US in ‘fast lane’ to bankruptcy – Musk

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk
©Getty Images/Richard Bord

The US is rapidly moving towards bankruptcy because the government in Washington is spending too much money, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has warned.

Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk has sounded a grim warning about the direction of United States government spending, saying current fiscal policies are on course to bring America to bankruptcy. His comments could not have come at a more opportune time when the US national debt has breached the $35 trillion mark in July, with the government set to jack it up by another $16 trillion until 2035. Musk's comments have fanned the debate hot on US fiscal policies' sustainability and the health of the US economy in the long run.

On Thursday, Musk shared a post on his X (formerly Twitter) platform by another user, who cited a forecast from the US government budget for fiscal year 2025 that said that the budget deficit could increase from the current $1.8 billion to almost $16.3 billion by 2035.

"At current rates of government spending, America is in the fast lane to bankruptcy,” Musk wrote.

The tech billionaire also suggested that “government overspending is what causes inflation” in the country.

The US annual inflation rate dipped below 3% in July for the first time since 2021, according to a Labor Department report, issued two weeks ago. The prices for goods and services went up by 2.9%, while core inflation, which excludes food and energy industries, rose by 3.2% over the previous 12 months.

In late July, the US Treasury Department announced that the country’s national debt surpassed $35 trillion for the first time in history, increasing by a trillion since January.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted that by 2034 the debt will exceed $50 trillion, amounting to more than 122% of America’s GDP. The CBO also said that it expects the country’s average annual GDP growth rate to be at around 1.8% from 2029 to 2034.

In June, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) think tank claimed that the national debt grew by $4.3 billion under incumbent US President Joe Biden, compared to $8.4 billion during Donald Trump’s term in office.

In August, Trump gave a lengthy interview to Musk on X. Shortly after that, the Republican presidential candidate said that he would consider the tech billionaire, whom he described as a “brilliant guy,” for a role in his administration if he wins the election in November. Musk replied to the offer in a post, stressing that he is “willing to serve.”

The debt has grown steadily over decades; however, it started to take off in recent years due to deep tax cuts, increased military spending, and extensive stimulus packages to counteract the debilitating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), that will rise to $50 trillion by 2034, more than 122 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product. This number reveals an alarming variance between government spending and economic productivity in the United States.

Musk, never one to hold his opinions close to his chest on anything, has led from the front foot on the dangers of such huge debt. "At current rates of government spending, America is in the fast lane to bankruptcy," Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. He went further to say that government overspending is a major cause of inflation, a fear shared by many economists who say sustained inflation could rob American consumers of their purchasing power and disrupt financial markets.

High debt comes with high service cost. According to US Treasury report, the total interest payments on the national debt amounted to $357 billion for the first 10 months of the fiscal year 2024, outstripping the $283 billion spent on military and defense. In other words, interest payments are consuming more of the federal budget than basic requirements such as infrastructure, education, and other vital services.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently joined the chorus of concern about the escalating interest burden. He said high levels of debt mixed with an increasing rate of interest may lead to a snowballing effect-a circumstance wherein government has to borrow more in order to pay the interest, hence worsening the problem of debt. "This is not a sustainable path," Powell said in a recent address, beseeching lawmakers to take immediate action with regard to the structural imbalances within the federal budget.

And the implications of this on a surging national debt go well beyond finance. Fitch Ratings recently downgraded the US government credit rating-a first since 2011. This probably will raise borrowing costs for the US government and trigger a wider reassessment of the country's economic outlook.

For a long time, experts have been warning Washington over the debt crisis that is snowballing. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan, has appealed for a more responsible fiscal approach, long-term focused and reaching out for bipartisan cooperation. Separately, Brian Moynihan, Bank of America's chief executive, last month issued calls for caution over the economic consequence of political polarisation.

UNRWA head accuses Israel of buying Google ads to block donations to agency

The spread of misinformation and disinformation continues to be used as a weapon in the war in Gaza,' UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said [File: Denis Balibouse/Reuters]

The Israeli government has been accused of purchasing Google ads to discredit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and discourage donations, according to a statement made by the agency's commissioner-general on Saturday.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has accused the Israeli government of “buying ads on Google to block users from giving donations” to the agency.

Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA commissioner-general, took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce what he described as a "misinformation campaign" by Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "The spread of misinformation and disinformation continues to be used as a weapon in the war in Gaza," Lazzarini stated.

The spread of misinformation & disinformation continues to be used as a weapon in the war in #Gaza.

As part of its campaign to undermine & discredit @UNRWA, the Government of Israel has been buying ads on @Google to block users from giving donations to the Agency + undertake a…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 31, 2024

He accused the Israeli government of buying Google ads in an effort to block users from donating to the agency and to carry out a defamation campaign against UNRWA. "UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organization responding to the crisis in Gaza," Lazzarini noted, stressing that the campaign not only damages the agency’s reputation but also endangers the lives of its staff.

Lazzarini called for an end to these "deliberate efforts" to spread misinformation and urged for an investigation into the matter. He also criticized companies, including social media platforms, for profiting from the dissemination of disinformation, underscoring the need for stronger regulations to combat these practices.

"The spread of misinformation, disinformation has become a weapon of war," Juliette Touma, director of communications at UNRWA who was quoted in the WIRED piece, told The New Arab, referring to Israel's war on Gaza.

"This is part of a bigger effort to dismantle the agency, dismantle UNRWA."

By analysing user searches from May to July for over 300 terms related to UNRWA, data from UNRWA USA's Google Ads account revealed that Israeli ads appeared 44 percent of the time, and both Israeli and UNRWA USA ads were eligible to be shown.

UNRWA USA ads appeared in just 34 percent of eligible circumstances.

"We've seen quite a number of attempts, including a spread of misinformation and disinformation, and this story is only one of a much bigger campaign against the agency, where there is quite a lot of efforts to dismantle [UNRWA]," Touma tells The New Arab.

She added that the Israeli government was using Google as a "tool" to further its campaign.

A Google spokesperson defended this policy, in comments to The New Arab, saying: "Governments are allowed to run ads on Google and YouTube, as long as they adhere to our strict ads policies.

"These policies are publicly available and we enforce them consistently and without bias. If we find ads that violate those policies, we take swift action."

UNRWA is the largest humanitarian organisation providing aid to Gaza.

Israel Terrorist has long sought the closure of UNRWA, which is the only UN agency specifically mandated to address the basic needs of Palestinian refugees. Established by a UN resolution in 1949, UNRWA provides assistance and protection to refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the occupied West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.

Last month, the UN denounced an Israeli government spokesperson after he described Lazzarini as a “terrorist sympathiser”.

Putin-Biden video conference made clear US had no intent to continue dialogue — Kremlin

Russia's Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov
©Alexander Kazakov/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

The December 7 video conference conversation between Presidents of Russia and the United States was a harsh one, but it made clear that the United States have no intention to continue the dialogue, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.

"That was a harsh conversation on both sides, and uncompromising conversation on both sides," Peskov announced.

He underscored that, "there was a total deficit of readiness to continue the dialogue from the American side." According to the spokesman, it became clear that there was nothing to talk about with Washington.

Putin's Remarks About Biden True for VP Harris - Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent remark about the predictability of US President Joe Biden also applies to his vice president turned presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

Asked whether Russia would prefer to see Joe Biden or Donald Trump as the next US president, Putin described Biden as more preferable because he was more experienced and predictable.

"We do not have a favorite candidate, but the Democrats are certainly more predictable. What Putin said about Biden's predictability applies to almost all Democrats, including Mrs. Harris," Peskov said in a recorded interview published on social media.

Peskov lamented the state of US-Russian relations, saying tensions between the two were at their highest, having reached a breaking point under the Biden administration.

"They have reached the breaking point... The last drop fell," he said.

When asked about the future of Democrats' policy on Russia and the European Union, Peskov said it was also easy to predict. "It is all predictable. They will stick to the same policy toward us, they will predictably continue to put pressure on EU member states, and they will continue to enslave those countries politically and economically," he said.

US Involvement in Ukrainian Conflict

The United States is directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict, despite numerous statements to the contrary, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.

"The United States, despite many statements to the contrary, is directly involved in the conflict around Ukraine. It is demonstrating a tendency toward increasing the level of involvement in this conflict," Peskov said in a recorded interview published on Telegram on Sunday.

The spokesman accused Washington of "an undisguised hostile attitude" toward Russia. He said the US had spent decades piling pressure on Russia and trampling on its interests.

Trump Won't Solve All Problems Overnight

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will not be able to resolve all problems overnight if elected, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

"I do not think he has a magic wand or that anything can be done overnight," Peskov said in a recorded interview published on social media, commenting on Trump's campaign promises.

The Kremlin spokesman rejected as impossible speculations that a new US president could announce an end to US military support for Ukraine and call on the parties to sit down at the negotiating table in their inaugural speech in January 2025.

Peskov said relations between Russia and the United States had hit rock bottom under Biden and looked unsalvageable for the time being.

"Mr Biden's presidency has become the culmination of all processes in our bilateral relations. They are probably at their historic low at the moment," Peskov said, adding that so far, he had seen no prospects for them "entering a growth trajectory."

Israel Terrorist cuts water, power in Jenin, recovers bodies of 6 captives from Gaza

UN condemns Israel for wreaking “enormous destruction” in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, as Israeli Terrorist forces continued to lay siege to the area, leaving Palestinian residents without access to food, water, electricity and the internet.

The Israeli army blocked water trucks from reaching Jenin Government Hospital on Saturday, potentially disrupting kidney dialysis services for patients. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces stopped water tankers from the Jenin Civil Defense from reaching the hospital.

Dargham Zakarneh, director of the Jenin Civil Defense Center, said Israeli soldiers stationed at the hospital's gate blocked the water delivery.

Highlighting that the hospital's kidney dialysis department requires a daily 100 cubic meters of water to operate, he warned that blocking the trucks would bring dialysis services to a halt.

The Israeli army continued its military offensive in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp for the fourth consecutive day causing significant damage amid clashes that lasted throughout the night, according to eyewitnesses speaking to Anadolu.

Palestine TV broadcast videos showing the destruction in the city and its camp, including extensive damage in the eastern neighborhood, where attacks targeted shops, infrastructure, and the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque.

The television reported that the clashes expanded to the town of Kafr Dan west of Jenin, where the army besieged a house amid armed confrontations.

The Israeli army launched a large-scale operation in the northern West Bank cities of Tulkarm, Jenin, and Tubas early Wednesday, described as the "largest" since 2002.

On Friday, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced that the death toll in the northern West Bank since early Wednesday has risen to 20.

This is the fifth day of the military operation in Jenin. It happened suddenly so no one was prepared for it.

Now, many Palestinians are left without water and food.

We’ve been speaking to families who say that their children are waking up scared of the noise.

People cannot provide their loved ones with a sense of safety.

This is a reminder of what it means to be a Palestinian under military occupation. You have no control over your town, no control over your streets. You don’t know if you’re going to get home safely or even if your home is going to be spared.

Polio vaccination campaign officially begins: Gaza health official

Three health centres in Gaza have begun delivering polio vaccines to children on the first day of the campaign’s official rollout, according to a local health official quoted by AFP.

The campaign began at 9am (06:00 GMT) for children aged 10 and under, said Yasser Shaaban, medical director of al-Awda Hospital.

“There are a lot of drones flying over central Gaza and we hope this vaccination campaign for children will be calm,” said Shaaban.

The WHO said Israel has committed to daily pauses in fighting in areas where vaccines are being distributed in southern, central and northern Gaza, but PM Netanyahu has stressed such pauses do not amount to a full ceasefire during the rollout.

Three Israeli Officers Killed in Hebron

Three Israeli officers were killed in an armed operation at the Tarqumiya checkpoint west of the city of Hebron (Al-Khalil) in the occupied West Bank.

Two people, including a child, were killed and six Palestinians were injured as a result of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a house in Gaza City.

The bodies of the six Israeli captives were found in a tunnel in Rafah. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, three of them were on a list that Hamas agreed to release on July 2.

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WATCH Russian missiles wipe out Ukrainian armor column – reports

Russian forces have conducted a coordinated strike against a large gathering of Ukrainian reserve forces across the border from Russia’s Kursk Region, according to new video shared on social media by military bloggers.

Hostilities have been ongoing in the border areas of Russia’s Kursk since Kiev launched a major incursion earlier this month. While Ukrainian forces continue their attempts to push deeper into Russian territory, Moscow has sought to push them back while striking rear targets in Ukraine's adjacent Sumy Region.

On Saturday evening, a new video emerged purportedly showing one such strike targeting a column of Ukrainian reinforcements south of the city of Sumy, approximately 40 kilometers from the Russian border.

This week in the Ukraine conflict Russian surveillance reportedly discovered the enemy's rear reserves earlier in the day but decided to let them accumulate to inflict maximum possible damage, according to the Telegram channel NgP_raZVedka, which first shared the footage.

The strike was reportedly launched around 8pm on Saturday when up to 20 vehicles clumped together along a 600-meter stretch of road.

According to the surveillance drone footage, Russian forces conducted a combined strike, first hitting the column with two ballistic missiles, presumably Iskanders, equipped with cluster and high-explosive fragmentation warheads. Following that, the Ukrainian forces were apparently pounded by a salvo from a multiple launch rocket system.

The Defense Ministry has yet to officially confirm the latest strike. However, on Saturday morning, the Russian military reported the destruction of a “large warehouse with rocket and artillery weapons” in the same area.

In a video released by the Russian military, it was stated that the location was struck by a ballistic missile launched from an Iskander-M system, with the military claiming that surveillance confirmed “prolonged repeated detonations” at the facility and its subsequent “complete burnout.”

Russian Armed Forces liberate Kirovo settlement in Donetsk People’s Republic

Russian Armed Forces liberated the settlement of Kirovo in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Units of the Center battlegroup have actively liberated the settlement of Kirovo in the Donetsk People's Republic and continue to advance deep into the enemy's defenses," the ministry said.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 455 servicemen in one day in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Center battlegroup, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"The 44th mechanized, 95th airborne assault, 142nd infantry, and 71st hunter brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Grodovka, Kalinovo, Mykhailivka, Rozovka and Druzhba in the Donetsk People's Republic. Seven counter-attacks by the assault groups of the 32nd, 53rd mechanized, and 68th hunter brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 37th marine brigade were repelled. The enemy's losses amounted to 455 servicemen, one armored combat vehicle, three vehicles, two 152mm Msta-B guns, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, and one 105mm M101 howitzer," it said.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine also lost up to 125 servicemen and two vehicles in the Liptsov and Vovchansk directions in one day. "Units of Russia’s North battlegroup in the Liptsov and Vovchansk directions inflicted losses on formations of the 92nd Airborne Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 113th Territorial Defense Brigade in the area of the settlements of Alisovka and Vovchanskie Khutor in the Kharkov region. The enemy lost up to 125 servicemen and two vehicles," the ministry said.

Russia’s Air Defense System shot down four ATACMS operational-tactical missiles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Russia’s Air Defense System shot down four ATACMS operational-tactical missiles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in one day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Over the day, the air defense systems shot down four US ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six French Hammer guided air bombs, six Czech Vampire missiles, and 48 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

According to the ministry, since the beginning of the special military operation, a total of 641 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 30,749 unmanned aerial vehicles, 575 anti-aircraft missile systems, 17,790 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,433 multiple launch rocket system combat vehicles, 13,846 field artillery pieces and mortars, and 25,474 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed.

Russia’s Vostok group improves frontline situation, Ukraine loses up to 125 servicemen

Russia’s Vostok battlegroup improved the situation along the front line, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 125 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Units of the Vostok group of forces improved the situation along the forward edge, inflicted losses on the manpower and equipment of the 72nd mechanized, 58th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Vodyanoye and Ugledar of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said.

According to the report, "A counterattack by the assault group of the 31st mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was repelled. The enemy lost up to 125 servicemen, a tank, an armored combat vehicle, and four cars.".

Russia’s South group takes more advantageous positions, Ukraine loses up to 780 servicemen

Russia’s South battlegroup took more advantageous positions over the day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost up to 780 servicemen and one Uragan MLRS, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"The units of Russia’s South battlegroup took more advantageous positions, inflicted losses on the personnel and equipment of the 28th, 30th mechanized, 143rd infantry, and 56th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of the settlements of Chasov Yar, Zaliznyanskoye, Kurdyumovka and Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic. The counter-attack of the 24th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was repelled. The enemy has lost up to 780 servicemen," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian forces also lost a tank, a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, four vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer, a UK-made 155mm FH-70 howitzer, a 152mm D-20 gun, two 122mm D-30 howitzers, two US-made 105mm M119 guns, a 220mm Uragan multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle, and two electronic warfare stations. Two ammunition warehouses were also destroyed.

Ukrainian Armed Forces lose up to 460 servicemen in Russia’s West battlegroup’s zone

Russia’s West battlegroup has improved its tactical situation and the Armed Forces of Ukraine have lost up to 460 servicemen in its area of responsibility, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"The units of Russia’s West battlegroup improved their tactical position and defeated the forces and equipment of the 14th mechanized, 3rd assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 1st Brigade of the National Guard and the 119th Territorial Defense Brigade in the areas of the settlements of Petrovpavlovka, Lozovaya in the Kharkov region, Novovodanoye, Chervonay Dibrova in the Lugansk People's Republic, Grigorovka in the Donetsk People's Republic and Serebryanskoye forest. They repelled two counter-attacks by units of the 77th Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The enemy's losses amounted to 460 servicemen," the ministry said.

The ministry specified that the Ukrainian military lost two armored combat vehicles, six cars, a 152-mm howitzer Msta-B, a 105-mm gun M119, three electronic warfare stations Anklav-N. In addition, six field ammunition dumps were destroyed.

Ukrainian Armed Forces lose up to 455 servicemen in Russia’s Center battlegroup’s area

The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 455 servicemen in one day in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Center battlegroup, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"The 44th mechanized, 95th airborne assault, 142nd infantry, and 71st hunter brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Grodovka, Kalinovo, Mykhailivka, Rozovka and Druzhba in the Donetsk People's Republic. Seven counter-attacks by the assault groups of the 32nd, 53rd mechanized, and 68th hunter brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 37th marine brigade were repelled. The enemy's losses amounted to 455 servicemen, one armored combat vehicle, three vehicles, two 152mm Msta-B guns, three 122mm D-30 howitzers, and one 105mm M101 howitzer," it said.

Russia’s Dnepr battlegroup defeats four Ukrainian brigades

Russia’s Dnepr battlegroup defeated four brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in one day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

"Units of the Dnepr battlegroup inflicted losses on the formations of the 65th mechanized, 141st infantry, 128th mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the 39th coastal defense brigade in the areas of the settlements of Novodanilovka, Orekhov, Nesteryanka in the Zaporozhye region, Kazatskoe, Sadovoe in the Kherson region, and the city of Kherson. The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 80 servicemen, eight vehicles, a 155mm M777 self-propelled howitzer, a 155mm AS-90 self-propelled artillery gun, and an electronic warfare station," the statement said.

The ministry noted that two ammunition warehouses and a warehouse with military-technical items of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also destroyed.

Japan Typhoon Shanshan At least 6 dead And Thousands cheer on defiant palm tree

High waves brought on by Typhoon Shanshan hit a coastal area Wednesday in Ibusuki, Japan. (Hidetaka Komukai/Kyodo News/AP)

Tropical Storm Shanshan is heading slowly eastward across Japan, bringing record rainfall to wide areas. The Meteorological Agency says bands of heavy rainclouds that cause torrential rain could occur Saturday night over the regions of Tokai and Kanto-Koshin - including Tokyo.

At least six people were dead as Typhoon Shanshan crept eastward through Japan on Saturday, drenching large areas with torrential rain, triggering landslide and flood warnings hundreds of kilometres from the storm's centre.

Footage on national broadcaster NHK showed homes with roofs partly sheered off while cars drove wheels-deep on flooded roads in the country's southwest. The storm made landfall in Kyushu on Thursday, bringing record levels of rainfall.

One person was missing and more than 100 have been injured, said Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency. More than 35,000 homes were without power in southern Kyushu's Kagoshima prefecture, according to Kyushu Electric.

Shanshan, centred in the Pacific Ocean some 480 km (300 miles) southwest of Tokyo at 12:50 p.m. (0350 GMT), triggered heavy rain as far away as the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, despite being downgraded to a tropical storm on Friday. Winds were gusting up to 25 metres per second (90 kph, 55 mph).

Authorities have issued flood and landslide warnings around the country since the storm's arrival, halting air and rail services and shutting factories. The storm is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression over the weekend but is expected to continue to bring heavy rain, NHK reported.

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Rainfall is forecast to reach up to 400 millimeters in Tokai during the 24 hours through Sunday evening, up to 300 millimeters in Kanto-Koshin, 200 millimeters in Kinki.

Shanshan has caused at least six deaths. More than 120 people around Japan have been injured. Several prefectures have issued alerts for landslides.

As the storm approached, the almost 12-hour stream by a Japanese weather station captured the lanky tree on the coast of Kyushu, the country’s southwestern-most main island, whipping back and forth violently — but never toppling. The dramatic display of resilience won the hearts of thousands online, many of whom flooded the comments to root for the tree — known affectionately as “Yasshi” — to survive.

“Endure!” and “Hold on Yasshi!” some cheered. “Extreme guts,” another wrote. More than one commenter even confessed that they were losing sleep over whether Yasshi would pull through — never mind the typhoon barreling toward them. Another likened the footage, which shows Yasshi illuminated brightly against a dark landscape, to a Rembrandt painting.

Still, on Thursday, many eyes were on the defiant palm tree. At one point, more than 12,000 people were watching Yasshi’s fight in real time, according to Jeffrey J. Hall, a Japan-based researcher who shared the stream on social media. The footage now has 1.5 million views.

One poetic comment got at what may have compelled so many: “Flexibility overcomes strength,” it read, framing the swaying tree as an underdog — a David to Shanshan’s Goliath.

The storm is expected to gradually weaken and turn into a tropical depression on Monday. But people are advised to be on the alert for heavy rain.

The operator of Tokaido Shinkansen, linking Tokyo and Osaka, has suspended all train services between Mishima and Nagoya stations for Saturday and Sunday.

The operator says the bullet train at other sections could also be suspended, depending on the rain volume.

The Sanyo Shinkansen, linking Osaka and Fukuoka, is running with services reduced.

Major air carriers, including All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, have canceled dozens of flights, most of which were to and from airports in the Kyushu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

Some sections of expressways across the country are also closed. Highway operators are calling on motorists to consider changing their schedules and to check the latest road information, as traffic restrictions may be widely imposed for extended periods.