WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Good morning. I'm Micah Finch. It's Friday, October 2, and this is your lol what dot net 2 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:11.680 morning briefing. Four astronauts reached the International Space Station on Thursday 3 00:00:11.680 --> 00:00:16.560 after a journey lasting seven hours and fifty-five minutes. NASA calls that the 4 00:00:16.560 --> 00:00:21.680 fastest trip from launch to docking by a United States spacecraft in the station's history. 5 00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:26.560 The Crew 13 astronauts later entered the station and joined its resident crew. 6 00:00:27.360 --> 00:00:32.080 The Associated Press reports that Commander Jessica Watkins also became the first black 7 00:00:32.080 --> 00:00:37.680 woman to lead a crew into orbit. Getting there quickly means lining up two moving orbits. 8 00:00:37.680 --> 00:00:42.400 As the European Space Agency explains, a spacecraft in a lower orbit circles Earth 9 00:00:42.400 --> 00:00:47.120 more quickly, allowing it to catch up before changing altitude and matching the station's 10 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:52.480 motion. The final approach brings the vehicles together at a very small relative speed, 11 00:00:52.480 --> 00:00:54.400 even while both are racing around Earth. 12 00:00:55.650 --> 00:01:01.490 NASA said an engine burn last Friday adjusted the station's orbit to prepare the timing for 13 00:01:01.490 --> 00:01:06.690 this mission, so the quick arrival depended on arranging that meeting carefully, with the 14 00:01:06.690 --> 00:01:13.250 destination moving too. AP says the four are beginning a six-month stay, replacing astronauts 15 00:01:13.250 --> 00:01:18.450 who have been aboard since February. The short journey opens a much longer working visit 16 00:01:18.450 --> 00:01:19.810 to the orbiting laboratory. 17 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:26.680 Next, let's look at diesel and the choices facing governments trying to ease fuel costs. 18 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:31.480 Reuters reported Thursday, citing three people close to the discussions, that Washington had 19 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:36.600 told France and Germany to release emergency diesel stocks or face a potential American 20 00:01:36.600 --> 00:01:42.200 export ban. In public remarks Thursday, President Trump said he might ask European countries to 21 00:01:42.200 --> 00:01:47.560 release reserves. Europe's trade chief said the two sides had agreed to stay in close contact. 22 00:01:48.200 --> 00:01:51.640 Diesel matters beyond the filling station. It powers freight trucks, 23 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:56.520 trains, farm machinery, and some backup generators. The European Commission said on 24 00:01:56.520 --> 00:02:01.800 Tuesday that European supplies remained stable, but prices were high and refineries were operating 25 00:02:01.800 --> 00:02:06.440 near maximum capacity. Fuel can remain available while becoming harder to afford. 26 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:11.480 Releasing stored diesel could put additional fuel into circulation, while using up part of 27 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:15.880 the cushion held for further disruptions. Restricting exports could retain supplies 28 00:02:15.880 --> 00:02:20.150 in the United States, while leaving overseas buyers seeking replacements. 29 00:02:20.150 --> 00:02:22.290 and crude oil reserves need refining 30 00:02:22.290 --> 00:02:24.530 before they become usable diesel. 31 00:02:24.530 --> 00:02:27.190 The Energy Information Administration explains 32 00:02:27.190 --> 00:02:29.410 that refineries produce a mixture of fuels 33 00:02:29.410 --> 00:02:31.410 from each barrel with diesel 34 00:02:31.410 --> 00:02:33.850 accounting for only part of the output. 35 00:02:33.850 --> 00:02:36.710 These choices affect different parts of the supply chain. 36 00:02:36.710 --> 00:02:39.350 None guarantees a particular price change. 37 00:02:39.350 --> 00:02:43.150 Follow our live desk at lulwhut.net for verified updates. 38 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:49.740 Now, to the cost of buying a home in the United States, Fridaymac's weekly survey put the 39 00:02:49.740 --> 00:02:58.220 average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7.28% on Thursday, up from 7.03% a week earlier. 40 00:02:58.220 --> 00:03:00.500 That's a quarter of a percentage point. 41 00:03:00.500 --> 00:03:03.700 Here's what that change means in a straightforward calculation. 42 00:03:03.700 --> 00:03:09.720 For a $300,000 mortgage, repaid over 30 years, the lower rate produces a monthly principal 43 00:03:09.720 --> 00:03:13.500 and interest payment of about $2,002. 44 00:03:13.500 --> 00:03:17.360 At the higher rate, it's about $2,053. 45 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:21.720 That's roughly $51 more each month for the same amount borrowed. 46 00:03:21.720 --> 00:03:25.320 These calculated payments exclude taxes, insurance, and fees. 47 00:03:25.450 --> 00:03:31.650 The survey also has a specific scope—conventional home purchase loans for borrowers with excellent 48 00:03:31.650 --> 00:03:34.770 credit and a 20% down payment. 49 00:03:34.770 --> 00:03:37.170 An individual offer can differ. 50 00:03:37.170 --> 00:03:41.630 That makes Freddie Mac's figure a benchmark for a defined group of borrowers. 51 00:03:41.630 --> 00:03:46.650 For a household comparing homes at the same price, the financing bill can change even 52 00:03:46.650 --> 00:03:49.530 when the seller's asking price stays put. 53 00:03:49.530 --> 00:03:54.170 A small movement in the headline rate becomes a recurring difference in the household budget. 54 00:03:55.600 --> 00:04:00.560 Turning to the Supreme Court, the justices agreed Thursday to hear a dispute over mandatory 55 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:05.120 immigration detention. The court's docket confirms that it accepted the case. 56 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:11.360 It has not decided the merits. According to Roll Call, the administration argues that a 1996 law 57 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:16.240 covering people seeking admission also requires detention without bond for many people already 58 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:21.280 living in the country without legal status. Challengers say that reading extends the law 59 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:26.720 beyond the category Congress intended. Federal appeals courts have divided over the interpretation. 60 00:04:27.680 --> 00:04:31.200 Roll Call reports that the policy has affected tens of thousands of people. 61 00:04:32.080 --> 00:04:35.440 The practical issue is access to an individual hearing about release, 62 00:04:35.440 --> 00:04:37.760 while immigration proceedings continue. 63 00:04:37.850 --> 00:04:43.110 The Justice Department's court manual explains that bond proceedings are separate from proceedings 64 00:04:43.110 --> 00:04:46.050 deciding whether someone may remain in the country. 65 00:04:46.050 --> 00:04:50.730 Where a person is eligible for bond, a judge considers factors including safety and whether 66 00:04:50.730 --> 00:04:53.650 they are likely to attend future hearings. 67 00:04:53.650 --> 00:04:57.830 Access to that hearing does not guarantee release, and release on bond does not settle 68 00:04:57.830 --> 00:04:59.490 the immigration case. 69 00:04:59.490 --> 00:05:04.170 The eventual ruling could clarify how broadly this mandatory detention provision applies 70 00:05:04.170 --> 00:05:06.500 to people already inside the United States. 71 00:05:07.700 --> 00:05:10.180 Next, to Switzerland's glaciers. 72 00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:12.980 The Associated Press reports that Swiss glacier monitors 73 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:15.980 estimate the country's glaciers lost 5.5% 74 00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:17.700 of their ice volume this year, 75 00:05:17.700 --> 00:05:21.120 the second largest annual percentage decline on record. 76 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:22.720 Over the past five years, 77 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:25.220 the reported loss is nearly a fifth. 78 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:27.380 The monitoring teams identify summer heat 79 00:05:27.380 --> 00:05:30.380 and low winter snowfall as important contributors. 80 00:05:30.380 --> 00:05:33.080 Snow does two jobs for a glacier. 81 00:05:33.080 --> 00:05:35.780 It covers and protects older ice from melting, 82 00:05:35.820 --> 00:05:39.460 and snow that survives can eventually become new ice. 83 00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:42.580 A poor snow season weakens both sides of that balance. 84 00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:45.100 There's also a useful distinction in the measurements. 85 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:48.160 Percentage loss depends on how much ice remains. 86 00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:50.780 AP reports that this year's absolute volume loss 87 00:05:50.780 --> 00:05:53.540 was smaller than in 2003, 88 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:55.600 even though the percentage decline was greater. 89 00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:00.600 As the remaining store shrinks, a smaller amount of melted ice can represent a larger 90 00:06:00.600 --> 00:06:01.600 share of it. 91 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:05.520 That's why the percentage and the volume tell different parts of the story. 92 00:06:05.520 --> 00:06:10.520 Switzerland feeds several major European rivers, and gets more than half its electricity from 93 00:06:10.520 --> 00:06:11.840 hydropower. 94 00:06:11.840 --> 00:06:16.760 Changes in its mountain water stores therefore matter for water and energy planning beyond 95 00:06:16.760 --> 00:06:17.680 the glacier edges. 96 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:24.960 And, before we go, to Nepal, where a new assessment examines the wider effects of August's flooding 97 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:27.220 on work and livelihoods. 98 00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:32.160 The International Labour Organization's preliminary findings were published Thursday. 99 00:06:32.160 --> 00:06:38.560 The flood itself struck on August 26, damaging homes, workplaces, transport links and electricity 100 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.780 infrastructure along a corridor near the border with China. 101 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:48.700 The assessment estimates that around 21,400 employed people live within 4 kilometers of 102 00:06:48.700 --> 00:06:51.020 the mapped flood footprint. 103 00:06:51.020 --> 00:06:54.300 That number describes potential exposure to disruption. 104 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:57.700 It is not a count of people who lost their jobs or income. 105 00:06:57.700 --> 00:07:01.140 The wider effects can travel along roads and supply chains. 106 00:07:01.140 --> 00:07:04.380 A hotel might remain standing, but lose visitors. 107 00:07:04.380 --> 00:07:08.140 A farmer might have goods to sell, but struggle to reach a market. 108 00:07:08.460 --> 00:07:13.300 Tourism, agriculture, transport and small businesses are among the sectors the assessment 109 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:15.780 identifies as under pressure. 110 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:20.660 For informal workers, a pause in trading can quickly become a pause in earnings, even without 111 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:22.020 a formal job disappearing. 112 00:07:22.350 --> 00:07:27.470 The scale of the wider effects will depend on how long routes remain disrupted, what 113 00:07:27.470 --> 00:07:31.030 alternatives cost, and how businesses adapt. 114 00:07:31.030 --> 00:07:36.510 The ILO identifies income and enterprise support, alongside reconstruction that creates jobs, 115 00:07:36.510 --> 00:07:38.430 as parts of recovery. 116 00:07:38.430 --> 00:07:43.350 Its findings make clear why repairing a bridge or restoring electricity can matter to livelihoods 117 00:07:43.350 --> 00:07:45.630 well beyond the flooded ground. 118 00:07:45.630 --> 00:07:46.950 I'm Micah Finch. 119 00:07:46.950 --> 00:07:47.790 Thanks for listening.