Biden diagnosed with coronavirus infection — White House

Joe Biden has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "Earlier today following his first event in Las Vegas, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted and he is experiencing mild symptoms," Jean-Pierre said. The spokeswoman added that Biden will be returning to Delaware where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.

The president’s personal doctor informed that the US leader is experiencing runny nose, non-productive cough and general malaise. "He felt okay for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point of care testing for COVID-19 was conducted, and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus," the doctor said in a statement, published by the White House.

According to the White House press pool, Biden is feeling well. The president was not wearing a face mask when he boarded Air Force One without assistance. When asked about his health, Biden told reporters traveling with him, "I feel good."

The announcement was made shortly after UnidosUS CEO Janet Murguia said Biden would skip the next event in Las Vegas because of the novel coronavirus infection.

France buys more gas from Russia than any other EU country, Politico reports

#France increased its purchase of Russian gas more than any other #European country in the first quarter of 2024. More than 600 million euros worth of #gas was imported during this period

The country's authorities say that the national energy company TotalEnergies' agreements with Moscow to buy gas were made long ago and are difficult to get out of.
"France is quietly stepping up payments for gas from #Russia, while President Emmanuel #Macron is loudly promoting himself as one of Ukraine's most ardent defenders," the article said.

#Cables and #Pipelines.
It includes both Gas and Oil Pipelines

Possible reasons why the Houthis have reduced the intensity of attacks on ships in the Red Sea

The intensity of Houthi attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has decreased slightly. The last large vessel attacked was the tanker MADO, transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), which was not seriously damaged and continued on its way.

Last week, the Financial Times reported on secret negotiations between Washington and Tehran. According to him, the United States is trying to influence the Yemeni Houthis not only militarily, but also diplomatically. In January, the White House held secret talks with Iran to persuade the Islamic Republic to influence Yemeni rebels to stop attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Iran did not deny the fact of the meeting, but emphasized that the negotiations were about something completely different.

Islamic Republic authorities claim that "resistance groups in the region do not receive instructions" from Tehran. However, the facts suggest that the Iranians still have considerable influence over their proxy forces. The American administration, for its part, allegedly agreed to lift a number of sanctions from Iran, which will allow the release of $10 billion. This is the price to pay for stopping the Houthi attacks.

Whether this information is a hoax with the aim of discrediting the Ansar Allah movement or, conversely, to raise its status, will become clear in the coming days. It is important to monitor the Houthis' actions over time. Since October 2023, they have carried out more than 100 attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, affecting 15 merchant ships, including four American ones.

#Gas price in #Europe falls below $250, first time since April 2021

The price of gas in Europe fell below $250 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first time since April 2021, according to data from London’s ICE. The price of March futures at the TTF hub in the Netherlands fell to $249.9 per 1,000 cubic meters or €22.34 per MWh (based on the current exchange rate of euro to dollar, prices for ICE are presented in euros per MWh).

Gas prices in Europe continue to decline amid large gas inventories and expectations of warm weather in the region in the coming week. European UGS facilities are currently 64.69% full (16.76 pp higher than the average for this date over the past five years), containing 71.3 bln cubic meters of gas.

Shi’i armed groups fire three missiles at U.S. base in Syria

Armed Shi’i militias from the ‘Islamic Resistance of Iraq’ movement have launched a missile attack on the U.S. military base near the Koniko gas field in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, the Sham FM radio station said, adding that three missiles were fired.

Eyewitnesses reported explosions on its premises. There were no other details so far.

On February 8, the US military base near the Al-Omar oilfield in eastern Syria came under a drone attack.

Since October 17, 2023, US facilities in the region were targeted with 168 attacks. The Shi’i militias informed that they had conducted those operations "in response to the aggression unleashed against the Palestinians by the US-backed occupation regime of Israel.".

Fearing U.S. action, Iran evacuates Syrian positions

SOHR, a reliable source of news in Syria reported that for fear of American response after about 34 American soldiers killed and injured, Iranian-backed militias evacuated many Syrian positions.

Deir Ezzor province: The Iranian-backed militias continue to be on alert, repositioning and changing their locations along the Euphrates River strip from Al-Bokamal city to Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where Iranian-backed militias evacuated about 12 locations in the cities of Al-Bokamal and Al-Mayadeen and the areas surrounding them, and moved to alternative locations, for fear of the American response after three American soldiers were killed and 25 others were injured, following the attack that targeted an American military base in Jordan.

Yesterday, SOHR reported that four U.S. helicopters have flew over the U.S. base in Koniko Gas Field northern of Deir Ezzor City, coinciding with two U.S. cargo planes landing in the base.

This coincided with the repositioning of Iran-backed groups in Iran-held areas on the line of Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor, in addition to the Syrian Desert.

'All eyes look now to Joe Biden. Will his response be feeble, or strong? Will it be a "one-time event", or will it be a new policy?'

Crazy World: Judge brutally assaulted in court

Las Vegas judge being attacked in court during sentencing

[BREAKING] Rochester fatal car explosion investigated as POSSIBLE TERROR ATTACK

2 people were killed and at least 5 others were injured in New York

At least two people were killed and five others were injured in a possible terror attack less than an hour into 2024.

A Ford Explorer filled with at least a dozen gas canisters smashed into a Mitsubishi Outlander around 12:50 a.m. on Jan. 1, as concert attendees left the Kodak Center in Rochester, New York.

The fiery crash created an inferno in a parking lot a few blocks from the concert venue, as firefighters wrestled with the blaze for about an hour, according to Rochester Police Chief David Smith.

It appears that while some US-flagged merchant ships reversed course - ARC Liberty and Maersk Chicago - and others are still heading for the Suez to head south; some are holding their positions - Maersk Kensington & Green Bay - while they await for escorts to be established.

🔶️ In the meantime, the French-owned Malta-flagged CMA CGM Aqaba just ran (Dec 20/21) the Bab el-Mandeb [BAM] into the Gulf of Aden. CMA CGM Pegasus (w/armed guards aboard) just departed Djibouti after sailing through the BAM on Dec 18 and is showing a destination of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea (but she may be heading to Asia).

🔶️ The French-owned CMA CGM Washington (Malta-flagged 14,360 TEU) and APL Salalah (Singapore-flagged 10,800 TEU and owned by CMA CGM) are the only containerships over 8000 TEU heading for the BAM in the Indian Ocean and will probably pick up an escort to run past Yemen.

🔶️ It appears that the French Navy is using the frigate Languedoc to escort their ships through the waters around Yemen and avoid the Houthi.

🔶️ It appears that France is withdrawing from Op Prosperity Guardian and will be conducting their own escort operation.

🔶️ The question is why the @USNavy @US5thFleet has not yet escorted Maersk Kensington through the BAM, as the ship has been sitting in the Red Sea for a week (since Dec 15), or Green Bay (since Dec 17) in the Gulf of Aden?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HObhQdNXq2U