Very weird… With a vote of 50.24% against, Colombian voters rejected the peace deal negotiated with the FARC rebels over the course of 3 years. FARC isn’t going to make more concessions. This showed FARC that the people negotiating for the Colombian government can’t really make a deal.

Putin has chosen to follow the path that caused the collapse of the Soviet Union. Given the low price of oil and massive inventory, Russia can’t really afford to modernize its nuclear weapons. Putin has already reduced his ability to make agreements with the West by the Russian conduct during the supposed Syrian cease fire. This just emphasizes that he can’t be trusted.

Donald Trump has shown that he isn’t a tax wizard. His taxes were done by an accountant ‘inherited’ from his father, just like his business. He didn’t even find the best tax accountant in New York – his father did.

Mr Business Wizard is also in trouble with the New York attorney general over his failure to register his ‘charitable foundation’. It is a very simple rule – solicit donations in New York, register in New York.

His Vice President running mate, Mike Pence, just lost his appeal on his attempt to reallocate Federal funds for refugees which would have discriminated against Syrians. Pence really is Trump’s soulmate.

Position: 16.9N 74.6W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: North [360°] near 7 mph [11 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 145 mph [230 kph].
Wind Gusts: 160 mph [255 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 185 miles [295 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 40 miles [ 65 km].
Minimum central pressure: 934 mb ↓.

Currently about 100 miles [ 155 km] South of Tiburon, Haiti.

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Haiti, the Cuban provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Granma, and Las Tunas, the Southeastern Bahamas, including the Inaguas, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, Long Cay, and Ragged Island, and the Central Bahamas, including Long Island, Exuma, Rum Cay, San Salvador, and Cat Island.

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for the Camaguey province of Cuba, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and the Northwestern Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic from Barahona westward to the border with Haiti.

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for the Dominican Republic from Puerto Plata westward to the border with Haiti.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]