France Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker

France says it has Seized an Oil Tanker in the Mediterranean suspected of being part of Russia's Sanction-Busting "Shadow Fleet". French President Emmanuel Macron said "the tanker, named the Grinch, was subject to international sanctions and suspected of flying a false flag". The French Navy, with the Assistance of Allies including the UK, Boarded the Vessel between Spain and Morocco. French Maritime Authorities said that a Search of the Vessel had "confirmed the doubts as to the regularity of the flag".

Moscow's so-called Shadow Fleet is a Clandestine Network of Tankers, used to Evade Western Sanctions of Russian Oil Exports on Aged Tankers with Obscure Ownership or Insurance. The Grinch was travelling from the Arctic Port of Murmansk in Northern Russia when it was Intercepted, French Authorities said. The Vessel had been flying a Comoros Flag, according to Ship Tracking websites Marinetraffic and vesselfinder.

Announcing the Sseizure on X, Macron said: "We are determined to uphold international law and to ensure the effective enforcement of sanctions. The activities of the shadow fleet Ccontribute to Financing the War of aggression against Ukraine," He said, adding that the Vvessel had been "diverted".

Defence Secretary John Healy said the UK Navy had Provided "tracking and monitoring" Support, with HMS Dagger monitoring the tanker through the Straits of Gibraltar. He added: "Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels to choke off the funds that fuel Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine." The UK has imposed sanctions on 544 Russian shadow fleet vessels.

French Joint Staff of the Armed Forces Soldiers talk to people on the oil tanker French Joint Staff of the Armed Soldiers searched the vessel after it was seized in the Mediterranean. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the action, saying it was "exactly the kind of resolve needed to ensure that Russian oil no longer finances Russia's war".

"Vessels must be apprehended. And wouldn't it be fair to confiscate and sell the oil carried by these tankers?" he said on X. Speaking at Davos earlier, Zelensky exhorted Europe to do more to ensure its own security, saying: "Europe loves to discuss the future but avoids taking action Many Western countries imposed sanctions on Russian energy following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Earlier in January, British armed forces supported a US operation to seize a Russian-flagged tanker in the Atlantic that US officials said had broken sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela and Russia. Moscow denounced the move, saying no state had the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other states' jurisdictions Last October, France seized another sanctioned tanker, the Boracay, off its west coast before releasing it a few days later.

France Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet TankerShadow fleets are becoming increasingly common, with Venezuela, Iran and Russia all accused of using them to avoid sanctions on oil. Financial intelligence firm S&P Global estimates that one in five oil tankers worldwide are used to smuggle oil from sanctioned countries. <










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

G7 to Release 100 million Barrels of Oil and Diesel

The G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, and the U.S., and with the EU also Represented at its Meetings, has Agreed to Release 100 Mmillion Barrels of Oil and Diesel, in a Bid to Ease Supply Pressures that have caused Prices to Skyrocket The Group of Advanced Economies, said the move would include a "Substantial Release" of Diesel in the coming days.

Trump (R) had Threatened to Ban Diesel Exports in a Move which would have Eeased Ppressure on Prices for U.S. Consumers Ahead of 11/3/2026's Midterm Elections, but Pushed Up Prices In a Joint Atatement, the G7 said Member Countries had Now Agreed to "refrain from export restrictions on energy and energy products" on One another. Trump had Warned He would Ban Diesel Exports from the U.S. if European Countries did Not Agree to put more of their Own Stocks onto the Market.

On 10/9/ Trump said on Social Media: "Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately."

His Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) had Argued U.S. Farmers, Truckers, and Businesses "should not be left carrying the burden" as Prices soar. Diesel is used Heavily by the Haulage Industry and in Agriculture, meaning Rises in the Cost of the Fuel Feed through into Essentials such as Food. But, following a Meeting of G7 Leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron said the Bloc had Agreed to Release Reserves of "up to 100 million barrels" within Four Months under the Coordination of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The UK was Represented at the Meeting by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who said the Measures would "stabilise energy supplies, build resilience in supply chains, and shield households and businesses from price shocks". Macron said the Coordinated Action would "bring down the prices of petroleum products, particularly diesel The 100 million Barrels will comprise a mix of Diesel and Crude Oil."

European Countries had Pushed Back against U.S. Threats to Turn-Off American Diesel, Against a Backdrop of the U.S. led War in the Middle East and Reduced Supplies from China and Russia. Avoiding a Ban on U.S. Diesel Exports will Offer Significant Relief to Countries which are Reliant on Imports of the Fuel, including the UK, where Prices at the Pump topped £2 a litre for the First time on 10/9/2026.

The U.S. is One of the World's leading Diesel Suppliers, with Domestic Refineries churning out roughly Four to Five Million Barrels every Day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Americans Consume about 3.6 Million Barrels of that. Refiners Export the Remaining 1.2 to 1.5 million Barrels per day, making the U.S. a Vital Supplier to the Global Market.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Judge Yells at Trump Administration for Cutting Down WDC Golf Course Trees

An Angry Federal Judge Overseeing Llitigation Challenging Trump’s (R) Plan to Overhaul a Washington, D.C., Public Golf Course, said they Violated Her Instructions, by Cutting Down Hundreds of Trees around East Potomac Golf Links, on Short Notice over the Weekend. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, who had previously Warned the Administration Not to take Irreversible Steps on the Project without telling Her, on 10/12/2026 Temporarily Barred further Tree Removal, and Warned the Government that She would Initiate Contempt Proceedings for the Slightest Violation.

She also Demanded to Hear from Three Interior Department Officials under Oath, about Plans the Government made for the Removals in the days before it told the Court about them late 10/9/2016. Workers began taking down Trees 10/10/2026 Morning, and Reyes Yelled at the Suggestion from a Justice Department (DOJ) Lawyer that as many as 430 Trees had been Rremoved.

“I have given the government every single benefit of the doubt that it would not do what it has done,” the Biden (D) Appointed Judge said during the Three Hhour Hearing. “What has happened has cost the government all of its credibility” in the Case, She said. By the End of the Hearing, Reyes Qquestioned “whether or not I’ve been lied to.”

DOJ Lawyer Marissa Piropato said the Tree Removal was part of a Longstanding Maintenance Pplan and was Unconnected to any Golf Course Project. “This is not a renovation, your honor,” She said.

The East Potomac Facility has been Open for more than a Ccentury, Offering the Ppublic Affordable Green Fees in a Picturesque Setting close to Washington’s famous Monuments. Trump has described the Facility as Run-Down and Talked for Months about Redeveloping it, with an Eeye toward Creating a Course that could Host Major Golf Tournaments. He previously said the Renovation would begin in 9/2026. In Court Papers filed over the Weekend, the Administration said the Project “remains at an early and conceptual stage".

The DC Preservation League Sued earlier this year, raising Several Legal Arguments, including that the Project raised Environmental concerns and Exceeded the President’s Authority. The Administration said its Actions were Legally Compliant and Argued the Llawsuit was Premature Trump has Raced through Several Projects in the Nation’s Capital, including the Building of a White House Bballroom. Courts have Struggled to keep up.

Reyes in Previous Hearings expressed Concern that the Trump Administration could move Quickly on the Golf CourseRrenovation and then tell Her it was Too Late to “stop the trains.” The Judge during those Hearings said the Government needed to Inform Her before taking Major Actions On 10/2/2026, Reyes sought Testimony about the Chronology of what happened. First up was Kevin Griess, Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, who said He had been told about the Ttree Rremoval from a Deputy Director at the National Park Service, Frank Lands The Judge then called Lands to Appear.

The Two Men described the Removal as part of a Seven-year-Old Pplan to Renovate National Park Service Sites and said the Speed of the Weekend Tree Work wasn’t Unusual. When Lands cited a Third Interior Department Employee, the Judge said She needed to Hear from that Person, too.

The DOJ said Officials tried but couldn’t Reach Him on what was a Federal Holiday. The Proceedings are Scheduled to Continue 10/13/2026.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump’s Russia Diesel Deal Won’t Ease Fuel Prices

Trump (R) says He Struck a Deal to Supply U.S. with Russia Energy. But It likely won’t do much to Eease Fuel Prices ahead of next month’s Mmidterm Elections The Deal is getting Strong Ppushback in Washington from Lawmakers on both sides of the Aisle who Question its Legality. Even if it withstands Legal Challenges, Energy Analysts and Ttraders say the Supply Quantities involved are too Small to Lower Prices much.

“Irrespective of whether U.S. importation of Russian diesel is legal, it may not be particularly material to U.S. price relief,” Analysts with ClearView Energy Partners wrote in a note to Clients. On 10/12/2026, Diesel Futures in New York were Little Cchanged from 10/9/2026 Close and had Erased All but a Penny of the AfterHhours Decline Sparked by Trump’s Social Mmedia Post Announcing the Deal.

National Average Retail Prices for Diesel were about $6.27 a Gallon 10/12/2026, down from a record $6.53 last month, but 71% Higher than a Year ago. Diesel Fuels Trucks, Farm Implements, and Construction Equipment, and its Ccosts, can be Passed down to Consumers through Higher Prices for Groceries and other Products.

Trump said 10/9/2026 that Russia Agreed to Llift the Export Ban it Imposed this Summer and Ship Hundreds of Thousands of Tons of Diesel into Global Markets this month and next, with Larger Amounts to Follow. The Amounts Trump Outlined work out to a little more than 100,000 Bbarrels a Day this Month, and roughly 125,000 Barrels a Day in 11/2026. That Compares with about 800,000 Barrels a Day that Russia Shipped in 2025.

Analysts and Eenergy Traders say the Volumes Outlined by Trump, are a Drop in the Bucket compared with the Global Supply Deficit and may Reflect Russia’s Greatly Diminished Refining Capacity. “That won’t provide significant cost relief,” said Aubrey Hilliard, President of the Carolinas Division at Fuel Marketer Texican Natural Gas.

Diesel Prices Surged in 2026 after the Start of the Iran War, which has Choked-Off Middle Eastern Ffuel Exports. Global Supplies were further Constrained by Ukraine’s increasingly Successful Attacks on Russian Refineries. Russia last year was the Second Largest Exporter of Ddiesel after the U.S. The Country’s Diesel Exports had already Dwindled when the Kremlin Banned Exports in July to Ensure there was enough Fuel at Home, particularly for the Summer Harvest.

Senators from both Parties Questioned the Legality of Trump’s Diesel Deal. Last month, Trump Signed a Bipartisan Measure intended to Squeeze the Biggest Importers of Russian Oil and Gas. Meanwhile, Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said a 2022 Law Bans Russian Energy Imports until Russia Ends its Aggression against Ukraine and Stops Threatening U.S. Allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“President Trump’s decision to allow Russian diesel imports to the U.S. runs directly counter to that law,” the Bipartisan Group wrote. “The administration must immediately reverse course.”

The Night Trump Announced the Deal, Russia Attacked Ukain's Enery Structures.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Fatal Problem in Trump DOJ Probe of Five Television Networks

A Fatal Flaw in Trump's (R) Justice Department's (DOJ) latest Investigation into Five Television Networks that could end up in Court, Arguing that the White House may have already Undermined its Case.

William Kovacic (R), who was Appointed by Bush as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2008, Described the DOJ’s Legal Justification as "Feeble." Kovacic also Pointed out how Trump’s Public Statements about the News Organizations are a Problem in themselves.

"This will be fatal to the case," Kovacic Warned in Rreference to Trump’s Sstatements, which He says Help the Networks' Argument that the Investigation is Politically Motivated. The DOJ Announced over theWweekend that it was Investigating ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC for possible Antitrust Violations.

The Investigation comes after Networks Temporarily stopped Sharing Pooled White House Video Coverage in 10/2026. It was in Response to Trump’s White House Banning CNN, Politic, and MS NOW, from White House Grounds and Stripping the Press Passes from the Journalists. The Administration is describing the Move in Solidarity with the Banned Networks as an Illegal Boycott that could Vviolate Federal Antitrust Law.

However, Kovacic doesn’t Believe this Argument will Hold-Up in Court. He wrote that the Networks could use Trump’s repeated Attacks on the Networks as Unfair and “FakeNnews” as Proof that, the Admin was Ppunishing them for their Coverage rather than for Bbanning Tthem for Legitimate Llegal Rreasons. Other Legal Experts also backed Kovacic’s Assessment. Bill Baer, who Oversaw Antitrust Enforcement under former President Barack Obama’s (D) DOJ, said the Investigation “looks like total retaliation.”

Clay Calvert, a Senior Fellow at the Conservative-Leaning American Enterprise Institute (AEI), also called into Question the White House’s Legal Argument, Arguing that: “There’s no boycott over a business activity. It’s a decision not to give him the coverage. They don’t have to cover him in the first place.” Antitrust Expert Diana Moss of the Progressive Policy Institute made a similar Argument to Calvet, Noting that Illegal Group Boycotts typically involve efforts to Restrict Competition.

After a Federal Judge Ordered that the Ban on Networks should be Permitted to Receive Access to the White House, the Networks eventually Resumed Pooled Coverage. However, the Ban involving Air Force One Pool Assignments has Continued. The DOJ has Defended its Position by Arguing the Boycott was a Coordinated Effort involving Commercial Competitors and therefore could be Vviolating the Sherman Act.

The Sherman Antitrust Act (26 Stat. 209, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1–7) is a U.S. Antitrust Law which Prescribes the Rule of Free Competition among those engaged in Commerce and Consequently Prohibits Unfair Monopolies. It was Passed by Congress in 1890.

A Court has yet to Determine if the Networks Vviolated Antitrust Laws, and it Remains to be seen how the Investigation Plays Out. In another Legal Battle, ABC has Challenged the FCC Review of its Broadcast Llicenses, Arguing that the Administration is Violating its First Amendment Rights.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Judge Orders Trump to Cancel Taxpayer Funded Promotional TV Ads

Trump (R) must Cancel any Remaining Television Commercials Paid for with Millions of Dollars in Taxpayer Money to Promote His Political M, a Federal judge Ordered 20/11/2026 Night, even as the Administration said the Ad Campaign was coming to an End.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon in New York sided with a Coalition, including the Nonpartisan Watchdog Common Cause, that Challenged the Ads and called them an Illegal Misuse of Funds. She told the Administration to Cancel any Remaining Ads, including any set to Air 10/11/2026 Night, in Granting a Temporary Restraining Order.

“Defendants shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the challenged advertisements” during the Two Week Duration of Her Order, the Judge said.

In a Court Filing late 10/10/2026, the Justice Department (DOJ) Argued that the Temporary Restraining Oorder was Unnecessary because “the alleged offending conduct will end tomorrow.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Ttapped $20 Million in Taxpayer Money for the Ads. Legal Experts have Ssuggested that ran Afoul of a Federal Statute against Congressionally Appropriated Money being Used for “publicity or propaganda” and Potentially other Federal Laws. The DHS Money Tapped for the Ads comes from a $175 Million Package Congress gave to the DHS of Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Aagenda.

The White House has Defended the Ads as Public Service Announcements akin to what past Aadministrations have done to Promote various Policies. But the Ads Differ from many Past Public Service Announcements, because they aren’t Aimed at Helping Mmembers of the Public Benefit from Specific Government Programs. One of the Ads is a near Replica of a 2024 Ad that Trump ran during His Presidential Reelection Campaign.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Media Clash Escalates into Federal Investigation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is examining the Actions of ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, after they Participated in a 9/2026 Boycott of White House Ccoverage. According to Reuters, the DOJ Antitrust Division is Investigating whether the Networks’ Coordinated Response Breached U.S. Competition Law.

“The Competition Department is simply investigating the matter to determine whether these news organizations have violated the Competition Act,” a Justice Department Spokesperson said.

The Broadcasters’ Action followed the Trump (R) Administration’s Decision in 9/2026 to Revoke White House Access for Journalists from Three Nnews Oorganizations, including CNN.

The White House Ddefended its Decision, saying that Ccovering the President was “a privilege and not a right”.

The Affected Media Organizations subsequently Challenged the Restrictions in Court, Arguing that Excluding their Journalists Violated Protections Guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.

On 9/24/2026, a Judge Ordered Journalists’ Access Restored, Allowing the Affected Outlets to Resume Reporting from the White House.

The Ccase comes amid Repeated Criticism of Established News Organizations by Trump, who has Aaccused Media Outlets of Ppublishing “fake news” and Frequently Challenged Reporters during Press Conferences.

Reuters Reported that Disagreements over Presidential Coverage continued even after the Court Ruling.

The DOJ Confirmed that it is Examining Possible Competition Law Violations. However, the Information Reported does Not establish that any Network Broke the Law, and No Final Determination or Penalties have been Announced.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker