Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor-Johnston.
President Trump is urging U.S. allies and other nations to send warships to the
Strait of Hormuz. NPR's Arzu Rezvani reports Iran has been blocking the strait where a much of the world's oil supplies typically pass. President Trump wants China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and other nations to send
“their warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route.”
The UK's Defense Ministry says it's exploring its options, but so far no country has committed to Trump's call. Since the start of the war, Iran has blocked some oil tankers and attacked cargo vessels trying to pass through the strait, which has led to a huge spike in global oil prices. Nearly a fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes through this vital oil export
route.
The water's off Iran's coast have become a strategic battleground in the war, the U.S. bombed
military targets on Iran's Hark Island Saturday. Since that the U.S. might hit the island again, quote, "just for fun," if Iran continues interfering with ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Arzu Rezvani and PR News are B.L. and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. President Trump is scrambling to ease rising oil prices as Americans feel the impact at
the pump. The national average for gasoline is now about 367 a gallon, out more than 70 cents since the fighting in the Middle East began.
“Economist Diane Swang says higher energy prices are rippling across the entire economy.”
We're seeing everything from freight shipping costs to transportation costs, prices at the gas pumps, to what you will see at the grocery store. Everything that gets moved is going to be affected by these prices. Last week, President Trump reversed course, lifting sanctions on Russian oil in an attempt to bring down rising energy prices.
Now Kurds day Rally went ahead and Toronto on Saturday. The international day of protest is traditionally held on the last day of Ramadan to show solidarity with Palestinians. Dan Carp and Chuck reports that was after a judge threw out an injunction request from the Ontario government to prevent the demonstration from taking place.
The judge's decision came Saturday afternoon, less than an hour before the Al Quds rally was set to begin. The Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government filed an application seeking to block the rally. Ford said he was extremely disappointed with the ruling.
“On Friday, Ford had said the Al Quds day has long been a venue for anti-Semitism, hatred,”
intimidation, and the glorification of terrorism. There were some tense moments, especially during a counter-demonstration, but a heavy police presence appear to prevent any major confrontations, at least two people were arrested. A lawyer for the rally organizers said the injunction application was an absurd attempt to abrogate the rights of freedom of speech in assembly, for MPR News I'm Dan Carp and Chuck
and Toronto. They're listening to MPR News from Washington. The Academy Awards will be handed out tonight in Los Angeles. The film, one battle after another, has dominated the award season and is widely expected to win several top prizes.
A large late winter storm system is expected to hit the central U.S. starting today, MPR's map loom reports residents across the Upper Midwest could see Blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service says heavy and blowing snow and freezing cold will disrupt travel for millions across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region through late Monday. Gusti Winds are bringing elevated fire risk to the southern plains.
And farther southeast, harsh winds and severe weather could extend through the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and deep south. The storm is the latest part of a busy mid-march weather pattern for the U.S. and unusually early heat wave is settling over the southwest, bringing highs 10 to 20 degrees above normal through the week.
And in Hawaii, tens of thousands of residents remain without power after torrential rainfall hit the island chain. Matt Bloom and PR News. Step powerful storm system continues to linger over Hawaii this weekend. Orcasters say flash flood warnings remain in effect across several islands as heavy
rain continues to lash the island chain. A slow-moving storm is also bringing dangerous flooding, strong winds and thunderstorms statewide. Honolulu has recorded more than 10 inches of rain since Tuesday on average the city records about 2.3 inches.
I'm Mr. Johnston and PR News in Washington Kenypon, just hired a new chef, who is very consistent.
So for he never came late, I asked him for overtime, he never said no to me.
Does he never complain? Never complain. That new hire is a robot. Robots are coming for the restaurant industry. What that means for the food we eat.
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