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Governor of Bashkortostan, Russia says oil company will continue production after drone attack
Radiy Khabirov, the regional governor of Bashkortostan in Russia, said that a company producing oil will continue to produce despite an attack by drone on Saturday. Ukraine intensified its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure to weaken Moscow's military capability, while peace negotiations are still stuck. The attack caused a fire to break out at an oil refinery operated by Bashneft. Rosneft is Russia's biggest oil producer. Bashneft operates four major oil and petrochemical refineries in the area. Khabirov didn't specify the facility that was targeted. Both drones that were downed fell onto the property of the company. In the first instance, a small flame broke out and was quickly put out. In the second instance, the supply was cut off of technical water," Khabirov stated on Telegram. He said that the plant will continue to function normally and there will be no production reductions or operational stops. In his statement, he did not mention Ukraine. Unverified footage circulated on local Telegram channels, showing an object flying in the facility followed by a fireball. Ufa is approximately 1,400 km (870 miles), or roughly, from the Ukrainian border. Reporting by Lucy Papachristou Editing and Peter Graff
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US Energy Council Chief: Future Offshore Wind Projects Unlikely
U.S. Interior Secretary and Energy Council Chief Doug Burgum has said that it is not likely that there will be future offshore wind projects built in the country under the current Trump administration.During the Gastech conference in Milan, Burgum said the renewable power from offshore wind is ‘just too expensive and not reliable enough’.“We are taking a deep look. There are five projects that are under construction and we’re taking a look at each of those,” Burgum said.When it comes to the solar power, and future projects, Burgum noted that for such projects, solar panels will have be produced by the U.S. itself,He also said during the Gastech conference in Milan that if there was to be a future for solar power in the United States, panels have to be made by the U.S. itself or its allies, and not China, due to reported ‘kill switches’ installed in the equipment supplied by the country.
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US appellate court pauses on climate rule challenges
Court documents show that a federal appeals court said on Friday it would suspend its consideration of the legal challenges against U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission climate regulations until Wall Street regulators decide whether they will change them or defend them in court. The SEC, under former president Joe Biden adopted rules that required publicly traded companies, led by Republican states, to inform investors about climate risks, emissions, and spending. Republican-led state and an industry group immediately challenged this in court. In March, under Republican President Donald Trump the SEC decided to stop defending this rule. The U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, issued an order Friday saying that the legal challenges would be put on hold to encourage judicial economy because the SEC refused to defend its rule in court, or to say if it intended to modify the rule or scrap it entirely. The order stated that it was the responsibility of the SEC to decide whether the Final Rules would be rescinded or repealed. It also noted that the SEC already had stayed the regulations’ effective date while the legal challenge was ongoing, so a delayed court ruling would not harm. The SEC didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, but in July the agency informed the court that it had no intention of reconsidering the rule and asked the court to continue the case anyway. Reporting by Douglas Gillison, Washington; Editing and proofreading by David Gregorio
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US EPA proposes to end mandatory greenhouse gas reporting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule on Friday to end the mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions by 8,000 facilities. This program, the EPA said, was burdensome for businesses but left the public in the dark about the environmental impact. The agency stated that mandatory collection of GHG emission data is unnecessary as it "is not directly related to potential regulations and has no significant impact on improving the health and environment of humans." KEY QUOTE The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, according to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, is nothing but bureaucratic red-tape that doesn't improve air quality. BACKGROUND The rule is a response to an executive order that was issued on the first day of President Donald Trump's presidency. It aims to remove barriers to releasing more U.S. Energy, especially fossil fuels. This is just the latest in a long line of regulatory rollbacks that have undone previous U.S. attempts to combat climate changes. Earlier this year, the EPA revealed plans to repeal its "endangerment findings" which allowed it to regulate greenhouse gases from stationary and vehicle sources. The proposal, if finalized, would eliminate reporting obligations for all large facilities, fuel and industrial gas providers, and CO2 injector sites. The Trump administration also announced that it would pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which requires all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key Context The Trump administration also took steps to stop the collection of environmental databases by the EPA and other federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA's satellites that monitor greenhouse gases. DETAILS Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, 47 categories of sources covering 8,000 suppliers and facilities are required to calculate their greenhouse gas emission and submit it annually. The agency will continue to require the submission of data on methane emissions for large oil-and-gas operations that are subject to a charge for waste emissions. (Reporting and editing by Richard Chang; Valerie Volcovici)
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NATO launches "Eastern Sentry" to strengthen eastern flank following Russian drone incursion
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO launched on Friday an operation called Eastern Sentry in response to Russian drones entering Polish airspace this week. Rutte said at a NATO press conference in Brussels that "we must make it clear to the world our determination and our capability to defend our territories." He said this while standing next to NATO's top commander U.S. Air Force general Alexus Grynkewich. Rutte stated that NATO was still assessing possible intentions behind the incursion. This led to Polish and NATO allies shooting down drones, the first such action NATO has taken since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said that the Russian action was "reckless" and "inacceptable", regardless of whether it was intentional. Russia claimed that its forces were attacking Ukraine when the drones entered the country and they had no intention of hitting any targets in Poland. Warsaw rejected this explanation and said the incursion had been a deliberate attack. FLEXIBLE RESPONSE ALONG EASTERN FLANC Grynkewich stated that Eastern Sentry is designed to be a flexible, integrated operation for bolstering defences along NATO’s entire Eastern flank. This extends from the Baltic States in the north all the way down to Romania and Bulgaria. He said, "Poland's citizens and those from the Alliance in general should feel assured of our swift response this week as well as our important announcement today." NATO has already deployed thousands of troops in Eastern Europe. The number of additional troops involved in this new operation was not specified. The announcement listed a modest amount of new military assets, including two F-16 fighters and a Danish frigate, three Rafale jet fighters from France, and four Eurofighter aircraft from Germany. Grynkewich, however, said that the new operation also aimed to adopt a more flexible strategy to defend the eastern flank in general rather than having static forces dedicated to a specific area. He said: "We will adjust our posture across the eastern flank in a way that keeps the enemy off-guard, while also responding to specific threats when we see them emerge." Reporting by Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer; Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, John Irish, Editing by GV de Clercq Alexandra Hudson, Aidan Lewis
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EU countries delay deal on new climate goal, diplomats say
Three EU diplomats said on Friday that the European Union has shelved its plans to adopt a new target for climate change next week after France and Germany resisted plans to reach a quick agreement. The countries are discussing a legally binding target of reducing net EU greenhouse gas emission by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040. A portion of this will be covered by purchasing foreign carbon credits. According to the European Commission, this will provide investors with certainty and help Europe reach net zero emissions in 2050. Climate change has caused Europe to become the fastest-warming continental in the world, unleashing deadly wildfires and record-breaking heatwaves. The EU is divided on how ambitious it should be when tackling global climate change, while also trying to increase defense spending and support struggling industry. On September 18, EU ministers were to have approved the 2040 target for climate change. Three EU diplomats have said that the ambassadors of EU countries cancelled this plan at a Friday meeting. The ministers said that next week they will discuss the goal of 2040, but any agreement will be discussed with EU leaders before the discussion is concluded. The diplomats asked to remain anonymous when discussing the closed-door discussion. If the EU fails to reach a deal by next week, it could miss the mid-September deadline set by the U.N. for all countries to submit their new climate plans in preparation for the COP30 summit on climate change scheduled for November. Diplomats have said that Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands all support the 90 percent reduction in emissions target. France, Poland, and Italy, among others, have rejected the goal and asked that it be taken up with the heads of government at their next meeting in October. This could make it more difficult to reach an agreement. EU leaders make decisions in a unanimous manner, unlike ministers. Diplomats are discussing ways to convince sceptical nations, such as covering a larger share of the climate goal with carbon credits or tying a deal to other EU laws, like the carbon border tax or the 2035 phase-out of combustion engine cars. A spokesperson for the Environment Ministry said that Germany supports the goal of cutting emissions by 90%, but believes it is important to have discussions among the government leaders prior to a final deal. (Reporting and additional reporting by Holger Hanen in Berlin.)
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Poland contradicts Trump by saying that the Russian drone incursions were not a mistake.
Poland rejected Donald Trump's suggestion that Russian drone incursions in its airspace may have been an error, a rare contradiction from one of Washington’s closest European allies. Poland, supported by aircraft from NATO allies, shot down drones on Wednesday that violated its airspace. This is the first time an alliance member has fired during the Russian war in Ukraine. Russia claimed that its forces were attacking Ukraine at the moment and had no intention of hitting any targets in Poland. Trump told Washington reporters on Thursday that it could have been an accident. Donald Tusk, the Polish Prime Minister, responded on X. "We too would wish that the drone strike on Poland was a miscalculation." It wasn't. "We know it." Trump told Fox News in an interview on Friday that he was losing patience with Russian president Vladimir Putin. Germany announced on Friday that it had increased air patrols over Poland after European leaders strongly condemned Russia over the incident. It also summoned Russia's ambassador. On Poland's initiative, the United Nations Security Council would meet Friday to discuss this incident. NATO's top military officials, including its chief, Mark Rutte and Supreme Allied commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich (a U.S. Air Force General), were scheduled to hold a joint press conference on Friday afternoon. Questions about European Defence It is rare for Warsaw to directly contradict Trump. This shows the alarm of Europe at Trump's willingness, in this case, to accept Moscow's version of events. Poland is one of the closest U.S. ally in Europe. The Trump administration has praised Poland for its commitment to greater European military expenditures. Warsaw has described the drone incursions by Russia as an attempt to test the response capabilities of Poland and NATO. The incident this week has raised concerns about NATO's readiness for drone attacks, and the safety of civil aviation in Europe. The European leaders claim that this is yet another demonstration of Moscow's lack of interest in a peace agreement in Ukraine. This comes weeks after Trump met with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and retracted his demand for Russia to accept a ceasefire immediately. Trump has repeatedly given Moscow deadlines to reach a ceasefire, or else face new sanctions. But he's backed down. This week, European officials are in Washington to coordinate sanctions against Russia with the U.S. government. Previously, such announcements of sanctions were made in tandem. However, this hasn't happened since Trump took office. The U.S. Treasury urged allies in the Group of Seven (G7) and European Union to impose "meaningful" tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods to stop their purchases of Russian crude oil. A G7 emergency finance meeting was convened to discuss ways to increase pressure on Moscow and end the conflict in Ukraine. The EU member states have agreed to extend by six months the existing travel bans, and to freeze bank accounts for individuals and companies in response to the Russian invasion. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said that peace negotiations had been halted and "the Europeans" were hindering the peace process. The French announced that they would be deploying three Rafale jet fighters to Poland to protect their airspace, and the Germans said they would increase their commitment to NATO's eastern borders. RUSSIA AND BELARUS HOLD MILITARY ACTIVITIES On Friday, Russia and Belarus began a joint military drill that had been planned for years. The drills took place in both countries as well as in the Baltic Sea and Barents Sea. Peskov dismissed concerns about the exercise abroad, saying that Western European countries suffered from "emotional overload" and that Russia was not a threat. Local Ukrainian prosecutors reported that Russia continued to attack Ukraine and killed three people in Sumy, a region located in northern Ukraine. The regional governor reported that Ukrainian drones had attacked the port of Primorsk in Russia's northwest, setting a fire to both a vessel as well as a pumping station. This was the first drone attack on a major oil and fuel terminal in the country. (Additional reporting from Anna Koper in Warsaw; Anastasiia Melenko in Kyiv; John Irish and Michel Rose, in Paris; Andrea Shalal, in Washington; William James and Marktrevelyan, in London. Writing by Timothy Heritage. Editing by Peter Graff.
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Russia unveils monument for Ukraine war dead near St Petersburg
On Friday, hundreds of people, including Russian soldiers' relatives, gathered in front of St Petersburg to unveil a memorial for those killed in Ukraine. It was the first time such a memorial had been erected so close to one of Russia’s two largest cities. "A monument is one way to immortalize history." "Now we have a brand new history," Anna Krasnova said, after seeing the statue of two soldiers with guns unveiled at Kudrovo in a commuter city of 60,000. She said that her husband is fighting there and that her brother's name is missing in action. The memorial is unique in its proximity to Moscow and St Petersburg. Similar monuments were erected throughout Russia in the provinces. At the dedication ceremony, Alexander Drozdenko said, "The memory of our people is the most valuable asset we have." "Our cause will prevail, our enemy will be defeated, and we will win." The inscription on the monument, which is located above the figures, does not mention a date nor the location of the battles it honors. The inscription reads: "To the Heroes of the SMO", which is an acronym for Special Military Operation (the official term used by the Kremlin for this conflict). Kirill Drantsov, another spectator, stated that the monument would remind young people how to serve their country. We will not have to explain to anyone why and how we love and defend the Motherland. (Reporting in Kudrovo, writing by Lucy Papachristou).
What Trump 2.0 could suggest for trade, migrants, climate change and electric vehicles
Donald Trump's 2nd governmental term might have big implications for U.S. trade policy, environment modification, the war in Ukraine, electrical automobiles, Americans' taxes and unlawful migration.
While some of his project proposals would need congressional approval, here is a summary of the policies he has said he will pursue when he takes workplace in January:
MORE TARIFFS
Trump has actually drifted the idea of a 10% or more tariff on all items imported into the U.S., a relocation he states would eliminate the trade deficit. But critics say it would result in higher prices for American customers and worldwide financial instability.
He has likewise said he ought to have the authority to set greater tariffs on countries that have actually put tariffs on U.S. imports. He has threatened to impose a 200% tariff on some imported cars, stating he is determined in particular to keep vehicles from Mexico from coming into the nation.
However he has also suggested that allies such as the European Union might see higher responsibilities on their items. Trump has actually targeted China in particular. He proposes phasing out Chinese imports of products such as electronics, steel and pharmaceuticals over four years. He seeks to prohibit Chinese companies from owning U.S. real estate and facilities in the energy and tech sectors.
Trump has stated tariff is his preferred word and views them as revenue generators that would help fill government coffers.
MASS DEPORTATIONS
Trump has actually promised to renew his first-term policies targeting unlawful border crossings and to advance with sweeping new limitations.
He has actually vowed to limit access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and to start the biggest deportation effort in American history, which would likely set off legal difficulties and opposition from Democrats in Congress.
He has stated he will utilize the National Guard, and, if essential, federal soldiers, to accomplish his objective, and he has not ruled out establishing internment camps to process individuals for deportation.
Trump has actually stated he would look for to end automated citizenship for kids born to immigrants, a relocation that would run against the long-running analysis of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Change.
He has likewise suggested he would withdraw protected legal status for some populations such as Haitians or Venezuelans.
Trump states he will reinstitute the so-called travel ban that limits entry into the United States of people from a. list of largely Muslim-dominant nations, which stimulated. several legal battles during his first term. Some of Trump's earliest visits reflected an urgency to. follow through on his immigration program. Trump has named a. border czar, Tom Homan, and will make Stephen Miller, the. architect of his migration strategies, a White House deputy chief. of personnel.
DRILLING AWAY
Trump has sworn to increase U.S. production of nonrenewable fuel sources. by relieving the allowing process for drilling on federal land. and would encourage new natural gas pipelines. He has actually said he. would reauthorize oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife. Sanctuary in Alaska. Trump has vowed to develop a National Energy Council to. coordinate policies to enhance U.S. energy production that will be. led by his choice for interior secretary, North Dakota Guv. Doug Burgum.
Whether the oil industry follows through and raises. production at a time when oil and gas rates are fairly low. stays to be seen.
Trump has actually stated he will once again pull the United States out of. the Paris Environment Accords, a structure for decreasing worldwide. greenhouse gas emissions, and would support increased nuclear. energy production. He would likewise roll back Democratic President Joe Biden's. electric-vehicle mandates and other policies aimed at minimizing. automobile emissions.
He has actually argued that the U.S. requires to be able to enhance energy. production to be competitive in developing synthetic. intelligence systems, which consume large quantities of power.
TAX RELIEF. In addition to his trade and energy programs, Trump has actually guaranteed to. slash federal guidelines that he says limit task creation. He. has actually vowed to keep in place a broad 2017 tax cut that he signed. while in workplace, and his economic group has actually gone over a further. round of individual and business tax cuts beyond those enacted. in his very first term.
Trump has promised to decrease the corporate tax rate from 21%. to 15% for business that make their items in the U.S.
. He has stated he would look for legislation to end the tax. of suggestions and overtime incomes to help waiters and other service. employees. He has actually vowed not to tax or cut Social Security. benefits.
Trump also has stated that as president he would pressure the. Federal Reserve to lower interest rates - however would stop brief. of requiring it.
A lot of, if not all, of his tax proposals would require. congressional action. Spending plan experts have actually cautioned that the bevy. of tax cuts would balloon the federal financial obligation.
DOING AWAY WITH DIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Trump has promised to need U.S. colleges and universities. to safeguard American custom and Western civilization and to. purge them of variety programs. He stated he would direct the. Justice Department to pursue civil liberties cases against schools. that engage in racial discrimination.
At K-12 schools, Trump would support programs permitting. parents to utilize public funds for private or religious. instruction.
Trump likewise wishes to eliminate the federal Department of. Education, and leave states in control of education.
NO FEDERAL ABORTION RESTRICTION
Trump appointed three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court who. became part of the bulk that got rid of Roe v. Wade's. constitutional protection for abortion. He likely would continue. to appoint federal judges who would maintain abortion limitations.
At the same time, he has said a federal abortion restriction is. unnecessary and that the problem must be resolved at the state. level. He has actually argued that a six-week restriction favored by some. Republicans is excessively extreme which any legislation should. include exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the. mom.
Trump has actually suggested he would not seek to limit access to the. abortion drug mifepristone after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected. a difficulty to the federal government's technique to regulating it.
He supports policies that advance in vitro. fertilization (IVF), contraception and prenatal care.
A PUSH TO END WARS. Trump has actually been vital of U.S. assistance for Ukraine in its war. with Russia, and has actually said he might end the war in 24 hr if. elected - although he has not stated how he would attain this.
He has suggested Ukraine may need to yield a few of its. territory if a peace deal is to be struck, a concept Ukraine has. consistently declined. Trump's choice for his nationwide security advisor, U.S. Representative Michael Waltz, was vital of the Biden. administration's decision in November to permit Ukraine to use. U.S.-provided rockets to strike within Russian territory.
Trump has likewise said that under his presidency the U.S. would. fundamentally rethink NATO's purpose and NATO's mission.
Trump called U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a China hawk, as his. secretary of state, charged with performing his diplomacy. objectives. Trump has backed Israel in its fight against Hamas in Gaza but. has urged it to finish up its offensive. He can be anticipated to. continue the Biden administration's policy of equipping Israel. At. the same time, Trump is most likely to promote historical. normalization of relations in between Israel and Saudi Arabia, an. effort he made during his 2017-2021 presidency and which Biden. has likewise pursued.
Trump has stated if he ends up being president, he will stop the. suffering and destruction in Lebanon, however has actually not said how he. will achieve that.
He has recommended building an iron dome - an enormous. missile-defense guard comparable to Israel's - over the entire. continental United States.
Trump has actually likewise drifted sending out militaries into Mexico to. fight drug cartels and using the U.S. Navy to form a blockade. of that country to stop the smuggling of fentanyl and its. precursors. His shift team has been preparing lists of potential. high-ranking U.S. military officers to fire as part of a purge. of the Pentagon of those believed to be disloyal to Trump.
EXAMINING OPPONENTS, HELPING ALLIES. Trump has vowed at times to use federal police. companies to investigate his political foes, including election. officials, attorneys and party donors. Trump tapped former U.S. congressman Matt Gaetz as his attorney. basic. Gaetz has actually recommended he is supportive to Trump's. vengeance program.
Along that line, Trump has actually said he will think about designating. a special district attorney to probe Biden, though he has actually not specified. the grounds for such an investigation.
And he has actually stated he would think about firing a U.S. lawyer. who did not follow his directives - which would constitute a. break with the longstanding U.S. policy of an independent. federal law enforcement apparatus.
Trump has actually said he will consider pardoning all of those who. have been founded guilty of criminal activities in connection with the Jan. 6,. 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
In addition to criminal investigations, he has actually suggested. utilizing the federal government's regulatory powers to punish those he. views as critics, such as television networks.
PURGING THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY
Trump would look for to annihilate what he terms the deep state. -- career federal employees he says are clandestinely pursuing. their own programs-- through an executive order that would. reclassify thousands of employees to allow them to be fired. That. would likely be challenged in court. He has stated he will establish an independent federal government effectiveness. panel headed by billionaire advocate Elon Musk and previous. governmental candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to root out waste in the. federal government. The federal government currently has watchdogs such as. the Workplace of Management and Budget, and investigators basic. at federal agencies.
Trump would crack down on federal whistleblowers, who are. generally shielded by law, and would set up an independent. body to monitor U.S. intelligence firms.
(source: Reuters)