Washington, DC CNN — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it will pause its rate hikes, keeping its benchmark lending rate at a 22-year high, while signaling fewer rate cuts next year. The move was widely expected, after the central bank signaled in recent weeks that it intended to wait for more data to understand how … Read more
CNN — Dozens of firefighters are working to put out a blaze that is burning at an oil depot in St. Petersburg, Russian authorities said. Videos from the area posted on social media show a large plume of black smoke rising as explosions ring out. The fire was first reported at 10:59 a.m. local time, … Read more
CNN — When Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida Wednesday morning, it became the eighth major hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast in the last six years. And it may not be the last; Atlantic hurricane season hasn’t yet peaked, and the Gulf of Mexico has been historically warm – more energy to fuel more deadly … Read more
CNN — Fire crews have contained a large fire at a refinery storage tank in Garyville, Louisiana, about 40 miles west of New Orleans, authorities said. A mandatory evacuation order put in place Friday morning within a two-mile radius around the facility was lifted in the afternoon by St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn … Read more
CNN — More than half a million homes and businesses are without power in parts of Michigan and Ohio overnight into Friday as a forceful round of severe thunderstorms has brought heavy rains, strong winds and at least one confirmed tornado to the region. The storms marched from southern Michigan into Ohio overnight, threatening powerful … Read more
CNN — Japan on Thursday began releasing treated radioactive wastewater from its Fukushima nuclear plant, sparking a fiery tirade from China which described operation as a “selfish and irresponsible act”. The release is part of a controversial plan that has met fierce objections from many consumers as well as some regional countries, with Beijing leading … Read more
Tokyo CNN — Japan will begin releasing treated radioactive water from Fukushima into the ocean as early as Thursday, officials announced on Tuesday, following months of heightened public anxiety and pushback from many neighboring countries. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said authorities would go forward with the release on August 24 “if they encounter no obstacles.” … Read more