morning wakes
gb
morning B
some of the older guys get bored with cars/racing and then switch to AC's
and they thought they were spending a lot on cars..
kek
Seen't dat plenty of times
morning bokes
'''Suez Risk Comes at Bad Time for Unusually Tight Aluminum Market
The Suez Canal blockage is threatening to intensify a rare shortage of aluminum products crucial to the transport and construction industries.
As factory output surges in Europe and industrial buyers restock ahead of lockdown restrictions easing, supplies of specialist products like aluminum billet are tightening quickly. That’s helped push benchmark aluminum prices near the highest since mid-2018. Several Middle Eastern suppliers including Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain BSC are specialists in the sector, and while there’s no sign of any significant aluminum hold-ups in the Suez queue, flows to Europe would be at risk if the blockage drags on. Dislodging the stranded Ever Given may take until at least Wednesday.
Short-term freight disruptions typically aren’t an issue in the well-supplied aluminum market, but the scramble for aluminum products in Europe has sent shipping premiums paid by consumers surging. Market observers say that the Suez crisis could worsen the situation. “It’s a little bit of a frenzy,” Kamil Wlazly, a senior metals analyst at Wood Mackenzie, said by phone from London. “There are much more important things going on than the Suez canal blockage – it’s just one more issue.”
Billet buyers in the U.S. are facing a similar shortage, while in top consumer China, government emissions regulations targeting key producers have drastically altered assumptions about supply.
Aluminum in Shanghai rallied to the highest level in almost a decade earlier this month as China’s green push was considered a “game changer” for the long-term outlook after years of gluts in the industry. Prices have eased this week after the nation was said to consider selling about 500,000 tons from state reserves to cool the market.
Aluminum rose 1.7% to $2,283 a ton by 12:40 p.m. on the London Metal Exchange, while Shanghai futures closed 2.1% higher. In other LME metals, copper climbed 1.6% to $8,923 a ton and zinc rose 1.6%, both trimming weekly losses.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/suez-risk-comes-at-bad-time-for-unusually-tight-aluminum-market-1.1582824
Owner of stranded Suez Canal ship aims to free vessel on Saturday
Japan's Shoei Kisen apologizes as fears grow over trade disruption
The Japanese owner of the ship blocking the Suez Canal aims to get the vessel free by Saturday night Japan time, the company said on Friday.
Shoei Kisen set out its goal to free the Ever Given as the company's president apologized for the disruption caused by the stranding of the 400-meter long container vessel in one of the world's busiest waterways. The company, an affiliate of Japan's major shipbuilder Imabari Shipbuilding, is trying to remove sediment from around the bow of the 200,000 ton vessel but has "still not succeeded in doing so," Yukito Higaki said at a press conference on Friday. "We are continuing work to remove sediment as of now, with additional dredging tools," said Higaki in a statement. He said the company aims to free the ship "tomorrow night Japan time." Higaki apologized for the "great trouble and concern" as a result of the incident. "We want to work hard and get the situation back to normal," he said.
The Ever Given ran aground in the canal on Tuesday, completely blocking one of the world's main maritime arteries. The blockage is sparking fears over disruption to global trade as other vessels are delayed or rerouted. Around 10% of global trade passes through the Egypt-controlled waterway. Dozens of ships are waiting at each end of the canal. Shoei is not yet sure about the cost of the accident. "We will consult with an insurance company and respond once we receive [a bill]," Shoei's senior managing director Toshiaki Fujiwara said. There are currently no talks of compensation for delaying other ships. "Rescuing the ship is the priority, and negotiations [about compensation] would come later," Fujiwara said. The Panama-registered vessel is operated by Evergreen Marine of Taiwan.
Higaki explained that while Shoei owns the ship, the company has contracts with a German company for the ship's maintenance and crews. Shoei will be responsible for rescuing and repairing the ship. Asked about responsibility for compensation for losses caused by the blockage, Higaki said only that the company would comply with the law. "There are many laws," including international and local ones, Higaki said. Higaki acknowledged that he "cannot say for sure" whether insurance would cover the cost of dealing with the incident. He said the company is still investigating the cause. "We can only presume that it was due to a rapid change in weather conditions," he said. The company added that there were no reports about navigation instrument problems.
Five experts dispatched by an insurance company have been collaborating with local authorities in Suez since Thursday, according to the company, which is also arranging to dispatch two large tug boats to add to the 10 already at the site. Shoei said the ship's rudder was able to move freely. There is no oil leak stemming from the accident, the company added, nor any injury to crew. Several media reports have suggested that freeing the Ever Given could take at least several more days.
The Suez logjam is already raising freight rates and thus revenue for shippers. Shares in HMM, South Korea's largest shipping company, were up 14% in Seoul on Friday as expectations grew that some companies would profit from the disruption. HMM said one of its container ships coming from Europe was standing by outside the Suez Canal. "We are told that the Suez port authority will take action by the weekend. We are watching developments carefully," said a spokesman for HMM, also known as Hyundai Merchant Marine. Moody's, the credit rating agency, said on Friday that Europe's manufacturing, auto and auto suppliers were expected to be most affected by a blockage. "Even if the situation is resolved within the next 48 hours, port congestion and further delay to an already constrained supply chain is inevitable," said Daniel Harlid, a vice president at Moody's.
Ship tracking websites suggest that some vessels in the Atlantic and Indian oceans are starting to change course away from routes that would have taken them through the Suez Canal.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Owner-of-stranded-Suez-Canal-ship-aims-to-free-vessel-on-Saturday
Sudan moves closer to debt relief with U.S. loan to clear World Bank arrears
Sudan has settled its debts with the World Bank after nearly three decades, moving the heavily indebted African country closer to a much-needed international debt-relief package, the World Bank and U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday.
World Bank President David Malpass said the move meant Sudan could now access nearly $2 billion in grants from the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). The Sudanese government said $635 million would be immediately available for budget support and welfare spending.
Clearing the arrears, which date back to the years of former autocrat Omar al-Bashir and earlier, was made possible through a $1.15 billion bridge loan from the U.S. government.
Sudan’s Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim said clearance of the arrears would enable the country to secure financing from the World Bank Group and other multilateral institutions and move forward with transformative development projects. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sudan deserved credit for implementing what she called a “robust economic reform program” that underpins the country’s transition to democratic rule after three decades of international isolation.
Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government took power in April 2019 after the overthrow of Bashir, ending years of international isolation. The country is seeking relief from some $56 billion in external debt owed to international financial institutions, official bilateral creditors and commercial creditors. About 85% of that is in arrears.
A source familiar with the matter said Sudan’s overall debt includes about $2.8 billion owed to the World Bank, IMF and African Development Bank; $19 billion owed to countries in the Paris Club of official bilateral creditors; $21 billion to non-Paris Club members; and the rest to commercial creditors. Sudan has made progress on a staff-monitored program with the International Monetary Fund, but its economy remains “extremely fragile” with inflation over 300% and shortages of basic goods, the IMF said this month. The latest move brings Sudan closer to the first phase of a broader debt relief package under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative as early as mid-2021, said one source familiar with the process.
The U.S. loan announced on Friday had been in the works for months after the United States removed Sudan from its state sponsor of terrorism list in late December. Sudan fulfilled one of the main conditions demanded by international donors in February when it took steps to unify its official and black-market exchange rates.
https://www.reuters.com/article/sudan-debt/update-1-sudan-moves-closer-to-debt-relief-with-u-s-loan-to-clear-world-bank-arrears-idUSL1N2LO16A
BULKY16 USAF RC-135W Rivet Joint over Black Sea from Souda Bay Crete
The Rivet Joint's modifications are primarily related to its on-board sensor suite, which allows the mission crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The mission crew can then forward gathered information in a variety of formats to a wide range of consumers via Rivet Joint's extensive communications suite. The interior seats more than 30 people, including the cockpit crew, electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators and in-flight maintenance technicians. The Rivet Joint fleet was re-engined with CFM-56 engines with an upgraded flight deck instrumentation and navigational systems to FAA/ICAO standards. These standards include conversion from analog readouts to a digital "glass cockpit" configuration. All Rivet Joint airframe and mission systems modifications are overseen by L-3 Communications (previously Raytheon), under the oversight of Air Force Materiel Command.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104608/rc-135vw-rivet-joint/
Kneepads to New Haven today and two articles I've seen said it was to depart at 11:50am EST or around that time.(excerpt from one below)
It is nao an hour over that reported departure so it appears they are not going to let us see that trip unless they are really late
Harris will depart Joint Base Andrews at around 11:50 a.m Friday morning, according to the White House.
https://patch.com/connecticut/newhaven/vp-kamala-harris-new-haven-friday-heres-where-shell-be
all good B
BOXR340 USAF C-40C departed JBA and heading for Texas border area
This AC is most likely one of these two groups (article below)
Since it is a C-40C it is not as up-to-date with the communications equipment as the B model.
Unique to the C-40C is the capability to change its configuration to accommodate from 42 to 111 passengers.
Lawmakers take dueling trips to border amid concerns about migrant surge
Republican Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn and Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro are leading dueling delegations of lawmakers to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas on Friday, amid concerns over the surge of unaccompanied minors crossing the border. Cruz said at a press conference on Wednesday that the purpose of the trip was to "see firsthand the crisis that is unfolding" on the border. Seventeen Republican senators are joining Cruz and Cornyn on a tour of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas. Cruz posted a late-night video to Twitter on Thursday apparently depicting the border, and he claimed that "human traffickers & cartel members" were "yelling at us across the Rio Grande and preparing to cross."
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-border-crisis-lawmaker-trips-migrant-surge/
Looks like it is headed to Laredo, TX
State dept had a day trip here on Weds
>>73039 pb
BOXR340 USAF C-40B on descent for McAllen, TX
This is the Ted Cruz and Jon Cornyn group.
Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas are leading a delegation of 17 Republican senators on Friday to tour a US Customs and Border Protection facility in Donna, Texas, that is reportedly overwhelmed with the number of unaccompanied minors.
https://ktvz.com/politics/2021/03/26/lawmakers-spotlight-border-crisis-during-dueling-trips-to-texas/
09-0017 USF C-32A departed JBA ne and on final approach atNew Castle Cty Airport, DL
Not AF1 Joe left DC early…supposed to be doing this
3pm EST The President participates in a virtual fundraiser for Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
6:15pm EST The President departs the White House en route Wilmington, Delaware
https://factba.se/biden/calendar
Chinese Bombers Make "Largest Ever" Incursion Into Taiwan's Air Space In Dramatic 'Message To West'
n what's clearly a well-timed and glaring "message" not only aimed at Taiwan but especially at its Western backers amid this week's continuing sanctions tit-for-tat with Beijing, Taiwan's military is reporting on Friday the "largest ever" incursion by China's air force.
While in the past months the PLA aerial patrols have grown bigger and more frequent - sometimes coming every week and often involving eight or a dozen or possibly even fifteen combined Chinese fighters and bombers - Friday's incursion involved a record-setting twenty PLA military aircraft. This is by far the largest ever recorded, since Taipei began publicly releasing data on the incursions.
"Twenty Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Friday, in the largest incursion yet reported by the island’s defence ministry and marking a dramatic escalation of tension across the Taiwan Strait," Reuters reports. Such a large force is being described as "unusual" by Taiwan's Defense Ministry. It confirmed the location of the aircraft and published select images in an official statement. Crucially the incursion in the democratic island's southwest defense zone included four nuclear-capable H-6K bombers being escorted by smaller fighter jets.
20 PLA aircraft (Y-8 ASW2, KJ-500 AEW&C, H-6K4, J-1610, J-102 and Y-8 RECCE) entered #Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on Mar. 26, 2021. Please check our official website for more information: https://t.co/KdPmWCid1Z pic.twitter.com/OFKTMsNXC3
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) March 26, 2021
"The presence of so many Chinese combat aircraft on Friday’s mission - Taiwan said it was made up of four nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and 10 J-16 fighter jets, among others - was unusual and came as the island’s air force suspended all training missions after two fighter jet crashes this week," Reuters continued.
Aside from this week's sanctions escalation involving coordinated action of the US, UK, EU, and Canada on Monday over alleged 'genocide' and widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, this latest bomber incursion comes a day after Taiwan's defense chief admitted the island has initiated mass production of long-range missiles capable of striking mainland China. Friday's largest ever recorded incursion is without doubt the mainland's "answer" to Taiwan's boasting over its missile developments and ambitions. While Biden said Thursday during his first presidential press conference that he "doesn't want confrontation" with China he's done little in terms of rolling pack 'confrontational' Trump policies - but quite the opposition - he's arguably actually increased the pressure.
This means there's a great likelihood the Pentagon will send a destroyer through the contested Taiwan Strait once again in a bit of 'counter-messaging' as China ramps up its flights. And on up the escalation ladder we go…
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/chinese-bombers-make-largest-ever-incursion-taiwans-air-space-glaring-message
AF2 USAF C-32A departed New Haven-Tweed Airport, CT back to JBA
VOLGA71 USAFSOC C-32B inbound from Ramstein AFB
SAM096 USAF KAF AC of interdast continues sw to JBA from Bedford, MASS ground stop
RCH760T USAF C-17 Globemaster on it's way to New Haven to pick up the equipment
I didn't listen to them much either.
Lived all muh life here so leaving is not something I take lightly
Have always said fuck them they can't have it
Pelosi certainly helped but imo it was DiFi that put it on that slow slide
it wuz already that way because of the hippy shit left over but was not everywhere like now..that started in the early to mid 90's when they started the needle exchanges
Her arrival as mayor was quite a show too.
Twinkies…
kek
SAM676 USAF G5 from Skunkworks ground stop on descent for JBA-State Dept. AC
VOLGA71 USAFSOC C-32B departed Portsmouth Int'l Airport, NH after a ground stop-inbound from Ramstein AFB depart earlier today
SAM042 USAF G5 east back to JBA after a Peterson AFB ground stop-prior stop at Huntsville, AL
99-6143 USAFSOC C-32B departed Eglin AFB and froze in east central Nevada
This AC did the same thing on Sunday-0321 and returned to Eglin yesterday so it is heading back to where it departed from yesterday-wherever that is.
Hard to tell since it is at roughly 38k feet and had just begun it's descent.
If I had to guess I would say NAS Fallon (Top Gun) or Hawthorne Army Depot