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Super El Niño Expected to Influence US Wildfire Risks

Super El Niño Expected to Influence US Wildfire Risks

A strong El Niño event is developing, with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting a greater than 90% chance of a 'very strong' El Niño during the fall and winter of 2026-27. This phenomenon, part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is characterised by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific, which can significantly alter global weather patterns. According to meteorologist Chad Merrill, this El Niño is expected to bring above-average precipitation to regions such as California, the Great Basin, the Southwest, the southern Plains, and parts of the Southeast and East Coast. However, northern areas like Montana, the Dakotas, and the Great Lakes may experience drier conditions, potentially increasing wildfire risks. The event is expected to strengthen through the end of 2026, with its effects possibly lingering into the summer of 2027. (Source time: not specified)
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Trump threatens to rename Lake Ontario. Checkmate, Canada. | Opinion

Trump threatens to rename Lake Ontario. Checkmate, Canada. | Opinion

In our ongoing and unnecessary trade war with Canada, the Canadians likely never imagined President Donald Trump would hit them with a lake renaming.
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President Trump Administration's Wildfire Overhaul and 'Full Suppression' Strategy Face Scrutiny Amidst Fatalities and Resource Concerns

President Trump Administration's Wildfire Overhaul and 'Full Suppression' Strategy Face Scrutiny Amidst Fatalities and Resource Concerns

The President Trump administration has reshaped the approach to U.S. wildfire management by consolidating Interior Department agencies' firefighting crews into a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service. This new agency, along with the U.S. Forest Service, is pursuing a 'full suppression' strategy for every new blaze. This aggressive approach is defended by administration officials, including U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and U.S. Wildland Fire Service Director Brian Fennessy, as essential for protecting firefighters and communities during a hazardous summer in the abnormally hot and dry Western states. However, critics argue that this strategy could exacerbate the long-standing problem of dry fuels in Western forests, which has resulted from decades of extinguishing wildfires and climate change-induced drought. The reorganization has also raised concerns about communication and decision-making authority, particularly after the deaths of four federal firefighters in Colorado and Utah this year. While federal...
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Democrats Allege Energy Fuels Missed Deadline in Insider Trading Probe Related to Bears Ears National Monument

Democrats Allege Energy Fuels Missed Deadline in Insider Trading Probe Related to Bears Ears National Monument

U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) are investigating Energy Fuels, Inc. for potential insider trading. The Democrats sent a letter on August 10 to Ross Bhappu, president and CEO of Energy Fuels, Inc., requesting a year's worth of communications between the company and officials at the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They also requested the calendars of Bhappu and Board Chair Bruce Hansen, and the company’s lobbying contracts. The investigation focuses on whether Bhappu and Hansen received nonpublic information from Trump administration officials regarding the planned downsizing of Bears Ears National Monument in Utah before it was announced. Public records indicate Bhappu purchased 74,000 shares of stock on July 7, and Hansen bought 4,000 shares on July 8, shortly before President Trump announced the reduction of Bears Ears on July 13. Energy Fuels reportedly missed the August 24 deadline to turn over the requested materials, wit...
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Father of Navy sailor aboard USS Lincoln released from immigration custody

Father of Navy sailor aboard USS Lincoln released from immigration custody

The father of a U.S. Navy sailor who has been deployed in the Middle East for nine months has been released from immigration detention
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Analysis-Carney faces ticking clock on Canadian support for tough tactics with Trump

Analysis-Carney faces ticking clock on Canadian support for tough tactics with Trump

By Maria Cheng OTTAWA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Mark Carney has the support of most Canadians after breaking off trade talks with the U.S., but widespread approval of his pushback against U.S.
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US Senate Democrats urge Israel to rein in West Bank violence

US Senate Democrats urge Israel to rein in West Bank violence

By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats on Wednesday urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rein in a "surge" of violence by West Bank settlers and mass arrests of Palestinians by Israeli security forces in the occupied territory. 
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Federal Judge Upholds Trump Administration's Authority to Sidestep State Regulations for Oil Pipeline Restart

Federal Judge Upholds Trump Administration's Authority to Sidestep State Regulations for Oil Pipeline Restart

A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to bypass state environmental regulations and restart an oil pipeline operated by Sable Offshore Corp. in Santa Barbara. On August 19, Judge Stephen V. Wilson denied California's attempt to block an emergency restart order issued by Energy Secretary Chris Wright in March, after state regulators had refused to grant the necessary permits. Judge Wilson's ruling asserts that the Defense Production Act (DPA) grants the administration 'substantial discretionary power,' including the authority to preempt state environmental regulations. This decision is seen as a significant test case for the extent to which the Trump administration can utilize the Cold War-era DPA to advance favored energy projects, even if they do not directly supply the federal government.
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Santa Clara County Faces Heightened Wildfire Risk Amid Drought Conditions

Santa Clara County Faces Heightened Wildfire Risk Amid Drought Conditions

Santa Clara County, California, is experiencing drought conditions that have significantly increased the risk of wildfires. According to Drought.gov, dry weather has led to the drying of vegetation such as grasses and trees, making them more flammable. Factors like temperature, soil moisture, humidity, wind speed, and fuel availability are interacting to elevate the frequency and spread of large wildfires. The U.S. Drought Monitor uses classifications ranging from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Exceptional Drought (D4) to assess drought intensity across the country. These conditions are monitored collaboratively by the National Drought Mitigation Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and NOAA. Source time: Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:00:00 GMT.
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Trump calls it 'a mistake' for communities to reject data centers

Trump calls it 'a mistake' for communities to reject data centers

President Donald Trump has long defended data centers. In an interview with Michael Cohen, Trump called it "a mistake" for communities to reject them.
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Drought Conditions Persist Across California and Nevada

Drought Conditions Persist Across California and Nevada

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor update highlights ongoing drought conditions across California and Nevada. The map, which uses five classifications ranging from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Exceptional Drought (D4), shows areas experiencing varying levels of water scarcity. This update is part of a collaborative effort by NOAA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NASA, and the National Drought Mitigation Center. The report also references data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, which forecasts a strong El Niño event for the upcoming months, potentially influencing regional weather patterns. Source time: 2026-08-25 00:00:00 GMT.
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The world inches toward catastrophic climate events: 'Bigger shocks are on the way'

The world inches toward catastrophic climate events: 'Bigger shocks are on the way'

Scientists have long warned that the world will experience more intense extreme weather events like heat waves, storms, floods and droughts as long as we continue to use gas, oil and coal at our current pace