News roundup for Fri, Nov 04, 2022

In short:

• WH announced $13.5 bln in funding to help households with energy bills.
• Lisa will bring flash floods to Mexico; Storm Martin will pound Ireland and north of the UK over the weekend.
• Study shows monkeypox can spread asymptomatically half of the time.

US not running out of diesel but prices will be high; Fed raised interest rates by 0.75% as expected; Bank of England forecasting a two-year recession.

US job openings unexpectedly increased from 10.3 million in August to 10.7 million in September. The Fed raised interest rates by another 0.75% but hinted that it could soon slow down its pace (if inflation shows signs of cooling down–which could take a while to register).

The Bank of England set the biggest rate hike in 33 years and warns of a recession that could last two years. And shipping giant Maersk, a barometer for trade, warns of a looming global recession “[…] certainly in Europe but potentially also in the US.”

Delivery large A.P. Moeller-Maersk says it is clear that freight charges have peaked https://t.co/yCiyPqEB5V

— News Center (@newscenter319) November 2, 2022

The US is not running out of diesel in 25 days, but prices will be high through the winter. EIA forecast the average household will spend about $931 for gas heat this winter and about $1,359 for electric heat. The White House announced $13.5 bln in funding to help households with energy bills, part of it accessible through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Monkeypox can spread asymptomatically half of the time; RSV vaccines are coming within two years.

A new study shows that half of monkeypox cases in the UK spread asymptomatically for up to four days before symptoms appear. Global case numbers seem to be on the decline:

Effective RSV vaccines are coming and they should be available within 1-2 years. In the meantime, here’s what to watch for and answers about treatment options.

This a reminder that if you haven’t been to the doctor in a few years, they could have dropped you.

Ontario is thinking about reinstating mask mandates during the current surge in respiratory illnesses.

Astonishing. We’re past previous peaks and have triple the daily admissions of children under age 5. Over 20 standard deviations above what is expected at this time of the year. 3 standard deviations above last years peak. https://t.co/yiymjt3rkD https://t.co/Z0oxVvehz7 pic.twitter.com/b2hwBNhGjE

— Diego Bassani, PhD (@DGBassani) November 3, 2022

Lisa will bring flash floods to Mexico and Storm Martin will hit Ireland and the UK this weekend; Google releases new FloodHub tool and expanded flood and wildfire tracking.

Tropical Depression Lisa will bring flash floods to the southeast of Mexico this weekend:

Martin will bring heavy rain and strong winds to Ireland and the north of the UK over the weekend/beginning next:

Accuweather is expecting a potential Atlantic storm next week:

AccuWeather forecasters are scrutinizing an area of the western Atlantic for potential tropical development next week. https://t.co/0ms2u5w6yB

— AccuWeather (@accuweather) November 3, 2022

Florida’s waterways could remain polluted for months after Hurricane Ian. The hurricane dumped raw sewage into waterways and is being blamed for bacterial infections:

🔵 Waterways carrying dirty stormwaters into the sea following Hurricane Ian, #FortMyers, #Florida, #USA🇺🇸 30 Sep 2022 #Copernicus🇪🇺 #Sentinel-2🛰️ Full-size ➡️ https://t.co/MTUBioem4Q Image is about 236 kilometers wide #scicomm #OpenData #HurricaneIan #Hurricane #Ian #Ian2022 pic.twitter.com/Hoy4Y7ilQP

— Pierre Markuse (@Pierre_Markuse) October 1, 2022

Google released its FloodHub tool and expanded flood and wildfire tracking. Google is expanding flood forecasting and alerts to 18 new countries, is releasing its FloodHub tool, which uses AI to display flood forecasts to determine when and where flooding might occur, and is also expanding support for its wildfire tracking tools in Search and Maps:

CSU engineers have developed a model that predicts which buildings will survive a wildfire. Most wildfire mitigation studies have focused on modeling fire behavior in the wildland; this is the first model to predict how a fire would progress through a community.

The US is considering proposals to relocate Native American communities threatened by global warming (paywall) (free). It could become a template for the rest of the country.

Europe is warming at twice the rate of the global average. The EU’s Copernicus service that Europe should expect more drought, followed by extreme rain and floods. Heat and droughts could keep impacting European rivers, energy generation, ecosystems, and people. The report says that floods and storms made up 84% of extreme weather events in 2021 and that extreme weather-warning systems managed to protect about 75% of people.

Kyiv preparing fallout shelters for worst case scenario; IAEA sees no signs of ‘dirty bomb’; Russia rejoined Black Sea grain deal.

Kyiv is preparing 425 nuclear fallout shelters for the worst-case scenario. The head of the Kyiv regional military administration says that in a nuclear attack the priority is finding shelter. Then having a method of communication (i.e., a battery-powered radio with enough batteries for two weeks). Kyiv is also preparing for larger energy blackouts and the possibility of a total power outage of up to two weeks with 1,000 heating points and generators, food, and limited water.

IAEA found no signs of ‘dirty bomb’ at sites inspected in Ukraine.

Intel said that back in October top Russian military officials discussed when and how Russia would use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine (but the exact details have not been made public). The conversations piqued interest because the convo seem to show the generals’ frustration with Russia’s lack of success on the battlefield and suggest that Putin may not just be making threats. US officials said they had seen no evidence that the Russians were moving nuclear weapons into place or taking other tactical measures to prepare for a strike.

Russia rejoined the Black Sea grain deal after they had pulled out briefly following an attack on their warships. Wheat prices dropped following the news. Türkiye and the UN were committed to continuing the deal without Russia anyway. The Black Sea deal will offset wheat that can’t be shipped through the Mississippi due to its low levels.

North Korea fired a suspected ICBM and residents in Japan and South Korea were told to shelter. The ICBM test likely failed. The Pentagon threatened Kim’s regime if it were to attack the US or its allied partners.

TENSIONS RISE ON KOREAN PENINSULA
– North Korea fires 18 missiles into sea
– In response to US-South Korean drills
– Biggest volley of missiles since 1953
– Triggering air raid sirens in South
– 100 artillery rounds fired into buffer zone
– South fires 3 missiles in show of force

— BNO News (@BNONews) November 2, 2022

Iran and North Korea seem to be supplying Russia with weapons and ammunition.

If you’re curious about North Korea, TP’s founder was one of the last foreigners to be allowed in before they closed their borders. Here’s his account.

The rest

Here’s how to prepare for this year’s election, plus tips on what to do if your vote is challenged, or how to report voter intimidation.

Beginning May 3, 2023, every air traveler over 18 will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license, or another acceptable form of ID to fly within the US.

Good info from a professor in Food Policy about food and water safety when the power goes out.

Here’s the account of a westerner who spent 10 days in a Chinese quarantine facility, what they brought with them, etc. (paywall)

Australian graziers say a global ammunition shortage has left them unable to control kangaroo numbers after the wet season population spike. Here’s a guide on where and how to buy ammunition.