Scott

US oil prices have fallen to their lowest level since December 2021 on concerns that protests in China against Covid-19 lockdowns will dent demand. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures, the US benchmark, slid 2.7% on Monday to trade close to $74 a barrel, a level last reached in December 2021. Futures for Brent crude, the global benchmark, dropped 2.9% to trade close to $81 a barrel. That’s its lowest level since January. Global oil prices have fallen about 35% since June as strict coronavirus restrictions in China have kept demand weak, and as some of the world’s major economies have signaled they are heading toward a recession. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/28/energy/us-oil-prices-china-protests/index.html

The world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa on Hawaii, is erupting for the first time in nearly 40 years. Though lava is flowing down one side of the volcano, the eruption in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is not threatening communities, the US Geological Survey said midday Monday. “All indications are that the eruption will remain in the Northeast Rift Zone,” the agency said in an advisory, referring to an area where a volcano is splitting, allowing for lava flow. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/28/weather/hawaii-mauna-loa-volcano-eruption/index.html

A UN delegation has again recommended the Great Barrier Reef be added to the World Heritage 'in danger' list, and urged "ambitious, rapid and sustained" action on climate change to protect the site. The UNESCO report comes after an official visit to monitor the reef in March, and recommends the Commonwealth and Queensland governments both adopt stronger emissions reductions policies consistent with stopping warming at 1.5C. It cites frequent mass bleachings and increased water acidity among the increased threats to corals, impacts which can be attributed to uncurbed emissions. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-29/united-nations-queensland-great-barrier-reef-danger-report/101705908

American publishing company Merriam-Webster has selected “gaslighting” as the 2022 word of the year, citing a rise in interest in the word over the past few years as misinformation and conspiracy theories become more rampant. Merriam-Webster defines gaslighting under its traditional use as a “psychological manipulation of a person” over time that causes the victim to “question the validity of their thoughts.” But gaslighting saw a 1,740 percent increase in lookups in 2022, according to Merriam-Webster, and the word has rapidly evolved in meaning. https://thehill.com/homenews/3752578-merriam-webster-picks-gaslighting-as-word-of-the-year/

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The Ukrainian army has deployed some of its best brigades to eastern Ukraine, including the 92nd and 93rd Mechanized Brigades and the 1st Presidential Brigade. But these elite Ukrainian formations might not be the biggest killer of Russian troops in the east. Under-trained, under-supplied and ambivalently led, Russians in the region are freezing to death by the dozen. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/11/27/russian-soldiers-are-freezing-to-death-in-eastern-ukraine/?sh=1f070f8e4254

Acts of dissent are not unusual in China. Over the years, sudden, local explosions of defiance have been triggered by a range of issues - from toxic pollution to illegal land grabs, or the mistreatment of a community member at the hands of the police. But this time it's different. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63772365

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(CNN) — American travelers -- at least those of the cautious variety -- might be familiar with the US State Department's travel advisories. The agency monitors the world for potential trouble and issues warnings from "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions" to "Level 4: Do Not Travel," alerting would-be visitors to terrorism threats, war, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, high crime rates and other personal security issues. But have you ever wondered how other countries' governments caution their citizens about coming to the United States? What kind of reputation does America have? https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-warnings-other-countries-us-violence/index.html

Washington CNN — The US has granted Chevron limited authorization to resume pumping oil from Venezuela following the announcement Saturday that the Venezuelan government and the opposition group have reached an agreement on humanitarian relief and will continue to negotiate for a solution to the country’s chronic economic and political crisis, including a focus on the 2024 elections. A senior Biden administration official described Saturday’s announcements as “important steps in the right direction,” but noted that there is still much to be done as both parties work toward a more permanent solution to the ongoing crisis. The official also highlighted the license’s limited nature saying that they do not expect this to have a tangible impact on international oil prices and that the move is intended as an inducement for the negotiations – not a reaction to high global oil prices. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/26/politics/us-chevron-venezuela-oil-agreement/index.html

A few off-topic posts and replies have been removed. Stay on topic, which is about the US Military return to Subic Bay.

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As the world marks the birth of its eight billionth inhabitant this week – three times the total in 1950 – the paradox is that many governments are worrying about too few citizens, not too many. About 60% of the global population live in places where fertility rates have dropped below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, the point at which a country’s population would remain stable. In South Korea, which already had the world’s lowest rate, it fell to just 0.81 this year. By 2050, populations will be declining in more than half of European countries; in five – Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia and Ukraine – they are projected to drop by more than 20%. China – soon to be overtaken by India as the most populous nation – saw a fifth consecutive fall last year to a new record low, with just 10.62 million births despite a population of 1.4 billion and a sustained push to persuade people to have more children. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/17/the-guardian-view-on-a-demographic-paradox-the-rebirth-of-pronatalism

At least three people were killed and 11 others injured Friday after a gunman opened fire at two schools in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, according to local authorities. The attacks took place in the small town of Aracruz, 50 miles north of the state capital, Vitoria. The alleged shooter – who was seen in security footage carrying a semi-automatic weapon, wearing military attire and a face covering – has been arrested by police. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/25/americas/brazil-school-shooting-intl-latam/index.html

Videos shared on social media in China have appeared to show fresh protests against Covid restrictions, after an apartment block fire killed 10 people. People in Urumqi are seen confronting officials, breaking down a barrier and shouting "end the Covid lockdown". Infections have hit new highs in China in spite of a tough zero-Covid policy. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-63766125

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A week-long early voting period begins Saturday in some Georgia counties as Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker enter a week-and-a-half, post-Thanksgiving sprint to their December 6 runoff election. Unlike the 2021 runoffs, control of the Senate is not on the line, with Democrats having won 50 seats already and Vice President Kamala Harris giving the party a tie-breaking vote. However, the stakes remain high: A Warnock victory would give Democrats the majority outright, rather than requiring the power-sharing agreement that is now in place. https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/26/politics/georgia-runoff-early-voting-starts/index.html

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OTTAWA, Ont. — Canada’s prime minister says he is “serene and confident” in his decision to invoke never-before-used emergency powers to end a protest of pandemic public health measures that occupied the nation’s capital for three weeks last winter. Justin Trudeau told a public inquiry Friday that he had to consider what might happen if he didn’t take action to end the so-called Freedom Convoy occupation. “What if the worst had happened in those following days? https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/25/trudeau-defends-freedom-convoy-emergencies-act-00070826

I believe I read somewhere that he asked Trump to be his VP. Sorry, I don't remember where so I can't provide a link.

Elon Musk says Twitter will provide a "general amnesty" to some suspended accounts from next week. This came after he started a poll on Wednesday asking Twitter users whether accounts that had "not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam" should be let back on the social media platform. Several accounts, such as that of former US President Donald Trump, have already been reinstated by Mr Musk. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63752208

Rapper Kanye West has said he intends to run for US president in 2024, despite facing several scandals over his recent behaviour. The star, who has legally changed his name to Ye, posted a video of his campaign logo to social media, alongside the caption Ye 24. He also claimed to have asked Donald Trump to be his running mate. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63754702

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