Key takeaways: Xcel Energy is currently cleaning up a 400,000 gallon radioactive water leak from its Monticello nuclear power plant. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency…
News Mash
This week, a U.S. surveillance drone was forced to be ditched into the Black Sea by a Russian pilot, raising questions about the security of the region and the safety of future drone flights. The incident has put a deal to let critical supplies of grain exit Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea in jeopardy, and has drawn attention to the body of water that has been at the heart of the war in Ukraine. The U.S. must now consider how to respond to this incident and how to protect the Black Sea from further aggression.
Poland has announced that it will be sending four MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, making it the first NATO member to fulfill Kyiv's requests for warplanes to defend itself against the Russian invasion. Slovakia has also said it would send its own disused MiGs, and it is hoped that other NATO members will follow Poland's example. President Andrzej Duda said the planes, which were inherited from the former German Democratic Republic, are in the last years of their functioning but are still in good working condition.
Elliot Resnick, a former chief editor of The Jewish Press, was arrested in New York City on Thursday for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He is accused of grabbing and holding the arm of a Capitol police sergeant and entering the building with a group that rushed up the stairs. Prior to the riot, Resnick had posted on social media questioning the 2020 election results. He is one of more than 300 people arrested in connection with the incident.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is making a state visit to Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks will focus on the countries' “comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation” and a number of “important bilateral documents” will be signed. This visit is seen as a sign of the deepening ties between China and Russia, as both countries seek to counter the influence of the United States and its allies in the region and demonstrate the importance of diplomacy in resolving international conflicts.
On Thursday morning, a BNSF freight train derailed near Anacortes, Washington, spilling an estimated 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The Ecology Department is assessing the situation and working with the train company to clean up the spill, while also urging people to stay away from the area until the clean-up is complete. This is the second derailment of a BNSF train in two days, with the first occurring in Arizona and the Washington incident being the first to involve a fuel spill.
The FAA has announced a new rulemaking process that will require aircraft to have longer duration Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) following a series of near-collisions on US runways. The CVRs will now capture 25 hours of information, instead of the current two hours, in order to prevent future close calls and ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The rulemaking process can take multiple years, and the agency has welcomed intervention from Congress on the matter.
Sanofi, one of the three major insulin makers in the US, has announced a 78% reduction in the list price of its most widely prescribed insulin, Lantus, and a $35 monthly cap for those with private insurance. Uninsured Americans are eligible for Sanofi’s Insulins Valyou Savings Program. President Joe Biden praised the move, and Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have also announced changes to how they price their insulin this month. The Inflation Reduction Act and the actions of the three major insulin makers are a step in the right direction to make insulin more accessible and affordable for people with diabetes.