2022 was fifth or sixth warmest on record as Earth heats up

Government science teams say that 2022 didn’t quite set a record for heat, but it was in the top five or six warmest on record depending on who’s doing the measuring. And NOAA, NASA and others say the last eight years have been the warmest eight on record. Thursday’s release of global temperature data includes several agencies from around the globe. At least 28 countries, including China and the United Kingdom, set national records for hottest years on record. Scientists expect this year to be even warmer and next year could shatter records. That’s because this year was cooled by a La Nina that will likely dissipate.

New rule could give House lawmakers a tax-free $34,000 pay bump

A little-noticed rule change made by Democrats in the final days of their majority last year could give House members an increase in compensation, allowing them to be reimbursed for the cost of lodging, food and travel while they are on official business in Washington. For the past dozen years, House members have declined to take a cost-of-living increase in the annual spending bills, fearful of a political backlash if seen to give themselves a raise. But the provision could amount to a subsidy of about $34,000 per member this year. That would be a substantial increase for lawmakers who spend weeks on end in the nation’s capital.

Six killed in Alabama as severe weather sweeps theSouth

At least six people were killed in Autauga County, Alabama, on Thursday as a storm swept through the South, damaging homes and leaving tens of thousands of customers without power in parts of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The threat of severe weather and tornadoes was expected to continue into the night, officials said, with two states issuing emergency declarations Thursday evening. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for six counties: Autauga, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and Tallapoosa. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also declared a state of emergency.

Report categorizes many unexplained sightings as drones, trash or birds

A new declassified document on UFOs reported to the U.S. military found that a majority have ordinary explanations, although dozens remain officially unexplained. The failure to categorize many incidents has frustrated intelligence officials and fueled conspiracy theories, but Pentagon officials say the incomplete findings are a result of inadequate sensor collection, not evidence of advanced technology or any sort of government cover-up. The new report examines 366 incidents either observed or submitted since the 2021 report on unexplained phenomena. Of the newly documented incidents, 26 were found to be drones, 163 were balloons and six were airborne clutter, such as birds or trash.

South Korea declares nuclear weapons a policy option

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea said for the first time Wednesday that if North Korea’s nuclear threat grows, South Korea would consider building nuclear weapons of its own or ask the United States to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking during a joint policy briefing by his defense and foreign ministries Wednesday, Yoon was quick to add that building nuclear weapons was not yet an official policy. Yoon’s comments marked the first time since the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the South in 1991 that a South Korean president officially mentioned arming the country with nuclear weapons.

Russia released US Navy veteran who had been quietly detained

Russia released a U.S. Navy veteran who had been detained since April in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania, a spokesperson for his family announced Thursday, marking the second time in just over a month that an American has been freed from Russian custody. Russian officials allowed Taylor Dudley, a 35-year-old U.S. citizen, to cross the Polish border. Dudley had been held for nine months, the spokesperson said, although his case was largely unknown to people outside the U.S. government, his family and advocates. The release came less than five weeks after Russia’s release of WNBA star Brittney Griner.

Lawyer: Suspect in Abe assassination to face murder charge

A lawyer says Japanese prosecutors are expected to formally charge the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder on Friday. Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Abe with a handmade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July. His five-month mental evaluation ended Tuesday, and he was reportedly deemed fit to stand trial. Police say Yamagami told them that he killed Abe, one of Japan’s most influential and divisive politicians, because of Abe’s apparent links to a religious group that he hated. In statements and social media posts, Yamagami blamed the Unification Church for bankrupting his family and ruining his life.

By wire sources