Boeing Co. first announced the Starliner space capsule back in 2010. Its development was beset by delays, caused by issues from engineering problems and bad parts to supplier lags. Both Boeing and SpaceX were commissioned by NASA in 2014 to deliver means of transport to and from the International Space Station (ISS). While SpaceX’s Crew Dragon had its first manned test flight in 2020 and has successfully carried out 11 other flights since then, Boeing continually postponed the completion of the Starliner. Its first uncrewed orbital test in December 2019 failed due to a software error. Further software and hardware issues pushed the second uncrewed test back from 2020 to 2022, and it was successfully completed in May 2022 despite failing thrusters and a navigation outage. Starliner’s first manned test launch was initially tentatively planned for July 2023 before suffering another technical setback. Another launch was set for May 6, 2024 and canceled just hours before liftoff, while a June 1 attempt was aborted less than four minutes before liftoff. Finally, Boeing’s first crewed test flight happened on June 5, carrying astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to the ISS. It docked some 26 hours later, with the two astronauts scheduled to stay on the ISS until June 14. However, some of the Starliner’s thrusters malfunctioned near the end of the flight and a helium leak was detected, so NASA and Boeing decided to keep the astronauts in space for longer to gain a better understanding of the issues. NASA said that “there is no rush to bring the crew home” and that additional tests are “providing mission managers data to make the best, safest decision on how and when to return crew home.” Although the agency added that the Starliner remains the preferred option for the astronauts’ return, it is also considering bringing them back on SpaceX’s Dragon early next year, leaving Starliner to come back uncrewed. The decision on the matter is set to be made later today. No project of this magnitude is expected to run smoothly from start to finish. But even before this latest blow, Boeing’s space adventure looked pretty rocky compared to SpaceX, considering the sheer number of technical difficulties and delays. And now, Boeing’s rival finishing the job Starliner was unable to do seems like a rather humiliating ending to the company’s first test flight. Boeing’s shares have dropped over 33% this year. While the slump is mostly due to Boeing’s aircraft troubles, the Starliner saga must also contribute to an overall lack of confidence in its future endeavors. NN: Flying pile of shit. Boeing keeps getting these cost plus contracts. They have lost their the way.
Trump thinks Hamas’ hostages are ‘largely gone’…….Biden asked Netanyahu to pull troops from Gaza-Egypt border
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said during a rally in Arizona that he believes most hostages held by Hamas are “largely gone” and not alive anymore. Trump insisted that Hamas is refusing to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage deal because most of the hostages are “not around anymore.” The former president claimed Hamas has “no respect” for his successor, Joe Biden, and Democratic presidential nominee, current Vice President Kamala Harris and insisted that if the Palestinian group “feared” Biden and Harris it wouldn’t have attacked Israel and taken and killed hostages.
Biden asked Netanyahu to pull troops from Gaza-Egypt border
United States President Joe Biden is said to have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow strip of land between Gaza and Egypt, people familiar with the matter told Axios on Friday. According to the sources, the US president asked Netanyahu to remove the military from the area close to the Rafah coast and next to the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, which is currently being used as a shelter by displaced Palestinians. Biden allegedly told the Israeli PM that such a move would help advance the deadlocked negotiations toward reaching an agreement on the release of hostages and establishing a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave. It was reported earlier today that Egypt has agreed to forward Israel’s latest proposal regarding the Philadephi Corridor to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
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If Israel Is Forced To Surrender For Peace Their Will Be No Peace and No State Of Israel
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THIS IS A DEFINING MOMENT IN HUMA HISTORT
Biden: Hamas ‘backing away’ from ceasefire deal
United States President Joe Biden accused Hamas of “backing away” from a ceasefire agreement with Israel in the Gaza conflict, as well as a potential prisoner exchange.
“It’s still in play, but you can’t predict,” he says as he prepares to leave Chicago after his farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday. “Israel says they can work it out… Hamas is now backing away.”
Hamas declined the most recent offer put forth by mediators after the Doha summit and subsequent talks in Cairo. They justified their refusal by stating that there were “new conditions regarding the prisoner exchange process and withdrawing from previous clauses in a way that does not allow reaching an agreement.” On his side, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the agreement was “already in the first stage.”
Oil adds 1.80% on supply worries…… Oil Buying Opportunity May Have Arrived: Citi
The prices of oil futures rose on Thursday as investors reacted to the decline in exports of the commodity from the world’s largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, seemingly fueling uncertainty regarding oil’s global supply. Moreover, the US Energy Information Administration showed a bigger-than-expected reduction in the country’s stockpiles, further contributing to supply concerns. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October’s deliveries soared by 1.85% at 11:37 am ET to sell for $73.26 per barrel. A minute later, Brent for October’s settlements surged by 1.80% to go for $77.43 per barrel.
Oil Buying Opportunity May Have Arrived: Citi
Citi: Brent’s 200-day moving average at $82.5 per barrel is a strong resistance point, while the $75 per barrel level serves as a key support
Citi Research, in a note dated August 21, sees this price pressure as a likely precursor to a rebound despite recent easing in geopolitical tensions. The recent price decline is primarily driven by two key factors: easing geopolitical risks, particularly in Gaza with a potential ceasefire on the horizon, and China’s economic slowdown. China’s weakened industrial production and softer oil imports data have weighed heavily on the global demand outlook, contributing to a reduction in the geopolitical risk premium for oil. However, Citi warns that the market isn’t out of the woods yet. While the geopolitical landscape appears calmer, risks remain. Hurricane season poses a significant threat to oil supply chains, and ongoing tensions in North Africa and the Middle East could easily reignite volatility. The current market positioning is historically short, which could spur a rebound if Brent dips further, especially as it nears the $75 per barrel support level. In the U.S., the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a significant drop in commercial crude oil inventories, which fell by 4.6 million barrels to 426 million barrels. This draw exceeded expectations and, along with increases in refinery runs and crude exports, adds a bullish tilt to the near-term outlook for crude. Citi also highlights technical factors influencing the market. Brent’s 200-day moving average at $82.5 per barrel is a strong resistance point, while the $75 per barrel level serves as a key support. This technical setup could encourage buying if prices approach the lower end of this range. Looking forward, Citi suggests that OPEC+ faces critical decisions. With production cuts set to ease in October—market conditions allowing—any further decline in prices toward the low $70s might prompt the group to reconsider its strategy. As refinery margins remain under pressure, especially from plummeting gasoil cracks, the upcoming winter season may be pivotal in shaping the market’s direction.
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OIL IS A SCREAMING BUY!!!!!
IDF troops find explosives in UNRWA bags in Gaza’s Rafah
UNRWA Under Fire Again: Explosives Found in Gaza School Compound, Israel Demands Accountability
IDF troops operating in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood found explosives in UNRWA-marked bags during a search of a facility located near schools, the military says in a statement. According to the statement, the Nahal Brigade’s 50th Battalion found guns, military vests, and enemy intelligence documents during the raid in the southern Gazan city. Additionally, forces part of the IDF’s 162nd Division directed airstrikes on a squad of armed terror operatives and terror sites in the neighborhood in recent days. As tensions rise, the Israeli government is pushing forward legislation to designate UNRWA as a “terror organization.” See above The IDF releases footage from the operations in Rafah. NN: i remember the good ole days when they kept coloring books and pencils in schools. Not machine guns and bombs like in Gaza And get this YOUR leaders believe you can make peace with these people…. Especially Under UN aide programs supplying weapons.
Sinwar Demands His Own Survival as Ceasefire Talks Implode
JERUSALEM, Israel – As the Israel-Hamas war enters its 321st day, ceasefire negotiations continue amid evolving demands and regional developments. Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has reportedly added a new demand to the ceasefire negotiations: his own survival.An Egyptian official told Israeli media that Sinwar wants assurances he won’t be killed, despite previously stating he’d be proud to die fighting Israel.This as cracks may be forming in Palestinian support for the terror leader. On Tuesday, a Gaza woman interrupted a live Al Jazeera English broadcast from Gaza, shouting, “May Allah curse you, Sinwar and Hamas!” An unidentified man immediately hauled her away. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on maintaining an Israeli military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor at the Gaza-Egypt border. President Biden is reportedly pressuring Netanyahu to soften his stance, but with the IDF having found and destroyed 150 tunnels there in recent days, Israel believes it must guard the corridor to end Hamas threats permanently. “We are prepared for any scenario – both in defense and attack,” the prime minister declared. In Jerusalem, the stakes for a ceasefire deal couldn’t be higher. Iran and Hezbollah stand ready to strike if talks fail. One official told Politico, “If we don’t get a deal, there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full-blown confrontation.” Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group has arrived in Middle Eastern waters, joining another U.S. carrier already in the region. This bolstered military presence adds a new factor to the regional calculus Netanyahu remains resolute in Israel’s military readiness. During a tour of an Air Force base, he declared, “The Air Force is our iron fist that knows how to hit the soft underbelly of our enemies.” NN: He is such a piece of work he deserves 300 virgins…
Ukraine hits fuel ferry in Kavkaz port, Russia
The Ukrainian Armed Forces targeted the railroad ferry Conro Trader carrying fuel tanks in the port of Kavkaz, located in Russia’s Krasnodar region, Crimea, resulting in a massive fire at the location, local officials reported on Thursday. “Another attempted terrorist attack on the territory of the Krasnodar region was carried out by the Kiev regime – a railroad ferry with fuel tanks in the port of ‘Kavkaz’ was attacked. Emergency and special services are working on the site,” the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar Territory said through its Telegram channel. Reports added that Ukrainian forces used a Neptune anti-ship missile during the attack. As of now, details regarding the extent of the fire and any potential casualties remain undisclosed.
Saudi Arabian oil exports at three-year low in June
The value of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports in June landed at 66.3 billion riyals, or approximately $17.7 billion, declining by 9.3% compared to the same month in 2024 to the lowest level in three years, the country’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) revealed in its report published on Thursday. Year-on-year, the figure stood at 73.2 billion riyals, or about $19.5 billion. The document noted that a decrease in oil exports was the main contributor to the overall drop in the country’s merchandise exports in the sixth month of this year. In the second quarter of 2024, the share of oil exports in the total figure went down from 77.4% registered in the same trimester in 2023 to 75%.
Biden to urge Netanyahu for more flexibility on Gaza-Egypt border…..Netanyahu has not eased stance on Philadelphi Corridor
United States President Joe Biden is expected to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show greater flexibility regarding Israeli military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage agreement, sources told Axios on Wednesday.
The Biden-Netanyahu telephone conversation will take place later today. Namely, the dispute over control of the Philadelphi Corridor emerged during recent negotiations, with Israel seeking to retain control while Hamas demanded a complete Israeli withdrawal from the area.
Netanyahu’s demand was also faced with opposition from Egypt, which is said to be insisting on Israel’s full withdrawal from the corridor and the Rafah border crossing, an insider previously told Al-Qahera News channel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stressed that Washington is against “long-term” Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip upon his departure from Doha.
Netanyahu has not eased stance on Philadelphi Corridor
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not changed his position on maintaining military control over the Philadelphi Corridor, an unnamed diplomatic source in the Prime Minister’s Office says. The source denies a claim by US officials who told The Washington Post that Netanyahu offered certain concessions on the matter in a call with US President Joe Biden yesterday. The Philadelphi Corridor runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, where Hamas for years smuggled in arms and weapons components. Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will not withdraw from the route to prevent Hamas from rearming.
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