Federal Executive Branch
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Treasury Dept.: Economic Fury Targets Iranian Shadow Banking Networks Moving Billions in Foreign Currency
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Economic Fury Targets Iranian Shadow Banking Networks Moving Billions in Foreign Currency
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating three Iranian foreign currency exchange houses and their associated front companies as part of Economic Fury and Treasury's ongoing efforts to disrupt the Iranian regime's financial lifelines that sustain its war effort. Collectively, Iranian exchange houses facilitate billions of dollars in foreign
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WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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Economic Fury Targets Iranian Shadow Banking Networks Moving Billions in Foreign Currency
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating three Iranian foreign currency exchange houses and their associated front companies as part of Economic Fury and Treasury's ongoing efforts to disrupt the Iranian regime's financial lifelines that sustain its war effort. Collectively, Iranian exchange houses facilitate billions of dollars in foreigncurrency transactions each year. Because Iran primarily settles its oil sales in Chinese yuan, these exchange houses play a critical role in converting oil revenues into currencies that are more readily useable by the Iranian military and its partners and proxies.
"Iran is the head of the snake for global terrorism, and under President Trump's leadership, Treasury is moving aggressively, through Economic Fury, to sever the Iranian military's financial lifelines," said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. "We will relentlessly target the regime's ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds, and pursue anyone enabling Tehran's attempts to evade sanctions."
Today's action is being taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13902, which targets persons operating in Iran's financial sector. These designations build on OFAC's previous actions targeting Iran's shadow banking mechanisms, including exchange houses, Iranian bank rahbar companies, and digital asset exchanges used to evade sanctions. Today's designations further disrupt the Iranian regime's mechanisms for receiving payments for oil and other commodities, thereby increasing costs and reducing revenue for the regime's destabilizing activities, and exposing individuals and the methods the Iranian regime uses to bypass sanctions and abuse the international financial system.
This action is in furtherance of the President's National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 (NSPM-2), which undergirds Treasury's continued campaign of maximum economic pressure against Iran's shadow banking, money laundering, and sanctions evasion networks. Since February 2025, OFAC has sanctioned more than 1,000 Iran-related persons, vessels, and aircraft as part of this campaign.
Iranian exchange houses
The Iranian regime's shadow banking networks handle tens of billions of dollars' worth of trade each year, much of it derived from Iran's overseas sales of oil and petrochemicals. The rahbar networks that coordinate these transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks rely on Iranian currency-exchange houses and their agents. Unlike rahbar companies, which are directly linked to, and work on behalf of, a specific sanctioned Iranian bank, these exchange houses often facilitate transactions for multiple different Iranian banking and petroleum export customers. They also have their own networks of foreign-based front companies that use their foreign commercial bank accounts to facilitate transactions in various currencies worth billions of dollars on behalf of sanctioned Iranian persons, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), exporters such as Iran's National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), and Iran's military and security bodies.
Pedram Pirouzan and Associates Partnership Company, more commonly referred to as Opal Exchange or Pedram Pirouzan Exchange, is a leading sanctions-evasion facilitator owned and operated by Iranian national Pedram Pirouzan. Opal Exchange maintains an extensive network of front companies that provide critical support to the Iranian importers and exporters that form the financial lifeline of Iranian banks and the regime more broadly. Many of Opal Exchange's front companies are registered directly under the names of Pedram Pirouzan and his partner, Hossein Mohammad Rezaei, both of whom conceal their Iranian backgrounds when setting up front companies by listing their Dominica citizenship, obtained via investment, on registration documents. This allows them to set up companies and bank accounts in foreign jurisdictions with access to the international financial system, further concealing the fact that their commercial activities ultimately benefit sanctioned Iranian persons. Masoud Mohammad Rezaei serves as a board member and official of Opal Exchange.
Nasser Ghasemi Rad and Associates Partnership Company, more commonly known as Radin Exchange, is owned and directed by Iranian national Nasser Ghasemi Rad. Similar to Pedram Pirouzan, Nasser Ghasemi Rad uses his Saint Kitts and Nevis citizenship to obscure ties to Iran. Radin Exchange alone enables billions of dollars' worth of transactions annually, making it a key part of Iran's shadow banking networks. Similarly, Iranian national Ehsan Tahayyori owns and directs the Tahayyori and Associates Partnership Company, commonly known as Tahayyori Guarantee Society or Arz Iran Exchange. Ehsan Tahayyori and his exchange house likewise leverage an international network of front companies that launder billions of dollars annually, circumvent sanctions, and enable Iranian banks, exporters, and importers access to foreign currency that supports the Iranian regime and its military's destabilizing activities.
OFAC is designating Pedram Pirouzan and Associates Partnership Company, Pedram Pirouzan, Hossein Mohammad Rezaei, Masoud Mohammad Rezaei, Nasser Ghasemi Rad and Associates Partnership Company, Nasser Ghasemi Rad, Tahayyori and Associates Partnership Company, and Ehsan Tahayyori pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy.
exchange house front companies
Like other front companies aiding Iranian sanctions evasion, the exchange houses take advantage of high-risk jurisdictions with inadequate money laundering countermeasures to establish front companies and exploit the international financial system. Collectively, Iranian exchange houses, to include Opal Exchange, have conducted transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars in various currencies using the companies identified below on behalf of sanctioned Iranian persons.
OFAC is designating the following entities pursuant to E.O. 13902 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Pedram Pirouzan and Associates Partnership Company:
* Mullingar Trading Company Limited;
* Atlas International Trading Limited;
* Blinche Trading Limited;
* Central Park Limited;
* Lightborn Goods Trading Limited;
* Sinobos Limited;
* Sisu Prime Limited;
* Teroda International Limited;
* Verdita Trading Limited;
* Zoella Trading Limited;
* Al Sahra Trade Petro DMCC;
* Bab Al Khandaq Trading Company LLC; and
* Wigan Trading LLC.
In addition, OFAC is designating Deccan Star Trading L.L.C and Architectonic Corp Limited pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the financial sector of the Iranian economy.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
All property and interests in property of the persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked persons.
Violations of U.S. sanctions may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties on U.S. and foreign persons. OFAC may impose civil penalties for sanctions violations on a strict liability basis. OFAC's Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines provide more information regarding OFAC's enforcement of U.S. economic sanctions. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated or blocked person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. Non-U.S. persons are also prohibited from causing or conspiring to cause U.S. persons to wittingly or unwittingly violate U.S. sanctions, as well as engaging in conduct that evades U.S. sanctions. In addition, financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities involving designated or otherwise blocked persons. Individuals located in the U.S. or abroad who provide information about sanctions violations to FinCEN's whistleblower incentive program may be eligible for awards if the information they provide leads to a successful enforcement action that results in monetary penalties exceeding $1,000,000.
The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, or to submit a request, please refer to OFAC's guidance on Filing a Petition for Removal from an OFAC List.
Click here for more information on the persons designated and any property identified as blocked property today (https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20260501).
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Original text here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0483
Surface Transportation Board Issues Decision Involving Kansas City Southern Railway, Gateway Eastern Railway, Texas Mexican Railway
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 34342) entitled "Kansas City Southern - Control - The Kansas City Southern Railway Co., Gateway Eastern Railway Co. and the Texas Mexican Railway Co.":
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On April 21, 2026, Daniel T. White (White) filed an "Emergency Motion for Stay and Interim Relief" (Motion for Stay), and on April 24, 2026, he filed a "Petition for Review and/or Declaratory Order" (Petition) (collectively, the April Filings). White states that the April Filings relate to an arbitration award
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WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Board issued the following decision (Docket No. FD 34342) entitled "Kansas City Southern - Control - The Kansas City Southern Railway Co., Gateway Eastern Railway Co. and the Texas Mexican Railway Co.":
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On April 21, 2026, Daniel T. White (White) filed an "Emergency Motion for Stay and Interim Relief" (Motion for Stay), and on April 24, 2026, he filed a "Petition for Review and/or Declaratory Order" (Petition) (collectively, the April Filings). White states that the April Filings relate to an arbitration awardthat is dated April 1, 2026, and was issued by Neutral Michael D. Phillips. (Mot. for Stay 1; Pet. 1.)
According to White, the arbitration award authorizes the elimination of the TexasMexican Railway (Tex-Mex) collective bargaining agreement and imposes a materially different agreement. White seeks a stay of the arbitration award and other relief from what he contends are impermissible or unauthorized actions embodied in the arbitration award. (See, e.g., Mot. for Stay 1 (asserting that the arbitration award "exceeds the lawful scope of New York Dock authority and directly conflicts with the conditions upon which the Board approved the underlying transaction in . . . Docket No. [FD] 34342").) White states that he is "a locomotive engineer on the former Tex-Mex property and is directly and adversely affected by the arbitration award." (Id.) The April Filings, however, do not include a copy of the arbitration award at issue. The Board therefore lacks foundational information to move forward with consideration of the April Filings.
Accordingly, White will be directed to file a copy of the arbitration award with the Board by May 8, 2026. If the arbitration award contains confidential information, White must file both a complete, unredacted version of the document under seal and a public version that contains redactions of any confidential information, as required by 49 C.F.R. Sec. 1104.14(a). Should White need to file the arbitration award under seal due to confidential information, he must also file, by May 8, 2026, a motion for a protective order as required by Sec. 1104.14(b)./1
White will also be directed to (1) serve copies of the arbitration award, this decision, any motion for protective order filed with the Board, and his April Filings on all parties to the arbitration referenced in his April Filings, and (2) certify to the Board that he has done so, by May 8, 2026./2
Replies to White's Motion for Stay will be due May 14, 2026. Replies to the Petition will be due May 28, 2026.
It is ordered:
1. White is directed to file and serve the documents specified above by May 8, 2026.
2. Replies to the Motion for Stay are due by May 14, 2026.
3. Replies to the Petition are due by May 28, 2026.
4. This decision is effective on its date of service.
By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel.
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Footnotes:
1/ Questions concerning the Board's procedural requirements may be directed to the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance, which can be reached by telephone at (202) 245-0238 or email at rcpa@stb.gov.
2/ The Board will address additional service requirements, if any, in a subsequent decision.
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Original text here: https://dcms-external.s3.amazonaws.com/DCMS_External_PROD/756/53030.pdf
NOAA: Future of the Catch - Modernization of Recreational Red Snapper Data Collection
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news:
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Future of the Catch: the Modernization of Recreational Red Snapper Data Collection
NOAA Fisheries and partners are using innovative methods to modernize Gulf of America recreational red snapper data collection. These projects are working to deliver faster, more efficient science.
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Red snapper is a cultural and economic cornerstone for coastal communities in the Gulf of America. The species is a massive driver for tourism and local commerce. For many in the
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WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news:
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Future of the Catch: the Modernization of Recreational Red Snapper Data Collection
NOAA Fisheries and partners are using innovative methods to modernize Gulf of America recreational red snapper data collection. These projects are working to deliver faster, more efficient science.
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Red snapper is a cultural and economic cornerstone for coastal communities in the Gulf of America. The species is a massive driver for tourism and local commerce. For many in theSoutheast, red snapper fishing is a multi-generational tradition, making it a flagship species for the world's largest recreational fishery. Effectively managing and preserving this vibrant species requires more than just accuracy, it demands a swift, responsive flow of data.
Technological advancements are shortening data collection timelines. This means scientists are able to collect larger pools of data, faster than ever, and can quickly analyze results to better inform management decisions. NOAA Fisheries deploys AI-driven video and acoustic monitoring devices to count fish in their natural habitat. We also rely on other key components of the data modernization revolution to improve our data.
In 2025, NOAA Fisheries and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission announced seven new red snapper data improvement projects. On January 1, 2026, these projects began, marking the beginning of a collaborative, state-federal initiative to improve recreational fishing effort and discard data collection in the Gulf. To see this transformation in action, meet three of the partners redefining how we understand and protect the fishery.
Mississippi State University: From Paper Catch Cards to the disCARD
Mississippi State University is developing and fine-tuning the disCARD--a novel, hybrid catch card. By combining traditional catch cards with modern AI-driven machine image recognition, the project aims to make reporting discards easy, fast, and reliable. The disCARD will be tested in each of the five Gulf states in partnership with marine fisheries management agencies. Discard data will be captured for red snapper, cobia, greater amberjack, and more, depending on the species that are most commonly caught in each of the Gulf states. Scientists will begin testing the disCARD as early as summer 2026.
What makes the disCARD different from traditional, paper forms of monitoring and data collection? The data submission process will be quicker and easier for anglers--as simple as sending a text. It will use advanced technologies to process the data recorded on the card. This means anglers will no longer have to wait on a dockside field agent to contribute to fisheries data collection efforts. Similar to the technology we use to digitally deposit paper checks using banking apps, the disCARD will use an automated process to provide near-real time reception of discard data. After filling out the disCARD, participating recreational anglers will simply take a photo of their completed card and submit it via text.
The best part? No new apps will be required. In partnership with Bluefin Data, the project will use a digital platform that allows anglers to simply text a photo of their card via SMS, WhatsApp, or iMessage. By the end of this project, fishery managers will have a streamlined, automated system to track discards. This will ensure the long-term health of the reef fish complex while keeping the reporting process simple for the fishing community.
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"Collecting details about discarded fish is difficult, but the fish you release still matter! The disCARD is a simple card anglers can fill out while on the water to provide real-time data. The goal of the disCARD program is to modernize the ways we collect data today to improve our fisheries for tomorrow."
-- Dr. Marcus Drymon, Associate Extension Professor, Mississippi State University and Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
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The Nature Conservancy: High-Tech Monitoring, Facilitating Collaboration, and Community Engagement
The Nature Conservancy has launched a collaborative project to improve estimates of recreational reef fish fishing effort in the Gulf. Currently, NOAA Fisheries collects recreational effort data through in-person interviews and electronic reporting. These methods help us gather information from the recreational fishing community. TNC's project will combine daily satellite imagery with existing recreational fishing data and local angler expertise, to create more timely, precise data estimates. TNC is collaborating with Global Fishing Watch and Florida International University to develop new methods for estimating recreational fishing effort for the entire Gulf. They will use novel technologies, particularly analysis of Planet Labs high-resolution satellite imagery.
As a connecting partner that understands the importance of on-the-water experience and insights, TNC is also engaging directly with the recreational angling community. A priority area of this project is to host a series of in-person workshops in six Gulf sub-regions. These workshops will allow the project team to engage directly with the recreational angling community and the state management agencies. They will incorporate local knowledge and expertise, provide opportunities to share details about the project, and collaborate to overcome challenges. These workshops will help scientists refine models and estimates by understanding and incorporating the real-world experience of anglers on the water.
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"At the heart of successful fisheries management is timely, accurate data. The Nature Conservancy is excited to work with anglers and other partners to investigate innovative technologies that can supplement existing data in exciting new ways that will increase the accuracy of and trust in estimates of recreational fishing effort."
-- David Moss, TNC Fisheries Project Manager
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This combination of diverse sources are all informative. Merging them will be critical in building a comprehensive picture of recreational fishing location and intensity for reef fish species. The goal is to create more than just a one-time report. TNC and partners want to build affordable, long-term tools that fishery managers can use for years to come. By developing these repeatable methods, scientists ensure that data on recreational fishing patterns continues to improve in accuracy and inform sustainable management decisions well beyond 2027.
LGL Ecological Research Associates: AI Model Training, Satellite Imagery, and Mobility Trend Data
LGL Ecological Research Associates is developing a model to estimate recreational fishing activity across the Gulf using satellite imagery and anonymized smartphone mobility trends. Initially, LGL will train an AI model to identify general offshore recreational fishing trend movement patterns. They will use previously collected Automatic Identification System and Vessel Monitoring System location data from a small sample of volunteer private anglers. By sharing tracking data from their own trips, these volunteers are ensuring the science reflects the real-world experience of the fishing community. If you are interested in volunteering to provide data for this project, LGL is now accepting applications for summer 2026.
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"Measuring recreational fishing effort is difficult, and no one method is likely to get the right answer. The approach we're using is to blend smartphone mobility and high-resolution satellite imagery technologies to gather data on fishing activity in a robust, non-biased way that also doesn't require anglers to invest their time in lengthy surveys or reporting."
--Nathan Putman, LGL Senior Scientist
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This model will then be applied to a larger database of mobility data. They will filter out non-relevant behaviors to identify which movements are associated with recreational fishing trips across the Gulf and throughout the year. To estimate private angler trips, these mobility trends will then be calibrated using high-resolution satellite imagery. By capturing snapshots of the Gulf from space, vessel activity can be identified across thousands of square kilometers.
This fishery-independent approach means data collection for this project won't interrupt your day on the water with the use of surveys or manual check-ins. It will ensure that when we talk about fishing effort, the numbers are backed by the best technology available.
What This Means for Recreational Anglers
These initiatives are designed to bridge the gap between complex science and the everyday experience of the recreational angler. By leveraging high-tech and real-time data in addition to traditional survey methods, they offer several direct benefits to the fishing community in the Southeast. By integrating AI-driven video, automated systems, and satellite imagery, scientists can significantly shorten the timelines required to analyze fish populations. This technological leap allows management decisions to keep pace with the real-time health of the Gulf. Ultimately, this level of clarity enables more dynamic management decisions for species like red snapper.
Additionally, projects will also help accelerate the Recreational Angler Partnership Improvement Directive which we launched in early 2026. It serves as the transformation stage to increase data collection capabilities and strengthen our partnerships to modernize our recreational data collection enterprise. It is designed to use partner and state-led data innovations like these.
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Original text here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/future-catch-modernization-recreational-red-snapper-data-collection
NOAA: Forest Loss Is Reshaping Clouds in the Amazon
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 2 (TNSjou) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news:
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Forest Loss Is Reshaping Clouds in the Amazon
Satellite observations reveal enhanced low-level, reflective clouds over deforested regions of the rainforest.
A new study drawing on 20 years of satellite data over the Amazon Basin finds that the widespread clearing of large swaths of rainforest over the last two decades, particularly along the "arc of deforestation" on the southern and eastern edges of the region, has triggered cloud changes that reflect additional sunlight
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 2 (TNSjou) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following news:
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Forest Loss Is Reshaping Clouds in the Amazon
Satellite observations reveal enhanced low-level, reflective clouds over deforested regions of the rainforest.
A new study drawing on 20 years of satellite data over the Amazon Basin finds that the widespread clearing of large swaths of rainforest over the last two decades, particularly along the "arc of deforestation" on the southern and eastern edges of the region, has triggered cloud changes that reflect additional sunlightback into space. Specifically, deforested areas experience more low-level cloud cover and lower cloud tops compared to nearby intact forest, producing a measurable cooling effect at the top of Earth's atmosphere.
The study, developed by a team of scientists from NOAA's Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) and the University of Colorado Boulder Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), estimated that this cloud-driven response to deforestation roughly doubles the cooling expected from surface brightening alone. The paper was recently published in the journal Science.
"When forests are cleared and converted to pasture and grasslands, greenhouse gases that warm the atmosphere are emitted from above and below ground," said Tom Dror, lead author of the study and a CU CIRES researcher at CSL. "At the same time, the land surface becomes brighter and reflects more sunlight back into space. It also favors cloud formation, which we show roughly doubles the cooling from surface brightening alone", added Tom.
The team analyzed satellite observations from 2003 to 2022, combining high-resolution maps of forest loss with measurements of cloud properties and radiative fluxes from MODIS and CERES instruments onboard NASA's Aqua satellite to examine how deforestation alters the Amazon's energy balance.
To isolate the effects of forest loss, the researchers compared deforested areas with nearby intact forests under similar climate conditions. This allowed them to tease out local changes caused by land clearing, rather than broader shifts driven by weather patterns or climate trends.
While past studies typically focused on either the surface response or the cloud response in isolation, their analysis focused on what they term the "all-sky biophysical" effect, meaning it explicitly accounts for both surface brightening and cloud responses.
In regions with extensive deforestation, the researchers found that during the dry season outgoing shortwave radiation - sunlight reflected back to space - was greater by on average 6.8 watts per square meter relative to the nearby intact forest. More than half of that cooling effect came from changes in cloud cover, not from the brighter land surface itself. Longwave radiation, associated with infrared heat emitted by Earth and its atmosphere, also increased slightly, reinforcing the overall cooling signal at the top-of-atmosphere (TOA).
The cloud response was most pronounced during the dry season, when shallow, low-level clouds dominate. Across the basin, deforested areas consistently showed higher cloud fractions and lower cloud-top heights than surrounding forests. In areas with the most severe forest loss, cloud cover was more than 5% higher, while cloud tops were lower by over 80 meters on average.
Forest clearing in the Amazon is a major source of carbon emissions, especially as a result of logging and fires, and reduced evaporation of moisture from trees to the atmosphere can decrease rainfall. The combined cooling effect from surface brightness and cloud responses can offset some of the warming, though the authors caution that this would be primarily a local effect.
Importantly, Dror points out, clouds have been decreasing overall across the Amazon basin, but they are decreasing less in deforested regions. "It's like the forest's way of trying to compensate for the pulse of greenhouse gas emissions generated when deforestation occurs," Dror said.
The findings allow for a more holistic view on the long-standing scientific debate over how tropical deforestation affects weather and climate.
"This study does not suggest that deforestation is good for the climate," said coauthor Graham Feingold, a research physicist at CSL . "The carbon emissions from forest loss remain a dominant warming influence. What we're quantifying here is a separate, physical response of the land-atmosphere system that needs to be considered when assessing the overall impact of forest loss."
The study adds to growing evidence that clouds are a critical - and still uncertain - component of Earth's climate system. By quantifying the cloud response to forest loss compared with that of the intact forest, the researchers hope their work will help improve future models and inform land-use decisions.
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Dror, T., and G. Feingold, Amazon forest loss: An all-sky biophysical top-of-atmosphere cooling feedback, Science, doi:10.1126/science.adz8296, 2026.
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Abstract
The Amazon rainforest plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's energy and water cycles. The full biophysical impact of deforestation, particularly when mediated by clouds, remains elusive. Using two decades of multisource satellite observations, we isolate biophysical signals of forest loss and present an observation of the all-sky biophysical feedback that integrates surface and atmospheric effects. We find that top-of-atmosphere (TOA) cooling in shortwave and longwave fluxes scales with forest loss fraction, with shortwave dominating. In high-loss areas, shortwave TOA cooling reaches 6.8 +- 0.6 watts per square meter, with cloud-driven albedo increases doubling the effect relative to surface brightening alone. These findings underscore the importance of cloud responses in estimating the climatic impact of forest cover change and support their integration into climate models and land-management policies.
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Original text here: https://csl.noaa.gov/news/2026/441_0423.html
High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracy
GREENSBORO, North Carolina, May 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina posted the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracy
A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced last week by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief/Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC) to 336 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine,
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GREENSBORO, North Carolina, May 2 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina posted the following news release on May 1, 2026:
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High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Sentenced for Drug Distribution and Money Laundering Conspiracy
A Mexican national and high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced last week by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief/Senior United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC) to 336 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine,and cocaine hydrochloride and a concurrent 240 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to commit money laundering. The sentence will be followed by a total of five years of supervised release.
Emmanuel Martimiano Leon-Soto, age 42, of Naco, Mexico, was charged along with 37 other individuals in November 2024 by a federal grand jury seated in the Middle District of North Carolina with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride. Leon-Soto is also known as Manny, Jose Manuel Lopez-Castro, Jesus Lopez Castro, Pedro Beltran Zazueta, Pedro Zazueta Beltran, Emmanuel Gomez, Emanuel Leon, Emanuel Leon-Soto, Manuel Leon Soto, Jose Manuel Lopez Castro, and Emanuel Pena Gomez. He was one of 10 defendants in the case also charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the drug trafficking scheme.
Prior to his indictment, Leon-Soto was designated as a Regional Priority Target (RPOT) by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. He is a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel (also known as Cartel de Sinaloa, Mexican Federation, and Guadalajara Cartel), which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cartel de Sinaloa is one of the world's most powerful drug cartels and one of the largest producers involved in the smuggling, importation, and distribution of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.
"Mexican Cartel kingpins poisoning America will face justice in every judicial district in our country. Leon-Soto and his co-conspirators distributed staggering amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in our district and beyond," said Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. "The sentencing represents the culmination of a broad collaboration of law enforcement partners determined to disrupt and dismantle Sinaloa Cartel operations in our homeland. Be assured we will continue to use all available resources to attack the criminal organizations that flood our streets with dangerous drugs."
"Today marks a significant victory for the many law enforcement agencies that worked together to dismantle this organization," said Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division. "The Postal Inspection Service remains committed to protecting the integrity of the mail, disrupting illicit drug trafficking, and safeguarding the American public. This success is a direct result of the strong collaboration among our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners."
"This arrest strikes at the heart of a cartel network responsible for flooding our communities with deadly drugs," said Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. "HSI and our partners are relentless in pursuing those who profit from addiction and violence. We will continue to dismantle criminal organizations and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl and other narcotics."
"Today's sentence underscores our unwavering commitment to bringing drug traffickers to justice," said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. "Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target those who threaten the safety and well-being of our communities."
"This sentencing sends a strong message to those criminals trafficking drugs. We are committed to identifying and dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering networks by targeting the individuals who facilitate or profit from these operations," said Special Agent in Charge Donald "Trey" Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. "Our special agents utilize their financial expertise and legal authority to collaborate with partner agencies, tracing illicit financial activity to disrupt the distribution of fentanyl and other drugs within the United States."
"The Marshals are committed to reducing violent crime by taking criminals off the streets," said Catrina A. Thompson, U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of North Carolina. "We are proud to play our part in disrupting these networks and helping to reduce the availability of dangerous drugs and make all of our communities safer."
Investigating agencies include the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, Moore County Sheriff's Office, Harnett County Sheriff's Office, Fayetteville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Stanly County Sheriff's Office, Candor Police Department, Mesa (Arizona) Police Department, Davie County Sheriff's Office, Forsyth County Drug Task Force, Mooresville Police Department, Rowan County Sheriff's Office, Sampson County Sheriff's Office, and Surry County Sheriff's Office.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Pousson, Randall Galyon, and Nicole DuPre.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdnc/pr/high-ranking-sinaloa-cartel-member-sentenced-drug-distribution-and-money-laundering
Fermilab Teams Up With NIU to Launch Quantum Science Program
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory issued the following news release:
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Fermilab teams up with NIU to launch quantum science program
Fermilab and Northern Illinois University are joining forces to offer a unique Master of Science in Physics program specializing in quantum science and technology. This innovative graduate program combines the expertise of a DOE national laboratory quantum center and a prominent state university to prepare the next generation of quantum experts.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator
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WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory issued the following news release:
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Fermilab teams up with NIU to launch quantum science program
Fermilab and Northern Illinois University are joining forces to offer a unique Master of Science in Physics program specializing in quantum science and technology. This innovative graduate program combines the expertise of a DOE national laboratory quantum center and a prominent state university to prepare the next generation of quantum experts.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National AcceleratorLaboratory signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Northern Illinois University, officially launching a collaborative, cutting-edge quantum science program for graduate students. The inaugural class will begin in the fall semester of 2026.
Through this partnership, the two institutions will launch a Master of Science in Physics program with a specialization in quantum science and technology. This new offering in the NIU Department of Physics will provide an interactive, hands-on educational experience for students interested in manipulating, fabricating and advancing tools and technologies that leverage key features of quantum mechanics -- including superposition, entanglement and interference. Students will begin taking classes in fall 2026, and they will start their research with Fermilab in the summer of 2027.
Officials from Fermilab and NIU met on April 29 to mark the milestone in their partnership. During the event, representatives toured Fermilab's Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, which serves as a national hub for advanced research and innovation in quantum science and technology and will be an important resource for the new program.
The tour was followed by the signing of a formal agreement, solidifying the institutions' collaborative commitment to the innovative graduate program. The newly established specialization will offer graduate students formal instruction at the NIU and Fermilab campuses, with hands-on learning experiences at the SQMS Center.
"We are thrilled to partner with NIU in educating the next generation of quantum scientists, right here in our backyard," said Norbert Holtkamp, Fermilab director. "Students in this program will learn tangible skills in quantum science, skills and experiences directly connected to Fermilab's science goals, ultimately preparing them to become the next generation of subject matter experts in the field."
The program is an innovative partnership of a state university with a DOE national laboratory research center. By partnering with a national lab, NIU students enrolled in this program will be able to leverage the research, expertise and facilities available at the SQMS Center, one of five DOE quantum information science research centers. The centers are part of DOE's national initiative to develop and deploy the world's most powerful quantum computers and sensors.
"For decades, our students and faculty have had close and productive working relationships with nearby Fermilab, a global leader in quantum science and technology as well as particle and accelerator physics," NIU President Lisa Freeman said. "We're excited to expand our collaboration with Fermilab to include our new master's specialization in quantum science and technology. This partnership creates a powerful new opportunity for students to study at a leading-edge facility where discovery is happening every day."
The program was jointly developed by Fermilab and NIU, with leadership from Fermilab's Office of Education and Public Engagement, the SQMS Center and NIU's Department of Physics. Together, the partners designed a specialized curriculum shaped by subject matter experts and delivered by leading scientists and instructors in the field. By combining interactive coursework with hands-on research opportunities led by SQMS researchers, the program will equip students with the skills and experience needed for careers in quantum science and technology.
NIU is a research partner with SQMS, contributing and leveraging its expertise in materials science, nanofabrication, characterization and superconducting radio-frequency cavities.
More information on the master's specialization in quantum science and technology is available on the NIU Physics graduate program page for quantum science and technology.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America's national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab's website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law.
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Original text here: https://news.fnal.gov/2026/04/fermilab-teams-up-with-niu-to-launch-quantum-science-program/
DOE Office of Environmental Management: National Cleanup Workshop to Highlight EM's Role in Nation's Energy Future
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management issued the following news release:
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National Cleanup Workshop to Highlight EM's Role in Nation's Energy Future
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) will showcase its crucial role in shaping America's energy future at the 2026 National Cleanup Workshop.
This year's event, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, will highlight how EM's mission to address the legacy of past defense and nuclear research programs contributes to an
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management issued the following news release:
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National Cleanup Workshop to Highlight EM's Role in Nation's Energy Future
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) will showcase its crucial role in shaping America's energy future at the 2026 National Cleanup Workshop.
This year's event, scheduled for Sept. 14-16 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, will highlight how EM's mission to address the legacy of past defense and nuclear research programs contributes to anaffordable, reliable and secure energy landscape for the United States.
The central theme of this year's workshop is "Powering and Securing the Future Through Restoration and Revitalization." Distinguished speakers from EM's leadership team will present during the workshop, including:
* Assistant Secretary of Environmental Management Tim Walsh
* Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne
* Chief Operating Officer David Brunnert
Key topics to be explored at the workshop include how EM's cleanup efforts strategically position the U.S. for future energy leadership by enabling the reuse of valuable land and resources, opportunities for EM to contribute to DOE's Genesis Mission and the intersection of legacy cleanup and DOE efforts to modernize the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
By addressing the complex challenges of nuclear waste and contaminated sites, EM is creating tangible benefits for communities, fostering scientific research and supporting economic development -- all integral to a robust national energy strategy.
The 12th annual workshop is hosted by Energy Communities Alliance in cooperation with the Energy Facility Contractors Group and EM.
Click here (https://www.energy.gov/em/national-cleanup-workshop) for more information on the workshop.
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Original text here:https://www.energy.gov/em/articles/national-cleanup-workshop-highlight-ems-role-nations-energy-future
