International

Floods of fury in New Mexico, Texas, harvest of deaths, destruction

Published

9 months ago

July 10, 2025

Floods of fury in New Mexico, Texas, harvest of deaths, destruction

Eddie Gutierrez looked out the window of his brewery as the river turned into a raging torrent and swept away his neighbour’s house.

Three people, including two children, were killed in Tuesday afternoon’s floods in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and numerous properties were destroyed.

But the village was prepared, Mr Gutierrez said, with flood experts already on the ground and plans in place.

By next morning the sun was shining, and the town was “almost business as usual”.

“It’s a hard thing to see that and then the next day is almost completely normal, it’s almost as if it didn’t happen,” he told the BBC.

The neighbouring state of Texas also experienced a major flood just a few days earlier, but with a very different outcome.

The ferocity of the inundation in Texas caught forecasters and state officials by surprise, killing at least 119 people.

In Ruidoso on Tuesday, up to 3.5in (8.8cm) of rain fell, sending water hurtling down the surrounding mountainside and swelling the river to a record high above 20ft, before a swathe of the village was flooded.

The area surrounding Ruidoso was already vulnerable to flooding because of wildfires that hit New Mexico last summer.

Two people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed as the South Fork and Salt fires swept through Ruidoso in June 2024.

Residents were forced to evacuate as the conflagrations burned 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of land on either side of the village.

Days later, residents faced the one-two punch of devastating flooding.

Homes surrounding Mr Gutierrez’s brewery were among properties still vacant after those wildfires last year. The house that he saw floating down the river on Tuesday afternoon was one of many that had been left empty after the wildfires.

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Local officials are well aware that “burn scars” – areas of vegetation that no long absorb rainfall – are likely to cause more flooding in an area for years after fires.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said two “burn scars” around Ruidoso would make the charred soil left behind from the wildfires “as water-repellent as a pavement”.

Tuesday’s flooding was more of that side effect.

“These floods were expected, we knew they would come and they did,” Mr Gutierrez said.

When a community is familiar with weather risks, they adapt, notes Upmanu Lall, director of the Water Institute at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University.

“The way human nature works, is that if they’ve experienced a event recently that informs the response,” he told the BBC.

“If your experience is you got hit with a flood, you probably will evacuate, if you keep getting warnings and nothing happens, you’re unlikely to evacuate.”

One state over, in Texas, the flooding caught many unawares.

One reason was the sheer, staggering volume of rainfall – an estimated 100bn gallons, surpassing the daily flow over Niagara Falls.

The catastrophe unfolded before daybreak last Friday as the Guadalupe River rose 26ft (8m) in the span of just 45 minutes while young children and staff at summer camps were asleep as weather alerts were being sent.

Search crews in Texas are still sifting through debris for scores of missing people.

Experts have said there were a number of factors that led to the tragic floods in Texas, including the pre-dawn timing, the location of some homes and the extreme weather.

Questions have been raised about whether authorities provided adequate flood warnings before the disaster, and why people were not evacuated earlier.

“We didn’t even have a warning,” Joe Herring, the mayor of badly hit Kerrville, Texas, told CNN.

Floods of fury in New Mexico, Texas, harvest of deaths, destruction

BBC

International

World Leaders Gather in Paris Over Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Published

13 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

World Leaders Gather in Paris Over Strait of Hormuz Crisis

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will this Friday co-host an emergency international summit in Paris aimed at securing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, following escalating tensions that have disrupted one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

The announcement by Downing Street comes amid growing global concern over the closure of the narrow maritime passage, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and serves as a vital route for nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Rising Tensions and Global Impact

The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has intensified in recent days, with heightened military posturing and reported threats to commercial shipping raising fears of a broader regional conflict. Although officials have yet to publicly confirm the precise trigger for the disruption, analysts point to ongoing geopolitical friction involving Iran and Western allies.

Energy markets have already begun reacting, with oil prices experiencing volatility amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions. Industry experts warn that any sustained blockage could trigger inflationary pressures globally, affecting fuel prices, manufacturing, and food supply chains.

Focus of the Paris Summit

Diplomatic sources indicate that the Paris summit will bring together leaders from Europe, the Middle East, and key global stakeholders, including representatives from maritime security alliances.

Top on the agenda will be:

Immediate de-escalation of tensions in the Gulf
Coordinated naval security to protect commercial vessels
Diplomatic engagement with regional actors
Frameworks to guarantee long-term stability in the waterway

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A joint UK-French statement emphasized the urgency of collective action, noting that “freedom of navigation is essential to global economic stability.”

Strategic Importance of the Strait

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most geopolitically sensitive chokepoints in the world. At its narrowest, it is just about 33 kilometers wide, yet it handles massive daily shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas from major producers such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates.

Any disruption to this route not only threatens energy security but also risks drawing in global powers with strategic interests in the region.

International Reactions

Several governments have expressed support for the initiative by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, describing the summit as a critical step toward preventing further escalation.

The United Nations has also called for restraint and dialogue, urging all parties to prioritize diplomatic solutions over confrontation.

Outlook

While expectations remain cautious, diplomats say the summit could serve as a turning point in easing tensions and restoring safe passage through the Strait. However, much will depend on the willingness of key regional actors to engage constructively.

With global markets on edge and geopolitical risks mounting, Friday’s meeting in Paris is being closely watched as a test of international cooperation in the face of a rapidly evolving crisis.

World Leaders Gather in Paris Over Strait of Hormuz Crisis

International

Pope Leo XIV Rejects Trump Criticism, Says “I Am Not Afraid of the US President”

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV Rejects Trump Criticism, Says “I Am Not Afraid of the US President”

Pope Leo XIV has pushed back against criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, insisting he will not be intimidated and reaffirming his global calls for peace amid rising international tensions.

The pontiff made the remarks on Monday while speaking to journalists aboard a papal aircraft en route to Algiers, the first stop on his Africa diplomatic tour, where he is expected to hold meetings focused on interfaith dialogue, migration, and conflict resolution across the continent.

Responding to Trump’s recent comments, Pope Leo said his appeals for peace were not political attacks but part of his spiritual mission.

“The things I say are not meant as attacks on anyone,” he said. “I am not a politician. I am inviting all people to look for ways of building bridges of peace and reconciliation, of looking for ways to avoid war any time that’s possible.”

He added firmly: “I am not afraid of the Trump administration.”

The comments come after Trump, speaking on his Truth Social platform, criticised the Pope’s foreign policy stance, accusing him of being overly critical of U.S. positions on global security issues. Trump also suggested that Leo’s election as pope was influenced by expectations that a U.S.-born pontiff would handle relations with him more effectively.

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“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote, also arguing that he does not support any global leadership approach that would tolerate Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

During the in-flight press briefing, Pope Leo reaffirmed that his role is guided by the teachings of the Gospel, not political alignment.

“The message of the Gospel is very clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers,’” he said. “I will not shy away from announcing the message of the Gospel.”

He rejected attempts to frame his remarks as political confrontation with the U.S. administration, stressing that the Church’s mission is centered on peacebuilding, reconciliation, and humanitarian concerns.

“To put my message on the same plane as what the president has attempted to do here is not understanding what the message of the Gospel is,” he added. “I am sorry to hear that, but I will continue with what I believe is the mission of the Church in the world today.”

The exchange has drawn global attention, highlighting growing tensions between religious leadership and political rhetoric amid ongoing conflicts in several regions worldwide. Vatican officials have not issued any additional statement beyond the Pope’s in-flight remarks, while the White House has also not released an official response.

The Pope’s Africa visit is expected to continue with engagements focused on peace advocacy, religious cooperation, and discussions on global stability.

Pope Leo XIV Rejects Trump Criticism, Says “I Am Not Afraid of the US President”

International

Trump Claims 158 Iranian Ships Destroyed as US Enforces Naval Blockade in Gulf Region

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Claims 158 Iranian Ships Destroyed as US Enforces Naval Blockade in Gulf Region

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s naval forces have been “completely obliterated,” alleging that 158 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed, while issuing a fresh warning that any remaining ships approaching the U.S.-enforced blockade will be “immediately eliminated.”

Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, where he stated that Iran’s navy had been “laid at the bottom of the sea,” adding that only a small number of fast-attack boats remain operational. He warned that any such vessels nearing the blockade zone would face an “immediate” and decisive military response.

The statement comes as the United States begins full enforcement of a naval blockade on Iran, confirmed by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), covering key maritime zones including the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and approaches to the Strait of Hormuz.

According to CENTCOM, the operation—activated at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time—is aimed at restricting all maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports and coastal waters. Officials said the move is part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme and regional activities.

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The U.S. military further stated that the blockade applies to all vessels attempting to access Iranian ports regardless of nationality, while allowing monitored passage through international shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic oil routes.

The escalation reportedly follows the collapse of weekend diplomatic negotiations held in Pakistan, where U.S. and Iranian representatives failed to reach a de-escalation agreement.

Trump’s latest comments combined updated claims of Iranian naval losses with a renewed warning that any surviving fast-attack craft would be “immediately eliminated” if they challenge U.S. forces enforcing the blockade.

Global oil markets reacted sharply to the developments, with reports indicating that crude prices surged above $100 per barrel amid fears of disruption to global energy supplies passing through the Middle East.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of global oil trade flows, remains the central flashpoint in the crisis, with analysts warning that any sustained disruption could trigger a wider global energy shock.

Iran has not yet issued an official response to the blockade or Trump’s latest claims. However, Iranian authorities have previously warned that any attempt to restrict its maritime access would be considered a violation of sovereignty and could provoke retaliation.

International observers have expressed concern over the rapid escalation, warning that heightened naval deployments by both sides could increase the risk of direct confrontation in the Gulf region.

Military activity in the area remains ongoing, and officials say the situation is still evolving with further developments expected.