Thousands ordered to evacuate as Hawaii hit by severe flash floods

Officials warn some residents could be trapped by rising waters as Wahiawā dam on Oahu ‘may collapse at any time’

Towering flash floods and an imminent dam failure in the northern part of Oahu triggered evacuation warnings in Hawaii on Friday, as the state continued contending with a powerful storm this week.

The waters came on quickly in the middle of the night, and videos on social media captured inundated streets and cars being swallowed by the muddy floodwaters.

Continue reading...

Donald Trump ‘very surprised’ Australia declined to send troops to strait of Hormuz amid fuel crisis

US president claims he ‘always says yes’ to Australia, Japan and South Korea, after saying he didn’t need help from trio of countries earlier this week

Donald Trump says he is “very surprised” Australia has not sent warships to aid in opening the strait of Hormuz as the blockade of the key strategic route for global oil supply continues to affect fuel prices.

“I was very surprised,” the US president said in Washington on Friday when asked what he took issue with regarding Japan, South Korea and Australia.

Continue reading...

Bill to fund US homeland security fails again as concern grows about airport lines

Proposal fails to advance in Senate amid growing concerns about long lines to get through screening at some airports

A bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security failed to advance on Friday in the Senate amid growing concerns about long lines to get through screening at some of the country’s biggest airports.

Democrats declined to provide the support needed to move the funding measure toward final passage. Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said he would offer an alternative measure on Saturday to fund just the Transportation Security Administration, which screens passengers and luggage for hazardous items. That too is likely to fail as lawmakers hold a rare weekend session.

Continue reading...

US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in bid to ease supply pressures

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent says move will bring 140m barrels to market but insists Tehran will not benefit

The Trump administration has issued a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Iranian oil at sea to ease energy supply pressures since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said.

It is the third time the US has temporarily waived sanctions in about two weeks.

Continue reading...

Aid Ship Departs for Cuba as Island Grapples With a Fuel Blockade – The New York Times

  1. Aid Ship Departs for Cuba as Island Grapples With a Fuel Blockade  The New York Times
  2. Tons of aid flows into Cuba as humanitarian convoy arrives on the struggling island  AP News
  3. Volunteers in Mexico load boats with aid for energy‑strapped Cuba  Reuters
  4. Tons of supplies being sent to Cuba on humanitarian trip from South Florida  CBS News
  5. Brazil Sends Food, Medicine to Cuba as Crisis Deepens  Bloomberg.com
Posted in Uncategorized

It’s looking like Trump’s war created a private oil lane for China and other countries willing to play ball with Iran – Fortune

  1. It's looking like Trump's war created a private oil lane for China and other countries willing to play ball with Iran  Fortune
  2. War in Iran Reveals Strait of Hormuz’s Weakness as an Oil Bottleneck  The New York Times
  3. Why Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz matters  Brookings
  4. Iran does not need to close the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt it  Al Jazeera
  5. Iran Unwilling to Talk About Opening Strait of Hormuz While Under Attack  Bloomberg.com
Posted in Uncategorized

How Trump’s stated reasons, goals and timeline for Iran war have shifted – Reuters

  1. How Trump's stated reasons, goals and timeline for Iran war have shifted  Reuters
  2. Three weeks in, Iran war escalates beyond Trump's control  Reuters
  3. Congress Looks for Trump's Exit Plan as the Iran War Drags On  U.S. News & World Report
  4. Trump Had No Plan B for Iran  The Atlantic
  5. Analysis: Trump faces legacy-defining dilemmas in Iran | CNN Politics  CNN
Posted in Uncategorized

Three San Diego warships carrying 2,500 Camp Pendleton Marines en route to Middle East – San Diego Union-Tribune

  1. Three San Diego warships carrying 2,500 Camp Pendleton Marines en route to Middle East  San Diego Union-Tribune
  2. US Sends Another 2,500 Marines to Iran as Ground Option Emerges in War  Military.com
  3. US to deploy thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, officials say  Reuters
  4. 2nd Marine Expeditionary Unit of around 2,200 Marines, 3 warships headed to Middle East as Iran war continues  CBS News
  5. 2,200 more Marines, 3 Navy ships likely headed to Middle East: Officials  abcnews.com
Posted in Uncategorized