Greetings! Happy World Contraception Day to those celebrating.

Let’s get into today’s top stories.

🇺🇳 Netanyahu defiant at UNGA as isolation grows. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that Israel “must finish the job” against Hamas, rejecting calls for a ceasefire. Dozens of delegates from several UN member states exited the hall in protest as he began speaking, highlighting deepening global isolation as legal scrutiny intensifies. The walkout, though symbolic, signaled the political cost curve steepening as casualty counts and food-security indicators harden the diplomatic calculus. The address framed operations as a front in a broader regional struggle, a description critics say elides the scale of civilian displacement, famine, and genocide. The United States remains Israel’s key backer, though allied discomfort and domestic polling shifts have become more pronounced. Israel’s leadership continues to oppose a two-state pathway even as UN members press for one.

🇮🇷 UN Security Council rejects bid to delay Iran sanctions “snapback”. The Security Council voted down a last-ditch effort by Russia and China to postpone the reimposition of Iran-related sanctions tied to the 2015 nuclear deal’s snapback mechanism. European powers argued Tehran’s noncompliance and stalled talks left no alternative, while Iran called the move “unfair” but said it would remain in the Nonproliferation Treaty. The measures are set to hit arms transactions, asset flows, and ballistic-missile activity, raising the risk of further escalation. Inspectors remain in-country for now, though Tehran has threatened to curtail cooperation if penalties proceed. The decision complicates already fraught regional dynamics and energy risk premia. Diplomats will test whether back-channel options survive the formal vote.

🔥 LA wildfire probe reveals resource shortfalls and alert delays. A review of Los Angeles County's response to January's Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which scorched 1.2 million acres and destroyed 5,800 structures, pinpointed a lack of resources and outdated alert systems as key factors in delaying evacuations for 250,000 residents. The McChrystal Group report noted only four staff trained on new Genasys software, causing 20-30 minute lags in notifications during fires that killed 30 people and cost $10 billion in damages. Fragmented coordination among 17 agencies missed 40% of spot fires, with recommendations including a unified command app and $500 million in upgrades. Officials acknowledged the issues, vowing reforms as California faces a projected 15% rise in extreme fire risk by 2030 due to climate change. The blazes, fueled by Santa Ana winds exceeding 60 mph, highlighted vulnerabilities in a region where 10 million rely on aging infrastructure. Economists estimate reconstruction could take five years, impacting 40,000 jobs in affected areas. The findings urge broader state investments, as similar critiques followed 2023's Maui fires that claimed 102 lives.

🚧 Meta's $10B Louisiana data center stirs local power debates. Meta Platforms ($META) is constructing a $10 billion AI data center in northeast Louisiana, spanning 70 football fields and requiring over 2 gigawatts—twice New Orleans' electricity demand—to support generative AI workloads. The project promises 5,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent roles in Richland Parish, where 25% of 20,000 residents live in poverty, boosting local revenue by $100 million annually. However, locals express mixed sentiments over potential tax hikes, as Entergy plans $3 billion in grid upgrades that could raise rates by 10% for 1 million customers. Environmental concerns include water usage of 1 million gallons daily and noise from cooling systems, amid a national data center boom projected to consume 8% of U.S. power by 2030. State incentives, including $200 million in rebates, aim to attract tech, but critics question equity in a parish with median income of $35,000. Completion targeted for 2027, the facility aligns with Meta's $800 billion AI push, yet community forums reveal divides on long-term benefits. Regulators are reviewing cost allocations, with hearings drawing 500 attendees debating economic uplift versus utility burdens.

💊 FDA warns Hims & Hers over weight-loss advertising claims. Federal regulators at told Hims & Hers to pull “false or misleading” statements suggesting its compounded products contain the same active ingredients as FDA-approved weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic. In a warning letter dated September 9th, the agency said the formulations are made by compounding pharmacies and have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. The notice directs the company to correct or remove implicated marketing materials across web and social channels. Hims & Hers said it would review the letter and engage with the agency. The action underscores stepped-up scrutiny of compounded GLP-1 products amid elevated demand and periodic shortages of branded injectables. The FDA emphasized that comparisons to approved drugs can confuse consumers about risks, dosing, and monitoring.

🌀 Humberto becomes a major hurricane; forecasters track a second system. Hurricane Humberto intensified to Category 3 with sustained winds near 115 mph, positioned roughly 430 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and expected to strengthen. Forecasters warn of life-threatening surf and rip currents across the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda through the weekend. A nearby disturbance near Hispaniola and eastern Cuba could organize as it approaches the Bahamas, adding rain and flood risk. Authorities in the southeastern United States are monitoring for potential impacts next week as the forecast cone evolves. Post-tropical Gabrielle has exited the Azores, while Pacific Narda continues to generate swells along parts of Mexico. Marine hazards will precede direct effects as long-period swells propagate.

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That’s all for today!

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See you tomorrow!

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