Emily Thornberry is the latest figure to call on the kingâs visit to the US to be delayed, citing the ongoing war against IranYesterday Donald Trump confirmed that he expects the kingâs state visit to the US to go ahead at the end of April. As the Mail reports, speaking about his plan to build a new, mega ballroom on the east wing of the White House, Trump said he needed a facility like this because of the weather in Washington. He explained:And you know the land in Washington was built on a swampy wetland.And when it rains, and you have the King of Saudi Arabia ... the King of the UK, I would say King of England, a great guy, heâs coming in very soon. And when it rains, you know what happened? And the rain would go over their feet. Continue reading...
US president says it is âonly appropriateâ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be âvery badâ for Nato. Plus, meet the Americans withholding their federal income taxGood morning.Donald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a âvery badâ future if its members fail to come to Washingtonâs aid.What did Trump say? The US president told the Financial Times in an interview: âItâs only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there. If thereâs no response or if itâs a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of Nato.âWho else won? Hereâs all the winners at the 98th Academy Awards.Who was remembered this year? This yearâs Academy Awards featured an extended in memoriam section to honour the considerable number of Hollywood legends who have died over the past year. Diane Keaton, Robert Redford and Rob Reiner were remembered in standalone speeches, while Claudia Cardinale and Catherine OâHara also had extended moments. James Van Der Beek and Brigitte Bardot were among stars who were snubbed from the tribute. Continue reading...
US president says it is âonly appropriateâ for Europe to help, and warns failure to do so would be âvery badâ for NatoMiddle East crisis â live updatesDonald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on European allies to help protect the strait of Hormuz, warning that Nato faces a âvery badâ future if its members fail to come to Washingtonâs aid.The effective closure of the vital waterway by Tehran in retaliation for airstrikes by the US and Israel has proved catastrophic for global energy and trade flows, causing the largest oil supply disruption in history and soaring global oil prices. Continue reading...
⢠President Trump demanded on March 15 that NATO and allied nations help secure the Strait of Hormuz with military vessels, warning that NATO could face a "very bad future" if allies refuse to assist in keeping the critical waterway open.
⢠Trump warned that the US "will remember" countries that do not contribute to securing the strait, applying diplomatic pressure to allies amid escalating military tensions in the Middle East and warnings of potential sanctions waivers if the conflict prolongs.
⢠The demand reflects Trump's strategy of leveraging the energy crisis and geopolitical instability created by the Iran conflict to mobilize international support for US-led efforts to maintain global shipping routes.
⢠President Trump issued a stark warning to NATO allies on March 16, stating they face a "very bad future" if they do not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
⢠The warning came as the US and Israel work to secure the strategic waterway, which has been disrupted by the ongoing conflict with Iran.
⢠Trump's ultimatum reflects growing pressure on international allies to support US-led efforts to restore normal shipping operations and stabilize global energy markets.
Trump warns Nato faces âvery badâ future if US allies fail to assist in opening the vital oil route; Israel says thousands of targets in Iran remain â follow it liveHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Donald Trump is said to be working to build a coalition of countries that will attempt to reopen the strait of Hormuz.The US president hopes to unveil the list later this week, Axios reported, citing four unnamed sources.Donald Trump has warned that Nato faces a âvery badâ future if US allies fail to assist in opening up the strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times has reported. He also said on Sunday that he has demanded about seven countries send warships to keep the strait of Hormuz open, but his appeals have brought no commitments as oil prices soar during the Iran war. The president declined to name the countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude that the administration is negotiating with to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth the worldâs traded oil normally flows. Australia and Japan have declined to send their navies to the strait.Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubaiâs airport, previously one of the worldâs busiest, after a âdrone-related incidentâ sparked a fire nearby, city authorities said on Monday. The incident impacted a fuel tank, the Gulf financial hubâs media office said, later adding authorities had extinguished the blaze that broke out. The office said no injuries had been reported.Israel said that its military remains focused on thousands of potential targets within Iran, even as Tehran issued a stern warning to neighbouring nations against further involvement in the rapidly expanding regional war.Oil prices have climbed again amid mounting supply fears after the US struck Iranâs vital Kharg Island oil hub and Trump demanded allies help reopen the strait of Hormuz. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.8% to $104.98 per barrel during early trading on Monday. Another weekend of violence across the Middle East compounded concerns over the conflict, and its ramifications for global energy markets.British prime minister Keir Starmer discussed the need to reopen the strait of Hormuz to end disruption to global shipping with Trump, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Sunday. Starmer also spoke with Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, with the leaders discussing the impact of the straitâs continued closure on international shipping, the spokeswoman told Reuters.Italyâs military said there had been a drone attack on the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait hosting Italian and US forces, but said all its personnel were safe. âThis morning, Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait was the target of a drone attack that hit a shelter housing a remotely piloted aircraft of the Italian Task Force Air (TFA), which was destroyed,â the chief of the defence general staff, Luciano Portolano, said in a statement.UN peacekeepers said they were fired upon âlikely by non-state armed groupsâ in south Lebanon on Sunday, while a Hamas source said an Israeli strike killed an official from the Palestinian militant group.A rocket attack on Baghdad international airport in Iraq, which houses a US diplomatic facility, wounded five people, Iraqi authorities said. The Iraqi governmentâs security media cell said âfive rockets targeted Baghdad International Airport and its surrounding area, injuring four airport employees and security personnel, and an engineerâ.US energy secretary Chris Wright said that there was âa very good chanceâ gas prices could drop below $3 a gallon by summer, though that is contingent on the Iran conflictâs end. Wright told NBCâs Meet the Press that while US drivers âare feeling it right nowâ at the pump and âwill feel it for a few more weeksâ, once the Iran war is over âweâll go to a world more abundantâ and âmore affordableâ in energy.Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a brief video to mock viral social media rumours suggesting he had been killed. Taking a sip from a steaming cup at a cafe near Jerusalem, he jokingly posted to his official X account, âIâm dead for coffee,â utilizing a Hebrew slang term that equates being âdeadâ for something with loving it.The World Health Organisation said on Sunday it had released $2 m from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to support the health response in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria amid the Middle East crisis. Continue reading...
Comfort Systems USA shares jumped 15% for the week ending March 13, 2026, forming an outside week upside reversal pattern after strong Friday gains. The company reported adjusted diluted earnings per share and revenue figures that beat expectations, driving the rally despite broader market weakness. This performance underscores resilience in construction and HVAC sectors amid economic slowdown concerns. Investors anticipate sustained growth if infrastructure spending continues.
Refusal to kowtow to US president has won public backing â and left Badenoch and Farage playing catch-upIt is not often that Keir Starmerâs allies believe he has Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch on the run â but on Iran, they think he is on the right side of history and public opinion.âIt could be the making of him,â said Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee, who was first out of the blocks to say she thought Donald Trumpâs strikes on Iran were illegal. âYouâve not had a British prime minister say no to an American president since Vietnam. This is a big deal.â Continue reading...