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Recent incidents of violence against Jews in the United States
Rights advocates have noted a rise of antisemitism, antisemitism, and anti-Muslim hatred in the United States since the beginning of Israel's war in Gaza after an attack on October 7, 2023 by Palestinian Hamas militants. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group in the U.S., tallied 9,354 incidents of antisemitism in 2024. This is a 5% rise over 2023. It's also a record since the group began tracking in 1979. The Anti-Defamation League said that the number represented a 344% rise over the last five years, and an 893% jump over the last decade. The following are U.S. incidents that took place before a man drove his truck into a Detroit area synagogue on Thursday, where preschoolers were present. He was then shot by security staff. This is the only death in what the FBI calls "a targeted attack against the Jewish Community." 28 JANUARY A car crashed through the entrance of the New York City headquarters of a Jewish Religious Order. No injuries ?were reported. The police are investigating this incident as a hate-crime. May 22, 2025: Two Israeli diplomats are shot and killed in Washington D.C., outside of an event sponsored by the American Jewish Committee. It is believed that the gunman was motivated by Israel-Gaza's conflict. According to the charges, he told the police that he did it "for Palestine" and "for Gaza". After he was arrested, witnesses reported hearing him chant "Free Palestine". FEBRUARY 18TH, 2025 Authorities in Florida opened a 'hate crime investigation' after a man shot two men whom he mistakenly believed to be Palestinians but turned out to actually be Israeli visitors. The victims were rescued. The victims survived. NOVEMBER 6, 2024 Two Jewish students were injured by masked men who attacked them while they were protesting in support of Israel at Chicago’s DePaul University. The suspect who had been charged with hate crimes pleaded guilty later to?battery' and causing bodily injury. OCTOBER 26th, 2024 A 39-year old Jewish man in Chicago, Illinois, wearing a religious skullcap, was shot as he walked towards a synagogue. The suspect was arrested 30 minutes after the shooting and charged with attempted homicide, among other crimes.
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Amazon withdraws its drone unit from the trade group and raises safety concerns
Prime Air, Amazon.com's drone division, has withdrawn from the Commercial Drone Alliance. The group was opposed to a proposed regulatory change that would have allowed drones to avoid collisions with crewed aircraft by using 'detect and avoid' systems. The Amazon unit stated that the alliance's "positions on the most consequential safety issues facing the commercial drone sector are incompatible with Prime Air’s core safety principles." Prime Air stated in a letter sent late Wednesday that its detect-and avoid system had performed "successful?maneuvers for collision avoidance on two potential midair collisions that could have resulted in catastrophic safety consequences including the loss or life." Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed that drones be equipped with systems to detect and avoid aircraft who are not broadcasting their positions. This could be due to equipment failure. The Commercial Drone Alliance was against the requirement. The requirement was included in proposed federal rules that aimed to accelerate the deployment of drones outside of their operators' line of vision. The Washington-based group said that the FAA should instead require aircraft below 500 feet (152 meters), to be able?to broadcast their?position using satellite-based technologies, which allow them to automatically broadcast their exact location, speed, and other data or other electronic devices. The proposed rules are not finalized. Commercial Drone Alliance members include Skydio's Wing Aviation and Alphabet’s Wing Aviation. The group expressed regret on Thursday at Prime Air's departure, but noted that its members had conducted millions of safe drone missions, "demonstrating that performance-based frameworks, rather than prescriptive technology requirements, (enable) safe operations, while fostering innovation and competition." Prime Air stated in its letter that it is the highest priority for Prime Air to ensure the safe integration and use of drones within the national airspace. In its letter, it stated that "this requires rigorous capability-based standards - including requirements mandating drone technologies capable to detect non-cooperative crewed airplanes." Non-cooperative crewed aircraft refers to aircraft or helicopters which do not communicate or transmit position or identification signals. Prime Air said one of the two ?potential mid-air collisions it cited involved a helicopter that was not broadcasting a safety system known ?as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast as required, and without Amazon's detect-and-avoid system "would have led to a catastrophic outcome." The company stated that the risk of a drone colliding with an aircraft crewed by humans is not hypothetical. The?crash that killed 67 people near Washington, DC last year highlighted the problem of congested airspace in some parts of the United States. However, the incident was not caused by a drone. In January 2025, a mid-air collision between a U.S. Army chopper and an American Airlines passenger plane killed 67 people. The incident prompted recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board for reforms.
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Executive director: Los Angeles' busiest seaport is largely protected from disruptions caused by the Iran War, according to its executive director.
Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Los Angeles container port, said that it was largely insulated from disruptions in supply chains caused by U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. These attacks have escalated into a conflict within the region. The Iran War has caused container shipping to be snarled in the Middle East. It has increased costs, left ships and their cargoes stranded, and posed fuel shortages. Seroka stated that "we, right now, do not see any congestion occurring" on the lucrative Transpacific Ocean Trade that is the lifeblood of Port Los Angeles. China and Asia are important trading partners for Port Los Angeles. Seroka stated that the majority of container ships services at the Port?of Los Angeles are direct routes, and not connected to the Middle East trade. He said that manufacturing flows to the United States, Europe, and Latin America continue to move. Data released on Thursday revealed a 5% increase in imports in February, compared to the same month last year, as retailers and manufacturers imported cargo in advance of the Lunar New Year, when many Asian factories close down for the holiday. Seroka stated that the total volume in February was the second highest ever recorded by a port. The Southern California trade portal?also handled nearly 7% more exports compared to the previous year. According to port data, the Port of Los Angeles handled 824,323 TEUs in total during February. This included?433,812 imports, 116,633 exports, and 273,878 empty TEUs. A TEU is the standard volume measurement for ocean cargo. The standard shipping container measures 40 feet. The port, which is a key economic engine for the region, is entering its traditional slow season. Seroka anticipates that the first-quarter volume of the port will be down by mid-single digit percentages from the same period last year when importers rushed in goods in order to beat the new tariffs coming into effect. He said that the U.S. importers have not cancelled orders for seasonal clothing because of uncertainty over the Iran War or other economic reasons. Seroka stated, "That is a very positive sign."
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Analysts say that the US waiver on shipping and the release of stockpiles won't ease the pain at pumps.
Analysts said that a potential waiver of U.S. shipping regulations and the release of record oil stocks by world governments could slow down the pain consumers have been experiencing at the gas pumps in the U.S. since the start of the Middle East conflict, but not eliminate it. The U.S. is considering removing the Jones Act, which limits shipments to U.S. ships only. This comes after the White House announced on Thursday that the U.S. had agreed to provide 172 million barrels towards the International Energy Agency proposal to release 400 million barrels from member reserves. The measures were 'designed to curb the rise in oil and fuel costs caused by Iran's nearly complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This poses a major threat to both the global economy as well as the Republican Party of U.S. president Donald Trump in the midterm elections of November. Analysts said that the measures are insignificant compared to the "supply disruptions" affecting the oil markets. Joe Brusuelas is the chief economist of RSM, a U.S. consultancy. He said that "the reserves release" will not stop oil price increases, but rather slow them down. It also offers a temporary relief from the burning pain caused by rising?gasoline costs. Over 20 million barrels of oil per day flow through the Strait of Hormuz. This is about 20% of global consumption. The IEA has yet to announce the exact timeframe for its proposed release. However, it would be 6.6 million barrels a day if done over 60 days. The average U.S. retail gasoline price hit $3.60 per gallon for the first since May 2024 on Thursday, and diesel prices reached $4.89, the highest level since December 2022. The JONES Act Waiver Will Have A Limited Impact On U.S. Fuel Alex Hodes is the director of StoneX's market strategy and believes that the potential waiver under U.S. law Jones Act could alleviate fuel shortages in certain regions. Jones Act is considered to be a factor in the rise in fuel prices for parts of the United States that do not have pipelines connecting them to the refining hub on the Gulf Coast. This is because there are very few vessels in service that meet the Jones Act's requirements. California and other markets, such as Puerto Rico, are left reliant upon imports. Hodes stated that "More supplies in the U.S. Gulf Coast can now fill any shortages we may see in New York Harbor, which is important during times of high demand or low supply." GasBuddy analyst, Patrick?De haan, said that the waiver's effectiveness is limited to reducing fuel prices in some U.S. markets, not reversing the increases. Fuel prices will follow the?oil price upward. He said: "The oil markets are trying to figure out where they can find the 20,000,000 barrels per day of Middle East oil that's being disrupted. The Jones Act waiver and the releases don't add up much to that." (Reporting and editing by Matthew Lewis in New York, with Shariq Khan reporting from New York)
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EIA: Data centers' surge in power consumption could boost fossil fuel production
The?U.S. Energy Information Administration?said in an?analysis?on Thursday that the U.S. fossil-fuel production could increase over the next two years, as the surge of electricity consumption from data centers tightens the power supply. Energy Information Administration (EIA)?released an?analysis? on Thursday. The EIA reported that the U.S. demand for electricity has grown at an annual pace of 1.7%, after more than a decade with a flat growth. This is mainly due to the expansion of large-scale computer facilities. The agency's February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) predicts that the nation's electricity load will grow by 1.9% - in 2026, and 2.5% - in 2027. The fastest growth is projected for the Texas -ERCOT grid system, and PJM - a grid operator serving parts of the mid-Atlantic - and Midwest. The EIA’s high-demand scenario assumes an expansion of data centres at a faster pace, but the generation capacity remains unchanged from STEO’s February baseline. The model anticipates a greater reliance on gas to meet additional demand. It projects a 7.3% increase in the natural gas-fired production between 2025-2027, compared to a 1.7% increase under the baseline forecast. The coal generation would still decline, but at a slower rate, under the case of high demand. The EIA predicts that wholesale power prices will also rise. ERCOT 2027 'prices' could be $37/MWh more than their February projections. This is a 79% increase, as the Texas grid has limited capacity to draw power from other regions during peak demand. The report stated that other regions may face modest increases between $1 and $3/MWh. Reporting by Anmol Chaubey, Bengaluru. Editing by Will Dunham
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US Department of Energy invests $1.9 billion in power grid upgrades
The U.S. Department?of Energy will invest $1.9 billion in order to 'accelerate upgrades' of the?power grids?in?the?country, said it on Thursday. The U.S. is expected to see a sharp increase in power consumption this year and next. This will be due to the rapid growth of AI and cryptocurrency data centers, as well as increased electrification for heating and transportation. This demand, however, has led to higher electricity prices for a large part of the country. The DOE said that the funds would be used for preparing for an increase in demand as well as to lower the electricity costs of American homes and businesses. The projects selected for funding must'showcase how replacing or reconductoring existing?power?lines with higher capacity conductors combined with transmission technology can strengthen the?nation?s electric grid. Utilities are adding power lines and other components?to the grid as data centers 'lift U.S. energy consumption out of two decades flat demand. (Reporting and editing by Pranav mathur in Bengaluru.
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General USAF says Boeing must fix its tanker problems before US orders any more
U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne said during a hearing on March 4, that Boeing must fix its KC-46 tanker before the United States orders any more. The 'general' did not specify what 'problems? could delay a follow-on contract to the 183 tanker contract. Lamontagne said to a Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee that "we are working out a couple of issues" with the contractor. We won't get a contract for 75 more KC-46s unless we fix some of these deficiencies. He said that a decision on the contract is unlikely to be made for two years. He added that he was "confident" that a plan would be in place next year to solve the problems. Boeing and the Air Force spent many years working to resolve problems with the KC-46 refueling boom, and the visual system used by the boom operator to monitor and move the boom during refueling. The KC-46 tanker deliveries were temporarily stopped last year after cracks in a few?new tanks were discovered. The Air Force purchased a 'tanker,' based on Boeing’s 767 commercial aircraft, to replace its fleet of aging KC-135 tanks, built in the 1950s or early 1960s. More than 100 tankers have already been delivered by the company. The Air Force announced in November that it would be delivering the next 15 tankers under the current contract. Flight records indicate that several KC-46s?supported US air strikes against Iran. Boeing's spokesperson declined to comment on Thursday and pointed to CEO Kelly Ortberg’s comments on the "program" during a call on Jan. 27, discussing fourth quarter earnings. Ortberg stated that it takes a lot more resources to deliver the goods. "We plan to deliver 19 tankers in 2020. We delivered 14 in 2025. We made the conscious decision to maintain resources at a high level to ensure that these deliveries are on time. The planemaker had to take a $565m charge on its fourth quarter earnings. The company has lost over $7 billion on the fixed-costs program. He said, "This existing contract has clearly been a bad contract for the past decade." Boeing will adjust its prices when it bids for the next contract to make sure "we can earn money" from the program, said he. Reporting by Dan Catchpole, Seattle; editing by Chizu Nomiyama.
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Gassco chief says that Norway's gas system will see less maintenance in this year.
The maintenance program for Norway's gas infrastructure is smaller than it was in 2025. Gassco CEO Frode Leversund said that the planned maintenance for this year is smaller than it was last year. "So you can think to yourself, there's a possibility of producing a little bit more," he added. He added that the biggest volume change year-to-year is based upon the amount of work planned along the entire value chain, from the production on fields to downstream processing plants. Norway will be Europe's biggest gas supplier after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022. It will meet over 30% of demand, but volumes may fluctuate depending on demand, maintenance, and other outages. Gassco's pipeline network of 8,800 km (5,468 miles) will deliver 114.9 billion cubic meters (bcm), down from 117.6 bcm exported in 2024. "Production depends on our ability to maintain the necessary uptime, i.e. that the fields perform as expected. It also depends on whether the market wants the gas, Leversund added. He added that Norwegian gas exports for January and February had already exceeded the previous year's levels. Europe will rely on Norwegian deliveries in the coming months to replenish its gas stockpiles, which are at a 5-year low in a market that is tightened due to the Middle East conflict. Due to the closure of the 'Strait of Hormuz, around 20% of the global liquefied 'natural gas supply is?trapped. The benchmark European gas prices have risen by around 60% since the beginning of the conflict, on 28 February. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Nora Buli)
Bousso: The global push to energy security is highlighted by the tie-up between Japan and Qatar.
Qatar's long term deal to supply Japan’s largest power generator JERA with LNG highlights two themes in the hot market for this super-cooled fuel: the race for market share and global push for energy safety. QatarEnergy, Qatar's national gas and oil?company, signed a contract on Tuesday to supply JERA (Japan's largest generator of electricity) with 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), over a period of?27-years, beginning in 2028.
The deal will allow Qatar to keep up with its biggest competitor, the United States.
Qatar has several advantages over other LNG producers, such as lower production costs, and a closer proximity to Asia - the largest and fastest growing LNG market in the world.
The Gulf nation's exports to Japan have fallen from a high of 16,7 million tons in 2013, to around 3 million tons over the past few years, as Japanese demand has weakened and other exporters have increased their competition.
Qatar has been able to secure a number of major deals, including this new one that will double its LNG shipments. The country has also signed deals to supply Malaysia, France, and China, the world's biggest LNG importer. These agreements support Qatar's three massive expansion projects, which are expected to increase Qatar's LNG export capability from 77 million tons per annum today to 110 millions tons per annum later this year and 142,000,000 tons by 2030.
This explosive growth will help Qatar close the gap between it and the U.S. which, in 2023, became the top LNG exporter of the world. It is also expected to push its capacity above 200 million tons per year by 2030.
JAPAN’S UNCERTAINTY ABOUT ENERGY
The agreement represents a major shift in Japan's energy policy. The world's second largest LNG importer, Japan, was determined at the beginning of this decade to reduce its reliance on expensive gas and fossil fuel imports.
Japan's vulnerability to energy is structural. Japan, the world's 4th largest economy, has been reliant for decades on fossil fuel imports. It also had few domestic resources and no pipeline gas options.
In the 1960s, Japan began to import LNG. The fuel became an important part of the country's energy system. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, which led to the shut down of many reactors, LNG consumption hit a record 90 million tons. It then declined steadily to 66 million tonnes in 2025, as efficiency improvements, renewables and coal restarts combined with a declining population eroded gas demand.
What explains Japan’s sudden U-turn in LNG policy? Security is the answer.
Tokyo has reassessed its energy supply due to the geopolitical turmoil of the last few years, primarily in Russia and the Middle East.
In Japan's seventh "strategic" energy plan published in February of last year, it was stated that due to international tensions and the uncertainty surrounding the deployment speed of renewable technologies, the country should be able to secure long-term LNG agreements regardless of any advances made in renewables.
According to the government plan, securing stable LNG supply is crucial for ensuring electricity supplies while reducing dependence on inefficient coal-fired plants. LNG-fired plants are branded as "a practical measure" during this transition.
The plan predicts that Japan's LNG demand in 2040 will range between 53 mtpa and 74 mtpa depending on the pace of adoption of other energy technologies.
The new strategy is a radical departure from Japan's earlier approach, which saw the utilities and traders of the country allow several long-term Qatari gas contracts to expire, much to the frustration of Doha, because?Japanese customers prioritized flexibility due to uncertain long-term demand for gas.
Qatar's LNG contract terms are rigid, with long-term durations and strict requirements for cargo delivery to specific ports. This means that buyers cannot sell fuels that exceed their actual demand. Most U.S. producers of LNG offer shorter-term contracts that allow for cargo destination flexibility.
Japan seems to prefer security over flexibility in a world that is more uncertain, even if global LNG supplies have increased rapidly.
The JERA/QatarEnergy agreement reflects the current tensions in the LNG markets: Net importers face uncertain energy futures while producers want to lock in customers for decades.
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(source: Reuters)