tyb
BURN IT DOWN!!!
>>46598 pb
SAM194 USAF G5 on descent for Miami Int'l from JBA depart
Wonder who is in dis? with a E-6B Mercury setting up just off-shore
AMBOS13 US Navy E-6B Mercury off Miami from MacDill AFB
>Ambos...A raised speaking stand in a church, especially such a stand in early Christian churches serving as a lectern or pulpit.
Myanmar coup latest: EU sanctions 2 military-linked companies
Monday, April 19
8:30 p.m. More quotes from the European Union statement on Myanmar:
"Pre-existing EU restrictive measures also remain in place. These include an embargo on arms and equipment that can be used for internal repression, an export ban on dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police, export restrictions on equipment for monitoring communications that could be used for internal repression, and a prohibition on military training for and military cooperation with the Tatmadaw."
8:00 p.m. The European Union adopts a new round of Myanmar sanctions in response to the Feb. 1 coup, targeting 10 people and two military-controlled companies. "Today's decision is a sign of the EU's unity and determination in condemning the brutal actions of the military junta, and aims at effecting change in the junta's leadership," the European Council says in a statement. The 10 individuals include members of the State Administrative Council -- the junta's name for the post-coup government. The two companies, Myanma Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd. (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corp. (MEC), "are owned and controlled by the Myanmar armed forces [Tatmadaw], and provide revenue for it," according to the statement. The U.S. and the U.K. also have imposed sanctions on MEHL and MEC, whose far-reaching business interests include mining, food, beverages and tourism. The statement stresses that European sanctions "specifically target the economic interests of Myanmar's military regime" and "are crafted in such a way to avoid undue harm to the people of Myanmar." "It's once again clear that humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar needs to be increased," Josep Borrell, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy, tells reporters. "We increased it by 9 million euros ($10.8 million). But the important thing is to stop the repression."
6:00 p.m. Myanmar's security forces have stepped up house arrests in Yangon on Monday. There has been no confirmation of the number of such arrests, but protesters residing in Kyauk Myaung and Tarmwe townships, among other areas, have reportedly been arrested at their homes for allegedly taking part in the civil disobedience movement against the junta. Security forces have increased raids and detentions over the past week, especially after more cases of explosions and arson attacks. Observers say that some of those attacks were conducted by armed protesters who have been trained to handle explosives. In response, security forces now stop and search more pedestrians for explosives, rather than checking their mobile phones for links to lawmakers from the National League for Democracy. Separately, Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi is being investigated for allegedly spreading fake news, according to the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar. Myanmar's security authority confirms that Japanese freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi has been charged with allegedly violating section 505-A of the Penal Code, which prohibits a wide range of expressions that might cause fear, spread false news, or agitate directly or indirectly someone toward a criminal offense against a Government employee, according to the Japanese Embassy in Myanmar.
7:30 a.m. The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar confirms with local police that journalist Yuki Kitazumi was detained around 7:50 p.m. on Sunday at his home and transferred to Insein Prison, on the outskirts of Yangon. The prison is known for holding political prisoners.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanmar-Coup/Myanmar-coup-latest-EU-sanctions-2-military-linked-companies
Tokyo to request another state of emergency as early as April 22
Tokyo metropolitan government officials on April 19 initiated the process to ask the central government to declare a third state of emergency for the capital over the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials will hear opinions from health experts and make a formal request as early as April 22, according to sources.
Under the new state of emergency, metropolitan officials are expected to request that eateries shut down. Under the second state of emergency issued in January, the metropolitan government only asked eateries to close early. “To completely stop the movement of people, we have no choice but to ask (many facilities) to shut down like we did during the state of emergency last spring,” a metropolitan official said. Officials have also discussed a plan to ask entertainment facilities to shut down as well. The capital has been under pre-emergency measures, requesting restaurants and bars to close early since April 12. But Tokyo's number of new infections has increased every day by 10 to 20 percent from the previous week. On April 15, Tokyo logged 729 new infections, the first time the number topped 700 in two and a half months, and the rate of positive cases has also been rising.
Based on the data, officials have apparently concluded that Tokyo needs far stronger, stricter measures to stop the movement of people and contain the spread of more contagious COVID-19 variants.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14333569
U.S. Treasury names green financial adviser to new climate 'czar' post
The U.S. Treasury on Monday named climate change financial adviser John Morton to head the department's new "climate hub,' to foster green finance and use tax policy and financial risk assessments to help reduce carbon emissions.
Morton, a partner with Pollination Group, a specialist climate change advisory and investment firm, had served in the Obama administration White House as senior director for energy and climate change on the National Security Council. He also served in senior positions at the U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp and has more than 25 years of experience in emerging markets, investment finance and economic and environmental policy, Treasury said. As the Treasury's 'climate counselor' Morton will report directly to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and advise her on a broad range of climate matters, in particular efforts to facilitate and unlock financing needed for investments to achieve 'net zero' carbon emissions, the Treasury said. The new Treasury climate czar joins several other high-profile positions within the Biden administration, including a White House climate policy team led by former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy and former Secretary of State John Kerry.
https://www.reuters.com/business/us-treasury-names-green-financial-adviser-new-climate-czar-post-2021-04-19/
been several over last few weeks coming out of SoCal
Oil futures end higher; Libya reportedly halts output at some major oil fields
Oil futures settled modestly higher on Monday, finding some support from reports that Libya has halted output at some of its oil fields. State-owned National Oil Corp. subsidiary Arabian Gulf Oil Co. stopped pumping at its oil fields citing the government's failure to send federal funds for operations since September, S&P Global Platts reported Monday. A Reuters report on the Financial Post, meanwhile, said National Oil Corp. declared force majeure on exports from the port of Hariga - meaning it can't fulfill its contractual obligations. Tyler Richey, co-editor at Sevens Report Research, however, said the issue shouldn't have a lasting impact on oil, unless it turns into a drawn out event. May West Texas Intermediate crude CLK21, 0.30% rose 25 cents, or 0.4%, to settle at $63.38 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/oil-futures-end-higher-libya-reportedly-halts-output-at-some-major-oil-fields-2021-04-19
Cigarette Makers Plunge on News That U.S. May Curb Nicotine
Shares of Marlboro producer Altria Group Inc. plunged on Monday following a report that the U.S. government is considering a rule that would lower the nicotine content of cigarettes.
The Biden administration is mulling a requirement that nicotine be lowered to levels that aren’t addictive, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The Food and Drug Administration could also move to ban menthol cigarettes, the Journal reported. Shares of Altria, which sells the Marlboro brand in the U.S., slumped 7% at 3:25 p.m. in New York trading. Philip Morris International Inc., which sells the brand internationally, also declined. Stock of 22nd Century Group Inc., which sells cigarettes with very low nicotine levels, jumped 18%.
The FDA declined to comment on the report. Altria didn’t immediately respond to an email request for comment
The FDA has been expected to state its position on whether it would still allow menthol cigarettes by April 29, under a deadline imposed by a lawsuit. The case, brought by the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, had sued the government agency saying it had taken an unreasonably long time to respond to a citizen’s petition filed years ago that sought to prohibit menthol as a flavor in cigarettes.
There has also been anticipation that the agency would make a decision about nicotine levels in cigarettes. The agency had declared in 2018 that it intended to do so, but Altria had said it wasn’t clear whether that was “technically achievable” or would lead to reduced smoking. Since then, 22nd Century Group, based in Williamsville, New York, has come out with reduced nicotine cigarettes.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/cigarette-makers-plunge-on-news-that-u-s-may-curb-nicotine-1.1592341
>>46574 pb
AF2 USAF C-32A departed Greensboro, NC back to JBA
SCORE82 US Navy P-8 Poseiden over C-Bay out of Pax River
>>46595 pb
EXEC1F USAF C-32A departed Davenport, IL Quad Cities Airport back to JBA
>>46372 pb
SAM190 USAF G5 departed Will Rogers Airport, OKC after an overnight back to JBA
This AC had a ground stop at Tulsa Int'l yesterday prior to the 30 min flight to OKC
AXIS11 12 13 USAF C-130 Hercules departed Davis-Monthan AFB Tucson
mentioned as they habs sequential call #'s and dat usually means bidness
ANON US Navy went in at Tucson Int'l earlier-which is located a few miles away
German AF GAF123 Airbus A400M departing Dover AFB
not wif dat many posts
Foxconn reaches new deal with Wisconsin on scaled-back US plant
Foxconn, the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer, has reached a new agreement with the state of Wisconsin after years of delays to begin mass production at its U.S. plant.
The agreement likely will let the Apple supplier scale back its unfinished manufacturing facility in Wisconsin, with reduced tax breaks from the government, based on Monday's announcement by Foxconn and Gov. Tony Evers. The deal still needs approval from Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the state's top business agency, which will meet Tuesday to vote on the issue. Foxconn in 2017 released initial plans for a $10 billion plant in Wisconsin to produce cutting-edge 10.5-generation displays, responding to then-President Donald Trump's call to bring more manufacturing jobs to the U.S. Wisconsin is a political battleground state that Trump won in the 2016 election. The Taiwanese company, which trades as Hon Hai Precision Industry, said the project would create 13,000 local jobs. In exchange, the state and federal governments promised to give Foxconn a $4 billion package of tax breaks and other incentives. But Foxconn later scaled back the project several times, citing an incomplete supply chain and a glut of displays at the time. The planned manufacturing complex largely remains unbuilt. Given the weaker demand for its displays, the company said it also is considering production of a wide range of items in the Wisconsin factory including servers, software and artificial intelligence-related offerings.
Foxconn said last month it is looking at two possible sites in North America Wisconsin and Mexico for test production and mass manufacturing of electric vehicles.
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Foxconn-reaches-new-deal-with-Wisconsin-on-scaled-back-US-plant
agree
State Department Plans "Do Not Travel" Advisory For 80% Of Countries Amid COVID Comeback
The US State Department is preparing to update its international travel guidelines by raising the risk level of about 80% of the world to "Level 4: Do Not Travel", the first sweeping modification to these guidelines since last year. The Department cited "COVID risk" as the primary motivation for the advisory and pushed roughly 80% of countries to "reconsider all travel abroad." The advisory will be officially updated later this week. The changes will lead to a "significant increase" in the number of nations facing the Level 4 classification. Notably, the State Department said in the press release that "this does not imply a reassessment of the current health situation in a given country, but rather reflects an adjustment in the State Department's Travel Advisory system to rely more on CDC's existing epidemiological assessments." Still, COVID represents "unprecedented risks" to Americans seeking to travel abroad.
"As always, we are closely monitoring conditions around the globe, and will regularly update our destination-specific advice to U.S. travelers as conditions evolve," the State Department added.
The State Department just announced it will issue "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for roughly 80% of countries due to Covid-19 risk and urges U.S. citizens to "reconsider all travel abroad." pic.twitter.com/5BpCDKOgLc
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) April 19, 2021
The State Department raised travel advisories for China and other nations hard-hit by COVID last year, but the Biden Administration's latest seems to cut against the growing surge in domestic and international travel as vaccinations have emboldened more Americans to book flights, prompting a significant rebound in air travel. Currently the state department has “Level 3” travel advisories in place for most countries, which urge US citizens to "reconsider travel" though many of those advisories date back as far as August of last year. Earlier this month, we noted that airlines in the US had reached their busiest level in roughly 13 months.
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/state-department-plans-do-not-travel-advisory-80-countries-amid-covid-comeback