Surprise

- A + A HOUSTON (Aug 3): Oil prices slid 3% on Wednesday, with losses accelerating after US data showed crude and gasoline stockpiles unexpectedly surged last week after OPEC+ said it would raise its oil output target by just 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Brent crude futures were down US$2.90, or 2.9%, at US$97.61 a barrel by 12.17pm ET (1617 GMT). West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell US$2.93, or 3.1%, to US$91.49. Both contracts had seesawed previously. The premium for front-month Brent futures over barrels loading in six months' time is at a three-month low, indicating waning concern about tight supply. The same premium for WTI futures neared a four-month low. US crude oil inventories rose unexpectedly last week as exports fell and refiners lowered runs, while gasoline stocks also posted a surprise build as demand slowed, the Energy Information Administration said. Crude stocks rose 4.5 million barrels last week, compared with an analyst forecast … [Read more...] about Oil falls 3%, pressured by surprise US crude, gasoline build

FILE PHOTO Suspect in the Ateneo shooting incident Chao Tiao Yumol is presented to media in Camp Karingal in Quezon City. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The lawyer of slain  former Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay on Thursday said they were “surprised” by the “not guilty” plea entered by Chao Tiao Yumol with regards the illegal gun possession and malicious mischief charges pressed against him in connection with the Ateneo shooting last July 24. Yumol on Wednesday pleaded “not guilty” to charges of illegal possession of firearms and malicious mischief filed before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 133. READ: Doc in Ateneo shooting pleads ‘not guilty’ to illegal gun possession, malicious mischief According to Atty. Quirino Esguerra, counsel to the Furigay family, Yumol made an admission of carrying out the killing, aside from the fact that he was caught in the act of possession of several firearms allegedly used for the crime. “In his admission on the … [Read more...] about Furigays ‘surprised’ by Ateneo shooting suspect’s ‘not guilty’ plea

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the International Criminal Court. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines —A coalition of international rights groups has joined the chorus of criticisms on the government’s refusal to rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier revealed that the Philippines no longer intends to be a member state in the Hague-based court, noting that there are already domestic investigations on the previous administration’s bloody war on drugs. READ: Bongbong Marcos: PH won’t rejoin ICC; critics hit decision Denouncing this decision, the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) said it is “extremely disappointed but not surprised by the new Marcos administration’s decision to keep the Philippines outside the jurisdiction of the ICC.” “This is part of the continued and ongoing state cover-up of crimes against humanity,” ICHRP Chairperson Peter Murphy said in a statement on Wednesday. … [Read more...] about Int’l rights group ‘extremely disappointed, not surprised’ by Marcos’ decision not to rejoin ICC

Texas is known for fiercely promoting its oil and gas industries, but it’s also the No. 2 renewable energy producer in the country after California. In fact, more than a quarter of all the wind power produced in the United States in 2021 was generated in Texas. advertisement advertisement These projects benefit from a lucrative state tax incentive program called Chapter 313 . That incentive program expires on December 31, 2022, and the rush of applications for wind and solar energy projects to secure incentives before the deadline is providing a rare window into a notoriously opaque industry. By reviewing the applications and ownership documents, we were able to track who actually builds and owns a large portion of the nation’s renewable energy, when and how those assets change hands, and who ultimately benefits from the tax incentives. The results might surprise you. The majority of utility-scale solar and wind energy projects in Texas aren’t … [Read more...] about Who, exactly, benefits from renewable energy subsidies? The answer will surprise you

Representational picture Trinamool Congress MP Prasun Banerjee on Sunday expressed surprise as to why turncoats who had deserted the TMC to join the BJP ahead of the 2021 West Bengal assembly election were allowed re-entry to its fold. The MP did not name anyone in particular. The MP did not name anyone in particular. Speaking at a function in his Howrah Lok Sabha constituency, the former footballer-turned-politician said he was at a loss to understand the induction of some turncoats, who had even campaigned against TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and others, into the ruling party. "After the spectacular victory of the TMC in the May 2021 assembly polls in the face of an aggressive campaign by the BJP, we find some of those who had deserted us and spoke against us at such a crucial time are being taken back in the party, one after another. Don't know, why," Banerjee said. In November last year, Banerjee had made similar comments, saying he had reservations about allowing … [Read more...] about TMC MP expresses surprise over return of turncoats

Newly installed Philippine National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (Photo from the Facebook page of Police Regional Office 1) MANILA, Philippines — Newly installed Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Tuesday ordered a major revamp that affected at least 70 officials, including his second and third in command, and several other high-ranking generals holding regional and provincial posts. Some considered the movements a demotion, particularly in the case of Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia. From being the deputy chief for administration, the PNP’s second top post, he was reassigned as chief of the Area Police Command (APC) in the Visayas. His replacement, Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, was chief of the directorial staff, the PNP’s fourth highest rank. Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, the previous deputy chief for operations, the PNP’s no. 3 post, was named the new head of APC Western Mindanao. Before Azurin’s appointment, he served as PNP officer in charge for … [Read more...] about PNP major revamp surprises some officials

Netflix has decided to cancel the cartoon “Q-Force” after just one season, surprising literally no one other than most of us who’d never heard of it. The premise of the adult cartoon was pretty bizarre from the start. The story follows Steve Maryweather, portrayed by Sean Hayes, a previously “well-loved” employee at the American Intelligence Agency (AIA), who is reassigned to a West Hollywood department after coming out as gay, according to Collider. Steve decides to build out the WeHo department of the AIA with members of LGBTQ+ community. AIA refuses to give Steve’s team any missions, which is in keeping with WeHo’s decision to defund the police so one can assume that extends to fictional agencies too? Most crimes don’t get prosecuted in California anyway thanks to their predominantly Soros-funded district attorneys, so why would this fictional intelligence agency waste their finances? Regardless of the premise, “Q-Force” earned a 78% audience score on Rotten … [Read more...] about Surprising No One, Netflix Cancels Show About Woke Team Of Gay Secret Agents

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline A tropical wave forecasters have been monitoring in the eastern Atlantic Ocean over the past few days seems to be losing steam and now appears unlikely to develop, with no other systems on the horizon even as forecasts call for the Atlantic hurricane season to drastically ramp up . Key Facts The National Hurricane Center noted thunderstorm activity associated with the disturbance has diminished over the past day, as the system moves toward an area of high wind shear that will stifle its ability to develop further. Forecasters now give the tropical wave just a 10% chance of forming into a tropical depression during the next 48 hours and a 20% chance over the next five days, after earlier putting the odds of development at 40%. The system is the first that's been given any chance of developing since an area of thunderstorms moved over the northern Gulf of Mexico on July 13, which failed to form … [Read more...] about Tropical Threat Fizzling Out As Surprisingly Quiet Hurricane Season Nears Peak

Yesterday, Airbnb made a huge announcement: It's officially banning parties hosted in properties listed on its platform. "We know that the overwhelming majority of our Hosts share their homes responsibly, just as the overwhelming majority of guests are responsible and treat their listings and neighborhoods as if they were their own," the company said in a statement. "In turn, we focus on trying to deter the very rare cases of Hosts who do not operate responsibly, or guests who try to throw unauthorized parties." For that reason, the company explained, it announced a temporary ban on all parties and events for global listings in August 2020. "The temporary ban has proved effective, and today we are officially codifying the ban as our policy," Airbnb stated. This announcement may seem surprising to many, especially since it could easily send customers who want to host house parties running to Airbnb's competitors. But I'd argue this announcement is actually … [Read more...] about Airbnb Just Made a Surprising (yet Brilliant) Announcement. It Comes Down to This Very Important Sentence

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin There’s just been another report on what the next Apple Watch is going to look like. Across the last 18 months, there have been rumors, adopted by many reliable analysts, that an all-new Apple Watch design was coming, with flat edges, a bigger screen and a look that was really different. MORE FROM FORBES Apple iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro: Latest Leak Reveals Dazzling Design Upgrade By David Phelan Trouble is, those rumors were for Apple Watch Series 7 and, although the current Watch does have a subtly altered design, it was nowhere near what the leaks had led us to expect. While some analysts had a lot of egg on their face, one leaker, @VNchocoTaco , also known as ShrimpApplePro, had claimed that the rumored designs were plain wrong. That leaker has today revealed what they think is coming with Apple Watch Series 8. Design Although in May they tweeted that a new flat front glass display … [Read more...] about Apple Watch Series 8 Leak Shows Surprising Design Change