Household incomes rise; Oil prices fall amid recession fears; Space Age; AI drives electricity demand surge; Iran hires Hell’s Angels
Ad Astra Podcast
September 12 2024
Good morning citizens of America. This is the Ad Astra Citizen Journal, daily brief for September 12, 2024 AD. I'm here to bring you the latest news headlines from around the world. Let's dive into today's top stories. In today's pod, we're tracking household incomes rise, oil prices fall amid recession fears, space age, AI drives electricity demand surge, and Iran hires the Hell's Angels. 1. Household incomes rise for the first time since COVID-19. For the first time since the pandemic began, household incomes have risen. Thanks to easing inflation and a strong job market, inflation adjusted median household income reached $80,610 in 2023, a 4% jump from the previous year. This brings incomes back to 2019 levels just before the pandemic disrupted the economy. 2. Oil prices fall amid global economic slowdown fears. Oil prices have tumbled from their year-long trading range due to growing concerns about a slowdown in the world's largest economies. Brent crude fell as low as $68.68 since this week. It's lowest since 2021. Despite a partial recovery, OPEC has downgraded its forecast for oil demand growth in 2024, adding to the bearish sentiment in the market. 3. Space age milestones. SpaceX conducts first commercial spacewalk. NASA heads to Europa. SpaceX marked a new chapter in space exploration as private citizen astronauts completed the first commercial spacewalk aboard the Polaris Dawn mission. Meanwhile, NASA's Europa Clipper mission is set to launch next month, aiming to explore Jupiter's icy moon Europa and its potentially life-supporting ocean beneath the surface. History may remember this as the space age akin to the age of exploration centuries ago. 4. AI and data centers to drive global electricity demand search. Electricity consumption driven by data centers and artificial intelligence could double by 2026, putting unprecedented pressure on global energy resources. In 2022, data centers consumed an estimated 460 terawatt-hours, but that number could surpass 1000 terawatt-hours by 2026, equivalent to Japan's total electricity consumption. The rapid expansion of AI technology is a major factor contributing to this search. 5. Iran uses criminal networks like Hell's Angels in Western Operations. Iran has ramped up its use of criminal networks, such as the Hell's Angels, to target dissidents and journalists abroad. This tactic allows Iran to distance itself from direct involvement while still achieving its goals. In a recent case, a journalist in London was attacked by criminals with no direct ties to Iran's security forces, illustrating the alarming evolution of transnational repression. 5.5, Europe in a tweet-sized excerpt. America innovates, China replicates, Europe regulates, said Italy's Prime Minister, Georgia, Meloni. Europe's share of world GDP has declined significantly from 27% in 1990 to 16% today, highlighting the continent's economic decline. Remember the Tea Party? This 2009 movement, born out of fiscal conservatism, drew thousands to Washington, D.C. in protest on this day in 2009. Many of its ideas have since evolved into the modern-day MAGA movement, shaping the political landscape we see today. That's all for today's brief. Join us again tomorrow for more news and updates. This show was produced by Greg Loving, wishing you a great day ahead. Please follow and rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other listeners find us. Stay informed and add Astra for Astra. [BLANK_AUDIO]