Politics

James Comey, our former F.B.I. director, was indicted today by the Trump administration.

President Trump announced plans on Saturday to send federal troops into Portland, Ore., referring to the city as 'war-ravaged.'

President Trump on Saturday ordered the Defense Department to deploy troops to Portland to secure the city.

Over the weekend, President Trump announced he’s sending troops to Portland, Ore., to protect I.C.E. facilities under attack by Antifa.

Deschutes and Jefferson Counties downgraded Level 3 (go now) evacuation orders on Thursday as firefighters made 'significant progress' on fire lines.

Leaders of G7 nations met on Monday to discuss plans to reverse the sharp rise in global energy prices after the international benchmark Brent crude, climbed by almost a third to highs of $119.50 a barrel.

The White House agreed last week to temporarily waive its sanctions to allow India to buy Russian oil stranded at sea.

Hundreds of tankers hoping to cross the strait have come to a halt after the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps threatened to “set ablaze” any vessel using the trade route, effectively deterring all but the most reckless.

The Tehran regime has weaponised geography in retaliation for the attacks by the US and Israel.

The situation prompted the U.S. to grant a sanction waiver on Indian buyers of crude, so they could absorb some Russian crude sitting on tankers in the waters of the coast of Asia.

There are several dozen tankers stranded near Hormuz, some have become the target of attacks, and insurers have pulled war insurance, contributing to the paralysis of energy trade in the world’s biggest oil-producing region.

Announcements by the U.S. president that the federal government would step in to provide insurance coverage have yet to have an effect.

President Trump also said the U.S. Navy would escort tankers in the strait earlier this week but soon after took it back, after the Navy itself said there was “no chance” of such escorts, per a Lloyd’s List report.

There has been no formal declaration for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This represents a near-total temporary pause in routine commercial traffic, resulting from ongoing regional conflict dynamics involving Iran, including warnings against transits by U.S., Israeli, European, and allied vessels.

A senior Iranian military official threatened this week to “set on fire” any ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Trump signaled that the United States would target Iran’s ability to project power at sea.

A U.S. official said there was no evidence Iran was attempting a military blockade of the waterway.

To close the Strait of Hormuz completely would be difficult for Iran, as it would require a continuous military presence.

Historically, we have more often seen harassment, seizures and selective targeting of vessels rather than a prolonged, absolute shutdown of traffic.