed and tested sick people to determine whether their infections were related. Those that are related are considered part of the same outbreak, likely stemming from the same source. Thus far, these states are the only ones the CDC has confirmed as having cases related to each other and the lettuce. Both deaths that have occurred in the outbreak were associated with the lettuce-linked outbreak, according to the agency.
Record cyclosporiasis outbreak tests the response of a 'weakened' health system --With the largest-ever cyclosporiasis outbreak concentrated in nearby states, Environmental health expert Bob Custard– now a public health consultant – said federal funding cuts have left local food safety programs across the state grossly understaffed. Health officials are unable to keep pace with the interviews and investigations needed to track and contain the diarrhea-causing bug. "It's like we have a house, and we decided to take smoke detectors out," Custard said of the current approach to foodborne illness.Meanwhile, epidemiologist Susan Mayne said the government has responded slowly to the record-shattering outbreak that started in May, which demonstrates how the nation's federal food safety programs are in disarray. That includes the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (now part of the Human Foods Program), which she ran until three years ago. Mayne said teams of staff who played critical roles in public-awareness campaigns and crisis-response coordination with counterparts in other countries were eliminated in the sweeping Trump administration cuts to the federal government last year that hit public health functions particularly hard. "And now we have this outbreak with Mexico – I don't know who's managing that partnership, [but] those relationships obviously have been disrupted," Mayne said. The summer's cyclosporiasis outbreak has been mostly linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico. The U.S. now has over 15,700 cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of this week. It's occurring in the wake of those funding and staff reductions, and Mayne echoed other scientists and food safety experts who said that is affecting the ground game against Cyclospora – from the local county levels, all the way to the federal agencies that fund nearly all of the country's food safety programs. "I think that that has really pushed us into a new level of vulnerability in terms of our food safety system," Mayne said.In a statement to NPR, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA and CDC, said that the Human Foods Program staff who work with foreign regulatory counterparts had been reinstated. Separately, the FDA said in a statement to NPR that it "continues to work with federal, state and international partners to investigate these outbreaks," and that it "deploys personnel where they have the greatest public health impact." Most of the states' food safety and outbreak programs are funded by grants from the FDA and CDC. Last year, the Trump administration slashed the CDC's grants alone by 40% — about $5.8 billion as of May. But where states cut within those programs varies. Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services said its food safety staff is down 30 to 50%. The Ohio Department of Health said in an emailed statement to NPR that its Cyclospora response is unaffected by staffing cuts.Michigan, with the highest caseload, successfully fought grant cuts in court. That allows disease surveillance, investigation, reporting and public service messaging to continue for now, according to an emailed statement from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.In West Virginia, beyond the federal cuts, other factors like job requirements for staffers who help investigate and prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses have affected the state's response. Custard, the West Virginia food safety consultant, said he worked with a county two years ago that at the time employed four full-time sanitarians, or public health specialists who investigate environmental health and safety. "The last time I talked to them they were down to two," he said. "It's a growing county with growing needs, so they're pretty stressed." That same county also lost its only epidemiologist, he said, whose job included food poisoning investigations. In fact, when Custard looks at the state's food safety staff organization chart – from the very top to the very bottom – about half of all positions are vacant. He said the lack of funding and low rate of pay have made staffing so bad, that in March, West Virginia lawmakers lowered the state's job requirements for sanitarians from four years of college to a two-year associate's degree. Custard bemoaned the change. "These people have a tremendous amount of responsibility and because of the variety of programs they work in, they really need a really strong science foundation."Because of the problems he's observed around his own state, Custard is not surprised that cyclones of infections keep spawning and swirling around the country. Or that regulators are still struggling to understand and contain Cyclospora's spread. "At every level, the system has been weakened. If you're not getting the reporting from the local level, it doesn't roll up to the state level and then roll up to the national level.""Delays, lack of clarity and time in solving problems are all symptoms of this broader issue that our public health – and in particular state and local public health departments – are in crisis," said Sarah Sorscher, director of regulatory affairs for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. She said a lack of information has left the public confused about what's safe to eat. "That confusion itself, and the period of time it's taken them to solve the outbreak is a real cost to public health."
Doctors found a parasite eating a man’s liver. Then traced how he got it - Doctors in Italy have revealed how they traced two large abscesses eating away at a truck driver’s liver back to a parasite usually associated with poor sanitation in the tropics—and to a chain of infections that began with body lice and, they believe, a sexual encounter. Dr. Ayesha Bryant, clinical adviser of Alpas Wellness in Maryland, was not involved in the medical case but told Newsweek that what stands out from it is how the parasite got there. “What makes this case significant isn’t just because a foreign parasite is found in Italy, but because how the parasite got into the person does not match the way health professionals typically think they get there,” Bryant said. “It wasn’t until after he had a series of symptoms, including persistent diarrhea, weight loss, fevers, and eventually developed liver lesions, that invasive amebiasis was identified as the underlying reason.” Newsweek has also contacted the medical report’s authors, based at the University of Padua in Italy and the University of Manchester in England. The bizarre case, newly published in Infectious Disease Reports, centers on a 41-year-old man from northern Italy who was admitted to a hepatology unit in July after an ultrasound found two hypoechoic lesions in the right lobe of his liver, measuring 8 centimeters and 6 centimeters across. A CT scan confirmed irregular, fluid-filled masses that looked like dying tissue. When doctors drew fluid from the larger lesion, they found thick, brown, necrotic material packed with inflammatory cells—but bacterial and fungal cultures came back negative, and there were no signs of tuberculosis or malaria. To find the cause, doctors pieced together months of unexplained illness. Months earlier, the man had been treated for a body lice infestation with medicated shampoo and hot-washed bedding and homeware. Shortly afterward, he developed severe diarrhea and abdominal cramping that lasted about a month, along with recurring fevers and significant weight loss where he dropped 12 kilograms. He also developed swelling of the lips and mouth resembling Quincke’s edema, which worsened in the evenings. Blood tests showed antibodies suggesting Borrelia infection, which causes Lyme disease. Doctors believe he contracted it from the body lice rather than a tick bite, since he recalled no recent bite and lived in a wooded area only part-time. Tests for a roundworm infection and for the parasitic disease echinococcosis came back negative, as did screening for HIV and syphilis. The turning point came when doctors asked more detailed questions about the man’s intimate relationships. The man eventually disclosed that about a month before his diarrhea began, he had sex with a man, described in the report as being a “paid” encounter with a man who was “not Caucasian.” That detail led doctors to test for Entamoeba histolytica, the parasite behind amoebiasis, which is usually spread through contaminated food or water in parts of Africa and South Asia but can also be transmitted sexually through oral-anal contact. Two separate blood samples came back strongly positive for the parasite’s antibodies. Doctors concluded the man had invasive amoebiasis with hepatic abscesses, most likely acquired sexually, running alongside a separate louse-borne Borrelia infection. Fortunately, the serious gut parasite that had spread to his liver and caused abscesses there, and, separately, the bacterial infection from body lice he had acquired around the same time were effectively treated. The man recovered with two rounds of the antibiotic metronidazole followed by paromomycin to clear the infection from his gut and prevent it from returning. Six months later, his antibody levels had dropped and CT scans showed his liver lesions had almost completely resolved. The report’s authors say the case is a reminder that diseases once considered confined to the tropics are increasingly turning up in wealthier countries, partly through migration and travel. They argue doctors should consider sexual transmission when screening patients for unexplained gastrointestinal illness to catch and treat carriers before the infection spreads further.
Want to predict Lyme disease risk? Count the acorns, not the deer - If you want to know how bad a future tick season will be, it may be more useful to count the number of acorns on the ground than the number of deer in the forest. That’s one of several surprising findings to emerge from more than 30 years of tracking ticks, mice, deer, and weather in a Lyme disease hot spot. The findings, published this week in PNAS, challenge long-held ideas about what drives Lyme disease risk. For the study, researchers from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Bard College analyzed decades of data from a forested area in New York’s Hudson Valley. The long span of the study enabled researchers to track trends over time. “Studies of this depth and length are incredibly rare,” says study coauthor and co-director of the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Shannon LaDeau, PhD, in an institute news release. “This research has followed an ecological community—including oak trees, mammals, and microorganisms—examining how interactions like predation, parasitism, and competition shape the system over time.” “The evolution of understanding summarized in this paper is something you simply cannot get without such a long-term and system-focused study,” she added. Lyme disease is the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in temperate zones across the globe, with more than 450,000 cases reported annually in the United States and more than 200,000 annually in Western Europe, the authors state. It affects millions of people across North America, Europe, and Asia, and, while rarely fatal, it can result in chronic, debilitating illness. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans by black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), also known as deer ticks. It’s long been assumed that more deer equal more ticks, because when deer are abundant, more female ticks are able to feed and lay eggs on them. That would lead to more larval ticks the following summer, the theory goes—and, in turn, more nymphal ticks two years later. Nymphal-stage ticks are responsible for most human infections in North America. But after observing more than a sixfold variation in deer abundance over the course of the study, the researchers found no relationship between the number of deer and the density of nymphs. Another surprise helped explain why: More ticks at one stage of the life cycle did not reliably translate into more ticks at the next. “Simple life history theory predicts that abundant populations of larvae should lead the next year to abundant nymphs, which in turn should lead to abundant adults, a phenomenon called demographic forcing,” the researchers write. But “significant demographic forcing was seen only for the transition from nymphal to adult stage.” White-footed mice are very good at passing the bacterium that causes Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi) to larval ticks, so researchers expected that mouse-abundant years would lead to more infected nymphal ticks. But in the study, the number of mice didn’t predict the proportion of nymphal ticks infected with B burgdorferi. Instead, the rate of infection appeared to depend on how larval ticks were distributed across the entire community of small mammals who serve as hosts for the bacteria. Mice did, however, strongly predict the number of nymphal ticks. A strong mouse year was associated with approximately 40% more nymphs the following year. Mice feed on acorns that fall from large red oaks. When a large number of oak trees drop their acorns at the same time, it creates an endless buffet for mice. All those hearty meals help boost the mouse population the following year and, in turn, the number of nymphal ticks the year after that. Acorns are therefore postulated to be both a driver and a leading indicator of Lyme disease risk in regions where oaks are abundant. Previous laboratory studies have shown that extreme heat and cold can kill black-legged ticks, which suggests that severe seasonal temperatures may help determine tick abundance. But ticks outsmart frigid winters and steamy spring days by burrowing into the soil, write the researchers. The current findings suggest that neither extremely cold winter days nor extremely warm spring days predicted nymphal tick density. But in the warmest years, mice had roughly 45% fewer nymphal ticks than in colder years. “Cumulative degree-days above freezing, a measure of overall warmth, was positively associated with mouse abundance but negatively associated with nymphal tick abundance,” write the researchers. This suggests that, all else being equal, tick populations might decline in the future with the warming climate.
Deer farms in 2 Wisconsin counties quarantined after CWD identified | CIDRAP - Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been found on deer farms in Crawford and Portage counties in Wisconsin, the state’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced over the weekend. Both counties had previously reported cases in farm-raised deer, including in a 3-year-old buck in Portage County in October 2025. The farms are under quarantine while the DATCP and the US Department of Agriculture complete an epidemiologic investigation. The Crawford County case was in a 2-year-old elk cow, and the case in Portage County was in a 3-year-old deer buck. The department released no further details. A total of 231 deer farms, including 52 hunting ranches, are registered in Wisconsin. From 2001 to October 2024, CWD cases were reported on 46 deer farms (20%), and 24 herds were culled as a result. As of October 2025, 17 hunting ranches and seven deer farms that had reported CWD were still in operation, while 22 had closed.Of the 231 total deer farms, 78 are enrolled in the state’s voluntary CWD Herd Status program, which requires CWD testing of deer 1 year and older, record-keeping, and reporting. Enrollment is mandated for farms that want to move live farm-raised deer within or outside of Wisconsin.CWD has infected wild deer in most Wisconsin counties. The fatal neurologic disease affects cervids such as deer, moose, and elk. It’s caused by misfolded proteins called prions, which spread through infected body fluids and environmental contamination. It causes symptoms such as discoordination, weight loss, and excessive drooling.While CWD is not known to affect people, health authorities recommend against eating the meat of infected or sick cervids and urge caution when handling their carcasses.
Farm mice study shows antibiotic resistance is an environmental problem, not just a medical one - Scientists analyzed the genomes of gut microorganisms from an extensive population of 875 wild house mice (Mus musculus) collected from farms in Germany. They searched for genes responsible for resistance to common antibiotics and correlated the presence of these ARGs in the mice with a range of environmental and host variables, such as land use and farming practices, livestock density for cattle, pigs and poultry, sex and physical condition of the mice, as well as climatic variables. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications. These statistical analyses aimed to explain the influence these factors have on which and how many ARGs are present in the mice's gut microbiome. In a second step, they compared the resistance profiles in the mice's genomes with resistance genes found in the manure of farm animals, whose genomic data are publicly available from other projects. Previous studies have shown that water bodies in urban areas and agricultural land are heavily contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The scientists therefore expected that antibiotic resistance would also be detected in wild animals in the immediate vicinity of large livestock farms. "We had no idea of the extent to which the transfer of resistance genes might be detected in wild animals," says Dr. Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz of the Max Delbrück Center. "We expected some overlap, but we were surprised to find that around 50% of the resistance genes from cattle, pigs and chickens were also present in our wild mice." This shows that there are many ecological bridges between humans, farm animals and wildlife, and that spatial proximity can imply functional, ecological interdependence—and, in the case of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, indeed does. Furthermore, the scientists found that environmental variables and the intensity of livestock farming have a greater influence on the specific resistance profile in the gut microbiome of a wild farm mouse than the mouse's own characteristics. The way agricultural land in the immediate vicinity of the farm is used, and the resulting direct and indirect contact with farm animals, explains three times as much about which ARGs are detectable in the mouse as the mouse's sex or body condition. "Our statistical models showed that certain factors have a very strong effect on the presence of specific resistance genes," says Professor Emanuel Heitlinger, who conducted this study at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Leibniz-IZW and is now associated with the Federal State Agency for Consumer & Health Protection Rhineland-Palatinate. "For example, pig farming density is strongly associated with resistance genes related to antibiotics that are widely used in veterinary and farming practices, such as sulfonamides, tetracyclines or beta-lactams." There are therefore direct, demonstrable effects of intensive livestock farming on specific forms of antibiotic resistance in wildlife. According to the team of authors, ecological concepts have so far been insufficiently integrated into microbiome research. The study highlights highly relevant links between hosts, microbiomes, resistance genes and spatial environmental factors. "We were able to identify pathways of resistance extending beyond the boundaries of medical or agricultural systems into the environment," says Professor Stephanie Kramer-Schadt, head of department at the Leibniz-IZW and professor at Technische Universität Berlin. "Antibiotic resistance is not an isolated medical problem, but a systemic ecological phenomenon. Our research represents the first step toward creating a clear 'map' of how ecosystems heavily used and shaped by humans influence the evolution of microorganisms in the environment."
Pioneering cancer treatment saves python named Jodie Foster: UK zoo - A British zoo Friday hailed the successful treatment of a cancer-stricken python named after Hollywood star Jodie Foster, who became the first snake to receive an innovative treatment combining surgery and electrochemotherapy (ECT). Chester Zoo, in northwest England, said the 4.5-meter (15-foot) reticulated python had fully recovered after first undergoing surgery and then receiving ECT following the return of a cancerous tumor in her jawbone. Animals are increasingly being treated for cancer with drugs and therapies once used only in humans. Other creatures—including a turtle and lizard—have received ECT treatment previously, according to case reports posted on medical science databases. But Chester Zoo's veterinary team, which worked alongside University of Liverpool cancer specialists to adapt the pioneering treatment, believes it is a first for a snake. "We were facing the possibility of losing her as the tumor made it more and more difficult for her to eat," Chester Zoo vet Ian Ashpole said in a press release. "So we worked with cancer specialists to see whether we could adapt electrochemotherapy for a snake. As far as we're aware, this is the first time it's ever been used in one." Zookeepers first became concerned when 23-year-old Jodie—who has been at the zoo for two decades—began eating less and spending more time inactive in her habitat. Tests confirmed a malignant tumor in her jaw, which was removed through surgery. But it then returned, prompting another surgical procedure, during which ECT was also deployed to target any remaining cancerous cells. ECT combines the cancer drug bleomycin with a series of electrical pulses directly on the tumor site that temporarily make cancer cells more permeable, allowing the drug to enter more effectively. "She is so big we had to put two operating tables together, effectively making one the size of a double bed," Ashpole said. The procedure included removing part of the python's jawbone. "We used heated blankets and warmed air to keep her body temperature stable throughout the operation. After 90 minutes of surgery, she recovered remarkably quickly." Following a checkup this week, the zoo said Jodie is "cancer-free, eating normally and back to her usual 'bright and feisty' self."
Fish and Wildlife Service pauses plan to change wetlands policy - - The Trump administration has hit the brakes on its plan to roll back a Fish and Wildlife Service wetland conservation policy following pushback from prominent Republicans and tens of thousands of duck hunters.The agency will not move forward with changes to a rule governing conservation easements in the Upper Midwest — at least for now. The Aug. 14 announcement came days after over a dozen congressional Republicans, alongside conservation groups and hunters, urged the agency to retain the current policy, set during the Biden administration.“Our administration is dedicated to protecting both the wetland easements purchased by the FWS that are necessary to protect our conservation heritage as well as the private landowners’ use of their lands outside the easement boundaries,” the agency said in a post on X. “At this time, no further action is planned as we review the information received.”The Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to questions Tuesday about whether it might propose changes after reviewing the more than 200,000 comments it received in recent weeks. But some Republicans who support the policy have already declared victory.“Thank you to [Interior] Secretary [Doug] Burgum for listening to our concerns—and those of countless Arkansans who value conservation,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), one of more than a dozen House and Senate Republicans who rushed to the defense of the 2024 rule, said in a post on X. But not everyone welcomed the news. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who has long been critical of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s administration of the easement program, said he was “stunned” and “furious” by the agency’s reversal.He accused the Trump administration of caving to pressure from recreational hunters and “environmental extremists” at Ducks Unlimited, a conservation group that mobilized its members in defense of the 2024 rule. Cramer also vowed to vote against future Interior Department nominees in response to the agency’s decision.“My farmers are furious and so am I. There won’t be another nominee confirmed until something changes,” Cramer said in a statement to POLITICO. “I have yet to hear from anyone at the Department of Interior.”Since the 1970s, the Fish and Wildlife Service has purchased hundreds of thousands of acres of easements in the Midwest to conserve the region’s Prairie Pothole wetlands. The unique wetlands provide critical habitat for more than a dozen species of migratory waterfowl.Funded largely by proceeds from duck hunting permits, the wetland protection program is supported by many Republicans, although lawmakers from North Dakota have long viewed the policy as a burden to landowners with old easements on their properties.In 2024, the Biden administration finalized a rule clarifying how it calculates setbacks on lands under easement to ensure that farming practices — specifically, draining of soil — do not alter protected wetlands. Some North Dakotan landowners and lawmakers say that has unlawfully put more farmland out of production without providing adequate compensation.Recognizing those concerns, the Fish and Wildlife Service requested feedback on the issue last month, in an initial step toward potential changes to reduce farming restrictions for landowners. Hunters swiftly pushed back due to the potential implications for duck habitat, and the Fish and Wildlife Service took note. In its statement, the agency thanked the “more than 200,000 commenters who responded to the request for information.”
Judge rejects Alaska land swap that would allow road through wildlife refuge - A federal judge in Alaska this week struck down the Trump administration’s decision to green-light a land exchange that had paved the way for a 10.5-mile road to be blazed through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Judge Sharon Gleason, an Obama appointee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, said in a Monday decision the administration committed several unlawful errors in its land-swap approval last year.The deal was prompted by a decades-long push from locals in the remote coastal region to build a road from the community of King Cove to the town of Cold Bay, more than 18 miles away, where an all-weather airport could ferry sick or injured people to hospitals.Gleason acknowledged the “hardships” that the lack of a road represents to local residents but said “those circumstances cannot justify keeping in place an unlawful land exchange that would allow road construction to proceed.”
70+ million under heat alerts across Southeast as dangerous heat grips region | -- Millions across the South face a week of feels-like temperatures over 100 degrees, with heat indices reaching 115 degrees in some places as a summer heat wave grips the region. This has put over 40 million Americans at risk from extreme heat, with over 70 million under heat alerts. A heat dome anchored in the Southwest has expanded into the Southeast coast and, combined with high humidity, will keep heat indices near or above 100 degrees through Sunday. Charleston, South Carolina, is forecast to reach 100 degrees Tuesday, with a feels-like temperature of 112 degrees. Triple-digit heat also extends west across parts of Oklahoma, North Texas and the Texas Gulf Coast. Additionally, any afternoon storms will provide little lasting relief, which will allow heat to build and compound through the week. Nighttime low temperatures will likely remain in the upper 70s. According to NOAA’s HeatRisk guidance, large portions of the Southeast will feature a major (Level 3 of 4) to extreme (Level 4 of 4) heat risk throughout the week. A Level 4 out of 4 extreme heat risk indicates a rare and persistent level of heat stress that poses a serious danger to anyone without adequate cooling or hydration. The core of the highest risk will stretch from the Lower Mississippi Valley across the Gulf States and into the Carolinas. These extreme conditions could push parts of Florida and South Carolina toward tying or breaking daily high records. A stagnant weather pattern will keep oppressive conditions anchored over the region through the weekend.
‘Uncharted territory’: Second-largest reservoir in US plunges to a record low - -Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the United States, provides water and electricity to millions in the West. It has now has shrunk to its lowest level on record, in the latest sign of the alarming crisis unfolding on the drought-stricken Colorado River.The reservoir’s levels dropped to 3,519.91 feet on Saturday, breaking the record low of 3,519.92 feet set in April 2023, according to data from the US Bureau of Reclamation published Sunday. It is now just under 30 feet away from the point at which its dam will no longer be able to generate hydropower. The record comes nine days after downstream Lake Mead, the US’s biggest reservoir, dropped to its lowest level since it was first filled nine decades ago. “We are in uncharted territory,” said Jack Schmidt, director of the Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University.Lakes Mead and Powell, which are essentially one gigantic reservoir separated by the Grand Canyon, hold just under 60% of the total water currently stored in the Colorado River basin. The unprecedented decline of these vast bodies of water, which have been shrinking for more than 20 years, drives home the perilous state of the river that feeds them.Known as the lifeblood of the Southwest, the Colorado River starts in the Rocky Mountains, fed by melting snowpack, and ends in the Gulf of California in Mexico. It provides water to roughly 40 million people and irrigates more than 5 million acres of farmland across seven states: California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah.Climate change-fueled drought and increases in temperature, combined with years of heavy water use, have caused the crucial waterway to shrink by roughly 20% since 2000. And Mead and Powell have been heavily affected.Spanning parts of Arizona and Utah, Lake Powell formed behind the Glen Canyon Dam, which was constructed in the 1950s. The vast reservoir started filling in 1963 and took 17 years to reach its full pool level of 3,700 feet above sea level. The reservoir’s level has always fluctuated. Every year, between May and July, it’s boosted by runoff from melting snow. It then decreases over the rest of the year, leaving distinctive “bathtub ring” formations along its rocky shoreline.However, this year, as with many recent years, Powell has suffered from a dearth of snow — last winter was one of the driest and warmest on record for the western USA major concern is the impact on energy generation. The force of the Colorado River turns the Glen Canyon Dam’s eight huge turbines, producing enough electricity each year to power nearly 500,000 households. It’s relied on by Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Nebraska. The reservoir could now be barreling toward “minimum power pool” — at 3,490 feet — when water levels will be too low to spin the turbines and generate electricity. This “scary threshold” will be reached this year unless “extraordinary measures” are taken, said Brad Udall, a senior water and climate research scientist at Colorado State University. These include reductions in water releases from Lake Powell and upstream, he added. The most alarming scenario would see Lake Powell reaching “deadpool” levels of below 3,370 feet. At this point water would no longer be able to flow downstream from the dam at all.It’s very hard to imagine this, Utah State’s Schmidt said. “I would expect draconian steps to decrease water use to prevent this from occurring. But who knows?”
Government will cut water to Ariz., Calif., Nevada as Colorado River runs low - The federal government will scale back the water supply for three Southwestern states to manage the growing crisis over the drying Colorado River, officials confirmed Friday. Officials from the Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees the Colorado River basin — a key source of water for over 40 million people living in the West — said Friday that the federal government will cut more than 1.2 million acre-feet of water supply annually over the next two years. The cuts, which start in 2027, will affect Arizona, California and Nevada — states that contain some of the country’s fastest-growing communities. Federal officials also said the government would allow the states to “voluntarily conserve” 700,000 acre-feet of water to protect the threatened basin system. Years of overuse and persistent drought have sent water levels in the river’s two largest reservoirs plummeting to record lows in recent days. Lakes Powell and Mead have not been this low since 1963, when Lake Powell began filling, the bureau said.The plan, which The Washington Post first reported on last month, could imperil not just water supply but the hydroelectric power relied upon by millions. The government will adjust the water it releases to keep Lake Powell’s level from falling below 3,510 feet, officials said.. “We continue to see a prolonged drought in our future,” said Andrea Travnicek, assistant secretary for water and science at the U.S. Department of Interior. “So continuing to work together as a whole within the basin is going to be extremely important.” The seven states that receive water from the Colorado River — Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California and Nevada — spent years negotiating a compromise to save the sweeping waterway. The river’s water flow plummeted even further this year after historically low snow levels. The states were unable to reach an agreement by a deadline earlier this year, prompting the federal government to step in. Negotiations between the states are continuing. The three lower basin states impacted by Friday’s decision have long argued that all seven states must make cuts to preserve the system, and noted that they will be doing their part. JB Hamby, the chairman of the Colorado River Board of California, called the action a “bridge, not a permanent solution.” “There is less water in the Colorado River, and the reductions ahead may be greater than anything we have faced before,” Hamby said in a statement. “A durable agreement must spread that responsibility fairly across the basin, with all seven states and both countries doing their part.” The affected states are exploring ways to absorb the cuts, including paying farmers to leave their fields fallow and obtaining water from other sources. Arizona’s Department of Water Resources said in a statement that the plan “does nothing to elevate expectations around a coherent seven-state plan for shared sacrifice” with no mandatory cuts for upper basin states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The statement also raised concerns over possible deeper cuts to its water supply over the long term, which the department said would “devastate Arizona’s water users and its economy.”
Catastrophic flooding devastates parts of Indiana --Catastrophic flooding has devastated parts of Indiana, forcing evacuations, sweeping vehicles off flooded roadways and destroying numerous homes as torrential rainfall inundates the region. Emergency crews are going door to door to help residents evacuate as life-threatening flooding continues across east-central Indiana. This caused the White River to surge, cresting near 25 feet in Anderson and Noblesville. Local reports indicate this surpassed the previous record of 23.6 feet set in March 1913.The rising waters forced hundreds of evacuations across Delaware County, particularly along the river in Muncie. The extreme water levels also caused significant infrastructure damage. On Saturday, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works warned of an imminent structural failure at multiple buildings due to erosion from a severe washout on an Indianapolis roadway.The danger extended well beyond roads and buildings as well. In Indianapolis and surrounding Marion County, emergency crews performed nearly 100 water rescues as neighborhoods near the White River were inundated. FOX News Multimedia Reporter Chelsea Torres reported from Indianapolis on Monday, highlighting that floodwaters still remain at critical levels.
Potential diversion of White River into Carmel quarry could damage bridge, sewage pipes — As the White River continues to swell beyond its banks across central Indiana, officials in Carmel expressed concerns about its impact on infrastructure on the southeast side of the city. The floodwaters are reversing the flow of Blue Woods Creek, City Engineer Bradley Pease said at a news conference Monday, Aug. 17, pushing water toward the Martin Marietta quarry at 106th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. "These floodwaters are cutting a channel back towards the White River. If the channel connects to the river, river water will divert into the channel, potentially causing a temporary drop in the riverbed water level until the water levels in the quarry and river equalize," Pease said. He added that if the channel connects, there is a "high likelihood" that the bridge that carries Hazel Dell Parkway over the creek — which partially collapsed on Sunday, Aug. 16 — could collapse into the creek bed and quarry. Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman declared the bridge a total loss at Monday's briefing. "I wish it was better news, but it is what we're dealing with," she said. . Around nine billion gallons of water could flow from the river into the quarry, officials said, taking about six hours to fill it. If the connection occurs, Pease said it's hard to predict when it would happen. He said the best-case scenario is that the river drops quickly enough that the connection doesn't happen, but added there is an 85% chance the connection will be made, with the water slowing down. No people or homes are at risk at this time, but Pease said there could be a significant loss of trees. Forty-one people were evacuated from their homes in Carmel and are not back yet, Mayor Sue Finkam said. Residents of Bickford Senior Living Community, which was also evacuated, returned on Sunday, Aug. 16. Director of Utilities Lane Young is also keeping an eye on two wastewater force mains that could be damaged and release raw sewage, he said. The force mains are usually 8-10 feet under the original creek bed, but now, crews are unsure where they are. As the channel cuts deeper and if the force mains get exposed, Young said there is a "high degree of likelihood" that they will fail. The pipes, which run parallel to the White River to the water treatment plant at 96th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, carry 90% of their service to the treatment plant, Young said. If they break, Young said, they will discharge raw sewage into the creek which, for now, is going into the quarry. But if the water starts flowing back and the pipes break, the sewage could go into the White River. "We are working feverishly with contractors right now for a solution for bypassing that. But the problem is that solution has to bridge that same water channel," he said. At this time, however, Young assured residents that the city's drinking water is safe. "The drinking water system remains fully intact and our supply remains safe, and we’re continuing to monitor the situation," he said.
Indiana town swallowed by floodwaters as drone captures widespread devastation - An entire community swallowed by floodwater. Jaw-dropping drone video reveals the staggering scale of destruction in Cambridge City, Indiana, after catastrophic flash flooding turned streets into raging rivers and inundated entire neighborhoods. Following a briefing with Mayor Finkam and her team, Carmel City Council member Adam Aasen noted that the bridge just south of 106th on Hazel Dell appears to be a total loss. Hamilton County will lead the replacement, which officials warn will take months to complete. Watch: Drone Video Shows Devastating Flooding In Hamilton County, Indiana Drone video shows areas devastated by flooding in Hamilton County, Indiana, just north of Indianapolis, after a relentless week of severe storms and downpours. Flash Flood Emergencies were issued last Wednesday across east-central Indiana as torrential rainfall caused life-threatening flash flooding throughout the region. The National Weather Service reported that more than 11 inches of rain fell in parts of central Indiana over the course of two days.
At least 7 dead as historic flooding, severe storms devastate Indiana - A multiday onslaught of severe storms and historic flooding has let seven people dead and hundreds of structures impacted across Indiana, triggering widespread destruction, water rescues, mass power outages and imminent structural threats.Since storms lashed the state starting on Aug. 11, at least seven people have died due to storm-related incidents, the Indiana State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) confirmed.While comprehensive information on some of the victims remains limited, the SEOC has confirmed deaths across multiple counties, including a 19-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman in Delaware County, a 4-year-old boy in Jennings County, two women in Lake and Porter counties, a man in LaPorte County, and a 31-year-old man in New Castle. Detailing that Henry County tragedy, Carmel City Council member Adam Aasen explained, "Early Sunday morning...[he] on a bicycle rode past flood barricades and fell into a hole where the road had collapsed. He died."Indiana Governor Mike Braun also declared a state of emergency to secure additional resources for the catastrophic devastation.Hamilton County officials said hundreds of structures have been impacted by the flooding. Authorities said their goal is now assessment, recovery and reconstruction.
Indiana goes 9 days without power as war on Iran drives up US energy costs -- Indiana faces a prolonged and increasingly grim recovery from deadly storms, with widespread power outages and flooding continuing more than a week after the disaster. On Thursday, 68,000 customers in northwest Indiana remained without electricity after the August 11 storms, with some areas not expected to regain power until August 25. The storms began as a powerful system moving from Iowa into the Midwest and developed into a derecho, producing wind gusts of up to 160 km/h in Indiana and widespread destruction. “The August 11 system brought destructive winds, hail and repeated heavy rainfall, with flooding compounding the damage across northern and central Indiana,” said the US National Weather Service. Northern Indiana Public Service Co. said it had restored power to 306,500 customers but described the destruction as “unprecedented and widespread” as crews continued repairing broken poles, wires and damaged equipment. At least seven people have died in Indiana since the storms began, while record flooding forced hundreds from their homes and left major roads, bridges and other infrastructure severely damaged. The White River reached a record 7.3 meters in parts of the state, while power outages continue to affect thousands of families. The prolonged blackout is creating additional health risks, including potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, spoiled food and the loss of electricity needed to operate medical equipment. “Nine days is a long time for a community to be without power,” said Courtney Page-Tan, an Indiana University Indianapolis professor who studies community resilience. Schools have also been disrupted, with thousands of Indiana students affected as districts remain closed or delay the start of classes because of fallen trees, damaged facilities and continuing power failures. Page-Tan warned that prolonged school closures could further harm vulnerable families, particularly those who may be unable to work because they cannot find childcare. “Existing safety concerns regarding trees down across several properties and damage that needs to be repaired” have forced one Indiana school district to postpone its academic year, officials said. Floodwaters turn deadly in Indiana, leaving si In Ohio, meanwhile, more than 7.62 centimeters of rain fell in Columbus within 12 hours Thursday, producing flash flooding as the state was still struggling to recover from earlier severe weather. Emergency crews rescued two women trapped in a flooded creek and saved a 12-year-old boy who was swept from a bridge by rising water, according to fire officials. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said the latest flooding had created another serious setback for communities already struggling with extensive storm damage. “We have been all hands on deck supporting residents since last week,” Ginther said, adding that officials would remain focused on recovery despite the renewed flooding.
Northwest Indiana residents in ‘survival mode’ as outages drag on (AP) — Tens of thousands of residents in northwest Indiana were in survival mode Thursday as they endured a ninth day without power, throwing out spoiled food, lining up for hot meals and searching for places to charge their phones. In Gary, Indiana, schools remained closed after the deadly Aug. 11 storm downed trees and power lines. Residents turned to social media to find open laundromats and working Wi-Fi, while others sought food, diapers and cleaning wipes for low-income neighbors. Meanwhile, heavy rains in central Ohio brought flash flooding that covered roadways Thursday morning in Columbus, the state capital, where emergency crews rescued motorists from stranded cars and saved a 12-year-old boy who was swept off a bridge. Northern Indiana Public Service Co. said 68,000 customers were still without power as of Thursday morning, the majority of them in Lake County beside the Illinois border. The utility said it has restored power to 306,500 others since Aug. 11. But power is not expected to be fully restored until Tuesday in some places, including Gary. Courtney Page-Tan, an Indiana University Indianapolis professor who studies community resilience, said health concerns grow each day of a prolonged outage. With many people using generators, poor ventilation can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, those reliant on medical devices risk having them lose their charge, while refrigerated food once safe to eat could pose health risks as it spoils. “Nine days is a long time for a community to be without power,” Page-Tan said. Shatiya Hardin, a hair stylist in Gary for 25 years, has been unable to open her salon since the storm. She said residents in her lower-income neighborhood initially took the outages in stride. But now patience is wearing thin. “We’re always in survival mode in Gary. And I think that’s probably why it wasn’t so much of an uproar because the first few days, it was like, ‘OK, we’re used to this .... but this is the second week now,” Hardin said. “It’s not OK for us to continually be in survival mode, doing the best that we can.” More than a week after the initial storm, many residents in East Chicago, Indiana, who lost power regained it, but then lost it again. Kevin Mejia, who has a community Facebook page, was in that category Thursday. “If I make one post, I get 500 comments,” Mejia, 30, said. “A lot of people have been reaching out to me for food: ‘Hey, I threw out hundreds of dollars in groceries.’ Elderly people don’t know who to turn to.”
Rare tornado hits New York City area as storms cause chaos across Northeast, Mid-Atlantic - Destructive tornadoes and drenching storms pummeled the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, including a waterspout that came ashore in the New York City area. The waterspout hit Nassau County, New York, on Long Island, Thursday evening, ripping through the Sun and Surf Beach Club on Atlantic Beach and significantly damaging cabanas and buildings, the club said. A state of emergency was declared in Nassau County, County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on Facebook.The waterspout “came onshore as a tornado” near the beach club’s parking lot and shattered windows in dozens of cars, the National Weather Service said after conducting damage assessments Friday. The tornado was rated an EF1 with estimated peak winds of 97 mph. About 25 to 30 beach bungalows were damaged as well as the club’s roof and surrounding decks and railing, the weather service said.Waterspouts are just tornadoes that form over water, making this the first tornado to hit Nassau County since November 2021 and a rare tornado for the New York City area at large.Another waterspout may have come ashore about a mile east in Nassau County, the National Weather Service office in New York City said Friday morning. Investigations are ongoing. The office revised its report after saying on Thursday evening that another twister might have come ashore in nearby eastern Rockaway in Queens County.Damage was reported more broadly across the Mid-Atlantic region, including in parts of Pennsylvania and Delaware hit by tornadoes. A man also died after being struck by lightning on a beach in Cape Charles, Virginia, CNN affiliate WVEC reported, citing the town manager. A woman with the man was also struck but suffered only minor injuries, according to WVEC. CNN has reached out to officials for more details. A tornado caused “significant damage” throughout Dover, Delaware, according to the city’s police department. No one was seriously injured, the department later added. The city declared a state of emergency Thursday evening.Two hotels sustained “heavy damage,” Dover Police Department spokesperson Mark Hoffman told CNN. Video shows the tornado ripping the roof off a Super Lodge motel. All guests were evacuated and placed in a temporary shelter, Hoffman said.A tornado was also spotted in Columbia, Pennsylvania, as severe storms marched through southeast parts of the state. A state of emergency has been declared for Columbia Borough, police said Thursday night.Nearby, in York County, Pennsylvania, a high school and six townhomes were damaged and one person had a minor injury, according to the York County Office of Emergency Management.In Summit, New Jersey, fire crews responded to a blaze at a multi-unit home after an apparent lightning strike hit the chimney and caused a fire in the attic, CNN affiliate WABC reported. No one was injured.Fire Chief Brian Harnois said crews were already responding to storm-related emergencies when the call came in, WABC said.Nearly 3 inches of rain fell in parts of New York City in a few hours, while parts of southern New Jersey saw even higher totals close to 5 inches.The heavy rainfall caused flooding that closed portions of several major roadways across New York City the city, including the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the Long Island Expressway in Queens. City authorities also warned commuters of delays on “MTA trains across NYC.”The storms also disrupted air travel across the New York City region. The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday issued ground delays for flights arriving at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports, according to NYC Emergency Management. The storms were generated by a cold front that caused flash flooding in central Ohio early Thursday morning. Multiple water rescues and road closures were reported near Columbus, Ohio, according to CNN affiliate WBNS.All lanes of Interstate 70 in Licking County, Ohio, just east of Columbus, were closed Thursday evening near Buckeye Lake as the South Fork Licking River rose into major flood stage. The river was near its record crest set in March 2020 as of Friday morning.The threat of flooding rain has now shifted farther south into parts of the Carolinas and southern Virginia as the workweek comes to a close. More downpours will spread into the Mid-Atlantic on Saturday that could cause localized flash flooding, especially from eastern Virginia to the southern half of New Jersey.
About 100 homes swept away after Hurricane Lala lashes Hawaii Hawaii has been hit by flash floods and mudslides that have swept away homes after category one Hurricane Lala skirted Big Island, leaving one person dead in a car accident. More than 100 properties were uprooted from their foundations on Big Island, but Governor Josh Green said there "amazingly" did not seem to have been any wider loss of life. Despite not even making landfall, the storm still dumped up to 32in (81cm) of rain in places, sending torrents raging down mountainsides. More than 200,000 households were without power. Although Lala has since weakened to a tropical storm and was tracking westward, south of Hawaii, the danger is not over, say officials. The storm's eyewall howled within 30 miles (48km) of Big Island's South Point overnight, but it was close enough to bring flash flooding, Hawaii County said on Sunday. After gaining hurricane strength on Saturday afternoon, packing wind speeds of 91mph, Lala's winds have now decreased to near 65mph, said the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its latest advisory at 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT) on Sunday. But tropical storm warnings remain in effect for all eight of Hawaii's major islands on Sunday. "It appears that the properties that were washed away did not, at least as of this moment, to my knowledge, have any fatalities associated with them. "There were a lot of people that went to hospital for minor accidents." About 180 Hawaii National Guard members were deployed to help with the emergency response. Some 219,000 customers had lost electricity on Hawaii as of Sunday afternoon local time, according to tracker PowerOutage. Three hospitals also lost power, but they had backup generators. Big Island's two main airports, Hilo International and Ellison Onizuka Kona, were temporarily closed, but have since reopened. According to the governor, 190 flights have been postponed. In Maui, some residents were left without water supply on Saturday. Hurricane season in the US has been relatively quiet the last few years - the last major storm was category three Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida in October 2024. This year has seen a strong El Niño - a periodically occurring area of unusually warm surface water - develop in the Pacific, driven in part by climate change. As hurricanes and typhoons feed off warm sea waters, this spike in ocean temperatures could facilitate a higher number of storms that grow to have a greater intensity.
At least one dead, tens of thousands without power and over 100 homes damaged in wake of Hurricane Lala in Hawaii - Video from Hilo, an area in Hawaii's Big Island, shows large ocean waves crashing into boulders and the shoreline and palm trees whipping around from strong wind as weather conditions amp up from nearby Hurricane Lala. At least one person has died in Hawaii after Hurricane Lala swept south of the state over the weekend, bringing torrential rain that touched off destructive flooding. In the wake of the storm, officials discovered the body of a 90-year-old woman who “perished in the flood,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said at a news conference Monday. The woman had been reported missing in a neighborhood in the south of the Big Island and rescue crews from multiple agencies, including the National Guard, were dispatched to the search effort, officials said. Lala, now a tropical storm, has moved away from Hawaii and is going west over the open Pacific. The storm’s last few bands of rain departed Kauai early Monday, giving residents and officials across the islands space to deal with its aftermath. Exceptionally heavy rainfall, over 3 and a half feet of it in the Big Island’s mountains, set off landslides and flash floods that wiped out roads on the island and swept at least one home entirely off its foundation. Maui’s mountainous areas saw up to 2 feet of rain. Over 100 homes were “damaged and lost” in the storm on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, Green said Sunday. damage.jpg Drone video reveals the extensive damage torrential floods did to Highway 11 in Pahala 3:23 About 100,000 homes and businesses are still without power across the Hawaiian islands as of Monday afternoon local time, according to PowerOutage.com, after hurricane-force wind gusts swept across Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui counties. Power restoration in some areas could take days or longer as major transmission lines were down, Mayor of Hawaii County Kimo Alameda said in a Sunday afternoon news conference. Main lines must be repaired on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu, according to utility company Hawaiian Electric. water.jpg Water rushes down hillside under bridge in Maui on Saturday as Hurricane Lala slams island (Source: Greg Wilson via AP) 0:40 Hawaii’s state and county offices, schools, courts and judiciary offices were closed Monday. County buildings, state buildings and schools on the Big Island will remain closed through Tuesday “at least,” Green said, citing severe damage to some schools and widespread remaining power outages where the storm hit hardest. Lala, which strengthened to a Category 1 storm Saturday, made its closest approach to Hawaii’s Big Island at around 5 p.m. local time, with its eyewall brushing the southern portion from roughly 30 miles away, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storms approaching Hawaii typically hit cooler ocean temperatures before reaching the islands, but Lala remained over warmer water due to an ongoing marine heat wave extending to California and a developing Super El Niño. Lala unleashed destructive flash flooding Winds from the hurricane knocked down trees and damaged roofs, but “it’s the flood and the mud and the rock that poured through” communities in the Big Island’s south area that caused the real damage, the governor said Monday. Videos obtained by CNN show streets flooded by torrential rainfall on the Big Island. In the Kaʻū area, floodwater pushed at least two homes off their foundations, Volpe said. One of the homes was carried a few hundred yards away and a woman attempting to reach her vehicle outside the home was also swept up, he said. She was taken to the hospital with “moderate injuries.” Floodwaters rush across road on Hawaii’s Big Island 0:55 The second home was “shoved” partly off its base, Volpe said, noting the information is based on eyewitness accounts and authorities are still determining what happened. An ambulance crew responding to a reported emergency on the island became stranded when their truck was overtaken by floodwater and pushed up against a guard rail, Volpe said. The crew escaped by climbing on top of the ambulance and then into a National Guard high-water vehicle that had accompanied them. Mangled power lines, roadways and bridges Workers by Honolulu's Hawaii Convention Center cut up a tree knocked down from rain and wind from Hurricane Lala. Workers by Honolulu's Hawaii Convention Center cut up a tree knocked down from rain and wind from Hurricane Lala. Eugene Tanner/AFP/Getty Images A record number of road closures and prolonged power outages were reported on the Big Island, according to Alameda. Six bridges were destroyed or “almost destroyed” in the Kaʻū area, Alameda said, describing it as “devastation.” Farther south, a “river of water” went through the Naalehu area, washing away “quite a lot,” Green said Sunday. In the southeastern side of the Big Island, parts of the Pāhala Highway collapsed overnight into Sunday –– cutting off critical access to an area where one of the region’s only hospitals is located. Green said the wreckage on the highway created a new waterfall and caused damage to small bridges, while also cutting off power. Aerial footage of the highway shows parts of it destroyed by what appears to be a massive landslide. The collapse occurred after floodwaters from the Pa’au’au Stream breached a rock wall and surged onto the highway, causing it to buckle. Many roads across the county continue to be closed due to downed trees, utility lines and landslides, according to the mayor’s office. “While road crews are working hard to clear debris as conditions allow, we need all residents and visitors to heed all warnings, move into safe shelter, and stay off the roadways,” Alameda said. Hawaii is under a statewide brown water advisory due to the possibility that contaminated stormwater could make its way into coastal water and streams. In Honolulu County, crews conducted about 160 ocean rescues between Friday and Saturday evening, according to a post from Mayor Rick Blangiardi. EMS also treated three people who fell off or through their roofs during the storm while reportedly attempting to repair damage, the post said. “More than 30 blown roofs” were reported on Oahu as of Saturday evening, according to the post. Randy Collins, director of emergency management for the city and county of Honolulu, urged residents to be extra careful once the storm has passed and cleanup starts. “Many casualties happen after the disaster … As people are cleaning things up, they’re working with heavy equipment, chain saws, generators, they’re working around downed power lines and so forth. That’s when the casualties come,” he said. “I just want to encourage everyone as they are cleaning up to ensure that you are doing so in a safe manner.”
Rain, wind and… snow? Tropical Storm Lala brings a wintry surprise to Hawaii -- Tropical Storm Lala continues to slam Hawaii with damaging winds and rain, causing dangerous flooding across the region. However, as most residents brace for the storm’s impacts, some may not realize that Lala is bringing not only intense rainfall but snow, too. Meteorologists around the country took to social media to point out that the storm was producing snow on the summit of Mauna Kea. "It's happening. Hurricane Lala is currently producing SNOW on the summit of Mauna Kea," FOX Weather's Greg Diamond said on X. While snow on Hawaii’s mountains may sound unusual, it is not uncommon on Mauna Kea, especially given that the summit sits nearly 13,800 feet above sea level. Temperatures at sea level are in the upper 70s, but the air gets significantly colder with elevation. "A balloon launch from earlier today showed the air was cooling at approximately 5.5°C for every kilometer you go up," Diamond said. With the summit sitting close to 14,000 feet above sea level, temperatures there can drop to near or below freezing. As Tropical Storm Lala moved near the Big Island of Hawaii, the storm brought feet of rainfall to parts of the island. Combined with the freezing temperatures at the summit, that moisture helped produce snow on Mauna Kea. According to the FOX Forecast Center, although the summit isn’t experiencing torrential rainfall, conditions can still be hazardous due to the elevation. The area has experienced wind gusts of more than 100 mph, while the storm’s heavy precipitation creates thick snow at the summit. As conditions from Lala weaken throughout the day, snowfall on Mauna Kea is expected to subside.
Lala roars back to hurricane strength, threatening wildlife and historic site | Fox Weather– Just days after Hurricane Lala slammed the Hawaiian Islands, the storm is making a comeback as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has issued additional storm alerts on Tuesday, with a national monument at risk. The storm is moving west of the Hawaiian Islands, where atmospheric conditions are helping the storm move over warmer waters. As a result, the NHC has announced that Lala has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves westward, targeting the iconic Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. The NHC has issued a Hurricane Watch stretching from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef. Currently, Category 3 Hurricane Lala has winds of up to 125 mph, with possible further strengthening as the storm is expected to remain a hurricane for the next several days. The hurricane poses no threat to land, as it will occur over open water. Still, it poses a notable risk to the marine wildlife inhabiting the sanctuary, one of the world's largest marine conservation areas, along with housing the Battle of Midway National Monument. The sanctuary encompasses over 582,000 square miles of Pacific Ocean waters in Hawaii, protecting nationally significant natural, cultural and historical resources and providing opportunities to conduct research in various fields. Within the vast protected waters of the Pacific is also the historic Battle of Midway Monument, a time in history that all Americans and perhaps the entire world should learn to appreciate, as it served as a major turning point in World War II. The Battle of Midway took place six months following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, where the U.S. Navy achieved victory in a wild air and sea battle on June 3 to 6, 1942, as allies successfully defended the major base located on Midway Island.
Hurricane Lala explodes into major storm threatening Hawaiian Islands - After battering the Hawaiian Islands over the weekend, Hurricane Lala has exploded into a major Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds Tuesday evening, becoming the first major hurricane of the year in the Central Pacific. Forecasters expect additional strengthening tonight, with a peak of 130 mph, which would make Lala a Category 4 storm. The hurricane’s rapid re-intensification is somewhat surprising and has left forecast models playing catch-up. No aircraft reconnaissance missions have been scheduled for the storm since last weekend, which means no direct observations of the storm or its environment have been recorded. Only satellites are tracking the storm right now. In its latest forecast discussion, the National Hurricane Center said says the storms forecasted peak of 130 mph is “above all available intensity guidance.” The National Hurricane Center has upgraded its watches to warnings across the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, issuing a hurricane warning from Lisianski Island to Maro Reef and a tropical storm warning from Maro Reef east to French Frigate Shoals. Hurricane conditions are expected in the warning area by Thursday. The Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary stretches roughly 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu across the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The hurricane watch area covers Lisianski Island to Maro Reef. The monument is home to endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and millions of seabirds, and each summer, small teams of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and partner scientists camp on its islands to monitor those populations. It is unclear how many researchers are in the field right now, but in past years, NOAA has deployed teams of three to seven biologists to as many as five island sites from May through September. In 2018, a research vessel took seven researchers studying monk seals and sea turtles from French Frigate Shoals ahead of Hurricane Walaka, which peaked as a Category 5 storm before passing through the monument at Category 3 strength. Walaka made a direct hit on East Island at French Frigate Shoals, completely destroying the 11-acre nesting ground used by more than 90% of Hawaii’s green sea turtles. About a dozen researchers were also evacuated from two sites ahead of Hurricane Neki in 2009. Major hurricanes reaching the northwestern Hawaiian Islands are exceedingly rare in the modern record, which dates to the late 1940s. Waters in this part of the Pacific are usually too cool to sustain tropical systems. But the emerging historic El Niño and a multiyear marine heat wave have pushed sea surface temperatures around the hurricane’s current position to roughly 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius above normal. Subsurface waters, crucial fuel for hurricanes, are also running anomalously warm. Hurricane Lala, now a Category 3 storm with 115 mph winds, is forecast to reach major hurricane strength by Tuesday night. Lala is forecast to enter the monument Wednesday night near its peak intensity of 130 mph, passing through the warning area Thursday as a Category 3 hurricane before slowly weakening as it turns north. The storm is expected to remain a hurricane for several more days.
Hawaii braces for possible cyclone week after Hurricane Lala (AP) — Communities still recovering from last weekend’s hurricane in Hawaii could get pounded again in coming days from another tropical system gaining strength over warm Pacific waters.Hurricane Lala tore roofs off houses, uprooted trees, covered roads in mud and rocks and left many households without electricity. With thousands of homes and businesses still in the dark Thursday, forecasters warned yet another tropical cyclone is likely to approach the islands soon.“We’re worried about people going through this again,” said John Bravender, a warning coordinator meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. “Normally we would say pay attention to the forecast just in case. Now we’re saying take action now.”He said a tropical depression was just starting to become more organized, and while the system is not expected to take exactly the same track or even dump potentially as much rain as Lala, the ground is already saturated from the recent hurricane.The depression moving west and northwest could become a tropical storm in the coming hours and pass near or south of Hawaii’s Big Island over the weekend or early next week, the U.S. Central Pacific Hurricane Center said. That system could dump up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain on the Big Island and trigger life-threatening flooding, mudslides and rip currents, it added.“There’s definitely tension in the air’’ at the thought of more rain in communities that floodwaters turned into rivers, said Tiffany Edwards Hunt, a teacher living in Keaau, on the east side of the Big Island. “There were some areas that were completely washed out.” Her home was without electricity from Saturday to Monday, she said, but some neighborhoods were still in the dark days later. The Hawaiian Electric utility said it expects nearly all affected customers on the Big Island to have power restored, except for certain remote and severely damaged areas. Many families with limited resources are worried about spending more money to prepare for another storm, Hunt said Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t the only major shipping route in crisis - Policymakers and economists have long treated climate change as a crisis whose costs would mainly accrue to future generations. Unfortunately, that future is here. As the world frets over the consequences of the Iran war on everything from the cost of goods to the food supply, a separate phenomenon is also choking maritime traffic—and will continue to snarl supply chains long after the Strait of Hormuz reopens. Water levels in Germany’s Rhine River—one of Europe’s busiest shipping routes—have been at record lows amid weeks of drought, forcing cargo carriers to cut shipments to as little as one-fifth of normal capacity. Those problems didn’t start this summer, either. Rising temperatures caused by climate change have meant less snow in the Alps during the winter, and so less meltwater draining into the Rhine in warmer months. ING, the Dutch banking giant, estimates that the halt of traffic on the Rhine will lower Germany’s GDP by 0.3 percentage points this year, which is especially bad news considering the country was on track to grow by just 0.8 percentage points all year. German insurer Allianz likewise estimates that the brutal two-week heatwave in June will cut all of Europe’s GDP by 0.3 percentage points. In May, Allianz analysts had already projected that the countries most exposed to extreme heat—France, Japan, Italy, Germany, and Spain—will see economic output that’s 5 to 7 percent lower than it would have been otherwise by 2030. It’s not just Europe. The cost of shipping goods through the busiest lanes in the Panama Canal have jumped to record highs amid falling water levels and increased traffic from vessels redirected from routes disrupted by the Iran war. The Financial Times reports that transit slots on the canal’s most commonly used locks are being auctioned off for 16 times the average price for the same period last year. The ongoing El Niño—on track to be the strongest such event in 76 years—has seen wet season rainfalls slip below previous levels. Climate change has already made rainfall there much less predictable, meaning extreme droughts and floods both threaten to “push canal infrastructure past its operational limits,” The New York Times reported.. Influential environmental economists, including Nobel Prize winner William Nordhaus, have argued that spending heavily to respond to climate change in the present risks dinging economic growth down the line. The theory holds that by taking a more gradual approach—forgoing massive investments in adaptation and decarbonization, and continuing to reap the economic benefits of the fossil fuel economy for a while—continued robust growth will make our future selves rich enough to respond to climate change more easily (read: more cheaply) than we can today. The problem is that our poorer, present selves are now paying for the ballooning costs of climate change in all sorts of nightmarish ways. Direct hits like hurricanes and wildfires dole out damages all at once, destroying homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Governments pay for emergency response, then to clean up damages and rebuild. Insurance companies pay out to policyholders, and then raise rates in ways that strain household budgets, making federally backed mortgages harder to get and pushing up rents as landlords pass those rising costs onto tenants. If major insurance companies opt not to offer coverage to riskier markets, as in Florida, states step in to create their own insurers of last resort and open the market up to smaller, sometimes sketchier firms that threaten to leave policyholders to foot the bill when disaster strikes again. Heat waves drain labor productivity and droughts push down agricultural yields as farmers harvest crops later. Wars, like Trump’s misadventure in Iran, exacerbate these costs in the Panama Canal and elsewhere; growers are paying more for fertilizers, or losing access to them, because maritime traffic has ground to a halt in the contested Strait of Hormuz. Record-low water levels in the Danube have forced nuclear plants in Hungary and Romania to cut output and shut down without the river water needed to cool down reactors. Hungary’s MBH Bank reported a 0.1 percentage point hit to GDP for every week the country’s largest nuclear generator is offline. In France, three nuclear reactors were taken offline earlier this month as jellyfish—whose populations have been buoyed by warming waters, overfishing and plastic pollution—swarmed the seawater pumping stations used to cool them. The models that experts use to assess the costs of climate change also have a tendency to understate risks and leave out things now proving to be extraordinarily costly. A study in Nature last year, Heatmap’s Robinson Meyer noted recently, found that “climate-driven smoke deaths” resulted in economic damages that “exceed existing estimates of climate-driven damages from all other causes combined in the U.S.A.” It’d be unfair, of course, to blame governments’ failure to prepare for this moment on a handful of overly sanguine economic modelers; although their more prescient colleagues deserve credit for assessing climate risks more accurately, precious few economists have even bothered to consider the effects of rising temperatures. Climate change is a genuinely thorny problem to tackle given that our world still runs on the substances driving it, on fossil fuels in particular. In America, that fact has been ably exploited by Big Energy companies and the Republican politicians they fund, who’ve gone to great lengths to deny the problem and stop governments at every level from doing anything about it. Among the many hellish results of those efforts is that policymakers are essentially flying blind into a world that’s becoming increasingly expensive, and quite literally unnavigable.
Panama Canal to reduce shipping over El Niño-fueled drought - The Panama Canal will cut the number of ships passing through it starting next month because of drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon, the operator of the strategic waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific said Thursday. Starting Sept. 3, the number of vessels allowed through each day will fall from 36 to 34 because of low water levels in two artificial lakes that feed the canal, the Panama Canal Authority said. It will drop to 32 starting Sept. 15, the agency said. Central America is in the throes of a severe drought driven by El Niño, a weather pattern that warms surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, triggering worldwide changes in winds, atmospheric pressure and rainfall. In the area of the canal, rainfall from May to August is down 34% from its historical average, the authority said, adding that El Niño could reduce it even more. The Panama Canal handles 5% of global maritime trade and around 40% of U.S. container traffic. The canal operator said that "lower than forecast rainfall in the canal's watershed" called for measures to bolster the "long-term sustainability" of the waterway. It has already implemented other water conservation measures, such as lowering the maximum draft—the vessel's depth in the water—for the largest ships. In 2023, the water level in the lakes feeding the canal was so low that the waterway's operators cut the number of daily ship transits from 38 to 22. It said Thursday that, with the upcoming reduction, waiting times for ships trying to get through without making a reservation beforehand will increase. Nine of 10 ships using the canal do so with a reservation, and the remaining slots are auctioned off. Before the Iran war, the average winning bid in these auctions was $135,000. But in April, one shipping company eager to use the canal paid a whopping $4 million. The operator said it does not rule out further restrictions on shipping depending on how much it rains in the coming weeks. The U.S.-built canal's main users are the United States, China, Japan, Chile and South Korea. Water is a touchy issue in Panama because the lakes that feed the canal also provide water for half the population of 4.2 million people. El Niño occurs on average every two to seven years. This year's El Niño is shaping up as one of the strongest on record. On Wednesday, the government of Honduras placed 80% of that Central American country on drought alert.
Brewing Super El Niño expected to be strongest anyone alive on the planet has ever experienced - As El Niño continues to strengthen, models show a 69% chance it will become the strongest event since record-keeping began in 1950. This potential "Super El Niño" could have major ripple effects on weather patterns around the world. "Nobody alive has ever experienced an El Niño event this strong," FOX 35 Orlando meteorologist Noah Bergren said. "By this fall, we are tracking a system that easily eclipses the historic events of 2015 and 1997," adding that impacts could extend into 2027. Weather Hurricane Specialist Bryan Norcross shares the latest updates from NOAA on the developing El Niño, the quiet start to the season so far, and the number of named storms that could form. El Niño is typically associated with reduced tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic Basin and increased storm activity in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins, along with a host of other weather impacts around the world outside of hurricane season. This is a pattern we've already seen so far this year. El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific become warmer than average, but Bergren emphasized that the current warmth isn’t just limited to the ocean surface, the significant heat extends deeper into the Pacific. Water temperatures in the El Niño zone were 1.4 degrees Celsius above average across July—just shy of the threshold needed to be considered a Super El Niño, which requires temperatures to reach at least 2 degrees Celsius above average for three consecutive months. The strongest El Niño events on record include 1877–1878, 2015–2016, 1997–1998 and 1982–1983, with sea-surface temperature anomalies during the 2015–2016 event reaching closer to 3 degrees Celsius above average. Bergren notes that consensus forecasts indicate current average temperatures abnormally between 3.0 and 3.4 degrees Celsius by November and December, with some extreme model projections indicating 4 degrees Celsius. "If these averages hold, this system will blow every historical event out of the water," he said. The potential impacts extend beyond the Pacific Basin. While stronger El Niño patterns typically increase hurricane activity in the Pacific, the consequences reach much further. Bergren noted that Florida and the Southern U.S. could face an exceptionally wet winter, with Florida specifically facing a higher potential for severe weather. "For example, the winters of 1982, 1997, and 2015 all produced EF3 tornadoes (133-165 MPH)—including the deadly "Night of the Tornadoes" that devastated parts of Central Florida in February 1998," he said. Meanwhile, across Europe, it could mean isolated downpours. Additionally, Bergren points out that El Niño could drive global temperatures way past normal levels in 2027. "Long story short, different parts of the globe experience major El Niño impacts at different times. This is a globally significant, strengthening weather event that will have clear, undeniable consequences later this year and throughout 2027," he said.
NOAA releases fall weather predictions for all 50 states as El Niño grows stronger - Fall is just around the corner, but summer weather may be sticking around a little while longer. A seasonal outlook released by national forecasters on Thursday shows most of the country is expected to see warmer-than-average weather over the next three months. The long-range forecast, produced by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, shows all but a few states leaning toward hotter-than-normal temperatures between September and November. The Pacific Northwest is most likely to see above-average weather, according to the map. The future is murkier for a handful of states shown in white on the map below. Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia have about equal chances of seeing a warm fall, a cool fall and an average fall. When it comes to precipitation, even more states are seeing a toss-up situation. The Southwest and Southeast are more likely to see above-average rain, while the Northeast and Pacific Northwest are more likely to be dry. The forecast isn’t very clear for everyone else. Most states have equal chances of below-average, above-average or average precipitation between now and November. Hawaii, which isn’t shown on the maps above, has a different outlook. Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island are most likely to see above-normal temperatures this fall, before shifting to a cooler winter season in early 2027. Below-normal precipitation is increasingly likely for all of Hawaii starting in October, the Climate Prediction Center said. Last Thursday, national forecasters said the odds that the 2026-2027 El Niño will reach the highest strength level — often called a “super” El Niño — are now higher than 90%. The climate phenomenon has slowly gained steam since it officially started earlier this summer, and is expected to reach maximum strength in late fall or early winter. That’s when it would have the strongest chokehold on our weather patterns. Typically, El Niño produces warmer, dry weather up north and in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile, the southern half of the country usually gets a wetter winter, with more rain and snow. The exact dividing line moves year to year, depending on the position of the jet stream. Some early signs of those patterns can be seen in the fall weather forecasts released Thursday, especially in the warm, dry Pacific Northwest, and the wetter southern states. Other impacts of El Niño on fall weather include suppressing hurricane activity in the Atlantic and contributing to more high-tide flooding on the West Coast.
What a record-breaking El Niño could mean for the world - This year's El Niño is on track to be the strongest on record, threatening to unleash extreme weather across the globe and make 2027 the hottest recorded year by far. Stacked on top of long-term human-caused climate change, the temporary jolt will offer a glimpse of the heat the world can expect by the late 2030s, experts say. El Niño is the warming phase of a natural cycle in the tropical Pacific known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It sets in when trade winds that blow from east to west temporarily ease up, allowing warm water, which normally piles up in the western Pacific Ocean, to slide back east and rise to the surface. When those warmer-than-average surface temperatures last for a few months, they cause more storms and clouds over the region, "which cause ripple effects through the entire global atmosphere," explained Emily Becker, a climate scientist at the University of Miami. The upshot is hotter and drier conditions in some places and cooler, wetter conditions in others. Some effects are already being felt. For example, Indonesia's long, intense dry season has fed wildfires that have burned hundreds of thousands of hectares. "Stronger events mean that we can expect to see more of these expected El Niño impacts," Michelle L'Heureux, ENSO team lead at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center, told AFP, though she cautioned that none are guaranteed. Daily sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region—an imaginary box in the Pacific—are currently running about 2.6°C above a rolling 30-year average, according to the highly cited Climate Brink dashboard, which draws on NOAA's satellite-and-buoy sea surface record. The dashboard also aggregates forecasts that put El Niño on course to peak at a 3.9°C anomaly this November—well above the 3°C anomaly detected in the 2015 El Niño. It stands to make this year a contender for the hottest year on record, currently held by 2024, and make 2027 a near certainty for the top spot, since most of the heat impact is felt the following year. According to calculations by climate scientists Zeke Hausfather and Andrew Dessler, El Niño will add a temporary 0.3°C on top of the long-term global warming trend, resulting in a 2027 temperature of 1.76°C above preindustrial levels—compressing into a single year as much warming as would otherwise be expected by 2037. "It's kind of a preview of the future," Dessler, a professor at Texas A&M, told AFP, though much of that heat will be focused in the equatorial Pacific. Mike McPhaden, a senior scientist at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, had a similar estimate, telling AFP: "It's not inconceivable that 2027 may top out at 1.7°C above preindustrial levels" if model forecasts bear out. There is not one single accepted way to measure El Niños. NOAA in February adopted the Relative Oceanic Niño Index (RONI), which gauges warming in the Niño 3.4 region against warming across the whole tropical belt, to try to better represent the ocean-atmosphere system driving ENSO impacts. On that scale, the numbers run lower, but the predicted ranking remains the same: NOAA puts the odds at 69% that this El Niño will be the strongest in its dataset going back to 1950. Our greenhouse-gas-warmed atmosphere holds more moisture, so El Niño-linked rains can turn more extreme. It also dries out soils, deepening drought where El Niño brings drought. There is less consensus on whether climate change itself triggers stronger El Niños, though evidence for this is emerging. "Climate change may be amplifying the El Niño cycle itself," said NOAA's McPhaden. Warmer tropical seas make the winds that drive El Niño more responsive to the ocean, tightening the feedback between the two and letting events build faster, he explained. McPhaden cited evidence from the paleorecord—for example, coral skeletons—as well as instrument readings that stretch back to the 19th century and climate modeling, all of which suggest El Niños may have increased in amplitude by about 10% over the past century.
New Zealand shields polluters from climate lawsuits - - New Zealand is on the verge of becoming the first country to change its laws to bar private citizens and organizations from suing polluters for contributing to climate change. Parliament gave final consent to the legislation Tuesday, and it will become law following formal approval from the head of the state, which is expected within a week. New Zealand’s move comes as U.S. Republicans push to shield oil and gas companies from being held financially responsible for the burning of their products. Lawmakers introduced federal legislation this spring, and several GOP-led states have passed laws to bar climate lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court will open its fall term in October by hearing a case that could wipe out the litigation.New Zealand’s law aims to short-circuit Smith v. Fonterra, a 2020 lawsuit that alleges emissions from six companies in the agriculture and energy sectors have worsened climate change. The country’s High Court is scheduled to hear the case brought by Mãori climate activist Mike Smith in 2027.
Walz throws up new roadblock to mining near Boundary Waters - Democratic Gov. Tim Walz moved Tuesday to block mining near the pristine Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota, dealing a blow to Republican efforts that have sought to push forward a copper and nickel project in the region. The governor signed an executive order to temporarily prohibit mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and directed state agencies to halt all permitting of mining projects in the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed, which flows into the vast wilderness that includes more than 1,000 lakes and spans 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border. The order will take effect during the remaining months of Walz’s term, but is then vulnerable to repeal. The order also directs the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, not to issue any new leases or permits for nonferrous mineral mining projects in the watershed and immediately review mineral leases in the area. Nonferrous mining means digging for metals and ore like copper, aluminum, nickel, zinc and lead. At an outdoors news conference outside of Minneapolis, Walz unveiled the order and blasted Republicans and the Trump administration for earlier this year using the Congressional Review Act to scrap a Biden-era ban on mining near the Boundary Waters. Walz said he’s using his full executive authority to protect the area’s waters and wildlife, as well as outfitters, small businesses and communities that rely on those resources. “You’re talking about managing the most pristine waters in the world, the most complicated, with one of the riskiest forms of mining. These people can’t manage a reflecting pool, so why would we think they could manage this mine,” Walz said. “Bottom line is they’re not going to be mining the Boundary Waters as long as Minnesota stands up.” The order directs the state DNR to draft legislation for permanent protections. That means Minnesota’s next governor — who will be determined this fall — and future Legislature will determine whether the ban stays. The Senate voted 50-49 in April to pass H.J. Res 140, from Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), chair of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. The House cleared the measure in January. Approval of that resolution marked a major defeat for Democrats, environmental groups and hunting advocates, who argued for months that mining near the pristine Boundary Waters is too risky. Opponents fear companies tapping into sulfide ore containing metals such as copper and nickel in northern Minnesota will also release sulfuric acid and heavy metals into wetlands and rivers. That runoff, they argue, could then leach into waterways flowing into Lake Superior or the Boundary Waters. Stauber and other lawmakers countered that the U.S. desperately needs to increase U.S. production of metals and minerals required for technology and economic growth. They denied that a project by Twin Metals Minnesota, a subsidiary of Chilean mining company Antofagasta, would harm the Boundary Waters. Conservation groups, tribes and local business owners at the news conference on Tuesday applauded Walz and his administration, but the move drew sharp criticism from the White House, mining advocates and Stauber, whose district includes the Twin Metals project. “Democrats like Tim Walz want to dismantle America’s mining industry and weaken our critical supply chains, putting both our economic and national security at serious risk,” said White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. “Thankfully, President Trump has done more than any president in recent history to revitalize our mining sector, strengthen our supply chains, and safeguard our national security.”
Williams Wins Right to Sell PA Solar Credits from Compressor Arrays -- Marcellus Drilling News -- In a case the judges themselves called one of first impression, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court just handed one of the country’s biggest natural gas pipeline companies the right to earn — and sell — Pennsylvania solar energy credits. Williams wants to put two 11-megawatt (MW) solar arrays next to a pair of Transco compressor stations in Wyoming and Columbia counties. The panels won’t touch the electric grid. They’ll simply feed the compressor stations and shrink Williams’ power bill. The Public Utility Commission said twice that meant no solar credits. On August 19, the court said the PUC was wrong.
Cleveland-Cliffs announces $1B project in Middletown, dropping original hydrogen-based plan - Vice President J.D. Vance was joined by U.S. Department of Energy officials in Middletown to announce his hometown steel mill was getting a $500 million grant. “This is a great day to be a resident of Middletown, Ohio. This is a great day to be right here in southwestern Ohio,” Vance said. But what wasn’t discussed was that that $500 million had been originally awarded to Cleveland-Cliffs to help reduce pollution at its flagship Middletown Works plant by the Biden administration. The plan had been to replace its coal-dependent blast furnace the company uses in steelmaking with electric furnaces that can be powered by hydrogen. Now, the steel manufacturer wants to stick with coal. It plans to put the money towards refurbishing its blast furnace, upgrading material handling equipment, and installing a cogeneration plant to partially power Middletown Works (formerly operated by AK Steel). Artificial intelligence (AI) will also be integrated into its manufacturing processes. The project is still awaiting a green light from environmental regulators before construction can begin. The steel mill has long been central to Middletown’s economy, with the facility being more than a century old. Vance’s grandfather worked at the facility for nearly 40 years, back when it was owned by Armco Steel. “Today his grandson stands here as the vice president of the United States. It's an amazing thing,” Vance said. “And I'm here with a message from the president of the United States. The future of America, the future of the United States, the future of our homes and communities is going to be built right here in Middletown, Ohio.” Combined with a matching investment from Cliffs, the total cost of the project will be $1 billion. The Middletown plant is most known for manufacturing automotive-grade steel. The company says the project is expected to preserve 2,300 jobs and create 1,500 construction jobs. According to a press release from Cleveland-Cliffs, the project “will improve overall energy efficiency, reduce reliance on externally supplied electricity, and lower operating costs.” Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs’ chairman and CEO, stated that they worked with the Trump administration and Department of Energy to develop a project "reliant on proven technology that improves operational efficiency and competitiveness." "The DOE’s support for this project is a testament to the importance of preserving the blast furnace route to produce automotive-exposed grade steels in the U.S., while advancing American energy dominance." WYSO previously reported that Cleveland-Cliffs planned to abandon the hydrogen-based project and had been looking at using the $500 million to double down on coal. Goncalves told shareholders last year the company had to abandon the project because “it’s clear by now that we will not have availability of hydrogen.” The benefit of hydrogen, environmentalists say, is that it doesn’t create carbon emissions when used as a fuel source. Cliffs estimated the hydrogen project would’ve reduced 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. A group of locals and environmental advocates were outside the plant protesting at one of the entrances. "I just want a cleaner air to breathe for everyone in the community. Relining that blast furnace ain't going to do nothing but put more pollution on everybody in this whole community, not just my house," Local law enforcement eventually told them they had to move off of the property. Ballinger lives a few paces from Cliffs’ property line. She’s long had complaints about the facility’s air pollution impacts. This includes her fear that the plant pollution is behind her family members’ cancer, including her brother who died less than a month ago from cancer.“My sister's died, my dad's died all from cancer. And we've all lived here, all of our lives.” Cleveland-Cliffs’ project hasn’t been officially signed off by environmental regulators, though. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency still has to approve an air pollution permit for the facility. The permit states there will be “significant emissions increases” for six air pollutants once the requested components are installed. The new investment won’t have any bearing on the agency’s decision about the permit, according to an email from Ohio EPA public information officer Dina Pierce. “Ohio EPA reviews air permit applications for compliance with environmental regulations and technical standards. Financial considerations to build projects are not part of the review or decision-making,” she wrote. The review of public comments made about the permit is ongoing, and the agency intends on making a final determination “within the next few months.”
Cherokee Nation In The US Bans Data Center Development - The Cherokee Nation in the US has banned data center development on its lands, according to an announcement made by its Chief Chuck Hoskin on August 5, Thursday. “It’s clear that our Cherokee Nation Administration, Council, and citizens have serious concerns about the construction of hyperscale data centers on our tribal lands, which affect our resources and cultural lifeways. Our primary responsibility is to protect our citizens and tribal communities from these threats, so we will not support any hyperscale data centers on our reservation without proper consultation,” Chief Hoskin said.“We want these companies to know that we expect them to engage with us early and transparently, as these projects impact every Cherokee.”On the same day, the Cherokee Nation also released a report on data centers, which found that 64 percent of the 1,593 Cherokee Nation citizens surveyed did support hyperscale data center construction within the Reservation, a 7,000 sqm (75,347 sq ft) area in northeastern Oklahoma where the nation has legislative, executive, and judicial powers. Only 14 percent supported their development, and 22 percent remained unsure.The report states that two data center projects – Project Clydesdale, a $1 billion campus in Tulsa County, and Project Mustang, potentially located in the Claremore Industrial Park – are currently under development within the Cherokee Nation Reservation.But the report also emphasized that the nation had an interest in “continued reliable, secure, cost-effective access to colocation and cloud services for government and business operations, disaster recovery, and sovereign systems including tribal registration and vehicle tag administration.”In August, a broadband data center was built in the Hoopa Valley Reservation, home to the Hoopa Valley Tribe in northwest California.
Amazon eyes land for suburban county's first hyperscale data center - Cincinnati Enquirer -Hyperscale data centers are creeping closer to Cincinnati. Amazon, through its subsidiary Amazon Web Services, is in negotiations with the city of Trenton and other partners on a roughly 600-acre plot of land for a hyperscale data center in Butler County, according to Marcos Nichols, Trenton city manager.The project would include 18 buildings, each around 220,000 square feet, on farmland between Wayne Madison Road and Hawkins Road in Madison Township and St. Clair Township, just south of Trenton.It would be the county's first hyperscale data center – sprawling campuses that are used for artificial intelligence and processing large amounts of data – Butler County administrator Judi Boyko said. Congress defines hyperscale data centers as ones that occupy at least 10,000 square feet of space and use more than 100 megawatts of power, roughly the amount of power used by 80,000 households.As the city of Trenton negotiates with Amazon, it is also seeking to annex the land where the campus would be built.Meanwhile, Trenton residents' concerns about the Amazon project, and another planned data center, fell on deaf ears at a Trenton City Council meeting earlier this month.The proposed Amazon site is just outside of Trenton, a small agricultural city in Butler County around 38 miles north of Cincinnati. Roughly 5 square miles, Trenton is home to less than 14,000 people, according to Census data.Trenton officials submitted a petition to annex the land to Butler County Commissioners on Aug. 4. The city owns roughly 215 acres of the site. Two Duke Energy subsidiaries, Watson Gravel Inc. and a private owner own the rest.The soonest commissioners could consider the petition would likely be early September, Butler County administrator Boyko said. As long as there aren't any issues with the petition, commissioners' role is to grant it, Boyko said.
Backdoor deal or business as usual? An Ohio data center raises transparency concerns -Lorie Blankenship has lived in Trenton since the 1970s. The elementary school she walked to every morning as a kid is still around the corner from her house. Down the road, her neighbor farms the same land that's been in the family for more than a century.Blankenship says the city of about 15,000 has changed in some ways over the years.“When we moved here, it probably had about half the population, but it still, no matter when it grew, it kept that same small-town atmosphere,” Blankenship said.Now, she's worried a new neighbor could hurt her quiet hometown.The city agreed to sell the land to the developer in spring 2024. But Blankenship and most residents didn’t find out until the sale closed a year later, in fall 2025. “We immediately went, ‘What?,’ and then we started looking back through things, trying to get people involved,” Blankenship said. “November is when they had a city council meeting. A lot of people came to the city council meeting, and they were questioning the data center, and that's when the transparency issues came up.”People worried the city was keeping the project a secret. They raised concerns from water use to noise because neither the city or developer had revealed specific plans or studies at that point.In other communities with data centers, residents have reported negative impacts from constant humming noises to air pollution from diesel backup generators to strain on local water systems. Trenton City Manager Marcos Nichols says the city anticipated the data center would operate differently from the traditional industrial developments in town. That’s why council voted to create an I-T zoning district. “The building is further back from the property line, as well as has an 8-foot berm, and then there has to be trees on the berm to allow for light, noise, sound, all of that to be buffered by those things,” Nichols said.The city says the developer has done its due diligence. Prologis has said it will pay for water, electricity and power system upgrades. And it estimates the project will create more than 100 full-time jobs.Blankenship says she's still not convinced. And learning a city official signed a non-disclosure agreement for the project only adds to her concerns about transparency. “Now nobody has any faith in their own government,” Blankenship said. “People go and they vote for people and they expect that they're going to represent them, and then they feel that backdoor deals have been done.”Nichols says with projects like these, there’s a fine line between openness and staying competitive.“If they put out that they're coming to town six months ahead of time, a year ahead of time, what does that mean from a competition standpoint? Does that mean that someone else is going to come in and try and get land and move through the processes faster than them and get built faster? It's a balance,” Nichols said.
Data center boom moves into small-town Ohio – — Data center development is moving into smaller Ohio communities, including Butler County, where residents near a project in Trenton say they are concerned about water use, power demand and the loss of farmland as the state attracts billions in investments. For Gary Embry, the quiet, undeveloped outskirts of Trenton have been home for nearly three decades. “It ain’t a mansion, but it’s mine,” Embry said. Construction is underway on a large data center in front of Embry’s property. On the other side of his home, area leaders are discussing annexing land that could be used for another data center. “Our hopes and prayers is ... it gets stopped at the one data center there is,” Embry said. Embry said he is especially worried about water. He said his well had already run dry once when there was new development, forcing him to have a new section drilled over 40 feet into the ground. “That’s the new part over there; we had to have that drilled 40-something feet in the ground and we’re still struggling with water,” Embry said. He said his household already has to limit water use. “We don’t have enough water to actively do showers and laundry all at the same time,” Embry said. “You can see that there’s mold on our house; we don’t have the extra water to wash that off. We can’t run the risk of losing what water we have.” Nearby resident John Glenn said the development has prompted some people to consider moving. “It’s to the point where there’s people talking about leaving,” Glenn said. Glenn said he tried to buy the land where the data center is being built to preserve the area’s farming roots, but said the price was too high. “They priced it to me at $6 million, and no reasonable person that’s trying to start a farm can do that,” Glenn said. Data center growth is expanding across Ohio. The state has over 200 data centers, with some moving into smaller communities. According to the Pew Research Center, 67% of planned data centers in the U.S. are in rural areas. Supporters of data center projects say they can bring millions of dollars to small communities through jobs and taxes. But residents near the Trenton development say they are questioning whether the economic benefits outweigh concerns about water use, power demand and the loss of farmland. “I understand growth, but at the expense of people’s happiness and their lives, I don’t think it’s worth it,” said Embry.
Gov. Shapiro Signs Executive Order Requiring A.I. Data Center Developers To Sign Consent Order Binding Them To Comply With GRID Principals, Including Clean Energy; DEP Will Not Review Permits Until Communities Give Their Approval - On August 18, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 requiring A.I. Data Center developers to comply with what he called the "strictest guardrails in the nation" "to stop the predatory developers and bad proposals." He said this action is necessary because the Pennsylvania Senate failed to act on legislation passed by the House to put those standards in place."The absence of legislative approval has left me with no other option but to protect the people of Pennsylvania by taking executive action to put the strictest guardrails in the nation in place to stop the predatory developers and bad proposals."Because I’ve heard loud and clear from the people of Pennsylvania as I’ve traveled our Commonwealth, and I’m here to say that we will not be bullied by developers and bulldozed by the lawyers working for these big tech companies."We have a long history in Pennsylvania of industry running roughshod over our communities to make a buck – that stops with me."He said these requirements "will hold greedy developers accountable, stop bad projects, and put more power back in the hands of local communities.""Starting today, A.I. data center developers who want to do business in our Commonwealth must respect our communities and abide by these stringent requirements."The main elements of the Order include--
- -- Notice Of Intent: Developers will be required to provide a notice of intent to comply with GRID.
- -- Present Detailed Plans: Required to present their detailed plans to DEP, who will scrutinize them to ensure they’re sufficient.
- -- Sign Consent Order: Developers must sign a legally binding consent order locking them into the GRID Requirements and setting penalties if they fail to comply. [Model Consent Order]
- -- Local Approval First: Developers must also earn legal approval of their projects at the local level before DEP will review their permits, as well as approvals for water withdrawals or wastewater discharge..
- Among other requirements, the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) and the Executive Order require--
- -- Bring Your Own Power: Developers must bring their own power and pay for all the costs associated with that electricity. They will not be permitted to saddle homeowners and businesses with added costs because of their development.
- -- Clean Energy Sources: They must get an increasingly significant portion of that power from clean energy sources like solar, advanced nuclear, and battery storage.
- -- First Off The Grid In An Emergency: In the event of a grid energy emergency, data centers will be the ones who get cut off first.
- -- Promote Transparency and Community Engagement: Provide a community outreach plan that promotes public engagement and enables meaningful public input.
- -- Supporting Workforce and Economic Development: Provide a community benefit plan detailing anticipated contributions to the state and local community beyond existing legal obligations.
"If a developer refuses to comply with those requirements, they will have no pathway of getting the necessary approvals needed to build a data center in Pennsylvania," said Gov. Shapiro."And they will be disqualified from receiving the existing exemption on sales tax on data center equipment that was put in place two years before I was elected your governor." "These are the wealthiest companies in the world – they shouldn’t get a tax break for gouging our communities." The Executive Order also--
- -- Prohibits the signing of non-disclosure agreements by any agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction
- -- DEP will create a publicly accessible map with current permitting information and tracking about all proposed data center projects. [Click Here For DEP’s Data Center Permit Tracker]
- -- DEP is directed to recommend new regulations to better protect the environment from data center impacts and ways to sufficiently consider the cumulative impact of multiple backup generators will have on the environment.
- -- Removing Data Center Projects From Fast Track Permitting: Required permits are also excluded from DEP’s PAyback and Permit Decision Guaranteed Program.
The Governor also directed "my new Special Counsel on Energy Affordability to engage with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission and help establish rules and procedures that ensure Pennsylvanians are protected from the demand data centers put on the energy grid.""We’re going to ensure that any infrastructure costs caused by data centers are paid by the AI data centers – not Pennsylvania homeowners or business owners – even if a data center ultimately closes and can’t pay."No one’s utility bill should go up because these wealthy companies don’t pay their fair share. They should pay for every penny of electricity they need."With this Executive Order, I’m putting these developers on notice and letting them know that we will not let them bully Pennsylvanians, disregard our constitutional right to clean air and pure water, or drive up our utility bills.“We’ve had enough here in Pennsylvania – and I’m not going to let it happen on my watch. “If these companies want to do business here, they need to comply with the strictest guardrails in the nation on data center development, starting today."
- Click Here for a copy of the full GRID principles.
- Click Here for a copy of the Executive Order.
- Click Here for Gov. Shapiro’s press release
- Click Here for a copy of the Governor’s remarks.
- Click Here for a video of the event.
“DEP’s mission is to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water resources, and we take that responsibility seriously,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Under Governor Shapiro’s Executive Order, data center developers must meet strong, enforceable environmental standards and demonstrate that their projects can move forward responsibly. We will continue to rigorously review these projects under Pennsylvania law and ensure that protecting our environment and communities remains at the center of that process.” “The action Governor Shapiro is taking today through this Executive Order shows that he is listening to Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth who have voiced their concerns about the impacts of data centers on their communities, the environment, and utility costs,” said Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne. “The Sales and Use Tax exemption on equipment purchases is a valuable tax benefit justifying the Governor’s position that data center projects established in Pennsylvania must follow strict standards which protect our residents and their communities in order to qualify for it.”“When we created Hampden’s ordinance, we tried to put real, enforceable protections in place for things like energy costs, the environment, transparency, jobs and community involvement. What Governor Shapiro is doing takes many of those same concerns and addresses them at the state level. That gives communities like Hampden another layer of protection while still allowing us to make decisions locally,” said Commissioner John Smith of Hampden Township. “That’s really what local control is about and I want to thank Governor Shapiro for giving communities like Hampden a seat at the table.”
Grid Congestion, Not Gas, Drove Biggest Slice of PJM Price Spike - Marcellus Drilling News - The independent watchdog that grades the PJM electric grid put out its half-year report card last Thursday under the cheerful headline “Market Monitor Finds PJM Wholesale Electricity Markets Competitive.” Read down three paragraphs, and you find the opposite — the capacity market flunked, three years running, and the Monitor blames data centers. Buried further still is a number that ought to end a certain argument in Harrisburg for good: the biggest single driver of PJM’s price spike wasn’t natural gas. It was the wires.
It’s getting so hot that nuclear plants are being forced to power down - Nuclear energy is often touted as an ultra-efficient alternative to dirtier energy sources like coal or natural gas. Expanding the world’s capacity for atomic power is the key to avoiding a cascading climate disaster, some of the industry’s proponents say — but what if it’s too late? With record setting heatwaves scorching Europe, water levels in the continent’s major rivers are reaching all-time lows. While receding water levels are a huge boon for European archeologists as ancient ruins surface for the first time in centuries, the situation is causing massive headaches for nuclear engineers, who have had to scramble to power down nuclear energy facilities across the continent. As German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported, facilities like the two gigawatt Paks nuclear plant in Hungary have come close to powering down completely, as a critical lack of water flowing from the Danube threatened the facility’s ability to cool its reactors. That’s a major crisis, because in any given year, the Paks plant generates nearly half of the country’s total electricity supply.The Hungarian government is now scrambling to keep things running, ABC reported, mobilizing engineers to deliver some 145,000 cubic meters of rocks into the riverbed to manually slow the current and conserve water upstream.The situation isn’t much better in Romania, where the state-owned nuclear power producer may be forced to completely shut down its last remaining reactor, per Reuters. That’s not for lack of trying: earlier this month, the Romanian navy detonated 180 kilograms of explosives meant to redirect water from the Danube to cool its nuclear reactors.Meanwhile in France, a combination of extreme drought and a recurring jellyfish invasion have reduced the nation’s nuclear energy production by 20 percent, though a more diversified energy grid means the situation isn’t quite as hairy as those in Hungary or Romania.With yet another heat wave already on the horizon, Europe’s nuclear energy woes may really just be the tip of the iceberg.
OpenAI Signs 10 GW Ohio Data Center Lease, Utica Gas Wins Big - Marcellus Drilling News - It’s official. In June, we told you OpenAI was in “advanced negotiations” to lease the gargantuan 10-gigawatt (GW) data center campus rising on federal land in Piketon (Pike County), Ohio (see OpenAI in Talks to Lease OH Data Center, Largest Gas Power in U.S.). Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported the ink is dry. OpenAI has signed a 20-year lease for the whole 10 GW campus with SB Energy, the SoftBank subsidiary developing the site — and chipmaker Nvidia is standing behind the deal with a financial backstop worth up to $105 billion. Why should Utica landowners care about a Silicon Valley lease? Because the electricity feeding this monster comes from a 9.2-GW natural gas power plant, and that gas has to come from somewhere. That somewhere is under your feet.
Ohio OKs First Non-Data-Center Gas Plant Since 2019 in Carroll Co. - Marcellus Drilling News - Score one for the good guys. The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) voted yesterday (Aug. 20) to hand Chestnut Run Energy LLC its Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need — the golden ticket needed to build a 1,300-megawatt (MW), $2 billion natural gas-fired power plant in Washington Township, Carroll County. That's smack in the middle of Utica Shale country. MDN first told you about this project back in April (see Chestnut Run Energy to Build 1.3 GW Power Plant in Carroll County). Now it's official.
Big Green Coming for Williams’ Ohio Gas-Fired Power Plants - Marcellus Drilling News - Something happened over the past ten days that ought to look awfully familiar to anyone who was around Marcellus country in 2009. A single advocacy shop dug a permit out of a state filing cabinet, handed it to a friendly reporter at the New York Times, and within a week roughly two dozen outlets were running the same three sentences about Amazon becoming “the largest single source of pollution in the United States.” It’s not a coincidence, it’s not organic, and it’s not staying in Texas. Big Green has told us, in print, that the data center fight is the anti-fracking playbook run a second time — and one of the projects already on their list belongs to Williams, in Ohio, burning Utica gas.
Columbus Dispatch Takes Another Swing at Marietta Injection Wells Marcellus Drilling News -- The Columbus Dispatch — a paper based 120 miles northwest of the action — parachuted into Marietta, Ohio, yesterday with a long story about shale wastewater injection wells that leads with the words "radioactive," "toxic," and "Russian roulette," and waits ten paragraphs to tell readers the one fact that matters most: no evidence of drinking water contamination has turned up. Not now. Not in 15 years. We've covered this fight since 2025, and we'll say again what we said in July — there IS a real problem here, but it isn't the one the Dispatch is selling.
Orange Village-Solon waterline project resumes after gas line strikes: 'This project is safe' - — Work has resumed on the eastern portion of the Miles Road waterline replacement project after a series of gas line strikes prompted officials to halt construction and review safety procedures.Installation restarted Monday, Orange Village Mayor Judson Kline and Fire Chief Larry Genova confirmed, after a pause that lasted more than two weeks. That pause was longer than expected, as work was initially set to resume last week.The joint Orange Village-Solon project started July 6 and calls for installation of a new 12-inch water main along Miles Road from just west of Naiman Parkway to just east of Harper Road. The new line will serve both communities.Construction on the eastern section had been halted after three gas lines were struck during the project. Work continued on the western portion while officials and the contractor, Terrace Construction, reviewed safety procedures. Since then, Enbridge Gas has worked to locate and mark known gas lines in the area east of Brainard Road, where construction had been stopped. As work continues, Enbridge is providing a safety team that will be available onsite to respond if a problem arises, Kline said. The additional presence is intended to provide another layer of safety as Terrace Construction continues installing the waterline. “We feel confident that this project is safe,” Kline said.
27 New Shale Well Permits Reported for PA-OH-WV Aug 10 – 16 - Marcellus Drilling News - The Marcellus/Utica region received 27 new drilling permits last week, August 10 – 16, up significantly from the 8 permits issued two weeks ago. In something of a reversal, Pennsylvania turned in the fewest new permits, just 4. Ohio issued the most permits, with 16, and West Virginia issued 7 permits. The drillers who received new permits were: Antero Resources (6), Ascent Resources (5), EOG Resources (8), Expand Energy (4), Jay-Bee Oil & Gas (1), LOLA Energy (1), Range Resources (1), and Seneca Resources (1). Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Beaver County | Belmont County | Bradford County | Butler County | EOG Resources | Expand Energy | Harrison County | Jay-Bee Oil & Gas | LOLA Energy | Noble County | Pleasants County | Range Resources Corp | Ritchie County | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Tuscarawas County
Infinity Pulls Core From Deep Utica Farther East of Pittsburgh - Hart Energy - Ohio Utica Shale M&A activity is increasing. Infinity Natural Resources has pulled core now from the deep Utica in a hot new play area underlying the Marcellus in Pennsylvania where other E&Ps are reporting sustained 30 MMcf/d holes or better—and while on stiff chokes.
NextEra Inks Final Deal, Gets $3.3B for 4.3-GW SWPA Gas Plant - Marcellus Drilling News - Back in March, we brought you news that the Trump administration had announced “South Mon,” a $17 billion, 4.3-gigawatt (GW) natural gas-fired power hub headed for southwestern Pennsylvania, funded as part of Japan’s $550 billion U.S. investment commitment (see Trump Admin Announces $17 Billion Gas-Fired Power Plant for SWPA). At the time, we grumbled that there were “precious few details” — no location, no contracts, no money changing hands. Just a handshake at the White House. On Tuesday, NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) announced the handshake has become a signature. The company has executed definitive agreements with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Government of Japan covering up to 10 GW of gas-fired generation across Pennsylvania and Texas — and, more importantly, an initial $3.3 billion tranche of funding has been released. That money buys turbines. Real ones.
More Than 99% Of Conventional Oil & Gas Well Owners Failed To Comply With DEP’s 2022 Methane Emission Reduction Regulations; How Will It Be Any Different Under DEP’s New Methane Regulations? - On August 6, eight environmental organizations offered public comments to DEP’s Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee supporting DEP’s new initiative to adopt regulations to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas wells and facilities to comply with US Environmental Protection Agency 0000c oil and gas methane reduction regulations.The Environmental Defense Fund and other groups called on DEP to develop regulations that target the largest methane emissions in the oil and gas industry -- conventional oil and gas wells and facilities. Kate Courtin, Senior Manager with the EDF State Climate Team, told the Committee—“The question before us is no longer whether methane should be addressed. It is how Pennsylvania can design the smartest, most effective rule. “As DEP develops this rule, the data clearly identify where the greatest opportunity exists. “Research from the Appalachian Methane Initiative shows that low-producing wells [conventional wells in Pennsylvania] account for roughly 64% of methane emissions [across the Appalachian Basin] while contributing to only 1% of production. That tells us something important. If Pennsylvania wants meaningful methane reductions, low-producing wells must be part of the solution. As was just noted, the simple truth is that large companies own the vast majority of low-producing wells. Eleven oil and gas corporations own nearly half of low-producing wells in Pennsylvania as of 2024. At the same time, there are truly small operators whose circumstances are different. A durable rule should recognize both realities. DEP should develop strong and resilient standards that achieve equivalent or greater reductions as the 2024 US EPA methane rule.” The same research by the Appalachian Methane Initiative-- a coalition of CNX Resources, EQT Corporation, MPLX and Seneca Resources at the University of Texas and Colorado State University-- also found unconventional shale gas wells account for 17.5% of methane emission while producing over 98% of the basin-wide natural gas.According to a FracTracker Alliance analysis, these are the top 11 conventional oil and gas well owners in Pennsylvania that own wells producing 15 BOE [barrels of oil equivalent] or less-- Diversified Production LLC - 21,147; Minard Run Oil Co. - 2,172; OWS Energy LLC - 2,603; Cameron Energy Co. - 1,867; Apollo Resources LLC - 1,876; Pennhills Resources LLC - 1,676; Snyder Bros Inc. - 1,705; VEC Energy LLC - 1,852; ARG Resources Inc. - 1,547; Bull Run Resources LLC - 1,489; and Kriebel Natural Gas Co. LLC - 1,675.These top 11 conventional well owners account for 39,607 low-producing wells, which is about 44.4% of the 89,161 low producing conventional wells at 15 BOE or below, leaving out 55.6% of conventional wells in this count.Readers of the PA Environment Digest Weekly Oil & Gas Compliance reports will recognize many of these conventional well owners’ names, because they show up frequently in DEP violations and enforcement actions.Diversified Production LLC, as the largest owner, has frequent violations and signed an agreement with DEP in 2019 to plug over 1,400 abandoned wells it owns; Minard Run Oil Co. owns 390 abandoned wells; ARG Resources Inc. owns at least 36 abandoned wells and was the target of recent US Forest Service action to close unsafe facilities.Visit DEP’s Oil and Gas Compliance Database to check them out for yourself.Click Here for the top 30 companies from FracTracker.
DEP Evaluating 37 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Venango County For Plugging As A Result Of Owner’s Death -On August 12, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection posted inspection reports on 37 conventional oil and gas wells owned by the late Daniel L. Heath documenting visits to the sites by DEP and contractors as part of an evaluation of their status for well plugging.All but one of the conventional wells are located in Cranberry Township, Venango County. The remaining well is located in Barkeyville Borough. The wells were not only abandoned and not plugged, but the owner had failed to submit annual production, waste generation and well integrity reports for some time.Some wells were also found to be leaking gas and fluids.DEP continued or issued multiple violations to each well as part of its enforcement record. The inspection reports were all very similar to these examples: Faren 2, Farren 10, Farren 11, Ridgeway 3 HDL-2-R, Oneil 5 HDL-1-R..
DEP - Day 632: Seneca Resources Installs Trench, Concrete Catch Basin To Collect Continuing Releases Of Contaminated Water From The Taft Shale Gas Well Pad In Middlebury Twp., Tioga County - On July 17, 2026, the Department of Environmental Protection did an inspection of the Seneca Resources Taft shale gas well pad in response to a notification that additional measures were installed to collect and allow for cleanup of contaminated water coming from the pad in Middlebury Township, Tioga County. DEP observed a trench had been recently dug along the north side of the pad with contaminated water flowing into a new cement catch basin. Conductivity field measurements of liquid in the trench indicated contaminated water. A vac truck was staged on site with a hose end located in the catch basin to remove the accumulating liquids. No liquids were flowing into the sediment basin at the pad, but field conductivity measurements at the northeast overflow indicated contaminated water and DEP collected a sample of the water. "The DEP recommends that Seneca continues to monitor the conditions on the pad surface and the sediment basin and remove elevated conductance fluids and soils as discovered. Prevent elevated conductance fluids from leaving the facility and causing pollution to the waters of the Commonwealth." These violations have now been continued for 632 days. DEP did not request a written follow-up from Seneca.Click Here for DEP inspection results + photos. Violations for the wastewater releases at the Taft site were originally issued on October 23, 2024.DEP found similar conditions-- spills, crews trying to clean up the pad while drilling and fracking new shale gas wells continues-- starting October 23, 2024, then on July 11, 2025, August 21, 2025, October 2, 2025, October 31, 2025, December 23, 2025, January 21, 2026, April 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026. A July 27, 2026 inspection of the 75HU Utica shale gas well at this same Taft shale gas well pad found evidence of continuing casing/cementing failure originally discovered on Nov. 13, 2024. The violation was continued and so will the monitoring.DEP inspection report. On October 31, 2025, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced criminal charges against Seneca Resources, LLC, following multiple violations of Pennsylvania’s environmental protection laws in several counties, as recommended by the 48th and 51st Statewide Investigating Grand Juries.Three separate criminal complaints were filed regarding the natural gas company’s violations related to improper waste management practices and policies.Prominent in the Attorney General’s announcement of the charges was the fact that DEP repeatedly warned Seneca that their practices were not in line with Pennsylvania law, but those warnings were ignored or disputed. Read more here. In all, Seneca is charged with 64 counts of violations of the Solid Waste Management Act and 36 counts of violations of the Clean Streams Law in Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Potter, Tioga Counties. Read more here.
XTO Wins PA Royalty Case, Then Asks Judge to Undo the Judgment - Marcellus Drilling News -- In March, MDN told you that Butler County landowners were appealing after a federal judge tossed their royalty class action against XTO Energy (see Landowners Appeal Dismissal of XTO Lawsuit re Royalties in W. Pa.). That appeal is now on hold — because on Aug. 6, the same judge wiped out his own judgment and declared it void. And the party that asked him to do it was XTO, which won the case.
Upstream Goes Downstream: Equinor Buys Into Scranton Power Plant - Marcellus Drilling News - Norway’s Equinor — the company we all used to call Statoil — announced Monday it is buying a majority interest in the Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC), the big Marcellus-fired power plant in Jessup, PA, just outside Scranton. Equinor is paying $940 million for 87.71% of the Class A shares in the 1,483-megawatt plant, buying them from funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is now part of BlackRock. Invenergy, which built LEC and has run it since day one, stays on as operator. MDN has followed this plant since it was nothing but a proposal and a pile of angry town council meetings (see MDN’s LEC coverage), so this one hits close to home — literally, since the plant sits two counties from MDN world headquarters.
Where Natgas Prices Stand: Nymex $2.78, Appalachia $1.77 - Marcellus Drilling News - A punishing heat dome parked over the southern two-thirds of the country gave natural gas prices a nice bump on Tuesday — the September Nymex contract jumped 8.6 cents to settle at $2.776 per MMBtu, up 3.2%. But if you own Marcellus or Utica royalties, the number that actually lands in your mailbox is a lot smaller than that. Here's the full picture, national and regional. https://marcellusdrilling.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/mdn_natgas_price_gap_aug_2026-scaled.png.
Why Your Royalty Check May Shrink This Fall: $1.70 Appalachia Gas - Marcellus Drilling News - Appalachian gas producers look likely to spend this autumn doing exactly what they did last autumn: turning down the taps. Regional storage is fat, in-basin prices are stuck near $1.70, and the January contract is more than double that. For Marcellus and Utica landowners, that math translates into one thing — thinner royalty checks in September, October and November
Shapiro EO Slams Brakes on PA Data Centers, Gas Plants Too - Marcellus Drilling News - Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2026-05 on Tuesday, imposing what he called “the strictest guardrails in the nation” on AI data centers — and, we’d argue, on the gas-fired power plants that will run them. Two western PA projects lost fast-track permitting status the same day. But the real damage is buried in a 33-page model consent order that got almost no attention. We don’t think it’s unfair or hyperbole to say Shapiro just destroyed the AI data center industry in the Keystone State.
WV Rolls Out Data Center Welcome Mat as PA Slams the Door -- Marcellus Drilling News - Yesterday we told you how PA Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Executive Order 2026-05 handed every township supervisor a kill switch and wrote natural gas out of the “clean firm energy” column (see Shapiro EO Slams Brakes on PA Data Centers, Gas Plants Too). Now look two states south. On Aug. 11, WV Gov. Pat Morrisey stood at a Charleston podium reading “STANDING ON PRINCIPLES,” flanked by Senate President Randy Smith and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and rolled out the West Virginia Responsible Data Center Development Plan — a 20-year framework built to attract hyperscale data centers, not repel them. Same gas underneath. Opposite answers.
CPV, EQT Sign 10-Yr Gas Deal to Fuel 2,100 MW Shay Plant in WV -- Marcellus Drilling News - - Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) and EQT Corporation have signed a 10-year gas supply agreement that locks up the entire fuel appetite of the CPV Shay Energy Center, the $3 billion, 2,100-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle plant headed for Doddridge County, West Virginia. It’s the deal that turns Shay from a project on paper into a project with a fuel contract.
Dead Rule Walking: Gas Plant Permits Still Cite Biden Carbon Regs - Marcellus Drilling News --Here’s a puzzle for you. The Trump EPA has spent 18 months dismantling the Biden administration’s carbon rules for power plants. The final repeal has been parked at the White House Office of Management and Budget since May 14 — and as of this writing it’s still sitting there, past the 90-day review window that ran out on August 12. Everybody in the business assumes it’s a done deal. So why are state regulators still writing those very same carbon limits into brand-new permits for brand-new gas plants — including two projects that will burn Marcellus and Utica gas?
New York Fracking Ban Faces Constitutional Challenge - New York’s sweeping ban on hydraulic fracturing is facing a federal constitutional challenge from a father and son who say the state effectively wiped out the value of their natural gas rights without paying them compensation. Thomas Woodward and Madison Woodward III filed suit in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, arguing the prohibition amounts to an unconstitutional “taking” under the Fifth Amendment. The Woodwards purchased 164 acres near Sidney in Delaware County in 2011, attracted largely by the natural gas beneath the property. The land sits above the Marcellus and Utica shale formations, which have produced enormous quantities of natural gas across the border in Pennsylvania. The Woodwards later sold the surface property but retained the mineral rights. Their lawsuit contends those rights have been rendered essentially worthless because New York prohibits commercially viable methods of extracting the gas. New York imposed a de facto moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in 2008, formally prohibited the practice based on an environmental review and later codified the ban in state law. The state also imposed restrictions on gelled-propane fracturing and, in 2024, banned carbon dioxide-based fracturing. The Woodwards are represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, which argues property owners cannot be forced to shoulder the financial cost of statewide environmental policy without compensation. The state is fighting back. Attorney General Letitia James’ office has asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing among other things that the Woodwards’ claim is barred by the statute of limitations and that they cannot demonstrate the continuing harm required for the injunction they seek. Meanwhile, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Food & Water Watch and Delaware Riverkeeper Network have moved to intervene, warning that overturning the prohibition could expose New Yorkers to environmental and public-health risks. No final ruling has been issued, leaving a potentially significant test of New York’s energy policy and private-property rights moving forward in federal court.
FERC Greenlights PowerTransitions’ 6th NY Gas Plant, Nobody Objected Marcellus Drilling News -- Both federal and state regulators signed off last Thursday on PowerTransitions’ purchase of the 1,242-megawatt (MW) Roseton Generating Facility in Newburgh, New York — the sixth and by far the largest gas-fired plant the Houston-based company has grabbed in the Empire State this year. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued its order Aug. 13 (Docket EC26-95-000), and the New York Public Service Commission approved the transfer the same day. But the most interesting thing in the FERC order isn’t the approval. It’s the name of the company doing the buying.
New England Grid Study Is a Giant Ad for More M-U Gas Pipelines -- Marcellus Drilling News - New England has spent 25 years and untold billions “transitioning” its electric grid—and has almost nothing to show for it, at least by the one measure the greenies claim to care about. A new white paper from the Fiscal Alliance Foundation, released Aug. 20, finds fossil fuels generated 55.4% of the electricity produced inside New England in 2025 — slightly more than the 54.6% share back in 2000. Read that again. A quarter-century of mandates, subsidies, and virtue-signaling, and the fossil share went up.
PJM’s FERC Filing is a 30-GW Sales Pitch for Marcellus Gas - Marcellus Drilling News -- PJM Interconnection, the grid operator that keeps the lights on for 67 million people across 13 states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, filed its long-awaited data center framework with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Wednesday, August 13. The short version: if you’re a new data center and you don’t bring your own electricity to the party, you get switched off first when the grid gets tight. Homes and small businesses get cut last. It’s a rule that, read correctly, is one enormous purchase order for Marcellus/Utica gas.
Feedgas Climbs at Corpus Christi Expansion as Final Train Nears First LNG - Feedgas nominations to the Corpus Christi LNG (CCL) facility in South Texas have ramped up sharply over the past week after the final train at the facility’s Stage 3 expansion project cleared the last regulatory hurdle to produce the super-chilled fuel for the first time. At a Glance:
- Feedgas flows hit highest point of year
- Project nearly complete
- More trains under construction
Satellite Heat Images Show Golden Pass LNG Train 1 Back to Work - Marcellus Drilling News - On July 1, MDN told you Golden Pass LNG had gone dark — three cargoes out the door and then, on June 29, almost no feedgas flowing into the plant at all (see Golden Pass LNG Offline After Sending Out First 3 Cargoes). We now have an answer to what happened next, and it comes from an unusual place: a British satellite 600 kilometers overhead that takes pictures of heat. A public relations firm working for SatVu, a London-based thermal imaging company, sent MDN a news release along with three annotated image sheets. The analysis was done by AllSource Analysis, a Longmont, Colorado imagery-interpretation shop. Their conclusion: on July 9, Golden Pass LNG Train 1 was up and liquefying gas.
FERC Opens Environmental Review for Venture Global CP2 LNG Expansion -Venture Global’s proposed expansion of the CP2 LNG export project has moved into federal environmental review, advancing plans that could add 11.7 million tons/year (Mty) of peak liquefaction capacity and nearly 1.9 Bcf/d of natural gas transportation capacity. At a Glance:
- FERC opens environmental scoping
- Comments due Sept. 11
- CP2 expansion advances
US LNG Export Capacity Poised to Enter Next Wave of Growth - Another wave of US LNG export projects is close to coming online as the last continues ramping up, with new facilities on track to add nearly 8 Bcf/d between 2027 and the first half of 2028. North American operational and sanctioned LNG export capacity rises from less than 1 Bcf/d in 2016 to nearly 40 Bcf/d by 2033. At a Glance:
7.5 Bcf/d due online
Gillis to Katy to see most growth
US exports on track to exceed 30 Bcf/d
Related Tags:
- CP2 LNG
- Commonwealth LNG
- Corpus Christi Stage 3
- Delfin LNG
- Energia Costa Azul
- Golden Pass LNG
- Louisiana LNG
- Port Arthur LNG
- Rio Grande LNG
- Venture Global
- Woodside Energy
Gulf Coast Feedgas Demand Dips, but Europe’s Demand for US LNG Cargoes Jumps – Table: NGI prompt-month statistics track US, European, Asian and Latin American natural gas and LNG market fundamentals through Aug. 19, 2026. A look at the global natural gas and LNG markets by the numbers:
- 17.66 Bcf/d: US LNG feedgas demand faded again Wednesday, giving back most of a brief Tuesday bounce. Volumes totaled roughly 17.66 Bcf/d, according to NGI’s Entropic Analytics data, accounting for a roughly 250 MMcf/d day/day loss. Feedgas demand has changed little from a week earlier as summer heat and maintenance continue to weigh on flows. Flows peaked Sunday at 18.37 Bcf/d before dropping to 17.34 Bcf/d Monday, the weakest gas day since Aug. 11. The seven-day average eased to 17.92 Bcf/d from 17.99 Bcf/d the previous Wednesday, leaving August tracking at 17.83 Bcf/d against 17.96 Bcf/d in July.
- 1.87 Bcf/d: Deliveries on Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi Pipeline (CCPL) fell for a third straight session Wednesday, making it the biggest mover in national feedgas demand for exports. Flows on the system dropped to about 1.87 Bcf/d in the evening cycle for Wednesday nominations from 2.76 Bcf/d Sunday. Cheniere posted an updated CCPL planned outage and maintenance summary Aug. 13. CCPL has held operating capacity at 2.75 Bcf/d every day this month, leaving about 880 MMcf/d unscheduled Wednesday after two days at full utilization. Corpus Christi loaded full cargoes Monday and Tuesday, and the terminal’s seven-day loading pace held at about 0.064 Mt/d through Aug. 18. That was roughly in line with July, Kpler vessel tracking data show. Loadings at that rate imply feedgas deliveries near 3.4 Bcf/d, well above what CCPL is posting, pointing to supply shifting onto the intrastate ADCC Pipeline, which is not required to post nominations publicly.
- 18%: Heat-driven constraints with nuclear facilities in France pushed output down 18% Monday, the equivalent of 11.6 GW, according to Électricité de France (EDF) figures cited by European trading firm Mind Energy. EDF is required to curtail reactors when river temperatures rise above threshold or water levels drop too low, pulling more natural gas-fired generation into the European stack at a moment when the continent is already short of LNG. Daily US LNG exports to Europe averaged 0.22 Mt over the seven days ended Aug. 19, equivalent to roughly 10.5 Bcf/d and up 41% from the prior week. On a trailing 30-day basis, volumes averaged 0.18 Mt/d, or about 8.9 Bcf/d, versus 0.12 Mt/d (5.6 Bcf/d) over the preceding 30 days. Europe has taken at least one US cargo every day this month, compared with five delivery-free days in May, June and July.
- 1.43 Mt: Ships have delivered more than 1.43 Mt in US LNG to Asia over the first 19 days of August, marking a slight decline as European demand increases, according to Kpler data. Total US exports held roughly flat over the same comparison at 16.4 Bcf/d, compared with a 16.8 Bcf/d average from February to July. Northwest European and Iberian buyers absorbed the difference. Deliveries to Spain have risen to 0.025 Mt/d from 0.014 Mt/d, and France’s are up to 0.027 Mt/d from 0.020 Mt/d.
Fossil Fuels Still 86% of World Energy; U.S. LNG Exports Jumped 27% - Marcellus Drilling News -- The Energy Institute (EI) has published the 75th edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy, covering full-year 2025 data. The press release leads with the news the green crowd wanted: renewables were the single largest source of new energy supply growth for the first time outside of a recession, with solar accounting for 71% of that increase. The news EI buried a little deeper: fossil fuels still supplied roughly 86% of the world’s total energy, every single fuel source set a new record, and natural gas trade grew faster than the gas market itself. Once again, the greens can’t hide the ball.
35 Bcf/d of LNG Demand by 2035: Where Will the Gas Come From? - Marcellus Drilling News - Here’s a number every Marcellus and Utica landowner should tape to the refrigerator: $5. That’s where Colorado-based East Daley Analytics thinks Henry Hub natural gas prices are headed by 2031, and the reason is the LNG export buildout on the Gulf Coast, which the firm says will pull roughly 35 billion cubic feet of gas per day out of the U.S. supply pool by 2035. The catch — and it’s a big one — is that nobody has fully answered where all that gas comes from. East Daley published the analysis Aug. 18 in its Daley Note. Most of it is Gulf Coast and Permian Basin material. But bury the lede, and you miss what matters for the M-U audience.
Devon Spends Big to Move Gas – Permian Gas, Not Marcellus Gas - Marcellus Drilling News -- Devon Energy just told the market it’s willing to write big checks to get stranded natural gas to better markets. The gas in question is in West Texas, not Susquehanna County — and that says something about where the old Cabot Oil & Gas assets stand in the new Devon. On Monday, Devon announced a positive Final Investment Decision (FID — meaning the money is committed and the shovels are coming) on the Solitude Pipeline System, a WhiteWater-led joint venture building two 48-inch natural gas pipelines from the Permian Basin to Katy, Texas.
Fly Like An Eagle – With New Permian Takeaway Capacity Coming Online, Gas Production Could Soar | RBN Energy - For the first time in years, the Permian Basin’s chronic natural gas takeaway constraint is beginning to ease — and in a big way. Major pipeline projects entering service this year and next will add roughly 5.3 Bcf/d of new egress capacity from the Waha area, led by the Gulf Coast Express (GCX) expansion, Hugh Brinson Pipeline and Blackcomb Pipeline. That buildout should materially improve Waha pricing and reduce the risk of severe in-basin discounts, but it also raises a new set of questions. In today’s RBN blog, we’ll discuss the major Permian gas pipeline projects scheduled to come online in 2026 and 2027, how much new capacity they will provide, and consider what the shift means for Waha prices, Gulf Coast balances and the U.S. natural gas market. This is the first blog in a series examining the outlook for the major U.S. producing basins. The Permian, a major topic of discussion at our upcoming School of Energy: Fundamentals, is the country’s largest oil-producing basin and one of the biggest drivers of U.S. gas growth, which makes it the natural place to begin. Its crude-oil-focused wells produce large and growing volumes of associated gas, but getting that gas out of West Texas has become one of the market’s biggest challenges and a major constraint on oil production. In the series ahead, we will look at the Permian’s major producers and the basin’s next set of challenges, including what increased production will mean for the NGL market. For today’s blog, let’s start with the big gas pipeline projects that have come online or are set to begin operations this year or next.In June, Kinder Morgan brought its Gulf Coast Express expansion (pink line in Figure 1 below) online. The project added 570 MMcf/d, or about 0.6 Bcf/d, of capacity from the Waha hub (blue circle to left) to the Agua Dulce hub (blue circle at bottom) in South Texas. It is fully subscribed and can move about 2.6 Bcf/d in total. The new capacity helped Waha prices recover sharply from their lows (more on this below) but didn’t solve the Permian’s takeaway problem on its own.That brings us to the Hugh Brinson Pipeline (purple line in Figure 1 above), the next big outlet for Permian gas. Phase 1 construction is complete and the line has started moving gas. Pipeline owner/operator Energy Transfer expects the ramp-up to continue through September, when the project should reach its full 1.5 Bcf/d capacity. The exact volumes moving today are not public, so while we know gas is flowing, we don’t know how much. Once fully ramped, the pipeline will give producers another route out of Waha to Maypearl, south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That is a big deal for Waha because it gives trapped Permian gas another path to higher-value markets in addition to the Gulf Coast. Energy Transfer will later add compression and lift west-to-east capacity to 2.2 Bcf/d, and it is targeting Q2 2027 for Phase 2 completion.Next up is the Blackcomb Pipeline (green-dashed line), a 2.5-Bcf/d pipeline that runs from the Permian to Agua Dulce. It has begun commissioning and could enter service by the end of October, then ramp up to its full capacity through the rest of 2026. Blackcomb is operated by WhiteWater Midstream and is 70% owned by the WPC joint venture, 17.5% by Targa and 12.5% by MPLX. (WPC is owned by WhiteWater, MPLX and Enbridge.) It gives Permian producers yet another major outlet for their gas and should further ease pressure at Waha. In 2027, the planned Traverse Pipeline between Agua Dulce and the Katy/Houston area is expected to give shippers — including Blackcomb-connected supply — additional options.Venture Global reports continued progress in building the CP2 export terminal. It also touted its commercial progress toward FID on two bolt-on projects near existing facilities.Then comes Eiger Express (orange-dashed line), a new 48-inch-diameter pipeline that will move 3.7 Bcf/d from the Permian to Katy, west of Houston. It is expected to enter service in mid-2028 with 2.5 Bcf/d, with the remaining 1.2 Bcf/d coming a year later in mid-2029. The Matterhorn joint venture owns 70% of Eiger, while ONEOK and MPLX each own 15%. (The Matterhorn group includes WhiteWater, ONEOK, MPLX and Enbridge.)Next, let’s look at the flows out of the Waha hub, because it tells the story of the past year and gives us some big clues about what comes next as new takeaway capacity comes online. As Figure 2 below shows, eastbound flows out of the hub have been running close to 14 Bcf/d for most of this year, very near the current capacity (dashed black line), leaving very little room in the system. That starts to change this fall. Capacity should rise above 16 Bcf/d in October and approach 19 Bcf/d in November as Hugh Brinson and Blackcomb ramp up.The added capacity is important because the Waha market has been under extraordinary pressure. Waha normally trades below Henry Hub because it is a production hub with little local demand, so gas must move to the Gulf Coast, Mexico, and other demand centers. Intermittently throughout 2024 and 2025, Waha basis fell to extremely low levels. Producers without long-term offtake agreements or hedging had to accept deeply discounted prices for gas — and often negative outright prices — to keep their oil wells running. In the first half of 2026, the situation became even more grim for unhedged producers. Waha basis repeatedly fell to $5-$9/MMBtu below Henry Hub as associated gas production grew faster than new pipeline capacity could be added to move it out of the basin. The turn came in June and July. As the GCX expansion entered service and Hugh Brinson began moving early volumes, Waha basis tightened sharply. Prices averaged about $1.28/MMBtu below Henry Hub in July, compared with roughly $6/MMBtu below Henry Hub during the first six months of the year (dark-pink line in Figure 3 below). We still expect some bumps over the next couple of months as the new pipelines ramp up, but at least Waha prices should be in positive territory. Our Arrow Model puts Waha around $1.08/MMBtu below Henry Hub in August and $0.95/MMBtu below Henry Hub in September; it then averages minus $1.23/MMBtu below Henry Hub for the following 14 months. In short, we do not expect the Waha price environment to look anything like it did earlier this year. Once Hugh Brinson reaches full service and Blackcomb comes online, the extreme constraint-driven discounts should mostly be behind us.That gives Permian producers more room to grow. The Permian has reached record production levels and is expected to continue growing in the coming months, with future gains projected through 2027. We anticipate several Bcf/d of incremental production capacity over that period. We also see room for growth to accelerate, enough for our long-term outlook to assume another Permian pipeline will be needed by 2033, reflecting the need for midstream infrastructure to keep pace with production.The question now is what happens after the gas leaves the Permian. If production continues to grow, more gas will move toward Katy and the Texas Gulf Coast just as LNG demand is ramping up. That could shift the pressure further downstream. We are already seeing weakness at Katy and Houston Ship Channel. Pipeline projects such as Trident, Blackfin and Mustang Express should add routes toward the Sabine River area and help connect West Texas supply with growing LNG demand. The question is whether that infrastructure arrives fast enough.If it does, the Permian gets another leg of growth without recreating the Waha pricing problem. If it does not, the constraint could show up somewhere else, whether in South Texas, along the Gulf Coast or in Louisiana. That is what we’ll be watching as this series continues: How much more can the Permian produce once gas is no longer the constraint, how quickly can the downstream system absorb those volumes, and how will producers respond?
Net Power Pivot 2.0 – Build the Gas Plant First, Capture CO2 Later - Marcellus Drilling News -- Net Power, backed by the Rice brothers (of Rice Energy and EQT fame), has spent years chasing the holy grail of natural gas power: a plant that burns gas and emits essentially zero carbon dioxide. Last year the company backed off that goal and pivoted to post-combustion carbon capture (PCC), which grabs about 90% of the CO2 using off-the-shelf technology. Close enough, the market said. Last week, Net Power pivoted again — and this one’s a doozy. The first phase of its flagship West Texas project will now be built with no carbon capture at all. Just a gas plant. Meanwhile, the company took a $193.7 million charge to write its original Allam Cycle technology and its La Porte demonstration plant down to zero.
Explainer: Why is Trump talking about the Keystone XL oil pipeline? - (Reuters) - A social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump declaring that the Keystone XL oil pipeline "may be awoken from the grave" attracted attention this week in the midst of U.S.-Canada trade talks. Keystone XL was a proposed crude pipeline, roughly 1,900 km (1,181 miles) long, which would have carried 830,000 barrels per day of oil from the oil sands of northern Alberta to the major U.S. storage hub at Cushing, Oklahoma, and then on to Gulf Coast refineries. The project, which was opposed by many environmental and Indigenous groups, was rejected by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration and revived by Trump during his first term. Though construction work had started, the pipeline was never completed after U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a key permit for the U.S. stretch of the project in 2021. The company behind Keystone XL, Canada's TC Energy, lost billions when the pipeline was canceled. It later spun off its crude pipelines business into a new entity, South Bow, so that it could focus on natural gas instead.But Trump has been vocal about wanting to see the Keystone expansion built. Canada, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, sends more than 90% of its crude oil production to the U.S., and many U.S. refineries are dependent on Canadian heavy oil.While South Bow previously said it had "moved on" from the Keystone project, forecasts for increased Canadian oil production led the company earlier this year to propose a new pipeline project called Prairie Connector.The 550,000-barrel-per-day project, which South Bow is working on in partnership with U.S. company Bridger Pipeline, would run from Alberta to Wyoming and would use some of the Keystone XL pipe that had been installed on the Canadian side of the border before that project was canceled.South Bow has said it will decide whether or not to go ahead with Prairie Connector in 2027. The company's CEO has said he needs proof that a U.S. presidential permit is "durable" before proceeding. South Bow declined to comment on Trump's recent posts.Reuters reported Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney raised a potential revival of the project during trade talks with Trump last October, presenting it as a possible area of cooperation between the two countries. Trade talks then stalled for months. Trump posted a meme about Keystone shortly after announcing late on Tuesday night he had given Canada a three-day reprieve on more tariffs.
Questerre Advances Oil Shale Technology, Repositions Assets Amid Quebec Gas Shift -Questerre advanced its three core assets this quarter, highlighted by a successful commercial-scale test of its patented HCCO oil shale refining process in Brazil, which could cut capital costs and internal fuel use while generating a pure CO2 stream for potential sequestration. The company is now preparing an extended test to establish commercial operating parameters and working to restore retort efficiency after operational issues increased costs and reduced processing performance. In Quebec, the province’s new long-term energy plan formally recognizes natural gas as strategically important through 2050, aligning with Questerre’s shovel-ready Utica discovery designed to provide lower-emission, locally produced gas for industrial and winter heating demand. Questerre is pursuing an expedited legal action to protect shareholder rights over these assets and expects renewed discussions with the government after the October provincial election. Financially, Questerre listed preferred shares tied to its Quebec assets on Euronext Growth under the ticker QGAS and sold its minority Kakwa Central interest for $23.5 million, reallocating capital to Kakwa North and Saskatchewan expansion. Second-quarter production averaged 5,700 boe per day after the Kakwa sale, revenue rose to $50 million on higher oil prices, net income reached $27.8 million, and the working capital deficit narrowed sharply to $19.1 million, though PX Energy’s higher operating costs and bond-related interest remain key factors for future profitability. The combination of technology progress in Brazil, supportive policy signals in Quebec and portfolio reshaping in Canada enhances Questerre’s medium-term positioning in both conventional and transitional energy markets. Stakeholders face a mix of upside from potential commercialization of HCCO and Quebec gas development, and ongoing exposure to operational, legal and market risks as the company works to improve PX Energy profitability and resolve its dispute over the Utica discovery.
Questerre Wins Quebec OK for Carbon Storage Pilot on Utica Acreage - Marcellus Drilling News - Quebec has approved Questerre Energy's application to run a carbon storage pilot on its Utica Shale acreage near Bécancour — but don't mistake this for Quebec lifting its ban on Utica gas drilling. The Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy approved the five-year pilot (extendable two more years) on August 19, letting Questerre drill injection and observation wells — including one existing well — to test the subsurface for long-term CO2 storage. CEO Michael Binnion is using the approval to push two bigger arguments: that Questerre's pre-existing exploration rights survived Bill 21, the 2022 law that outlawed oil and gas production province-wide, and that gas and carbon storage should be developed together as Quebec's "made in Quebec" answer to emissions and energy security. Buried in the release: Quebec has also given Questerre a decommissioning notice for its 12 suspended wells, due within 36 months — a deadline the company is now contesting using a separate bill that allows old wells to be repurposed for carbon storage.
First Nations-Led Kino Aski LNG Revives Quebec Export Ambitions - An Indigenous-led group and Marinvest Energy Canada are reviving ambitions for an LNG export facility on the Atlantic coast of Canada with a 15 Mt/y proposed project targeting European demand. At a Glance:
- Kino Aski targets 15 Mt/y exports
- New potential outlet for WCSB gas
- East coast projects have proved challenging
Ksi Lisims Feedgas Link Advances With Prince Rupert Pipeline Award - The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) project has awarded its first onshore construction contract, advancing the planned feedgas link for the proposed Ksi Lisims LNG export terminal in British Columbia (BC). NGI LNG netback prices show wide premiums to AECO, SoCal Border, Transco Zone 5 and Waha forwards through August 2027. At a Glance:
- Canadian contractors selected
- Marine and onshore awards buildout
- Developers target year-end FID
Hormuz Closure, Storage Gap Keep Europe Bidding for US LNG -Cooling demand is retreating from northwest Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, but a still-shuttered Strait of Hormuz and the thinnest August storage in years are driving European buyers ahead of Asia in the hunt for US cargoes. NGI Europe and Asia weather data chart showing trailing 365-day daily mean temperatures versus normal in Northwest Europe, Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo through Aug. 14, 2026. At a Glance:
Iberian cooling demand collapses
Asian heat rotates into China
US feedgas at six-week high
Iran War Creating Opportunities for LNG Shippers Despite Influx of New Vessels --LNG shipping company Flex LNG said Wednesday it expects the remainder of the year to be volatile for the freight market as it balances continued disruptions in the Middle East with ongoing fleet growth that’s dragging down rates. Spot LNG vessel rates on Aug. 19, 2026, range from $1,000/day to $26,000/day West and $10,000/day to $67,500/day East. At a Glance:
100 ships to hit market in 2026
Freight rates weak for now
Demand poised to jump
How Are Iran War Supply Disruptions Impacting Asia’s Natural Gas Demand? - Click here to listen to the latest episode of NGI’s Hub & Flow in which former International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Nabuo Tanaka joins host Christopher Lenton to discuss how the Iran war translates to natural gas’ “much longer role for the future energy mix” for certain Asian buyers. Tanaka explains why LNG may be entering a new “golden age” as geopolitical upheaval reshapes global energy security. Tanaka examines how conflict in the Middle East and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz have exposed Asia’s dependence on Gulf energy supplies, tightened the LNG outlook and increased the importance of supply diversification from the United States, Canada and Russia. He also explains how the conflict has shifted policymakers’ thinking about net-zero decarbonization goals, putting renewed emphasis on natural gas as governments balance emissions targets with affordability and security of supply. Tanaka also tackles the debate over whether the world is undergoing an “energy transition” or simply an “energy addition,” as consumption of fossil fuels grows alongside renewables and other emerging technologies. He argues the reality lies somewhere between the two narratives, with natural gas likely to retain a significant role even as countries pursue nuclear, renewables, hydrogen, ammonia and carbon capture. From Japan’s potential need for substantially more LNG to the uncertain timing of peak fossil fuel demand, Tanaka offers a wide-ranging look at how war, energy security and decarbonization are rewriting assumptions about the global energy future.
Papua New Guinea LNG Project Could Advance by Year’s End - Australia-based Santos said Wednesday that project partners expect to make a final investment decision (FID) by the end of the year for a new LNG export facility in Papua New Guinea. At a Glance:
- FID targeted for 4Q
- Financing progressing
- Would add 5.6 Mt/y of supply
Global Natural Gas Prices Rally to Highest Level in Years - European and Asian natural gas prices continued their rally on Friday, settling at the highest levels since January 2023 as threats to global supplies continue to grow.European Union natural gas storage was 61.8% full at 698.64 TWh on Aug. 19, 2026, below the five-year average by 194 TWh. At a Glance:
TTF, JKM move above $22
European gas infrastructure threatened
Iran war continues providing support
ExxonMobil Green Lights Some Equipment for Rovuma LNG Project -ExxonMobil this week awarded several pre-final investment decision (FID) contracts for long-lead time equipment at its Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique targeted for startup next decade. Global LNG export terminal FIDs by country from 2014-2025 show US projects dominating capacity sanctioned in 2025. At a Glance:
Contracts cover long-lead time equipment
Tentative EPC contractor selected
FID targeted for 2026
Azerbaijan Sees Threefold Increase in Crude Oil Exports to Switzerland - Caspianpost. From January to July 2026, Azerbaijan exported 272,501.37 tons of crude oil to Switzerland, nearly tripling the volume recorded during the same period last year, according to the State Customs Committee.Azerbaijan’s crude oil exports to Switzerland were valued at $193.596 million, marking a 3.6-fold annual increase, or $139.738 million, AZERTAC reported.During the reporting period, crude oil shipments to Switzerland accounted for 2.14% of Azerbaijan’s total oil exports.
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Talks Stall and Shipping Traffic Slows -- Oil prices rose on Monday as expectations for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran peace talks faded and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed, heightening concerns over geopolitical risks in the market. Brent crude futures rose 1% to $89.40 a barrel, after gaining 72 cents to $89.20 by 02:29 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 44 cents to $82.83 a barrel. Both benchmarks had gained more than 5% last week following attacks targeting tankers operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the Strait of Hormuz and a refinery belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco. At the start of the week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not yet decided whether to resume talks with the United States, while U.S. President Donald Trump urged Americans to accept a slight increase in gasoline prices as long as the conflict continues. “Oil prices have now almost fully recovered from the lows recorded in early August, as hopes for a more sustainable resolution between the U.S. and Iran have faded and geopolitical risk premiums have returned to the market,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, head of market analysis at Phillip Nova in Singapore. “However, I see limited upside from these levels unless we get clear evidence of renewed hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly physical damage to tankers or oil infrastructure,” she added. Data on Monday showed that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed at the beginning of the week following attacks on oil tankers. Vessel-tracking data from Kpler showed that five cargo vessels carrying essential commodities crossed the strait on Saturday, while no vessels were recorded crossing on Sunday, compared with 31 vessels at the beginning of the previous week. The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the UAE accused Iran of attacking a third vessel operated by ADNOC while it was transiting the strait on Friday, after blaming Iran for two other incidents involving ADNOC vessels in the strait on Thursday evening.
Oil Prices Edge Higher Ahead of US-Iran Ceasefire Expiry (DTN) -- Oil prices edged higher in a choppy Monday morning session amid heightened uncertainty over the future of the U.S.-Iran war, while fresh bearish economic data from China capped gains. By 8:55 a.m. EDT, ICE Brent for October delivery rose $0.81 to $89.33 bbl, and NYMEX WTI for September delivery advanced $0.65 to $83.05 bbl. Downstream, NYMEX ULSD futures for September delivery climbed $0.0660 to $4.3489 gallon, while front-month RBOB futures inched up $0.0002 to $3.1843 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index softened by 0.209 points to 99.35 against a basket of foreign currencies. Oil futures advanced by more than 5% last week after Iran stepped up attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and on neighboring energy infrastructure. Vessel tracking data showed traffic slowed markedly on the weekend. On Sunday, Israeli attacks on Lebanon stoked concerns of a broader escalation just ahead of the U.S.-Iranian ceasefire expiring. Tehran has over the past weeks repeatedly denied White House claims of back-channel negotiations, insisting that U.S. attacks must cease before talks can resume. Iranian forces have during this time fired at tankers traversing the strait without the country's approval, leading to U.S. strikes on Iranian military assets and both sides accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. Reports suggested that both the U.S. and Iran were preparing for a broadening conflict ahead of the official end of the 60-day truce agreement late Monday. Weaker-than-expected macroeconomic indicators out of China, meanwhile, amplified demand woes and weighed on prices. Official government data released overnight Monday showed retail sales expanded 0.6% year-over-year in July, falling short of analyst expectations of 1.5%. Growth in industrial production in the world's second largest oil consuming country slowed from 5.3% in June to 4.5% last month, compared to expectations of a 4.8% year-on-year expansion. This week, market participants will be on the lookout for the latest U.S. industrial production data scheduled for release on Tuesday, followed by U.S. and European manufacturing PMIs on Friday.
Oil Prices Rally as U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate and Strait of Hormuz Shipping Remains Restricted - The oil market traded higher amid concerns over the latest U.S. and Iranian rhetoric regarding the war in Iran. The market was well supported as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains restricted and diplomatic efforts to resolve the war have reached a stalemate. The oil market traded sideways in overnight trading, posting a low of $81.50. However, the market bounced off its low and rallied higher amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments demanding that Iran surrender while also threatening to attack Oman if it interfered. Meanwhile, an Iranian official said Iran would escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and beyond and launch an attack of the U.S. fails to implement an interim peace deal fully in a matter of weeks. The crude market rallied to a high of $84.88 in afternoon trading. The September WTI contract ended the session up $2.10 at $84.50 and the October Brent contract settled up $2.35 at $90.87. The product markets settled higher, with the heating oil market settling up 15.42 cents at $4.4371 and the RB market settling up 8.6 cents at $3.2701. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend following recent attacks on tankers. According to Kpler data, five commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, compared with 31 for the prior weekend. The EIA reported that U.S. Gulf Coast to West Coast waterborne crude oil and petroleum products shipments more than quadrupled year on year in April and May after the Jones Act waiver. It said the shipments reached a record 1.2 million bpd in April, up 11% from the pre-waiver record. It said crude oil shipments from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast increased to a record 180,000 bpd in May. U.S. Energy Secretary, Chris Wright, said he would talk to U.S. refiners on Monday about ways to increase fuel production in an effort to lower gasoline prices that remain high in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. He said increasing refinery output in the U.S. and elsewhere was the key to lowering gasoline prices. According to AAA, the average U.S. price for regular gasoline is more than $4.06/gallon, up by more than $1 from a year ago. IIR Energy said U.S. oil refiners are expected to shut in about 163,000 bpd of capacity for the week ending August 21st, unchanged from the previous week. Offline capacity is expected to fall to 8,000 bpd in the week ending August 28th. The U.S. diesel crack reached an all-time high of $102.20/barrel on Monday as global supply disruptions from the wars in Iran and Ukraine run into peak agricultural consumption season. The crack has reached new intraday record highs in five of the last six sessions, reflecting growing concerns about fuel availability as new attacks on Middle Eastern refineries added to existing supply disruptions. Delek reported equipment malfunction at its 73,000 bpd Big Spring, Texas refinery. An alert of emissions at Valero’s Corpus Christi, Texas East plant last week has been withdrawn after the company name was entered incorrectly in a filing by the Texas pollution regulator. The incident instead involved an overhead leak at Citgo’s Corpus Christi refinery East plant. Flint Hills Resources reported operating conditions have made flaring necessary at 290,000 bpd its Corpus Christi, Texas West plant.
Oil futures: WTI rises as US-Iran deal window closes -- WTI crude futures rose by 2.6pc today as Iran said a deal with the US is ‘no longer relevant' and as the US threatened to attack Oman.September Nymex WTI rose by $2.10/bl to $84.50/bl while October Ice Brent rose by $2.35/bl to $90.87/bl. The October Brent-October WTI spread widened by 8¢/bl to $7.13/bl.WTI at the Magellan East Houston terminal was discussed at a prompt $1.05-$1.25/bl premium bid-ask spread to the Cushing benchmark at 3pm ET, according to the Argus Crude Market Ticker, broadly steady with Friday's $1.14/bl volume-weighted average premium.A 60-day window that Iran and the US agreed on in mid-June to negotiate an end to the war and to reach a deal on Iran's nuclear program "is no longer relevant" following repeated US violations of the agreement, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday.Signed on 18 June, the agreement, a memorandum of understanding, was meant to also kickstart a process whereby Iran would ensure the return of shipping through the strait of Hormuz back to pre-war levels within 30 days, and allow for the passage of ships with no charge for 60 days. The agreement's 60-day window closed today.Disagreements over control and administration of the strait of Hormuz after the agreement was signed had prompted Iran to target vessels as they crossed they key waterway, resulting in the agreement's collapse in early July.US president Donald Trump on Monday threatened to bomb Oman if it "gets in the way" of negotiations between the US and Iran over the strait of Hormuz.Trump made the threat to "bomb the [expletive] out of" Oman in an unaired interview with Fox News on Monday. The White House subsequently confirmed the remarks, which were made in regards to talks between Oman and Iran over the future administration of the strait of Hormuz.Trump on 14 August threatened an indefinite naval blockade against Iran — and a US territorial claim on the strait of Hormuz — marking a new approach to pressuring Tehran. “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I'll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States," Trump said.Abu Dhabi's state-owned Adnoc sold at least 16mn bl of spot crude originating from within the strait of Hormuz through its latest tender that closed last week, with Indian buyers accounting for almost half of the traded volumes.Indian refiners bought a combined 7mn bl of light sour Das and medium sour Upper Zakum crude through Adnoc's eighth sale tender.Nymex RBOB rose by 8.6¢/USG to $3.2701/USG while Nymex ultra-low sulphur diesel rose by 15.42¢/USG to $4.4371/USG.
Oil Prices Surge as Brent Tops $91, WTI Exceeds $85 - Caspianpost.com -Crude oil prices continued to rise on Tuesday as diminishing prospects for a U.S.-Iran deal fueled concerns over prolonged supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, with Brent topping $91 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate nearing $85. Brent futures were up 0.3% at $91.14 a barrel at 0003 GMT on Aug. 18, while U.S. WTI gained 42 cents to $85.04. WTI earlier reached $85.37, its highest level since July 31, while Brent had climbed to its strongest level since July 30, Coinpaper reported. The latest move followed a deterioration in U.S.-Iran diplomacy. Iran said it would adopt a more offensive military posture after efforts to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict stalled, while Washington ruled out extending the temporary ceasefire. Progress toward restoring normal tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also slowed. The supplied Brent chart captures the speed of the latest move. Brent climbed from around $88.50 to above $90 on Aug. 17, breaking out of an intraday range as traders added a larger geopolitical risk premium. That breakout has since extended above $91. The immediate question is whether Brent can hold the psychologically important $90 level. A sustained move above it would keep buyers in control, while a drop back below $90 could suggest that part of the geopolitical premium is fading. Supply concerns have a fundamental basis. The International Energy Agency said Gulf oil production in July remained 8.3 million barrels per day below prewar levels, while regional exports fell as renewed disruption restricted Hormuz traffic. The IEA now expects the global market to run a 1.8 million-bpd deficit in the third quarter. The supplied WTI daily chart shows a broader recovery from the July low near $70, followed by another pullback and rebound. Price has now returned to the mid-$80s, but the chart shows heavier resistance approaching the late-July region around $90. WTI therefore needs more than a brief push above $85 to confirm another leg higher. Failure to maintain the recovery would bring the $80 area back into focus, while stronger buying could reopen a test of the previous highs. The Energy Information Administration has also raised its 2026 average price forecasts to $86.81 for Brent and $80.88 for WTI, citing prolonged Middle East production losses. The main bearish counterweight comes from U.S. inventories and the demand outlook. Commercial crude stocks surged 17.4 million barrels to 424.4 million barrels in the week ended Aug. 7, the largest weekly increase since January 2023. The next EIA report is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19. Demand forecasts are also divided. The IEA expects global oil demand to decline by 1.6 million bpd in 2026, while OPEC still expects growth of about 600,000 bpd. For now, crude oil prices remain driven primarily by supply risk. Holding Brent above $90 and WTI above the mid-$80s would preserve the bullish setup, but another large inventory build or renewed diplomatic progress could quickly reduce the geopolitical premium.
Oil prices reached their highest level since July | УНН - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday for the third day in a row as prospects for a deal to end the war in the Middle East deteriorated, with Iran saying it would take a more offensive stance and the United States ruling out extending the ceasefire agreement, heightening concerns about prolonged disruptions to energy supplies, UNN writes, citing Reuters. Brent crude oil futures rose 7 cents, or 0.08%, to $90.94 a barrel by 10:31 GMT (13:31 Kyiv time). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 53 cents, or 0.63%, to $85.03 a barrel. Brent and WTI futures had traded at their highest levels since July 30 and 31, respectively, earlier in the session. "Sentiment remains supported by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision not to extend the peace agreement between the United States and Iran, as well as persistent concerns about security in the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts wrote in a note. Progress in peace talks and the resumption of oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has stalled, threatening to prolong the conflict that the United States and Israel began by attacking Iran on February 28, the publication writes. Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed until the United States fulfills the terms of the interim agreement signed in June, Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in comments published by state media on Tuesday. Trump previously called the agreement "over." Ghalibaf's comments came after a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Iran would shift to a "fully offensive" military posture, as efforts to reach a final end to the war had reached an impasse. Iran threatened an offensive in the Strait of Hormuz if talks with the United States fail 18.08.26, 03:56 • 5102 views "The absence of any agreement will affect expectations for oil prices going forward, in the fourth quarter and even in 2027," said DBS Bank's head of energy research, Souvro Sarkar. However, some oil is passing through the Strait of Hormuz, although the number of crossings is in the single digits. Saudi Aramco has resumed loading oil from the Strait of Hormuz and is offering cargoes to be loaded via ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah in the UAE. "Iran likely has the ability to completely halt the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz when it considers it appropriate," said SEB analyst Bjarne Schieldrop. Iran has separately been negotiating with Oman on an agreement to manage the Strait of Hormuz and says they are close to a deal. But Trump responded to the talks by threatening to bomb Oman, a longtime U.S. security partner. Trump threatened to bomb Oman over its interference in U.S. efforts in the Strait of Hormuz 17.08.26, 15:40 • 10046 views Elsewhere in the Middle East, Yemen's Houthis launched missiles in attacks on vessels they described as a Saudi warship and four escort vessels in the Red Sea, their military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Telegram.
Oil Rises, ULSD Crack Tops $100/bbl on Tightening Supply -- Oil prices rose for a third consecutive trading day Tuesday morning, holding at their highest in nearly three weeks on dimming peace prospects and mounting supply disruptions. Fresh attacks on tankers and refineries, meanwhile, catapulted U.S. diesel margins to record highs. By 8:45 a.m. EDT, ICE Brent for October delivery rose $0.35 to $91.22 bbl, and NYMEX WTI for September delivery advanced $0.76 to $85.26 bbl. Downstream, NYMEX ULSD futures for September delivery slightly retreated from Monday's four-and-a-half-month high, inching down $0.0118 to $4.4253 gallon. Front-month RBOB futures, meanwhile, added $0.0320 to $3.3021 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index steadied, up 0.021 points to 99.555 against a basket of foreign currencies. The ULSD crack -- the price difference between a barrel of the most actively traded NYMEX ULSD and WTI contracts -- on Monday breached the $100 bbl mark for the first time in history, settling at $101.86 bbl as ULSD soared to the highest since early April on reports of new Iranian attacks on tankers and Houthi attacks on Saudi refineries. Washington and Tehran dismissing the option of extending the 60-day ceasefire period which expired Monday also supported prices. On Feb. 27, the last trading day before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, the differential was $42.01. Last month, the ULSD crack versus WTI surpassed the previous record high $86.82 bbl reached in October 2022 after the European Union agreed to ban refined fuel imports from Russia, back then the economic bloc's primary diesel supplier. The de-facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on refineries in the Persian Gulf have since early March considerably tightened global diesel supply. Aside from the direct loss of around 4 million bpd of middle distillate exports, the market had to contend with a still ongoing crude-shortage-induced refining lull affecting most of Asia. At the same time, Ukraine has been stepping up its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, taking offline around a third of refining capacity, which subsequently led to refined product export bans and fuel shortages, further tightening the screws on the global diesel market. U.S. crude stockpiles, meanwhile, which have dwindled rapidly amid the largest oil supply disruption in history, unexpectedly rose in the first week of August amid a surge of imports, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported last Wednesday. Weekly inventory estimates by the American Petroleum Institute are scheduled for release later Tuesday, followed by EIA data on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
Oil Prices Extend Gains for Third Session as Hopes for U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Fade - The oil market traded higher on Tuesday, settling higher for the third consecutive session, as hopes for U.S.-Iranian peace deal fade, with Iran stating that it would adopt a more offensive stance and the U.S. ruling out extending a ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, said that talks between Washington and Tehran were neither taking place nor scheduled, while he insisted that the Strait of Hormuz remained open. The crude market posted the day’s trading range by mid-morning as it posted a high of $85.94 amid the comments made by President Trump. However, the market gave up some of its gains and posted a low of $84.57 before it settled in a narrow trading range during the remainder of the session. The September WTI contract settled up 44 cents at $84.94 and the October Brent contract settled up 15 cents at $91.02. The product markets ended the session higher, with the heating oil settling up 1.3 cents at $4.4501 and the RB market settling up 3.16 cents at $3.3017. According to preliminary shipping data, ship crossings via the Strait of Hormuz were still in single digits on Monday, despite increasing slightly from the weekend. Kpler shiptracking data showed that six commodity ships transited the strait on Monday, of which three were exiting the Gulf and three were entering, compared with the 10-day average of 11 ships. Three ships transited on Saturday while two moved through the waterway on Sunday. Kpler data showed that at Bab el-Mandeb, 19 commodity vessels transited on Monday, lower than a 10-day moving average of 26 and Sunday’s 33 crossings. Out of the 19 ships, five were entering the Red Sea and 14 were exiting. Of the 14 exits, one was the VLCC Norns laden with 2 million barrels of oil. Of the ships entering, two were the liquid tankers Admiral and Portofino, with the Portofino loaded with diesel bound for west of Suez markets. Bloomberg reported that BP Plc has become the latest foreign company to begin trading Venezuelan oil since the U.S. removed former President Nicolas Maduro, following in the footsteps of Trafigura Group and Vitol Group. The tanker Monte Lema finished loading fuel oil for BP on Tuesday. The ship, carrying 400,000 barrels of heavy fuel oil, lists Houston as its preliminary final destination. The fuel oil is being supplied by state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA. According to three industry executives, tanker trackers and a ship broker, two Chinese shipping giants have stopped sending oil tankers through two Middle East chokepoints amid ongoing conflict and are instead collecting oil cargoes outside the Gulf. According to Vortexa and a ship broker, state-controlled COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and China Merchants Energy Shipping have kept their tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb since late July, with security concerns curbing oil shipments to the world’s largest importer. The two shippers, which together control more than 100 very large crude carriers capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil each, handled about half of China’s crude imports from the Middle East before the Iran war began in late February.
Oil Extends Rise on Mounting Tensions, Slowing Flows (DTN) -- Oil prices climbed for a fourth day in early Wednesday morning trade as oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz continued to slow amid new attacks on tankers and rising tensions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Prices, however, briefly reversed course in tandem with the U.S. Dollar Index after the U.S. Treasury announced to at least double buyback operations for longer-dated securities. By 8:58 a.m. EDT, ICE Brent for October delivery fell $0.09 to $90.93 bbl, and NYMEX WTI for September delivery dropped $0.14 to $84.80 bbl. Downstream, NYMEX ULSD futures for September delivery retreated $0.0303 to $4.4198 gallon, and front-month RBOB futures softened $0.0139 to $3.2878 gallon. Following the Treasury announcement, the U.S. Dollar Index dropped to 99.05 against a basket of foreign currencies, down 0.504 points. Vessel tracking data showed that crossings through the chokepoint remained in the single digits on Tuesday. Traffic has in recent days slowed markedly after Iran stepped up attacks on ships navigating the Strait without Tehran's approval. Before the start of the war in late February, daily transits averaged 130. Following Iranian strikes on UAE-linked tankers and a refinery Tuesday, Abu Dhabi officially cut economic ties with Tehran, halting all trade and financial transactions. Iran in response again warned countries in the region not to provide assistance to U.S. armed forces. Several workarounds established over the past six months were able to ease the crude supply disruption stemming from the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, including Saudi and Emirati pipelines diverting flows to ports outside the Persian Gulf, and shuttling oil onto tankers in the adjacent Gulf of Oman. Global supply of refined products, suffering from both the lack of Middle Eastern exports and months of crude-shortage-induced low refinery runs outside of the region, remained tighter than that of crude oil. Diesel inventories remained depressed, with U.S. refining margins for the fuel soaring to new records this week. According to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data, nationwide stockpiles of ultra-low sulfur diesel are trailing year-ago levels by 7.3% and the five-year seasonal average by 11.5%. The American Petroleum Institute on late Tuesday reported that distillate fuel oil inventories extended their decline by close to 2.8 million bbl last week. If confirmed by EIA data scheduled for release at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the draw would leave inventories 8.2% lower than in the corresponding reporting week in 2025.
WTI Rises As Distillate Stocks Draw, Cushing Back Near 'Tank Bottoms', SPR At 43-Year Lows - Oil prices are chopping sideways (to modestly higher) for the second day in a row as traders weighed the 'dark fleet' transits with renewed tensions in the Middle East further clouding the outlook for flows through the vital Strait of Hormuz. “A combination of the escalation between the UAE and Iran, coupled with a market increasingly pricing a ‘closed for longer scenario,’ keeps oil and refined products supported,” said Arne Lohmann Rasmussen, chief analyst at Global Risk Management. Combine that with the ever-decreasing poll of global inventories (to soak up any supply shortage)... ...and every incremental report on supply and production matters (especially for refined products). API
- Crude -328k
- Cushing -1.4mm
- Gasoline +1.1mm
- Distillates -2.8mm
DOE
- Crude +4.41mm (-707k exp)
- Cushing -1.314mm - biggest draw since mid-June
- Gasoline +688k
- Distillates -1.53mm
After last week's massive crude inventory build, expectations were a calmer week (API showed a small draw). The official data showed a sizable build (4.41mm barrels) for the 3rd week in a row while Cushing stocks slipped back. Products were mixed with Distillates drawing down for a 3rd week... Cushing stocks remain near 'tank bottoms'... The SPR saw another drain... ...pushing stocks back to ever lower lows (1983 lows now)... US crude production rose last week, edging closer to record highs as rig counts continue to rise... Crude imports eased after a big surge a week earlier mostly thanks to a significant slide in volumes from Canada. Still, shipments from Venezuela remain very strong holding above 700,000 barrels a day and near the highest levels since 2017. WTI Crude is rising on the report back up near $85... Finally, as we have noted numerous times recently, it's not crude that is the center of the current crisis but refined products with fuel prices, especially diesel, having rallied much harder than oil, as the war between Russia and Ukraine has also contributed to tighter energy markets following attacks on refineries. That’s heaping cost pressure onto drivers, truckers and farmers, as well as overall industry, and leaks into inflationary impacts for the 'average joe' far quicker. The margin for making diesel from crude oil in the US has topped $100 a barrel, setting all-time highs. In Europe, gasoil futures have more than doubled this year.
UAE suspends all trade with Iran, lifting oil prices -- The United Arab Emirates halted all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran on Wednesday, citing regional escalations that undermine peace and security, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Afra Al Hameli, director of the Strategic Communications Department at the ministry, said the suspension would remain in place until further notice. Al Hameli also said the UAE remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the international financial system, in line with international law.Oil prices climbed on the news. By late morning, Brent crude futures were trading at $91.89 a barrel, up 87 cents or close to 1%, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude also in positive territory at $86.11 a barrel, a gain of $1.17 or 1.4%. Wednesday's intraday peak for Brent marked the contract's strongest level since July 30, while WTI's session high had not been seen since July 31."Crude futures remain supported by the geopolitical tensions that remain in the Middle East, now with the UAE stating they have cut off all financial ties to Iran due to the latest missile attacks," Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial, told Reuters.Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz stayed depressed on Wednesday, with tanker operators largely steering clear of the route while questions about the blockade's end date went unanswered, Reuters reported. Before the conflict disrupted maritime traffic, the waterway had been the passage for around a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said no talks were taking place with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open. Iran said the waterway remained shut.The trade suspension deepens a prolonged standoff between the two countries. Monday saw the expiration of a temporary ceasefire, after which a senior Iranian official said that Tehran was adopting a harder line as diplomatic efforts stalled. There were no reports of strikes by either side on Tuesday.The broader crisis has its roots in a breakdown of an earlier accord. Iran set broad conditions — including sanctions relief, war reparations, and an end to U.S. military threats — that Washington would need to meet before the Strait of Hormuz could reopen. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 committing to open Hormuz to commercial traffic, but the agreement unraveled almost immediately amid fighting over permissible transit routes.The International Energy Agency cut its 2026 global oil supply forecast last week, projecting a deficit of 1.8 million barrels per day in the third quarter of 2026 — more than double its prior estimate — as the breakdown of the ceasefire reversed a recovery in Gulf output.
Oil prices settle near 4-week high as Middle East crisis escalates (Reuters) - Crude oil prices rose on Wednesday and settled at the highest in nearly four weeks, as investors worried about escalating tensions in the Middle East after the United Arab Emirates decided to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran, and as ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained slow. Brent crude futures settled at $91.62 a barrel, up 60 cents, or 0.7%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 89 cents, or 1.1%, to settle at $85.83 a barrel. Both benchmarks closed at their highest since July 24. "Crude futures remain supported by the geopolitical tensions that remain in the Middle East, now with the UAE stating they have cut off all financial ties to Iran due to the latest missile attacks," said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of trading at BOK Financial. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said no talks were taking place with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open. Iran, however, said the waterway remained shut. A temporary ceasefire agreement expired on Monday and a senior Iranian official told Reuters his country was moving to a due to the diplomatic stalemate. There were no reports of strikes by either side on Tuesday. Iran is eyeing military targets in Europe if Trump escalates the war, the Financial Times reported, citing sources. The oil market remains focused on the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed before the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began at the end of February. Only six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, Kpler data showed by 0258 GMT, down from nine a day earlier and below the 10-day daily average of 11. Brent's move above $91 a barrel suggests traders are pricing in a higher risk premium, with prices potentially returning to three-digit levels, said Ahmad Assiri, research strategist at brokerage Pepperstone. Meanwhile, oil shipments from Russia's western ports have fallen to about 2.3 million barrels per day in the first half of August, 15% below the initial loading plan, because of disruptions at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. In the U.S., crude inventories rose by 4.4 million barrels to 428.8 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said, easing concerns about tight supplies. Globally, refiners have been snapping up crude barrels due to high margins and as Ukraine's attacks on Russia’s refining sector kept global fuel supplies tight, BOK's Kissler noted. U.S. refinery utilization rates rose by 1 percentage point in the week to 97.2%, EIA data showed.
Oil Prices Steady as Markets Assess Outlook for Washington-Tehran War -Oil prices were broadly steady in early trading on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the war between the United States and Iran and the security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. By 0037 GMT, Brent crude futures for October delivery had risen 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.87 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for September delivery fell 2 cents to $85.81 a barrel. The more actively traded October US crude contract rose 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $84.53 a barrel. Both benchmark crude contracts rose for a fourth consecutive session on Wednesday, reaching their highest settlement levels since July 24. The September US crude contract expires later on Thursday. “Oil prices have remained elevated as the market is supported by sporadic attacks in the Middle East, but they lack fresh momentum as there has been no major escalation,” said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief analyst at Nissan Securities Investment. He added that “the market is likely to maintain a gradual upward trend amid uncertainty over talks to end the war and disruptions involving the UAE, Oman and Iran.” The UAE’s decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice has once again highlighted the strained relations between the two countries. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that there were no talks with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open. Iran, however, said the waterway remained closed. Data released on Wednesday showed a slowdown in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as most shipowners avoided the waterway due to uncertainty over navigation conditions following its closure amid the war with Iran. The US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that crude oil and gasoline inventories rose, while distillate stocks fell last week. Crude inventories increased by 4.4 million barrels in the week ended August 14, compared with analysts’ expectations for a 600,000-barrel decline.
Crude oil price jumps over 1% as US issues fresh threats to Iran - The HinduBusinessLine - Crude oil futures rebounded from early losses to gain more than 1 per cent on Thursday, tracking firm global trends as fresh US sanctions aimed at isolating Iran stoked concerns over possible disruptions to global oil supplies. On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), crude oil for the September delivery appreciated by ₹96, or 1.18 per cent, to ₹8,247 per barrel. The October contract also advanced ₹91, or 1.14 per cent, to ₹8,097 per barrel on the MCX. Analysts said the rally marked the fifth straight session of gains for MCX crude futures, as investors weighed the impact of the latest US pressure on Iran's oil trade. Brokerage firm Kotak Neo, formerly Kotak Securities, said the market is now pricing in the risk of tighter Iranian crude flows, with the Strait of Hormuz once again emerging as a key pressure point. The gains were mirrored in international markets, with Brent crude futures for October delivery rising $1.95, or 2.13 per cent, to $93.57 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for the same-month contract climbed $1.87, or 2.22 per cent, to $86.26 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. US President Donald Trump announced a fresh campaign to isolate Iran economically, warning countries and entities supporting Tehran that they could face severe economic consequences. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am announcing the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country! This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale." He added that "Any country that allows its financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities to provide any type of lifeline to Iran will itself face tremendous economic consequences." However, the announcement came without details on the specific measures or countries that could be targeted, analysts said. The move signals a further shift in Washington's strategy towards economic pressure on Tehran after Trump paused US attacks on Iran last month following two weeks of nightly strikes, they added. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also said last week that Washington would step up efforts to isolate Iran economically. Kotak Neo said market participants will monitor potential supply disruptions, retaliatory action around the Strait of Hormuz and whether sanctions force further rerouting of Iranian crude flows. Any disruption to flows through the strategic shipping lane could add another layer of risk to an already sensitive oil outlook, it said.
Oil Prices Jump after Trump Declares 'Economic Warfare'(DTN) -- Oil prices rose to their highest in more than three weeks Thursday morning amid dimming peace prospects and fresh concerns over Iranian oil supply as the U.S. and UAE ramped up economic pressure on the country. By 8:30 a.m. EDT, ICE Brent for October delivery rose $3.00 to $94.62 bbl, and NYMEX WTI for September delivery on its last trading date advanced $3.17 to $89.00 bbl. The October contract rose $3.22 to $87.61 bbl. Downstream, NYMEX ULSD futures for September delivery gained $0.0561 to $4.5084 gallon, and front-month RBOB futures inched up $0.0017 to $3.2568 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index continued to soften following Wednesday's 0.823-point slump, edging lower by 0.051 points to 98.680 against a basket of foreign currencies. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a social media post announced "economic warfare and isolation" against Iran. He specifically mentioned oil smuggling, raising concerns that sanctioned Iranian crude oil flows may ebb even further. Sanctions on Iranian oil trade, in place since 2018, had, while denting Tehran's purse, proven largely ineffectual in lowering the country's oil exports, and ship tracking data suggest that flows were continuing even amid the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, albeit at a trickle. The president also threatened economic consequences to every country not severing economic ties with or providing help to Iran. The move stoked concerns over a prolonged status-quo, as economic pressure campaigns have in the past failed to bring Tehran to the negotiating table, and given the long history of Iran's largest trading partners skirting U.S. sanctions. If anything, Iran has during this now almost six-month long war repeatedly met perceived U.S. escalations with attacks on military and energy assets in the region. U.S. oil inventory data also lent price support. The Energy Information Administration on Wednesday reported that diesel inventories fell to their lowest in a month, and were at their most depleted for the corresponding reporting week since August 1996. Total crude stockpiles also receded despite a large surprise build in commercial inventories, as volumes in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to their lowest since 1982.
Oil settles up more than 2% after Trump threatens countries supporting Iran (Reuters) - Oil prices jumped more than 2% on Thursday to settle at the highest in nearly a month, after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of retaliation against nations supporting Iran, his latest attempt to resolve a war that has stranded millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil. Brent crude futures settled up $2.16, or 2.4%, at $93.78 a barrel, the highest since July 24. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September gained $2, or 2.3%, at $87.83 a barrel, also the highest level since July 24. On Wednesday evening, Trump threatened "economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale" against Tehran, warning of consequences for any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran". U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would hold a press conference on Monday "to talk about exactly what we're going to do." Thousands of people have been killed in the Iran war, which began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes on Iran. Since then, Tehran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East have sharply disrupted the flow of oil and gas to other parts of the world. "For now, these new threats appear unlikely to sway Iran into relinquishing their primary source of leverage, that being control of the Strait, absent major concessions from the U.S.," oil trading advisor Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note. "So, the beat goes on with no resolution in sight that would spur a major decline in oil prices back to levels anywhere close to those prior to the war," Ritterbusch and Associates said. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday was unchanged from the day before, far below pre-war levels, according to the latest shipping data. Prior to the Iran war, shipments equal to about one-fifth of global consumption moved through the waterway. This week, the United Arab Emirates suspended all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice, highlighting the fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab oil producer and Tehran. The war has also impacted the supply of refined fuels and drawn down inventories, with less crude available to refiners. U.S. stockpiles of distillate fuel, including diesel and heating oil, fell last week for a third straight week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. However, crude inventories unexpectedly rose by 4.4 million barrels. Trump's threats against nations helping Iran could become a sensitive topic in U.S.-China relations, said Alex Hodes, an energy analyst at StoneX, noting that China is the largest importer of Iranian crude oil.
Crude oil price: Futures decline as US threatens ‘toughest sanctions’ on Iran - - Crude oil futures traded lower on Friday morning despite the US threat to impose the ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran. At 9.38 am on Friday, October Brent oil futures were at $93.46, down by 0.34 per cent, and October crude oil futures on WTI (West Texas Intermediate) were at $86.40, down by 0.50 per cent. September crude oil futures were trading at ₹8282 on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) during the initial hour of trading on Friday against the previous close of ₹8304, down by 0.26 per cent, and October futures were trading at ₹8123 against the previous close of ₹8142, down by 0.23 per cent. k US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, told CNBC that the US would impose the ‘toughest sanctions in history’ on Iran. “If we are doing the maximum economic pressure, then that means that likely there will not be a large-scale kinetic restart,” Bessent said. Kinetic restart is a term used to refer military force. The Trump administration’s plan to crush Iran’s economy will likely negate the need for major US military operations against Iran, he said. US President Donald Trump had stated on Wednesday that the US plans to choke Iran’s economy by levying major penalties against any country that provides ‘any type of lifeline’ to Iran. “This will be an ECONOMIC D-DAY, and we need all of our Allies to stand with the United States of America to isolate, and defeat, the Iran threat,” he said. September natural gas futures were trading at ₹267.70 on MCX during the initial hour of trading on Friday against the previous close of ₹265.20, up by 0.94 per cent.
Oil on Track for Weekly Jump as US-Iran Tensions Mount (DTN) -- Oil prices edged higher in early Friday morning trade and were on track for the second consecutive weekly increase on the back of rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran and slowing oil flows from the Middle East. By 8:02 a.m. EDT, ICE Brent for October delivery rose $0.21 to $93.99 bbl, and NYMEX WTI for October delivery advanced $0.13 to $86.96 bbl. Downstream, the increase was more pronounced, with NYMEX ULSD futures for September delivery rising $0.0399 to $4.5202 gallon, and front-month RBOB futures appreciating by $0.0628 to $3.3257 gallon. The U.S. Dollar Index continued lower, down 0.218 points to a three-month low 98.595 against a basket of foreign currencies. Crude benchmarks rose to the highest in more than three weeks on slimming prospects of an easing oil supply disruption after Tehran and Washington adopted a more confrontational stance following the expiry of the official 60-day ceasefire on Monday, Aug. 17. Iran stepped up attacks on commercial ships trying to traverse the Strait of Hormuz outside of Tehran-approved corridors, leading daily crossings of the energy chokepoint back into the single digits, compared to the ante bellum average of 130. Iran-aligned Houthis also launched fresh attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure outside of the Persian Gulf this week, raising concerns over the substantial crude oil flows that Saudi Arbia had during the nearly six-month long crisis successfully diverted to ports outside of Iran's reach. The latest escalation in the conflict came in the form of a midweek U.S. announcement to impose harsh economic sanctions on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a social media post declared "economic warfare and isolation" against the country, and threatened countries continuing to trade with Iran with severe economic consequences. Tehran on Friday warned against such a step, saying that their response would be "crushing, punishing and devastating". U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he would share details about the planned sanctions package on Monday, Aug. 24. Intensifying Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries, meanwhile, have over the past months also contributed to the global fuel supply tightness. Analysts estimate that the strikes have temporarily disabled anywhere from 20 to 40% of the country's refining capacity, sparking fuel shortages and export bans from an important global diesel supplier, and leading to a rally in diesel prices which dwarfed the rise in underlying crude oil futures.
Oil rises as Trump threatens sanctions on Iran partners (Reuters) - International and U.S. crude oil futures rose on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened economic sanctions on Iran's trading partners, raising expectations of tighter supply in the coming weeks. International benchmark Brent crude futures settled at $94.39 a barrel, up 61 cents or 0.65%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $87.06 a barrel, up 23 cents or 0.26%. The Brent benchmark has gained 6.39% while WTI has risen 5.66% this week, with both touching their highest since July 24 in the previous session. "Sanctions have been the only thing to bring Iran to heel," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital. Iran said on Friday that its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. "The immediate impact on supply may be limited as Iranian exports are already heavily constrained by the U.S. naval blockade," said Crispus Nyaga, research analyst at Empire FX. "However, an increase in shipping incidents and retaliation against economic sanctions could exacerbate the current situation at a time when traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels." But, workarounds and alternative supplies are being found while Hormuz remains constrained, said Phil Flynn, senior analyst with Price Futures Group. "Hormuz is still a problem, but it is no longer the only story," Flynn said in a morning note. "Pipelines, shuttles, U.S. shale, a recovering (if bottlenecked) Venezuela, and an unconstrained UAE are all adding barrels." Oil prices have climbed on concerns over the continued curtailment of supply from major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The earlier peace deal between the U.S. and Iran expired this week with no effort by either side to restart talks. Offers of Iranian crude to Chinese buyers have declined and prices have jumped this week as the U.S. blockade cuts Iran's shipments, trade sources said, with the threat of more sanctions from Washington looming. Seven commodity ships sailed along the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, which was only half the previous day's tally, data from ship-tracker Kpler showed. Before the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February, the Strait of Hormuz handled about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. As the war approaches the six-month mark, disruptions to energy flows through the waterway remain in place. Elsewhere, Ukraine's military hit a Russian oil refinery in the city of Perm overnight, more than 1,600 km (1,000 miles) from the Ukrainian border, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday.
Oil prices are little changed after Iran’s president indicates Tehran wants war to end soon - Oil prices were little changed Friday after Iran’s president indicated that Tehran wants the war with the U.S. to end sooner rather than later. Brent crude futures added 61 cents to close at $94.39 per barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 23 cents to $87.06. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the memorandum of understanding with the U.S. as a victory for the Islamic Republic. Pezeshkian said “it is better to end the war today” when Iran is “in a position of power and dignity,” according to the state news agency PressTV. The MOU, which the U.S. and Iran signed June 17, allowed Tehran to determine how the Strait of Hormuz would be administered through negotiations with Oman and the other Gulf states. Oil prices finished the week more than 5% higher after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC on Thursday that Washington will impose the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran. Echoing President Donald Trump’s threats, Bessent said the U.S will collapse the regime in Tehran. The Treasury Secretary said traders had misinterpreted the Trump administration’s threats by bidding up oil prices. The economic pressure campaign means the U.S. likely will not return to large-scale combat operations against Iran as it steps up economic pressure, he said. Bessent says U.S. likely won’t restart large-scale Iran combat as it steps up economic pressure But Iran is already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world, said Helima Croft, head of global commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. It is not clear whether the U.S. will go after China and Russia who are partners of Iran, Croft told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” The question is whether more sanctions will change Iran’s behavior, Croft said. Tehran appears to believe that it can outlast the U.S., she said. The U.S. military told CNBC Thursday it has helped tankers transport more than 660 million barrels of oil through Hormuz since early May. This implies at least 160 million barrels, or more than 7 million barrels per day, exited the strait over the last three weeks based on previous statements from the military. “The Strait of Hormuz is not closed but we still estimate that we’re losing from this war about 8 million barrels a day,” Croft said. About 20 million bpd of oil and products passed through Hormuz before the war. Crude oil prices had eased significantly over the first two weeks in August as U.S. officials suggested a deal with Tehran was imminent to increase traffic through the strait. But prices started rising after an agreement never materialized and both sides’ rhetoric escalated again. Oil prices are still well below their wartime peak, but the global diesel market is very tight due to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian refineries and outages in the Middle East due to the disruption in Hormuz. Diesel is crucial for the global economy because it is the main fuel for agriculture and freight transportation. “Diesel prices are at historic highs and we do not have spare refining capacity for diesel,” Croft said. “That is the market when it comes to energy to pay very, very close attention to.”
Yemen's Mocha port halts operations after Houthi attacks, port director says (Reuters) - Yemen's Mocha port has suspended commercial and maritime operations after being hit by more than 25 missiles in Houthi attacks over recent days, the port's director said on Saturday.The attacks killed seven people and caused an estimated $16 million in losses, the director told a news conference.
- Mocha is a Red Sea port near the Bab el-Mandab strait, a strategic chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and a key route for international shipping.
- The port is controlled by forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government. It has a smaller cargo capacity than Yemen's main ports of Aden and Hodeidah.
- Yemen's government said on Friday the Houthis fired six ballistic missiles at Mocha that day, killing at least four civilians and targeting civilian, economic and maritime facilities.
- The Houthis said they targeted a military build-up of weapons and warships belonging to Saudi-backed forces in Mocha.
- The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions from the U.S. war on Iran and has raised concerns about a return to large-scale conflict in Yemen.
- Major fighting in Yemen had largely subsided following a U.N.-brokered truce in 2022, but efforts to reach a lasting political settlement have stalled.
Ansar Allah Launches More Attacks on Saudi-Backed Forces in Mocha and Marib - - Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, has launched more attacks targeting Saudi-backed forces in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Mocha and in Yemen’s eastern Marib province as the war in the country continues to escalate. Citing a military source, Yemen’s SABA news agency reported that the Ansar Allah-led Yemeni Armed Forces targeted “Saudi enemy military reinforcements in the Mocha area and Marib governorate with a number of ballistic missiles and drones.” The report added that the “strikes were precise and direct, resulting in a number of killed and wounded, and the destruction of several Saudi enemy weapons depots and storage facilities.” Al Jazeera reported that four people were killed and several others were wounded by the Ansar Allah attacks on Mocha. The local government in the part of Marib province that’s not under Ansar Allah control said that the attacks on Marib damaged homes, vehicles, and other civilian property and wounded four people. Also on Sunday, the Taiz Military Axis, part of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s military forces, said that it launched attacks against Ansar Allah in the southwestern Taiz province that it said killed and wounded multiple fighters. The Saudi- and Western-backed government is based in Aden, though its leaders are based in Riyadh. Sources claimed to the Saudi outlet Al Arabiya that more than 200 Ansar Allah fighters have been killed in fighting over the past 48 hours, but the numbers haven’t been confirmed. Ansar Allah did announce a funeral for four of its officers who were killed in recent days.SABA also reported Saudi shelling in northern Yemen on Sunday, with a source telling the outlet that Saudi forces targeted populated villages in the Razeh district of the northern Saada province.The war in Yemen has been reignited following Saudi airstrikes targeting the Sanaa international airport to prevent a flight from Iran from landing. In response, Ansar Allah announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, a policy it calls a “blockade for a blockade,” and has launched multiple attacks on Saudi shipping. Ansar Allah has also been targeting oil infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia.
Fire ABLAZE at Fujairah Oil Hub After Drone Attack - A fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Zone followinAnsar Allah Announces Attacks on Saudi Ship in Red Sea, Saudi-Backed Forces in Yemen's Marib Province - Ansar Allah military spokesman Yahya Saree announced on Monday an attack on a Saudi ship in the Red Sea and strikes on Saudi-backed forces in Yemen’s Marib province, as the conflict in Yemen continues to escalate.Saree said that Yemeni forces struck what he called a “Saudi-led coalition landing ship” and four accompanying warships with ballistic missiles off the coast of the Red Sea port city of Mocha.So far, Saudi Arabia has not confirmed the attack. Officials from the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, whose leadership is based in Riyadh, told Reuters that Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, struck a ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait with six missiles, though they described the vessel as having been out of service for more than a year for maintenance and likely empty at the time of the attack.Later in the day, Saree said that Ansar Allah forces “successfully targeted an arms depot belonging to Saudi enemy forces in the Sahn al-Jin camp in Marib Governorate with several drones.” Ansar Allah has launched multiple attacks on Saudi-backed Yemeni forces in Marib and in Mocha, inflicting dozens of casualties.Saudi-backed forces have also been launching attacks against Ansar Allah and are claiming major casualties. On Monday, the Taiz Military Axis, part of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government’s military forces, said that it targeted two Houthi military vehicles and six patrols in the southwestern Taiz province, claiming the shelling achieved “direct hits.”Saudi Arabia reignited its war in Yemen by launching airstrikes last month against the Sanaa international airport to prevent a flight from Iran from landing. In response, Ansar Allah announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, a policy it calls a “blockade for a blockade,” and has launched multiple attacks on Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia.g a drone attack, while the UAE said it intercepted missiles fired by Iran, according to EnergyNow. The incident targets one of the world's most important fuel storage and bunkering hubs, immediately raising fresh concern over Gulf energy infrastructure. Per EnergyNow, the Fujairah Oil Zone was struck by a drone attack that sparked a fire at the facility. Separately, UAE authorities said they intercepted missiles launched by Iran. Fujairah sits on the UAE's east coast, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, making it a strategic node for storing and loading crude and refined products that bypass the chokepoint. As a developing story, details on the scale of the fire, damage to storage tanks, and any impact on loading operations remain limited to what the outlet has reported. No casualty figures, volumes offline, or price moves have been confirmed in the source reporting at this stage. What is clear is the strategic weight of the location: Fujairah is one of the largest bunkering and oil storage hubs in the world, serving as a key alternative outlet for Gulf barrels that avoids transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Any confirmed damage to storage capacity or a disruption to loading schedules would be the first hard numbers to watch.
Houthis Claim Third Attack on Saudi Aramco Refinery in Two Weeks -The Iran-aligned Houthi group on Tuesday claimed it had targeted Saudi Aramco’s Jazan oil refinery on Red Sea coast in southwest Saudi Arabia, in what was the third Houthi attack at the facility in the past two weeks, amid escalating hostilities in the region and a deadlock in the U.S.-Iran talks.The armed forces of the Yemen-based Houthi group targeted the Jazan refinery with “a number of drones,” a military source at the Houthi forces told the Houthi-controlled Yemeni News Agency Saba. The strike at the refinery was precise, the source said, adding that the facility was targeted “in response to the violation of Yemeni airspace over the Saada and Hajjah governorates.”There was no immediate confirmation or other communication from Saudi Arabia about the reported incident.The attack, if confirmed, would be the third in two weeks against the Jazan refinery. Last week, the Houthis said they had targeted Jazan again, for the second attack in less than a week.Jazan, Saudi Aramco’s 400-barrels-per-day refinery, was closed at the end of July due to damage from a Houthi attack, which took place several days after the Iran-aligned group said it would target Saudi oil shipments and infrastructure in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.The Houthi threat escalated security and safety risks to oil and fuel flows from the Middle East, forcing Saudi Arabia to re-route part of its oil exports from Yanbu on the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and the Egyptian port of Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean. Heightened risks to shipping safety in the Red Sea have reportedly prompted some Asian refiners to ask Aramco to pick up its crude oil cargoes at Sidi Kerir as vessel owners are increasingly reluctant to pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to enter the Red Sea.
Two Ships Transiting Strait of Hormuz Are Attacked as Oil Prices Rise - The New York Times - Two ships in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked in recent days, killing at least one sailor, maritime officials said on Tuesday, as a declining number of vessels brave the dangerous passageway.Both vessels were hit by unknown projectiles as they passed through the strait, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency.A crew member on one ship that was sailing close to Oman was killed, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational organization, said. On the other vessel, there was a “crew casualty,” U.K. maritime officials said. Iran has not commented on either attack.As the conflict between Iran and the United States stretches into its sixth month, traffic in the vital waterway, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies moved before the war began, has dwindled. The average number of ships transiting the strait over the last week was about 12 vessels per day, down from more than 130 a day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February. Many ships travel with their navigation devices turned off to evade attack, making them harder to track.The war has left hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf and left commercial sailors on the front lines. Since the war with Iran began, 17 sailors have been killed in 65 attacks around the strait, according to the latest report by the International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency. Most of the deaths have been the result of Iranian strikes, but three mariners died after the U.S. Navy struck a ship in June. As uncertainty persists in the Middle East, energy prices have remained elevated. The national average price of gasoline in the United States has been at its highest recorded levels for the month of August, according to the AAA motor club. Brent, the global oil benchmark, was at about $91 a barrel, up from $72 just before the start of the war.Any resolution between the United States and Iran is likely to include not just an end to a U.S. blockade on Iranian exports, but also a U.S. acknowledgment of Iran’s influence in the Strait of Hormuz, said Pietro Guglielmi, an analyst from Eurasia Group. Iran stands to gain financially if it secures the right to levy fees on ships, but these gains are likely to be eroded over the coming years as Gulf producers invest in pipelines that bypass the strait. Because of this, the waterway’s significance for oil trade may be cut in half by 2030, he added. There is already evidence of the strait’s reduced importance for energy markets, Mr. Guglielmi said. Before the war, about 21 million to 22 million barrels of crude oil and oil products per day passed through it. Now, just about five million barrels a day on average of crude oil and oil products have passed through the strait, he said, citing Kpler data. Another seven million to eight million barrels a day of crude and oil products are getting out of the Gulf through pipelines and other means.
Iran war live: Mediators waiting for Iran-Oman Hormuz deal, Qatar says - Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesmBab el-Mandeb Strait faces growing threat as Houthi attacks raise fears of a second Hormuz -- The Iran-backed Houthis’ escalating attacks on shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are raising a growing strategic question: Could the waterway become the next Strait of Hormuz? The answer is complicated by the geography — and by Yemen itself. Unlike Hormuz, where Iran can directly threaten shipping from its own coastline, Tehran’s leverage over Bab el-Mandeb depends largely on its Houthi allies. And the country overlooking the strait is fractured among competing armed and political forces, leaving the U.S. and its regional allies confronting a threat that may be difficult to solve with naval power alone. The danger was underscored Tuesday when the Houthis attacked the Egyptian-owned cargo ship Tihamah in Bab el-Mandeb. Four crew members — three Pakistanis and one Indonesian — were killed, according to Yemeni and Pakistani officials, while two Yemeni rescuers were killed when the Houthis struck again after rescue crews arrived, Yemen’s Coast Guard said. Reuters reported that the fatalities, if confirmed, would be the first deaths in a Houthi strike on shipping since the U.S.-Iran war began Feb. 28. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, is located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connects the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and, farther north, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. It is a crucial route for energy and commercial shipping. The Suez Canal and Egypt’s SUMED pipeline effectively form the northern end of the same Red Sea corridor. The Houthis control the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, while the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government and an array of allied or competing groups control areas elsewhere. The Southern Transitional Council, a separatist movement that has been backed by the United Arab Emirates, has been a major force in the south. That fragmentation is becoming increasingly relevant to the security of the waterway. Amr Al Bidh, the STC’s foreign affairs chief, told Fox News Digital that naval forces can defend individual vessels but cannot by themselves remove the threat posed by Houthi-controlled territory overlooking the maritime route. "Naval presence protects individual ships. It does not take away Houthi launch sites, it does not interdict the smuggling routes that resupply them and it does not hold terrain," Al Bidh said. He said that "you have to be on the ground" to ultimately secure Bab el-Mandeb. The deterioration comes amid a broader escalation in Yemen. U.N. Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council Thursday that the country faces its most serious threat of a return to large-scale war since the U.N.-brokered 2022 truce, warning that renewed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels risk drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation. That truce sharply reduced major fighting after years of war following the Houthis’ seizure of Sanaa in 2014 and the Saudi-led military intervention the following year. Though the formal truce expired in Oct. 2022, large-scale hostilities remained comparatively limited for years. On July 20, the Houthis declared what they called a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia, threatening vessels doing business with Saudi ports. Riyadh denies the Houthi accusation that Saudi Arabia has imposed a siege on Yemen. A White House official, speaking on background, said the United States expects the Houthis to continue to uphold the terms of the ceasefire. The official said the Houthis "saw during Operation Rough Rider that the United States and President Trump will take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and U.S. commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks." The official added that the United States is focused on protecting core national security interests — including freedom of navigation in the Red Sea — while "empowering our regional partners to take the lead in managing and resolving regional security challenges." The official said Washington is in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability.an Majed al-Ansari says during a news conference that countries mediating between Iran and the US are waiting for Iran and Oman to announce an expected agreement on transit through the Strait of Hormuz, before pushing Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations aimed at ending their war. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry says an invitation for an Iranian delegation to visit regarding the issue of the downed Iranian pilots is still open, but Tehran has yet to respond.Last week, Iran accused Qatar of holding three military pilots prisoner after their planes crashed in the early days of the war. Qatar has categorically denied these claims. A fourth pilot died in the crash. Qatari authorities did find his body and returned it to Iran.Two Chinese shipping giants have stopped sending oil tankers through two Middle East chokepoints and are instead collecting oil cargoes outside the Gulf, Reuters reports, citing three industry executives, tanker trackers and a ship broker. State-controlled COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) have kept their tankers out of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb since late July, according to tanker tracker Vortexa and a ship broker, with security concerns curbing oil shipments to the world’s largest importer.CMES told investors in late July that its vessels would not enter the Strait of Hormuz for the time being. It added that other shippers have avoided Bab al-Mandeb, without mentioning its own policy for the narrow passage at the southern end of the Red Sea, a public filing showed.The two shippers, which together control more than 100 very large crude carriers capable of carrying two million barrels of oil apiece, handled roughly half of China’s crude imports from the Middle East before the US-Israel war on Iran began in late February, according to shipping sources.
UAE seeks to placate Iran, releases $3 billion assets, 2 tonnes gold and 15 planes --The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has released billions of dollars in Iranian assets held in its banks and helped transfer gold and passenger aircraft to Iran as fighting between Tehran and Washington intensifies, according to several sources in Tehran familiar with the transfers.The assets released include around 2 tonnes of gold valued at about $283 million, the sources said. The transfers are being described as part of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to persuade Iran not to target the UAE during hostilities between Iran and the United States.The latest movement of assets reportedly took place through flights between the UAE and Iran on August 11 and 12. The aircraft used for the transfers was a Boeing 737-7KK with registration A6-RJA, operated by the UAE Royal Jet. The aircraft flew from Abu Dhabi to Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport and Karaj’s Payam Airport on August 11 and 12. On each trip, it spent around an hour at the Iranian airport before flying back to the UAE.The same aircraft had previously flown from Abu Dhabi to Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on June 8. Citing Iranian officials, Reuters reported that the flight was used to transfer $3 billion in Iranian assets.The latest transfers also involve Iranian funds frozen in Emirati banks. Sources familiar with the development said the UAE is seeking to keep itself away from direct involvement in the fighting between Iran and the United States.The movement of the gold adds another element to the reported transfers. Around 2 tonnes of gold, worth an estimated $283 million, were among the assets sent to Iran, according to the sources. The reported financial transfers were accompanied by another step involving Iran’s aviation sector. The UAE government has allowed the sale of 15 second-hand passenger aircraft to Iranian airlines through Emirati companies. Three Boeing 737-300/500 aircraft were also sold to Iranian airlines by Aerovision FZ, while two former Condor Airbus A320-212 aircraft were sold by Skysource FZ. The two Airbus A320 aircraft have been flown to Iran. The aircraft transfers are important for Iran’s commercial aviation sector, which has faced years of restrictions on acquiring and maintaining modern passenger aircraft. The reported deals come after Iranian airlines lost more than 30 passenger aircraft during US and Israeli attacks carried out as part of Operation Epic Fury and Lion’s Roar. The UAE-backed aircraft transfers are expected to continue. Sources in Iran said another 14 passenger aircraft are set to arrive in the country with the help of Emirati companies. Satellite imagery has also shown two Airbus A320-212 aircraft, identified as C9-ACE and C9-ACF, at George Enescu International Airport in Romania shortly before their transfer to Iran with assistance from the UAE government. The aircraft movement gives Tehran another way to rebuild part of its damaged passenger fleet after the recent attacks. The reported transfers offer a different picture of the UAE’s approach to Iran from some claims circulating on social media, where the Emirati government has been portrayed as taking a tougher position towards Tehran.Sources in Tehran said UAE officials have been working to convince Iran not to target the country during the fighting between Iran and the United States.The release of Iranian funds, transfer of gold and facilitation of passenger aircraft deals are being described by the sources as part of that effort.The UAE has close economic and commercial relations with Iran and has also maintained channels for dealing with Tehran despite years of tension between Iran and the United States. Any direct attack on Emirati territory could seriously damage those ties and create risks for trade and aviation in the Gulf.The reported moves therefore point to an effort by Abu Dhabi to use financial and commercial measures to keep its territory away from the conflict as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue.
Russia Sends Explosives to Iran via Caspian Sea - Caspianpost.com Russia has begun transporting explosives, ammunition and drone components to Iran across the Caspian Sea as Tehran works to replenish weapons stocks depleted during its conflict with the United States and Israel. The shipments provide Iran with a direct supply route from Russian territory at a time when Tehran is seeking to restore its missile and drone capabilities, NBC news reported. The Caspian Sea is bordered by Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Western naval forces do not operate there, making shipments between Russian and Iranian ports considerably harder for the United States or its allies to intercept. The route has already drawn military attention as Israel struck the Iranian Caspian port of Bandar Anzali in late March. However, the shipping activity resumed after the attack. The reported Russian deliveries point to a significant reversal in the arms relationship between Moscow and Tehran. Iran emerged as a major military supplier to Russia following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, providing Shahed attack drones that Russia subsequently deployed extensively against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Tehran also transferred technology that helped Russia establish domestic production of Iranian-designed drones. Moscow later modified the aircraft and expanded production inside Russia. More recently, military assistance has increasingly flowed in the other direction. Russia had supplied drones to Iran and provided Tehran with satellite imagery, intelligence and targeting information for operations against U.S. positions in the Middle East. The latest shipments are taking place as Iran attempts to replenish weapons expended or destroyed during its confrontation with the United States and Israel. A 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran agreed in June was extended for another two months in August. Tehran's objective is not simply to replace lost weapons. Iranian officials are seeking to restore enough missile and drone capacity to impose substantially higher costs on U.S. and Israeli forces in any renewed conflict. With the Caspian providing the two countries with a direct maritime link, Moscow can now help Tehran replenish key weapons stocks through a route largely shielded from Western naval power. As The Gaze informed earlier, Ukrainian intelligence has identified evidence that Russia has been providing Iran with satellite imagery of U.S. military facilities and strategic sites in the Persian Gulf, and that Kyiv will share the data with its international partners. Additionally, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed suggestions that an Iranian attack on Ukraine is only a future risk, arguing that Tehran effectively launched one by supplying Russia with Shahed drones, related technologies, and production licenses.
Iran Reportedly Prepares Secret Plan to Escalate War - Caspianpost.com - Iran has reportedly launched a covert strategy to escalate the conflict, with intercepted communications and intelligence suggesting that hard-line leaders are seeking to raise the costs for the United States and its regional allies. According to the publication, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran in mid-June, administration officials began working to secure support for a deal that, in their view, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin winding down the war, UNN reported. According to Iranian and Arab officials, "Iran's hard-line leaders gathered in Tehran and developed a different plan." "In their view, the pact was likely merely an attempt by the United States and Israel to relieve pressure on the global economy and buy time for a larger attack in the future. Instead of believing in negotiations, they spent the past two months preparing for a bigger battle," the publication says. Their efforts reportedly "include giving the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps greater control over the country's regular army, appointing battle-hardened veterans of the war with Iraq and past domestic crackdowns to key positions, expanding domestic counterintelligence operations, and ramping up missile and drone production." The leadership, the publication writes, quickly seized the initiative by attacking ships to strengthen Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and expand the battlefield to the Red Sea, which Saudi Arabia had used to circumvent Iranian control in the Persian Gulf. Arab intelligence officials "have gathered evidence, including communications between Iran and allied militias in countries such as Yemen and Iraq, of a strategic shift within the country's leadership - hard-liners preparing their forces to expand the war and increase the costs for the United States," officials familiar with the findings say. "Iran's leaders are increasingly talking about offensive operations on enemy territory, raising concerns among weaker Persian Gulf countries such as Kuwait," the publication notes.
Wait… how much oil is actually leaving the Persian Gulf? - A debate is brewing in the oil market: Is the Strait of Hormuz way more “open” than we thought? Common wisdom held that the crucial waterway is effectively closed to oil tanker traffic. Iran has fired on dozens of tankers attempting to transit the strait. Maritime tracking services using a combination of transponder data and satellite imagery have reported a significant decline in the number of vessels trying to navigate the waters. Global oil inventories continue to be depleted.But US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told a very different story last week: The strait is open, and oil is flowing significantly faster than the market appreciates. He would know: The US military is right there, patrolling the water, escorting ships in and out of the strait, protecting them from enemy fire. The Navy provides the Department of Energy with detailed information about which vessels are moving through and when.“In coordination with the US military, the US Department of Energy maintains the best available data related to oil and oil products leaving the Arabian gulf,” a DOE spokesperson said. It’s not unlike the Trump administration to jawbone oil prices lower. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz and frequently claims that a deal with Iran is imminent. Secretary Wright has said the United States is ensuring plenty of oil is getting where it needs to go. Ignoring the bluster, Wall Street analysts have largely relied instead on the third-party tracking data they’ve been receiving, along with industry-reported inventory measurements and other data.But that might be changing. Or, at least, for the first time since the start of the war, some analysts on Wall Street might at least be willing to consider that the administration may be telling the truth about the state of the oil market.That could give the Trump administration significantly more leverage with Iran than previously believed. Wright asserted that the seven-day average of oil flowing out of the Strait of Hormuz had increased to 9 million barrels per day. Hussain noted that stood in direct opposition to Iran’s claim that the strait was closed — and ship-tracking data that showed it was about half Wright’s number. “It is becoming increasingly difficult to know how much oil is leaving the Gulf,” said Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics. “Contrasting claims by US and Iranian officials are muddying the waters.” Wall Street analysts – who use ship tracking services like Kpler and Windward Intelligence, among many other data points, to provide estimates about oil flows – have said oil tankers have been getting roughly 4 million barrels of oil out of the Persian Gulf each day. In addition to the roughly 7 million barrels per day that Middle Eastern countries have rerouted around the strait through pipelines and other methods, about 11 or 12 million barrels have been flowing out, according to the tracking services. That’s significantly lower than the 20 million barrels per day that the region had exported before the Iran war started.
UN ‘Alarmed’ as Israeli Strikes Against Lebanon Surge Substantially - A UN spokesperson expressed concern at the “alarming” rate of Israeli strikes against southern Lebanon in recent days, as the UNIFIL peacekeeping force noted that they’ve documented an average of 137 projectiles fired into Lebanon from Israel daily over the past two weeks.Today appeared to be no exception, with reports of the morning opening with shelling on the outskirts of Majdal Zoun, while Israeli tanks and a military bulldozer advanced into the area around Shebaa, attacking homes in the area. Machine gun fire was reported in Baraachit and near Haddatha, while Israeli warplanes were seen flying over the area around Hermel. Israeli drones were also reported flying relatively low over the suburbs of the capital of Beirut, though no attacks have yet been reported there. Though the number of strikes is once again on the rise after a relative decline in the number of incidents starting in late June, the most pressing concern seems to be that the Israeli strikes are more directly targeting apparent civilian targets, with home demolitions and gunfire in populated areas.That the UNIFIL is documented the number of Israeli strikes once again makes the peacekeepers a matter of debate, with Lebanese officials keen to see their mandate extended again this year but Israel, as they have for years, demanding that the mandate expire and end the presence of UN personnel in the area they’re actively invading/occupying.The casualties for the latest strikes have yet to be confirmed, though a substantial number of civilians were killed in Saturday’s airstrikes against Ansar and Deir al-Zahrani, where Israeli airstrikes killed at least 11 people and wounded 19 others.
Large Israeli Deployment Reported in Southwest Syria, Forces Push Into Rif Damasq - News From Antiwar.com --With growing numbers of incursions reported by Israeli forces into southwest Syria, the latest incidents are noteworthy both for being unusual in size and in one case for going far deeper into Syria than previous operations.Dozens of Israeli soldiers, supported by at least 15 military vehicles, entered Syria today and headed into the town of Jbata al-Khashab. The troops raided and searched multiple homes en route, and captured at least two people. There was no word on what the two were detained over, nor is their likely to be, as generally people captured by Israeli forces just disappear into the Israeli system for weeks or even months on end. Three Syrians were released from Israeli custody today back into the Quneitra Governorate, following nearly a full year in captivity. The reasons for their initial detention, and indeed for their eventual release, were never made public. Families of the missing detainees held a rally outside of UNDOF headquarters only yesterday, noting that there is little to no information on the fate of their relatives, and some of the released had reported detainees still held in struggling health.UNDOF, for its part, held a tour in al-Rafid, in Quneitra, today. That town is regularly raided by Israeli forces, and the UNDOF were taking testimonies from locals regarding the incursions, which are becoming increasingly common.Shelling was reported in the area of Saida al-Golan, and Israeli forces also reportedly entered that village, though in this case, no detentions were reported. But to the north, infiltration got even deeper.Israeli troops reportedly got all the way to the Talat Bat Al-Warda, in Rif Damasq Governorate. Though this is not the first time forces have advanced this far north, it is extremely unusual, and as with most other operations, this is coming without any statements from the IDF regarding to what end they’re doing so.
In Statement on Syria Airstrikes, Netanyahu Claims Turkey Was About To Deploy Troops to Idlib Air Base - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has justified Israeli airstrikes that hit Syria on Tuesday by claiming the Syrian government was about to allow the deployment of Turkish troops to an air base near Aleppo, as Israel has been taking an increasingly hostile position toward Turkey. At least eight Israeli airstrikes hit the Abu al-Duhur military air base in Syria’s northwest Idlib province, which is far from Israel’s border. According to Syrian media, the attack didn’t cause casualties. “Israel and Syria agreed to a status quo in security matters, which Syria was on the verge of breaching by permitting Turkish troops to deploy at an airbase near Aleppo,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. “Israel repeatedly warned Syria that such a deployment would pose a threat to Israel’s security. Syria chose to ignore these warnings. Israel will not tolerate threats to its security, and would welcome a return to the status quo,” the statement added.A Turkish official speaking to Axios reporter Barak Ravid said that Israel was creating pretexts to justify the attack. “There was no Turkish presence at the airbase. Israel is inventing pretexts to bomb neighboring countries and destabilize the region,” the Turkish official said.The Israeli airstrikes prompted rare US criticism. “We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Airbase constitute an unnecessary escalation that does not advance regional stability,” US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack, who also serves as an envoy to Syria, wrote on X. Barrack also noted that the government of Syria, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander whom the US, Israel, and Turkey all helped install in power, has been highly deferential toward Israel. “The Al-Sharaa government has neither adopted a predatory posture nor maintained proxy forces. It has, in fact, repeatedly indicated a preference for de-escalation with Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu Rejects International Force, Rebuilding Gaza - The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that Tel Aviv does not support an international force entering Gaza or rebuilding the Strip until Hamas disarms. “Contrary to media reports, the political echelon has not approved the entry of the international force to the Gaza Strip,” the statement reads. “Israel has made it clear that there will not be any reconstruction in the Strip before Hamas is fully disarmed.”Earlier this week, military officers from Burundi and Uganda toured sites in Gaza with the IDF. Some reports said the foreign officers were a part of the initial formation of an international stabilization force (ISF) in Gaza. The ISF is part of the Board of Peace agreement that was brokered by President Donald Trump in October. Earlier this month, Trump announced that the deal had progressed and Hamas was prepared to disarm in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. “Today, the Board of Peace reached a HISTORIC agreement for the COMPLETE DISARMAMENT of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza,” the President wrote on Truth Social. “This agreement is a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people.” Netanyahu and other top Israeli leaders have repeatedly stated that the IDF will not withdraw from Gaza, and any rebuilding in the Strip will only begin after the Palestinians are disarmed. Hamas has pressed Washington to force Tel Aviv to comply with the deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explicitly rejected the proposal to disarm Hamas.“Israel does not accept the 15-point document,” Netanyahu told members of the Israeli cabinet earlier this month. The military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is disarmed … it means heavy weaponry, lighter weaponry, all weaponry.” He continued, “And we are talking about genuine disarmament, not fictitious disarmament. [The US] have ideas, some of which are acceptable to us and some of which are unacceptable to us.”
'They're Not Even People': Ben Gvir Says Israel Should Kill 30-40 Palestinians in Gaza Every Night - Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has called for Israel to kill 30 to 40 Palestinians every night in Gaza and said there are people in the Strip “who are not worthy of life.”Ben Gvir made the comments when discussing the reduction in Israeli attacks in Gaza, though the IDF hasn’t fully stopped its strikes and continues to violate the US-backed October 2025 ceasefire deal.“It’s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister,” Ben Gvir said on a podcast hosted by Rom Braslavski, who was previously held captive in Gaza, according to The Associated Press.“I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat — there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people,” he added.Ben Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party, is known as an outspoken proponent of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza and the establishment of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory, views that he reaffirmed in the podcast interview.“I see all of Gaza as ours,” he said. “Settlements not just in Gush Katif but throughout Gaza, encouraging as much emigration as possible, sending them to their countries, and for the terrorists, no emigration, nothing, just to kill them one by one.”
King: Without Addressing the Palestinian Issue, the Region Will Remain Vulnerable to Repeated Waves of Violence - His Majesty King Abdullah II said that, despite the regional situation, Jordan continues to take the initiative and encourage coordination and cooperation to achieve peace, while remaining firmly committed to its principles. In a press interview with Xinhua, the official news agency of the People’s Republic of China, published Monday in Chinese, English and Arabic, the King said, “Our diplomatic efforts have focused on this approach. I have always said that the Palestinian issue will remain the central issue in our region, and I firmly believe this. What we have witnessed in recent years confirms this reality.” “Unless this issue is addressed, the region will remain vulnerable to recurring waves of violence that will grow in intensity and scope, with repercussions extending far beyond the region’s borders,” he said. The King noted that Palestinians are facing unprecedented measures, including escalating settler attacks, the rapid and widespread expansion of illegal settlements, the seizure and confiscation of land, the demolition of homes and violations of their sanctity, as well as harassment and incitement at Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. He stressed that these measures cannot continue without being addressed, adding that it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure respect for international law, United Nations resolutions and human rights. The King said Jordan’s efforts focus on achieving de-escalation in the region, fulfilling the Kingdom’s role under the Hashemite Custodianship over the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, working to end unilateral measures that obstruct peace, and seeking a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue. Such a solution, he said, should lead to the establishment of an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living alongside Israel in peace and security. “We look forward to coordinating with China, as an influential global voice and a key partner, and building on its significant role on the international stage to help advance the two-state solution,” the King added. “Our humanitarian efforts in Gaza also continue, and we are grateful for China’s contributions to the ongoing relief efforts,” he said.
‘Bread Can Be a Prayer’: When Christ Was Giving Bread to the People of Gaza - War does not destroy homes alone. It does not merely uproot trees or leave mosques and churches as wounded walls. It tries to destroy something deeper than stone: it tries to make people strangers to the places that belong to them, forcing them to ask a painful question: Do we still have a place here? The war has destroyed churches in the Gaza Strip and severely damaged many mosques. It has left places that once gathered people together with little more than memories and prayers suspended in the air. Yet whenever another round of war ended, I would look for my Christian friend, Elias Abu Alaa, and ask myself the same question: Will Elias leave when the war is over? It is a simple question, but it carries a weight I cannot easily bear. With every war that falls upon Gaza, I feel that the idea of leaving grows a little stronger inside my friend. I cannot blame him. I know that when a person sees his home collapse, his street turned into rubble, and his church, which carried the prayers of generations, threatened or destroyed, he begins to think of another place where he might give his children a life with less fear. But at the same time, I am afraid that leaving will become the only solution we know. I am afraid that one day we will wake up and find in Gaza only those who could not leave. The number of Christians in Gaza has been declining year after year, and every person who leaves takes a story with them, a small piece of the city’s soul. Elias knows this more than anyone. That is why I sometimes saw him fall silent, as if there were a suitcase inside him that he did not want to open in front of me. I pretended not to see it. Once, during the war, I found him carrying a sack of flour. He was not taking it home. He was distributing it among displaced people. His face was exhausted, his clothes covered with the dust of long days, but he walked among people as if the flour he carried were more than food—as if it were a small message saying that hunger must not win. I asked him, “Where are you taking all this?” He smiled and told me that Christ used to give bread to the hungry. I did not know what to say. I simply watched him carrying the sack and thought that when religions leave the pages of books and enter people’s lives, they become bread, water, and a hand reaching out to another human being. That day, I did not see a Christian man carrying flour. I saw a human being carrying all of Gaza in a small sack. He could have kept it for himself, but he chose to take it to those who needed it more. Perhaps that is why I have always cherished my friendship with Elias. It never needed a long explanation about religion. He was a Christian who loved the Omari Mosque, while I, a Muslim, had never visited the Baptist church where my friend was baptized. Whenever Elias entered the Omari Mosque, he would return and tell me dozens of things about it. He spoke about its stones, its courtyard, its vastness, and the feeling he experienced standing inside. He described it as if he were speaking about an old house he had known since childhood. I listened to him and felt a little ashamed. My Christian friend knew more about my mosque than I knew about his church. He loved the Omari Mosque, while I had remained absent from the Baptist church where Elias was baptized. Perhaps we had lived side by side all these years without discovering all the paths that could lead one of us into the other’s home. War alone made us understand that the distance between a mosque and a church is not always measured in streets. Sometimes, it exists in our hearts. After everything that happened, I began to think about it differently. What does it mean to have a Christian friend in Gaza? Perhaps it means understanding that this land does not belong to one religious community alone. It means knowing that the bells of churches and the calls to prayer from mosques are not opposing voices, but two parts of the same memory, of the same city. It means having a friend with whom you can speak about fear without asking about his religion, about hunger without thinking about his prayers, and about death without searching for his rituals. It means seeing him carry flour to displaced people and simply saying: This is my friend. Perhaps the most beautiful thing about Gaza is that, despite everything, it has taught us that one human being can become a home for another. I am afraid that Elias will leave—not simply because he is Christian, but because he is Elias. I am afraid that the war will end and my friend will not return to the place whose stones, doors, and windows he once described to me. I am afraid he will decide that life somewhere else is less painful, and he would have every right to do so. But I am even more afraid that one day we will search for Christians in Gaza and find only their old photographs, their names in church records, and the stories told by their friends. I want Elias to stay, but I have no right to ask him to stay. I cannot tell him, “Stay for Gaza,” while Gaza itself has been unable to protect him. All I can say is that I hope one day Elias will be able to choose to stay because he wants to stay—not because he has no other choice. I hope we will meet after the war, not beneath a tent, not beside a destroyed house, and not in a queue for water or bread, but on a quiet street. I want him to take me to the Baptist church where he was baptized and tell me about its details, as he once told me about the Omari Mosque. I want to hear him speak again about the stones, the doors, and the prayers. Then perhaps I will take him to the Omari Mosque, if there is still enough of it left to show us the way. We will walk together between the two places, not to prove that one resembles the other, but to discover that both were part of our lives. And perhaps, when we finally sit down, I will remind him of the sack of flour he carried during the war. I will remind him of what he said about Christ and bread. Elias will laugh, perhaps, and tell me that I am exaggerating, as I always do in my stories. But I will tell him that I have not forgotten. Because that day he taught me something simple: that bread can be a prayer, that helping the hungry can be a prayer, and that friendship itself, in a city where war tries to divide its people, can be a prayer. So, Elias, I do not know whether you will leave when the war is over. I do not know what you will decide, and I do not truly have the right to ask anything of you. But I know that whenever I hear about a Christian family leaving Gaza, I will think of you. And I will continue to hope that you stay—not because you are Christian, and not because I am Muslim, but because you are my friend. Because the Gaza we dream of after the war needs all its children: its church bells, its mosque minarets, its bread, its stories, and friends like Elias Abu Alaa, who know that before anything else, one human being is the brother of another.
Ukraine drones hit a major Russian refinery 800 miles from the border - Ukrainian drones struck a major refinery deep inside Russia, military officials said Thursday, the fourth in three days in Kyiv’s monthslong campaign to choke Moscow’s vital oil sector. Russia is one of the world’s biggest energy producers, with oil providing an economic mainstay as its army tries to push deeper into Ukraine in a slow and costly advance more than four years after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion. The attacks have dented Russia’s refining capacity, bringing shortages at gas stations. Kyiv officials say the onslaught seeks to compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek a peace deal. There is no sign that strategy is working. Ukraine’s General Staff said that its forces struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refining and petrochemical complex in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan overnight, causing a fire at the facility. The complex, located southeast of Moscow about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from Ukraine’s border, is one of Russia’s largest oil refining and petrochemical facilities, the General Staff said in a Telegram post. The plant processes up to 74 million barrels of oil annually, producing gasoline, diesel fuel and other products, it said. Russia’s Bashkortostan governor, Radiy Khabirov, said only that a drone attack wounded two civilians and started a fire in an industrial zone of Salavat. Wildberries, Russia’s biggest online retailer whose giant warehouses have repeatedly been struck by Ukrainian drones, said a fire started at one of its facilities in the Salavat industrial zone after the overnight attack. The company said the facility was evacuated but that goods were not being stored there. The attack came a day after Ukrainian anti-ship missiles and drones blitzed a major Russian naval base on the Black Sea coast.
Fuel Rationing Reaches Moscow Amid 'Second Wave' National Shortages --Already Russia has been subject to many months of a ramped-up long-range drone campaign out of Ukraine, chiefly targeting oil refineries as well as industrial sites - and most recently expanding to online retail companies and attacks on private sector businesses. Tuesday saw one of the single biggest drone waves on Moscow of the war, for example, with at least 600 sent against against the capital region, resulting in widespread panic and some casualties. Making matters worse for the Russian population, several gas station networks have introduced new restrictions on fuel sales - which is a rarity for the capital.Gazprom Neft as well as Tatneft have confirmed via representatives and their customer service lines that limits have now been placed on petrol sales at Moscow filling stations.Long lines of cars have been observed at filling stations in and around the capital city, with Reuters detailing the following:
- A customer hotline operator at Gazprom Neft said gasoline and diesel sales at the company's automated filling stations in Moscow were limited to 40 litres [10 gallons] per customer.
- At Gazprom Neft's other filling stations, diesel sales remain unrestricted, while gasoline purchases are capped at 60 litres per vehicle.
- Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, said gasoline sales at all its filling stations across Russia were limited to 30 litres per vehicle [about 8 gallons], while diesel sales faced no restrictions.
These companies have also been warning customers to be prepared for longer waiting times for fill-up due to heightened demand.One reason being offered by Russian energy giants for the delays is "unscheduled refinery maintenance" - which is a vague but obvious reference to damage left in the wake of Ukraine's constant drone attacks on the nation's oil and refining infrastructure.As for the latest attacks, on Wednesday it's being widely reported that Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a residential building in the republic of Bashkortostan, regional head Radiy Khabirov also confirmed.The incident once again demonstrates the very far reach of Ukrainian drones, given that Bashkortostan is fairly remote from the Ukraine border, lying north of Kazakhstan.
Russian Strike on Kyiv Kills 16, Highlighting Ukrainian Missile Shortage - Russia struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and the surrounding region with a massive barrage of drones and missiles in an hours-long night attack that killed 16 people, officials said Thursday.The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that it hit military-industrial sites in and around Kyiv that manufactured long-range drone and cruise missile components, as well as supply depots. They also said Ukraine launched its own mass drone raid the same night, claiming that Russian air defenses shot down 726 drones over 20 regions. The attack is part of the increasing number of Russian ballistic missile strikes targeting Kyiv in recent months, as Moscow has been exploiting Ukraine’s severe shortage of U.S-made Patriot air defense interceptors. According to the United Nations, Kyiv was the hardest hit Ukrainian city in July, with at least 54 civilians killed and 202 injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with countries to send more Patriot interceptors, which is the only weapon system in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of neutralizing Russian ballistic missiles. However, global stockpiles are limited, with the United States in particular having burned through most of its arsenal in Iran. Several EU member states, such as Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands, claim their stocks are “too low” to give away. US President Donald Trump stated in July that he would give Ukraine a license to domestically manufacture them, but later backtracked and expressed hesitancy.Ukraine has renewed its own long-distance strikes against Russia, including against oil refineries in Nizhnekamsk and Volna, and hit Moscow in a recent attack involving over 600 drones. Ukraine has also been targeting facilities operated by Wildberries, a major Russian retailer, in an effort to disrupt Russian society and military supply. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated Thursday that “The Russian Armed Forces will respond proportionately to emerging threats” and that “Escalation is not our choice.”
North Korea deploys 400 drone operators to Russia -- North Korea has expanded its military presence in Russia’s Kursk region by deploying hundreds of drone operators who may participate in attacks against Ukraine. Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, told CNN that most North Korean troops in Russia are stationed in the Kursk region, Militarnyi reported. According to Skibitskyi, the North Korean contingent includes about 1,000 engineers and sappers, along with 400 drone operators. According to him, during a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in September, North Korea could be asked to provide up to 50,000 additional troops. Skibitskyi added that by that time, around 25,000 North Korean soldiers had already been deployed to, or rotated through, the Russian Armed Forces. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the North Korean troops sent to Russia will not fight on Ukrainian territory but will instead reinforce Russian positions in the rear. The Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine said that by August last year, North Korea had supplied Russia with at least 150 KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles for strikes against Ukraine, with another 120 reportedly promised. On August 5, North Korea began deploying a missile unit to Russia’s Voronezh region to launch ballistic missile strikes against Ukraine. On July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia planned to deploy 30,000 North Korean troops and additional ballistic missile launchers. On April 25, Kim Jong Un effectively confirmed the practice of North Korean soldiers committing suicide rather than being captured by Ukrainian forces while taking part in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The involvement of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine was first reported in December 2024. In April 2025, Russia officially acknowledged the participation of North Korean soldiers in combat operations.
Russia reopens Lisyi Island bioweapons facility | News.az --Russia has reportedly restored a biological weapons research facility known as the “Center for Experimental Physiology” on Lisyi Island in the Vyshnevolotsk Reservoir in Tver Region. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported the development, Militarnyi reported. According to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the biological research facility as rebuilt on orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin as a high-priority project aimed at “ensuring Russia’s defense capabilities and security.” The facility is under tight security, including protection by air-defense missile crews against potential aerial attacks. The facility, officially known as the “Center for Experimental Physiology,” is located on Lisyi Island in the middle of the Vyshnevolotsk Reservoir. The reservoir provides fresh water to several settlements, including the city of Vyshny Volochyok, and is also the source of the Tvertsa River, which flows into the Volga. Since 2023, the waters around the island housing the biological laboratories have been closed to fishing, swimming, and boating, having been designated a “specially protected area of regional significance.” An official historical account from the All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine states that the facility was established in 1938 to conduct “acute experiments involving infectious diseases of farm animals.” Today, the facility appears within the structure of the “Center for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks” under the name “Center for Experimental Physiology.” It is subordinate to Russia’s Federal Medical-Biological Agency. In May 2026, the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency posted a vacancy for a laboratory assistant whose duties explicitly included working with pathogenic biological agents belonging to Groups I–IV. Under the Russian classification, Group I biological agents cause particularly dangerous and fatal infections that are easily and rapidly transmitted from person to person. Effective means of prevention or treatment are either unavailable or limited. Lisiy Island had appeared in U.S. intelligence documents as a possible site of the Soviet biological weapons program since at least the 1950s. A declassified index of CIA reports from 1957 contains the entries “Lisiy Island BW Research Facility” and “Lisiy Is[land] BW Research” – “biological warfare research facility on Lisiy Island” and “biological warfare research on Lisiy Island.” The island is also mentioned in the 1961 CIA report The Soviet BW Program. It described a branch of the All-Union Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine on Lisiy Island as one of the facilities that U.S. intelligence associated with the Soviet biological weapons program. According to an analysis by Militarnyi of publicly available satellite imagery, the laboratory complex gradually fell into disrepair throughout the 2000s and 2010s. The buildings progressively deteriorated, with no signs of repairs. However, in 2022, Russia began a large-scale reconstruction, demolishing the old buildings and constructing modern laboratories. At the beginning of 2022, the Russian company ABT-GROUP received a contract to manufacture load-bearing steel structures for the reconstruction of the laboratory and testing facility. That same year, the design, construction, and connection to the power grid of three new packaged block transformer substations were carried out for the laboratory and testing facility. In 2022–2023, the company PIRS GROUP carried out work as part of the construction of a new research center of the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency on the island. The contractor equipped 1,200 m² of GMP Class C–D cleanrooms and installed the same area of conductive and commercial linoleum. In October 2024, it became known that Russia had begun restoring and expanding a biological weapons research center in the Moscow region, which had been the Soviet Union’s main research center for biological weapons, viruses, and other biological agents during the Soviet era.
Romania limits ships heading to Ukrainian Danube ports | News.az -Romania has limited access for vessels bound for Ukrainian Danube ports, assigning only 40% of available pilots to Ukrainian destinations.The Sulina Port Administration in Romania’s Danube Delta has stepped up oversight and reinstated the stricter pilot allocation protocols from 2022, UAWire reported.These changes took effect on August 17, according to the Ukrzovshystrans association.The association explained: “Due to recorded instances where, between August 7 and 11, ten vessels entered Ukrainian ports without following the priority queue, the Romanian side is implementing daily monitoring of compliance with the intergovernmental agreement dated May 26, 2022.”Queue formation for vessels bound for Ukrainian ports is now based exclusively on official lists provided by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority. Ships not included on Ukraine’s official quota list will not be allowed passage.Romania has also reinstated proportional pilot distribution: 40% to Ukrainian ports Reni, Izmail, Orlivka, and Kiliia; 40% to Romanian ports Galati, Braila, and Tulcea; and 20% to Moldova’s Giurgiulesti port. Ships heading to ports in other countries will be served in a general queue on a “first come, first served” basis, factoring in the time of arrival and when documents are submitted. Ukrzovshystrans advises carriers to check if their vessels are included in the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority nomination lists. have put critical import and export flows at risk, creating a crisis with far-reaching consequences for Ukraine.
