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Western US grid operator warns that emergency conditions could persist in seven states
The operator of a major power grid in the west of the United States warned on Sunday about emergency situations that are likely to continue during periods of high demand, underscoring how vulnerable this region is to interruptions in imported energy. The Southwest Power Pool's (SPP) regional grid has seen a rise in rotating blackouts over the last?week. SPP's reserves were dwindling on Friday after a sudden drop in electricity imports from neighboring grids. SPP prevented outages by asking for voluntary conservation to maintain reserves. SPP is expecting the highest demand of the week in the western territory on Sunday evening as temperatures reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. SPP is usually a net electricity exporter due to its large wind power base. The heat last week meant that neighboring grids were unable to provide SPP with much power because of the weather-driven demand. SPP stated that its West region would remain in place until August 1, according to a conservative operation advisory. The advisory was released to increase awareness about potential threats to the grid's reliability. Southwest Power Pool released a statement saying that "Our West will likely continue to experience advisories and energy emergency alert conditions, especially during high demand periods." SPP is responsible for managing the flow of electricity in a vast territory, which includes 17 states and 20 million residents. Seven western states, which became a part of the?SPP last April and are vulnerable to power outages, make up this group. SPP's advisories and warnings in the last week have warned that reliability is threatened by a combination of high demand, generator failures and sudden losses of imports.
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Iran announces it will cease its strikes so long as the US bombing pause continues
Iran will cease its attacks as long the United States also does,?a senior Iranian official said on Sunday. The United States has paused its bombing campaign after President Donald Trump's advisors informed him that they had run out of targets. They also expressed concern about the depletion of the U.S. weapons arsenal. The Pentagon ended the airstrikes against Iran after 13 nights. No U.S. strikes were reported for Saturday or Sunday. Iran has held off its attacks on the neighbouring countries of U.S. bases for two days. It had followed each night's U.S. airstrikes with its own strikes. An anonymous Iranian official said that Tehran would "continue to 'attack back'" if the U.S. attacks stopped. This message has been sent to the United States." Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations told Fox News Sunday and other U.S. Media that Trump had decided to pause U.S. Attacks to allow for more time to be spent on diplomacy. Waltz did not provide any further details. "He is giving the talks some room, he gives it a bit of space," Waltz said. One anonymous U.S. official stated that U.S. officials have warned that the bombings in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway which has become a flashpoint in this war, had exhausted the pre-selected targets. The option of resuming major operations is still available, but the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine warned Trump privately that it would be risky due to the impact on munitions stocks. The official said that this includes the interceptors used in U.S. air defences in the Middle East. Caine's Office and U.S. Central Command refused to comment. U.S. officials have historically refused to discuss their private advice given to an American president in Congress, or even during testimony. Waltz told NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the U.S. Military "has everything it needs" but that Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary under the Trump Administration, "inherited a situation that was depleted." A senior Iranian source who spoke under condition of anonymity said that Tehran didn't hold much hope that Trump’s decision to pause the strikes would represent a major change in U.S. negotiation position. "There's more skepticism than optimism regarding the stoppage of attacks." It is generally believed that the pause in attacks is a tactical one and not genuine. Iran has had enough of what it perceives as 'U.S. deception,' the source stated. "STUCK IN LIMBO" For the last two weeks, U.S. troops have been attacking Iran every night in what Washington claimed was a retaliation to Iranian attacks against shipping in?"the Strait of Hormuz". Iranian forces responded to U.S. strikes by striking water desalination facilities in Gulf Arab countries nearby. Iran claims it wants to keep control of the Strait through which, before the war, a fifth?of global oil flowed. The U.S. renewed military campaign has effectively destroyed last month's interim deal aimed at ending war. Trump's decision to pause strikes was based on what media outlets have described as a Friday meeting where Caine, other senior military and policy advisers and Trump raised their concerns. CNN reported Vice President JDVance expressed reservations. Axios reported 'the commander of U.S. Forces in the Middle East Admiral Brad Cooper had recommended halting U.S. Bombing Campaign because it has'reached its limits of effectiveness. Residents of Iran are still apprehensive. Nader, a 49-year-old import/export businessman in Tehran, doubted that any strike pause would last. He told him by phone that "everyone in the country was stuck in limbo". Trump is playing with Iran. He does not end the war, leave the region or strike decisively. It's exhausting."
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Ukrainian officials report that a vessel sinks after it was hit by Russian gunfire a week earlier.
A cargo ship sank off the Black Sea port of Odesa in Ukraine on Sunday. This was a week after Ukrainian officials claimed that it had been hit by Russian forces. Ukraine's port authority confirmed that the Golden Leo sank near the port. The vessel was sailing under the Guinea-Bissau Flag. In a statement, it was stated that nine crew members were killed and eight others evacuated. According to the statement, the?ship that left the port Chornomorsk on July 19 with a cargo?of?corn suffered significant damage after it was'shelled' by Russian forces. The ship was passing along a coast line towards Romania, through a corridor that was overseen by the Ukraine. The ports authority stated that Russian actions against the ship violated "the norms of the international maritime law", and put the lives of the crew at risk. A?witness at the time in Odesa?saw smoke billowing from a large ship off the coast. Moscow hasn't?publicly responded to the strike. In the fifth year war, Russia has intensified its attacks on deepwater port in southern Ukraine that handles a large amount of grain and other vital cargo. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese; Ron Popeski)
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London Gatwick Airport water supply issue
Authorities at Gatwick Airport said that water supplies were interrupted 'on Sunday due to a power 'outage in a local treatment -works. Passengers reported the issue on social media. They said that it had led to the failure of flushing toilets and closures?of bars and restaurants. Water supplies were affected in both terminals of the airport, Britain's second busiest airport after Heathrow. The statement said that "Bottled Water is available to passengers and staff at the airport, and contingency measures have been put in place for the passengers' welfare." Water utility SES Water reported that complications caused by an outage at Bough Beech Water Treatment Works resulted in a temporary loss of water supply or low pressure for some customers. The company stated that "Gatwick Airport is affected, but we are working closely with them to restore service as soon as possible." (Reporting and editing by David Holmes; Paul Sandle)
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Romania shoots down a third Russian drone as the president declares breaches to be 'intolerable.'
The Romanian defence ministry announced on Sunday that an F-16 fighter jet pilot had shot down a Russian drone over the Black Sea. This was the latest in a string of airspace violations by NATO members, which?President Nicusor Dan deemed "inadmissible" and "intolerable". Romania shares a land border of 650 km (400 miles) with Ukraine, and Russian drones repeatedly violated Romania's airspace throughout the four-year Ukraine conflict. Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian ports located across the Danube River. Romania hadn't destroyed any drones before Friday, when a Romanian was able to safely bring down one in an uninhabited region. Three drones have been destroyed in the last few days. Dan wrote in X Sunday that it was "inadmissible" and "intolerable" for the Russian Federation continue to violate Romania's airspace. This is also NATO and European Union airspace. He said: "Such acts are unacceptable and we treat them seriously, along with our allies." Moscow has not yet made any public comments on the incident. ROMANIA SUMMITS?RUSSIAN ambassador OVER AIRSPACE BREACHES NATO said that additional details about Sunday's incident are being investigated. "The shootdowns are occurring as NATO, Romania and other nations acquire ground-based interceptors in order to enhance the allied and national capabilities of air defence," said U.S. Army Col. Martin O'Donnell. He is a spokesperson for NATO's Military Headquarters. Dan said that Romania identified the drone used on Friday as a Shahed type unmanned aerial vehicle, which is commonly used by Russian forces. Dan also stated that investigations were still ongoing into those who were shot down Saturday and Sunday. The Romanian Foreign Ministry said that it summoned Russia's ambassador "following repeated violations". Ilie Bolojan, the Prime Minister of Romania, called these violations "inacceptable". The defence ministry said that the drone was safely shot down in the incident on Sunday, 12 km north-east of the coastal town of Sulina, above territorial waters. "Romania is committed to protecting its airspace and sovereignty, but we must put an end to these provocations," said Radu?Miruta, Romanian Minister of Defence on Facebook. According to the defence ministry, Russian drones have violated national airspace 33 times without permission since the start of war. This includes Sunday's violation. The prosecution has recovered fragments from the drone that was shot down on Friday but is still searching for the pieces of the other two. Romania's chief of army said on Friday that Russian attacks in the area around Odesa, Ukraine, had intensified ahead of harvest season. This increased pressure on vital energy and trade routes along the Black Sea. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier, Alan Charlish, Luiza Ilie)
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Modi's aura is tarnished by India's Instagram generation Z ahead of state elections
Narendra Modi posted a rare video of himself, saying he was sorry for their suffering and promised to take remedial measures. The late-night video posted on Instagram by CJP, which had amassed 22 million mostly Gen Z followers within a few days in May, did not satisfy the thousands who had gathered to protest in central Delhi and braved the massive police crackdown a couple of days before. The education minister resigned on Saturday in response to the main protesters' demand. This was a rare setback for Modi. Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Education Minister is a major victory for the CJP. Their young supporters openly mocked Modi with raps, posters and graffiti. This was an unthinkable event only a few weeks ago in a nation whose politics have been dominated almost exclusively by Modi ever since he took power in 2014. Sanjay Srivastava is an anthropology professor from SOAS University of London. He said that a large number of those who attended the protest were likely his supporters. "What could be interpreted as an achievement is that a wider cross-section now questions the government." A wider group of people are now questioning the notion that the government is good for the nation. Analysts said that the protests were sparked by a leaked "medical entrance exam". But there are also other issues. These include youth unemployment, and fears among young people that AI might take away their jobs at places like India's IT back offices. Amitabh T. Tiwari, a political analyst, said that the paper leak was a "trigger point". It is "largely" a reflection on the anxiety, nervousness and discontent among youth. Rajnath Singh, Modi's senior colleague in the cabinet, said that "understanding our students' real concerns and addressing them quickly is the top priority of government". GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH GEN Z, SAYS ANALYST Tiwari stated that Indians between 18 and 40 years old make up approximately 40% of the population, but only 10% of the seats in lower house parliament. This is down from the more than double the number of seats they held in 1950. The average age of the cabinet is over 60. The CJP, though not a political group, has tried to take advantage of the opportunity they saw in the recent protests against Modi by taking up their cause. Next year, Modi's state Gujarat and the state with the highest population of Uttar Pradesh could see the first test of youth anger. Both Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are run by the BJP. Modi's biggest risk could be the national elections of 2029 if the CJP becomes a political party. Abhijeet Dimple, its founder, said that no decision has been taken yet about joining electoral politics. Analysts claim that young voters have voted mainly along religious or class lines in the past, resulting in a vote for Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. But things could be changing. A Gen Z actor, who ran for his party and was allied with the opposition parties, was elected as chief minister of Tamil Nadu in the southern state. His Instagram-first fanbase propelled him to victory. Anurag Minus verma, an author, said: "This has been a moment for reckoning for Modi. It shows that he is completely out of touch with the wants of Gen Z." "For many years, the BJP’s digital strategy focused on platforms such as X where most of the political?conversation occurred. Instagram is now the place where people are talking about politics, especially among young users. The BJP has 23 million followers on X and 18 million on Facebook, while Modi's personal followers are massive, ranging between 60 and 107 millions. Modi has between 60 to 107 million followers across all social media platforms. The BJP only has 18 million followers on Facebook and 23 million on X. Santosh Desai, a columnist, said: "You have to be authentic on Instagram." "Pre-laboured and carefully massaged messages will not work. This medium was developed by this generation, and it is what it is today because of this generation. This generation does not reverence the past." Modi's government has been resisting the pressure to sack ministers for a decade. Modi had to face protests from Indian farmers for almost a year in order to repeal controversial farm laws. Tiwari stated that "a leader who is willing to listen will do well in the future." Modi wants to demonstrate this. Reporting by Tora Aggarwala in New Delhi and Krishna N. Das Editing by Gareth Jones
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Flooding and torrential rains are possible in Southern China following the landfall of Noul
Typhoon Noul hit southern China early Sunday morning, bringing torrential rainfall and gale force winds to the province of Guangdong and Hong Kong. Authorities warned that heavy rains and storms would continue until Tuesday. Noul is the 12th tropical storm of the year, and the third one to strike China in this month. Authorities said that it has forced more than 700,000. people to relocate in Guangdong Province. Noul, China's strongest typhoon in 2026 so far, hit the coast of Huidong County in the southern Guangdong Province at 3:50 am Saturday (1950 GMT) as a powerful typhoon. State broadcaster CCTV said that as the storm moves inland, it will bring heavy rain and strong winds to southern provinces, including Jiangxi, Hunan and Jiangxi. The rainfall is likely to continue 'until Tuesday. The National Meteorological Centre predicted heavy to torrential rainfall from Sunday to 8:00 am Monday in much of southern China. Extremely heavy to extraordinary downpours are expected in certain areas, including southern Fujian. The highest level of alert was placed in several provinces for flash flooding. Local governments should pay special attention to construction sites, mountain-river areas, valleys and bridges. Hong Kong's?Observatory reported on Sunday that the typhoon was weakening while it moved further inland. It also noted that gale-force southwesterly wind continues to?affect parts of the city. The authorities in the Asian financial center downgraded Typhoon Signal No. 8 to Signal No. At 12:40 p.m. on Sunday, authorities in the Asian financial hub downgraded Typhoon Signal No. 3 at 12:40 pm on Sunday. The storm alert was raised to the second highest Typhoon Signal No. 9 overnight. The storm was only 80 miles (50 km) from Hong Kong when it passed. The Hong Kong airport authorities announced that flight operations will slowly resume on Sunday afternoon, after being suspended in large part for over 12 hours.
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Southern China is soaked as Typhoon Noul hits land
Typhoon Noul hit southern China early on Sunday, bringing with it 'heavy rains and gale force winds in the Guangdong province and neighbouring Hong Kong. This led to the cancellation of flights at Hong Kong International Airport. Noul, or the glow of sunrise in Korean, is the third typhoon to hit China in this month and the 12th in the Pacific this year. Authorities said that it has forced more than 340,000 people to relocate in Guangdong Province. Hong Kong's?Observatory reported on Sunday that the typhoon was weakening while it moved further inland. It added that strong?gales continued to affect?much? of the city. The Observatory has issued an Amber Rainstorm Warning due to heavy rains and warned residents of flash floods. The Observatory said that rain exceeding 30 mm an hour (1.2 inches) has fallen, and it is expected to continue. The Asian financial hub upgraded the storm alert from Typhoon Signal No. 9 to Typhoon Signal No. Early on Sunday, as the storm approached Hong Kong within 80 km (50 miles), authorities in the Asian financial hub raised the alert to Typhoon?Signal No. At 7:10 am Saturday morning (2310 GMT), the storm was downgraded to Signal?No. Typhoon 'Signal?No. The observatory said that the Typhoon?Signal No. 8, which closes most businesses and transport routes, would be in effect until at least noon. The airport authorities have announced that flight operations will resume gradually after Sunday evening at 6:00 pm.
US Energy Department orders additional power resources for Western Electric Grid
The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order on Sunday authorizing the grid operator serving parts of 17 states to deploy idle power sources in order to prevent heat wave blackouts. The?U.S.
The order instructed grid operator Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to dispatch generator units as necessary to maintain reliability in a territory home to more than 20 million people, spanning from North Dakota to Louisiana.
The DOE order was issued shortly after SPP warned of the likelihood that emergency conditions will persist during peak demand periods. This highlights the region's vulnerability due to power plant failures, declines in winds generation, and disruptions to imported electricity.
The order also authorized SPP's backup generation to be used as a final resort, before declaring an emergency alert of level three. This can?be a final step before a grid operator decides to rotate outages. DOE stated that it issued the order on SPP's behalf.
In a recent statement, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the Trump administration was tapping into an abundance of backup generators to provide affordable, reliable and secured power for hardworking American businesses and families.
SPP has seen the risk of rotating blackouts increase over the last week. SPP's reserves were dwindling on Friday after a sudden drop in electricity imports from neighboring grids.
SPP prevented outages on that day by asking for voluntary conservation to maintain reserves. SPP is expecting the highest demand of the week in the western territory on Sunday night as temperatures reach above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
SPP is usually a net electricity exporter?because it has a large base of wind-generated power. The heat last week meant that neighboring grids couldn't provide as much power to SPP due to the weather-driven demand.
SPP's West Region will remain in a conservative operation?advisory?until 1 August, which was released to raise awareness about?potential threats against the grid reliability.
SPP released a statement saying that "Our West will likely continue to experience advisories, and energy emergency alerts conditions during high demand periods,"
(source: Reuters)