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Imminent Dam Failure in Hawaii Prompts Urgent Evacuation Order for Thousands

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Imminent Dam Failure in Hawaii Prompts Urgent Evacuation Order for Thousands

A critical situation is unfolding in Hawaii as relentless downpours threaten the stability of a key dam, prompting urgent evacuation alerts for thousands of residents.

The Wahiawa Dam, located on Oahu, is facing an ‘imminent risk of failure,’ warns the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.

Should the dam give way, it poses a significant threat of rapid, hazardous flooding in downstream areas, particularly affecting the North Shore communities of Haleiwa and Waialua.

As of 9 a.m. local time (3 p.m. ET), evacuation orders remain in effect on Oahu. Officials are advising residents to quickly gather family and pets and evacuate without delay.

Residents are encouraged to assist neighbors if it is safe to do so, ensuring they are aware of the alert, but to avoid spending time collecting personal items.

The evacuation order applies to anyone currently in Haleiwa between Puuiki Street and Kamehameha Highway and areas of Waialua between Kukea Circle to Otake Camp. 

According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the downpours have caused the water level in the Wahiawa reservoir to rise to over 85 feet. That amount is well above the normal spillway level of about 80 feet.

Hawaii has been inundated with rain from a pair of heavy storm systems known as ‘Kona lows’ which have dumped between eight and 12 inches of rain in certain areas over the last day.

The Wahiawa Dam in Oahu (Pictured) is at 'imminent risk of failure' due to rising water levels at the Wahiawa reservoir and heavy downpours

The Wahiawa Dam in Oahu (Pictured) is at ‘imminent risk of failure’ due to rising water levels at the Wahiawa reservoir and heavy downpours

The Wahiawa Dam on the island of Oahu is at an 'imminent risk of failure' according to the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.

The Wahiawa Dam on the island of Oahu is at an ‘imminent risk of failure’ according to the Oahu Department of Emergency Management.

Hawaiian officials updated earlier reports that the Wahiawa Dam already failed, but still pleaded with residents to leave the area at once.

‘Wahiawa Dam has not failed but is at imminent risk of failure. Potential life-threatening flooding of downstream areas,’ Oahu Emergency Management posted online Friday.

Residents fleeing the area have been advised to carpool if possible as traffic during the evacuation has been extremely heavy.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu has also issued a flash flood warning for all of Honolulu County.

Nearly one million people live in the county, which encompasses the entire island of Oahu, and that number quickly grows to more than 1.1million after accounting for tourists visiting Hawaii.

Honolulu officials warned in a statement at 4.37pm ET: ‘Radar indicated heavy rain continuing to move over east Oahu. Rain was falling at a rate of 1 to 2.5 inches per hour.’

‘Flash flooding is ongoing, especially in and around Honolulu, with flowing water on roadways and stalled vehicles.’

On X, emergency management officials urged anyone in the affected area to immediately move to higher ground and avoid traveling through flooded areas or roadways.

Thousands of residents in Hawaii have been urged to gather their families and leave their homes immediately before the Wahiawa Dam fails

Thousands of residents in Hawaii have been urged to gather their families and leave their homes immediately before the Wahiawa Dam fails

If the dam breaks, officials warned that it could lead to life-threatening floods Haleiwa and Waialua (Seen in Red) on the Island of Oahu's North Shore.

If the dam breaks, officials warned that it could lead to life-threatening floods Haleiwa and Waialua (Seen in Red) on the Island of Oahu’s North Shore.

While residents in Honolulu, on the southern part of the island, have been urged to seek higher ground, the situation is becoming extremely dire for Hawaiians in the north – where the Wahiawa Dam is located.

‘This is a FLASH FLOOD EMERGENCY for Northern Oahu,’ Honolulu County officials declared at 5pm ET. 

Several public roads are expected to be closed Friday, and landslides are feared along areas with steep terrain.

‘Significant property damage expected to homes and other properties in low lying areas,’ officials warned.

All of the rain and flooding ravaging Hawaii has come from a rare double hit from Kona lows.

These are unusual winter weather systems that bring heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and flooding by pulling in tropical moisture from the south instead of the usual trade winds from the east.

Hawaii has been experiencing a heavy storm system called a 'Kona low' that has produced eight to 12 inches of rain in some areas

Hawaii has been experiencing a heavy storm system called a ‘Kona low’ that has produced eight to 12 inches of rain in some areas

The first powerful Kona storm hit Hawaii from March 10 to March 16, dumping record amounts of rain, including up to 46 inches in some spots, such as Maui and parts of Oahu.

However, AccuWeather meteorologists have warned that this second Kona storm, which began on Thursday, could quickly lead to devastating damage on Oahu because the ground is still saturated from the earlier storm.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson warned: ‘The ground is still saturated in the wake of the recent storm, which will lead to rapid runoff that can easily trigger small stream and urban flooding, as well as increase the risk of mudslides and debris flows.’

Exclusive: SLOMW Cast’s Leaked Audio Reveals Concerns Over Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Woes

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Exclusive: SLOMW Cast’s Leaked Audio Reveals Concerns Over Taylor Frankie Paul’s Legal Woes

An audio recording obtained by NBC News reveals that members of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives cast voiced their worries about Taylor Frankie Paul during a Zoom call with ABC executives on March 7. Simultaneously, a district attorney commented on Taylor’s probationary situation, while her former partner, Dakota Mortensen, publicly addressed his request for a restraining order against her.

Audio Recording Allegedly Shows That SLOMW Cast Voiced Concerns about Taylor Frankie Paul to ABC Execs in March 7 Zoom Call, Plus DA Addresses Her Probation Status, and Dakota Speaks Out

Credit: Disney/Fred Hayes, Instagram

On March 19, a video from 2023 emerged, depicting Taylor hurling chairs at Dakota, who pleaded with her to cease. The situation escalated when one chair hit her daughter, causing her to cry. Taylor subsequently admitted guilt to charges of aggravated assault against Dakota. The indictment noted that her daughter was inadvertently struck during the conflict, with Dakota being the father of Taylor’s youngest child.

Following the video’s release, ABC decided to cancel the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which was scheduled to air on Sunday. In response, Taylor has alleged that Dakota was abusive towards her.

A spokesperson from the Draper Police Department recently confirmed an ongoing investigation into a “domestic assault” involving a different incident between Taylor and Dakota that allegedly took place in February. Reports suggest that Taylor attempted to choke Dakota during this encounter. As the controversy unfolds, the SLOMW castmates have opted to pause the filming of their new season.

Recently, a Draper Police Department spokesperson confirmed that there’s an ongoing “domestic assault investigation” concerning a separate incident that allegedly occurred between Taylor and Dakota in February. According to one report, she allegedly tried to choke him. Amid the controversy, the SLOMW castmates decided to pause filming for the new season.

NBC News obtained audio indicating that the SLOMW co-stars had a nearly 30-minute Zoom call with ABC execs on March 7 after the incident concerning Taylor and Dakota. According to the outlet, castmates told the execs that they were concerned about continuing to film SLOMW if Taylor stayed involved.

In the Zoom meeting, castmates expressed concern for their future careers, as well as SLOMW’s brand. The stars brought up the allegations of abuse regarding Taylor. One castmate claimed they weren’t comfortable shooting scenes while Taylor is still under investigation.

“It’s a dangerous situation, it’s a sad situation, and we don’t know how to navigate it, because Taylor is our friend,” said a cast member in the meeting.

An insider told the outlet, “The purpose of the March 7 Zoom was to tell ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ cast that we care about their safety, and they should not feel pressured to do press or film the show.”

“The production company engaged a seasoned law firm to conduct an investigation of the competing and conflicting allegations that Taylor and Dakota had toward one another,” the insider continued, “and it would have been inappropriate to engage in a dialogue regarding an ongoing investigation.”

The source who shared the audio claimed that three Disney execs attended the meeting, one of whom was Rob Mills, an executive VP of unscripted and alternative entertainment.

Per the recording, the cast discussed Taylor’s alleged behavior. At one point, Rob stated in the meeting, “I don’t know a lot, nor do I want to know too much.”

The insider shared that Rob couldn’t discuss the investigation.

“This is not me putting my head in the sand, but it’s not me — you know, I don’t want to inquire, because I don’t know what that does,” Rob said later on.

Multiple co-stars mentioned “upsetting” and “distressing” videos of Taylor’s alleged behavior, though they didn’t show the videos or reveal details in the meeting. One castmate said it’s “concerning” that nobody at Hulu or Disney appeared to want to find out what happened in these videos.

In the call, a cast member asked Rob if he was “aware [that Taylor has] hurt a child?” Rob responded, “I don’t think for us getting into it is right.” Later, he said the company is “never going to hide anything that is wrong for the sake of business.”

Rob encouraged the cast to discuss their concerns on SLOMW, but he didn’t promise that it wouldn’t be edited out. Castmates also voiced their concern about Taylor having a higher salary, though Rob denied it.

The audio indicated that the cast agreed to stop filming until the legal situation plays out.

“I want this to continue, and I want everyone to continue really being successful, both with this show and beyond it,” Rob said at one point. “But I think really, just navigating through this thing and taking care of each other is the most important thing right now.”

Rob didn’t respond immediately to the outlet’s request for a comment. Disney reps declined to give additional statements regarding the subject.

Meanwhile, a Salt Lake County district attorney addressed whether the recent assault allegations against Taylor could mean that she violated her probation from the 2023 case.

“We have received the police report for the new allegations, and it is our understanding the case is being screened by the Draper City prosecutor,” said D.A. Sim Gill to TMZ. “We requested the police report so our prosecutors could evaluate how those new allegations may affect the case for which the defendant is currently on probation.”

Around the same time, Dakota spoke out after he filed for the restraining order.

“As anyone who has seen the video will understand, this is a deeply upsetting situation,” stated Dakota to Entertainment Weekly via a statement. “I am, unfortunately, used to these baseless claims about me and our relationship, which I categorically deny. I am focusing on our son and his safety, and hope that Taylor will do the same.”

California School District Invests $270K in Innovative Rap Education Program

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California School District Invests $270K in Innovative Rap Education Program

Controversy has erupted in California as one of the state’s most challenged school districts allocates nearly $300,000 to teach students how to rap, sparking concerns among diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) observers.

In January, the Merced City School District, located in the Central Valley and noted for its below-average test scores, entered into a $270,000 contract with School Yard Rap. This Fresno-based organization promotes a unique educational approach it calls “edutainment.”

The agreements include a summer “Rap Camp” and an “African American Affinity Group,” limited to 100 African American students. This has prompted discussions about whether such programs adhere to federal legal standards.

Erika Sanzi, the senior director of communications at the advocacy group Defending Education, which monitors equity-oriented initiatives in schools, commented, “Schools cannot include or exclude students from programs and activities based on race or ethnicity — it’s against the law.”

In just over a year, the Merced district has awarded three contracts totaling $610,000 to School Yard Rap, a company with operations in 28 states, including New York, New Jersey, and Texas.

Programming includes history lessons, songwriting, DJing and performances. But the possibility of race-based programming in Merced public schools is now on the radar of federal officials.

“It is illegal for the government to offer benefits solely on the basis of race,” Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division told The Post in statement. “We have not had the opportunity to investigate these allegations, but if true, they are troubling.”

District officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment by phone and email, but Brandon Brown, a former school teacher and founder of School Yard Rap, disputed that the programming is exclusionary.

“This camp specifically — the African American Affinity Camp — is open to every single student grades 3rd to 8th, focusing on African American history and the diaspora,” Brown told The Post.

“I think this is politically driven and the reason this is being called out.”

In one of its signature programs titled “Moor than a Month,” song lyrics mimicking the style of hip hop group Migos take direct aim at white patriarchy.

“I’mma be Black every day that I’m here, no cap, for more than a month, just like every Black kid in class,” the song says.

“So this album for them, but this track’s for you — every teacher and parent, you need this truth. 

“History books have a white male skew, but believe me I ain’t blaming you. That’s who wrote it on paper — it’s a cycle by nature. We give what we got, but I’m here to break it and bring education on what is not taught, trust it’s a lot.”

Brown told The Post that School Yard Rap’s view is that giving children more information about the culture of others “helps eradicate a lot of hate and ignorance in the country.”

Students in Merced’s school district, which serves around 11,000 students between kindergarten and eighth grade, have historically struggled with a student-teacher ratio of 25 to 1, according to Niche, a website that compiles data to rank and review schools.

School Yard Rap also hosted a concert in which a performer championed the legacy of farmworker organizer César Chávez, who this week was outed as an alleged sexual predator who groomed and raped under age girls.

Federal law prohibits public schools that receive federal funding from excluding students or distributing benefits based on race. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, race-based programs can trigger legal scrutiny. 

The U.S. Department of Justice under President Trump has opened investigations into school districts over race-based hiring and student programming, while the Department of Education has warned that programs separating or favoring students based on race could violate civil rights law and risk federal funding.

In April 2025, feds launched an investigation into Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Plan over alleged race-based benefits, and a September 2025 probe into Des Moines Public Schools for race-based hiring practices.

“We want to have a lot of African American students in this program to learn about their culture and history and aspire to more, but it’s not in any violation of federal funding, because it is not limited to African American students,” Brown said.

However, Defending Ed officials have taken issue not only with the programming content, but also the Merced school district’s priorities in a statement to The Post.

“If equity was my goal,” Sanzi said, “I’d start with reading and math scores and income level to identify the students most in need of extra support.”

Chicago Transit Authority Initiates Legal Action Against DOT and FTA Concerning Funding for Red Line Extension and RPM Projects

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Chicago Transit Authority Initiates Legal Action Against DOT and FTA Concerning Funding for Red Line Extension and RPM Projects

CHICAGO — The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) initiated legal action on Friday against the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration. The lawsuit aims to reinstate funding that was previously promised to support the Red Line Extension and the Red & Purple Modernization projects.

According to a statement released by the CTA, the Federal Transit Administration had initially pledged financial backing for these projects, including nearly $2 billion in federal grant funds specifically for the Red Line Extension.

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However, as of October 2025, the federal funding for both the Red Line Extension and the Red & Purple Modernization projects has been halted, the CTA reported.

SEE ALSO: CTA introduces new security measures in response to potential funding reductions

CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen expressed the agency’s determination to advance these projects. “We are fully committed to the success of these projects, and we will take every step necessary to ensure that they move forward,” Leerhsen stated. She highlighted the Red Line Extension as a historic investment in Chicago’s Far South Side, promising to transform public transit and stimulate economic growth in the area. Leerhsen also noted that the ongoing work on the Red & Purple Modernization Project has already resulted in four new, fully accessible, and modern stations. She emphasized the significance of these initiatives and assured that the CTA is collaborating closely with community leaders, elected officials, and other stakeholders to see both projects through to completion.

RPM is nearing completion, and initial work for RLE began four year ago, the CTA said. If funding is not restored, the CTA will have to stop work on both projects, they said.

RLE will extend CTA service 5.3 miles south from 95th Street to 130th Street.

As part of RPM, the CTA has opened four new stations and reconstructed the Red and Purple Line Express track.

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Community Rallies Against Proposed Talbot House Move as Crucial Vote Looms

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Community Rallies Against Proposed Talbot House Move as Crucial Vote Looms

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — As a critical decision looms next month, community members, including residents and local business owners, gathered at the proposed new site for Talbot House Ministries, holding signs in protest of the planned move.

The demonstrators brandished signs with messages such as “Not here,” “Stop Talbot House relocation,” and “Great mission – wrong location.”

Rural Doctor’s Missed Call Linked to Indigenous Death, Deputy State Coroner Reveals

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The family of Eve Brown, a woman who tragically passed away at a rural clinic lacking adequate resources, believes her death highlights the ongoing health disparities faced by Indigenous Australians.

Eve Brown, a member of the Warrimay community, succumbed to shock on July 2, 2021, following an undiagnosed spleen rupture at the Lightning Ridge Multi-Purpose Centre in northwest New South Wales.

An inquest into her passing revealed that Brown could have survived if the attending doctor had arranged for her transfer to Dubbo Base Hospital, located 350 kilometers away, where CT imaging facilities were available—something the Lightning Ridge facility did not offer.

Initially, Brown exhibited unusual symptoms and was misdiagnosed with an acute urinary tract infection. The coroner noted that the uncertainty surrounding her symptoms should have warranted greater concern and further investigation.

The 42-year-old sought medical attention at the centre at 9:30 a.m. on July 1, but her condition worsened significantly by the early hours of July 2, leading to her untimely death.

A request was made for a flight transfer but could not be arranged until 12.30pm.

Brown suffered a cardiac arrest just before the plane arrived and was declared dead at 1.30pm.

Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame found the doctor should have referred Brown for CT imaging in Dubbo well before she deteriorated.

Multiple medical experts told the inquest Brown’s symptoms were serious enough and their cause was sufficiently unclear that a transfer should have been ordered on July 1.

An early CT scan might well have revealed the underlying condition that caused the rupture, Grahame said.

“Early transfer … would also have meant (Brown) was in a hospital setting with intensive care and emergency surgery capabilities when her spleen ruptured,” Grahame wrote in her findings.

Grahame recommended the Western NSW Local Health District review its procedures for assessing patients at small rural centres with fewer diagnostic facilities.

The district should also review training for nursing staff to ensure patient progress notes are recorded continuously, not just at the end of a shift.

The legal representative of Brown’s family at the inquest said her case raised profound issues of Indigenous health inequity.

“Aboriginal people continue to experience poorer access to timely, high-quality health care in rural and remote communities,” Naomi Spigelman said.

“We must ensure First Nations patients are able to access properly resourced hospitals … when they need it – no matter where they live.”

The health district said in a statement it would carefully consider the coroner’s recommendations and offered its sincere condolences to Brown’s family.

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White House Unveils AI Strategy: What It Means for Tech Autonomy and Government Control

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White House Unveils AI Strategy: What It Means for Tech Autonomy and Government Control


The White House has unveiled a new National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence, signaling an acknowledgment from Washington that AI’s rapid advancement requires immediate governance and oversight due to its immense potential and influence.

Released on March 20, 2026, the framework addresses the burgeoning debates surrounding AI, including its impact on child safety, energy consumption, copyright issues, and censorship. Central to these discussions is a critical question: Who will establish the rules before AI begins to dictate them itself?

Positioned as an effort to create national standards, the administration’s proposal emphasizes the necessity of a unified federal approach rather than a fragmented, state-by-state regulation, underscoring the urgency of swift action.

The framework, however, appears less like a visionary plan and more like a reaction to a technology that has already permeated educational institutions, workplaces, political arenas, and governmental operations. AI is growing at a pace that outstrips legislative efforts and, at times, even the willingness of lawmakers to fully grasp its implications.

The argument is straightforward: one federal standard, not a 50-state patchwork, and move quickly.

Beyond that, the document reads very differently, less like a forward-looking blueprint and more like a response to a technology already embedded across schools, workplaces, politics, and government, expanding faster than lawmakers can track and, in some cases, faster than they seem willing to acknowledge.

And in some cases, faster than they can realistically contain.

“Congress should establish … age-assurance requirements … for AI platforms and services likely to be accessed by minors.”

It also calls for platforms likely to be used by minors to reduce the risks of sexual exploitation and self-harm, while making clear that child privacy protections still apply to AI systems and the data they collect for training and advertising.





That is not the language of a government dealing with a harmless tool. It reflects a belief that AI can scale risk quickly, especially for users who cannot fully understand or control it.

“Congress should ensure that residential ratepayers do not experience increased electricity costs as a result of new AI data center construction and operation.”

That concern shifts the conversation out of theory. AI is not just software. It is physical infrastructure, energy demand, and a buildout large enough that policymakers are already warning Americans not to absorb the cost themselves.

$510M AI Smuggling Case Blows Hole in U.S. Export Controls on China

As recently as earlier this week, federal prosecutors alleged that more than $510 million in restricted AI hardware was funneled to China through shell companies, underscoring how quickly this competition has moved from development to enforcement.

The framework takes a careful position in the copyright fight.

“Although the Administration believes that training of AI models on copyrighted material does not violate copyright laws, it acknowledges arguments to the contrary exist and therefore supports allowing the Courts to resolve this issue.”





In practice, that leaves the biggest unresolved question in AI to the courts while signaling that the administration is not eager to slow development in the meantime.

That same balancing act shows up in how the framework approaches speech.

“Congress should prevent the United States government from coercing technology providers, including AI providers, to ban, compel, or alter content based on partisan or ideological agendas.” 

That language lands differently when the government is already integrating these systems into its own operations. The Senate has approved ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot for staff use, meaning Washington is not just writing rules for AI. It is beginning to rely on it.

The document never quite says it outright, but the pattern is consistent. The White House is describing AI as an engine for growth while outlining risks that touch children, infrastructure, speech, labor, and national security all at once.

This is not a government getting out in front of a future problem.

It is a government reacting to a present one that is already moving ahead of it.


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Sheriff Reveals Couple Coerced 14-Year-Old into Surrogacy for Twins Due to Girlfriend’s Infertility

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Sheriff Reveals Couple Coerced 14-Year-Old into Surrogacy for Twins Due to Girlfriend’s Infertility

Oklahoma City Police station (KFOR).

An Oklahoma couple is accused of coercing a 14-year-old girl to act as a surrogate mother, forcing her to conceive the man’s twins since his girlfriend was unable to have children. The pair reportedly fled the state following this crime.

Authorities apprehended Nathan Potier and Erica Palmer, both aged 36, in Nevada earlier this week. Officials revealed that Potier faces charges of child sexual assault, while Palmer is accused of facilitating the sexual abuse of a minor.

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office released a statement indicating that the arrests were carried out on Tuesday by the United States Marshals Nevada Violent Offender Task Force in Sparks, Nevada.

The arrests were the result of a thorough investigation by the Regional Sex Offender Notification Unit. This multi-agency body is tasked with monitoring and investigating sex offenders across jurisdictions.

Investigators discovered that the couple had been hiding in the Reno-Sparks area of Nevada. After tracking various leads, they were able to pinpoint the duo’s location, leading to their capture and arrest.

Potier and Palmer were booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility and are expected to be extradited to Oklahoma County to face the aforementioned charges. Officials said the case underscores ongoing efforts to locate fugitives and prosecute them through multi-agency cooperation.

Court documents obtained by Oklahoma City NBC affiliate KFOR provided details regarding the allegations that led to the charges.

According to authorities, the investigation into Potier and Palmer began in December 2025, after a caseworker with Oklahoma Child Protective Services sent in a referral indicating that a 14-year-old girl was pregnant with twins.

Authorities allege the pregnancy was the result of abuse involving the couple, and Potier is believed to be the father of the twins.

In an interview with police prior to the arrest warrants being issued, Palmer allegedly said she wanted to have children with Potier but was unable to do because she had undergone tubal ligation, colloquially known as having her tubes tied.

Authorities allege the couple targeted the teenage victim.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant and planned to collect Potier’s DNA during a medical appointment to determine whether he was the father of the victim’s twins. However, the duo fled the state before that could occur.

Court documents also reference earlier California reports alleging Potier sexually abused the same teen and that Palmer was aware of those allegations.

The teen is now in foster care, KFOR reported.

Both defendants remained in the Washoe County Detention Facility as of Friday afternoon. Palmer was being held on $200,000 bond and Potier on $300,000 bond, records show.

How Do Aircraft Continue to Navigate the Skies Over the Middle East?

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How Do Aircraft Continue to Navigate the Skies Over the Middle East?
With hubs such as Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai being used by countless Aussie travellers to get to Europe, thousands were left stranded when conflict began earlier this month.
Despite the threat of drone strikes and missiles in the area, thousands of Australians have been safely evacuated on repatriation flights offered by multiple airlines, but how are they able to do it, and what alternative flight routes should Aussies use if they want to get to Europe or other parts of the world?
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - AUG 07, 2015: Qatar Airways Airbus A330 tail livery at Manchester Airport Aug 07 2015.
Qatar Airways is still carrying out some flights to Australia. (iStock)

Determining the status of Middle Eastern airspace can be challenging due to frequent changes.

For instance, early Tuesday morning AEDT, the United Arab Emirates unexpectedly announced the temporary closure of its airspace as a precautionary step. However, just a few hours later, the ban was lifted, allowing major carriers like Emirates and Etihad to resume their flight schedules.

Despite this, a significant portion of airspace in the Middle East remains off-limits. Countries such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, and Bahrain have maintained closures. Meanwhile, nations like Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman have kept their skies open but imposed restrictions on specific flight paths.

As a result, many flights that usually traverse the Middle East must now reroute over Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Armenia, heading towards Turkey, to navigate around these restricted areas.

Fire and plumes of smoke rises after s drone struck a fuel tank forcing the temporary suspension of flights. near Dubai International Airport, in United Arab Emirates, early Monday, March 16, 2026. (AP Photo) (AP)

Much of Middle Eastern airspace remains closed, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria and Bahrain; Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman still have their airspaces open, but with restrictions in place that limit where exactly planes can fly over.

As it stands, most flights that traditionally fly through the Middle East are having to either fly over Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia through to Turkey, passing over the Middle East region.

However, Afghanistan’s current conflict with Pakistan could also dissuade airlines from using this route.

Does Qantas fly to the Middle East?

Australia’s national airline Qantas does not currently fly to the Middle East.
For a time during the 2010s it used Dubai International Airport as a hub to connect itself to European destinations such as London, but this changed in 2017 when it shifted its focus to Singapore.

The Middle East conflict has forced it to change the way it flies, however, with its usual non-stop flight from Perth to London Heathrow Airport having to go via Singapore.

This is because a fuel stop is now required due to “adjustments required on flight paths”, the company said on its website last week.

What airlines fly to the Middle East?

Several airlines fly to the Middle East, departing from multiple airports within Australia.

Qatar Airways also flies to Canberra, but the flights travel via Melbourne.

Etihad Airways also has daily flights departing from Sydney and Melbourne to their main hub of Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

Emirates passenger plane
Emirates has several flights to and from Australia daily. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

What are the alternative flight routes avoiding the Middle East?

Travellers who would normally travel through the Middle East to reach destinations in Europe or Africa can still do so via several hubs in Asia.

Singapore, with connections to many major cities around the world and relatively close to Australia, could be considered the best option for Australia travellers, as it flies out of multiple Australian cities.

Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Tokyo also serve as hubs that connect to several major destinations in different continents that Aussies would normally use the Middle East as their connection point.

However, the cost of flights in these regions are now beginning to soar due to increased demand.

Former winner Singapore Airlines came in second place this year.
Singapore Airlines flies to many destinations in Europe from its hub at Changi Airport. (CNN)

Is travel time longer for flights that avoid the Middle East?

Flights that connect to Europe through Singapore and other Asian destinations are actually a little bit shorter in time than those which would go through the Middle East.

If Aussies are travelling to Europe via the Middle East, like through Dubai or Doha, it can take around 24-26 hours due to having to be re-routed around restricted airspace, and due to congestion problems that can occur at the busy airports.

Flying through Asia, for example thorough Singapore or even Hong Kong and Tokyo, can take between 22 and 24 hours depending on the specific flight.

This is because flights through Asia, particularly in the northern regions, avoid the restricted airspace in and around the Middle East, allowing them to fly a more direct route to Europe.

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Supreme Court Reopens Evangelical Christian’s Case Against Demonstration Limits

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Supreme Court Reopens Evangelical Christian’s Case Against Demonstration Limits


WASHINGTON (AP) — On Friday, the Supreme Court breathed new life into a legal battle involving an evangelical Christian who was prohibited from protesting in Mississippi after accusations arose that he used a loudspeaker to hurl insults at individuals.

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court sided with Gabriel Olivier, who argued that his rights to religious expression and free speech were infringed upon when he was detained for not relocating his preaching away from a suburban amphitheater. Authorities claimed Olivier used derogatory terms such as “whores,” “Jezebel,” and “nasty,” and occasionally displayed graphic signs of aborted fetuses.

Olivier sought to contest the law, arguing it unconstitutionally restricted free speech. However, lower courts had previously prevented him from taking legal action due to his conviction for violating the law. A precedent set by the Supreme Court in the 1990s prohibits using civil suits to challenge criminal convictions directly.

Nevertheless, the justices determined that Olivier could still pursue legal action, as his intent was solely to prevent future enforcement of the ordinance.

Justice Elena Kagan, writing for the court, stated, “Since Olivier requested only a forward-looking remedy — an injunction to prevent officials from enforcing the city ordinance in the future — his lawsuit is permitted to proceed, unaffected by his prior conviction.”

Olivier’s lawyers said he was demonstrating peacefully when he was arrested for refusing to move to a designated “protest zone.” The legal principle, they argued, affects free-speech cases across the political spectrum.

“This is not only a win for the right to share your faith in public, but also a win for every American’s right to have their day in court when their First Amendment rights are violated,” said Kelly Shackelford, president and CEO of the conservative nonprofit First Liberty Institute.

“As people of faith, we look to the judiciary to protect our constitutional right to spread the gospel,” said attorney Allyson Ho of the firm Gibson Dunn.

The decision clears a path for him to file a civil-rights lawsuit, though it doesn’t guarantee an eventual win. Local governments have said that a ruling for Olivier could have wide repercussions by allowing a rush of new lawsuits against cities and towns.

The city of Brandon has said the restrictions weren’t about religion, and he had plenty of other legal avenues to challenge the law. The ordinance restricting Olivier to a designated “protest zone” has already survived another lawsuit, city attorneys said.

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