• U.S. equities showed mixed performance in early trading on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with technology stocks under pressure while energy and financial sectors gained ground.
• The mixed market action reflects ongoing uncertainty around Federal Reserve rate policy and its impact on different economic sectors, with tech facing particular headwinds.
• Technology stocks continued to face selling pressure as investors reassess valuations amid expectations for interest rate changes and macroeconomic conditions.
Defence chiefs have been discussing how to unblock the conduit for about a fifth of the world’s oil suppliesThe UK has offered to host an international security summit to draw up a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait of Hormuz as economic fallout from the Iran conflict continues.Defence chiefs have been discussing how they could unblock the vital shipping lane, through which about 20% of global oil supplies usually pass, amid the Middle East crisis unleashed by the US and Israel. Continue reading...
• Project Hail Mary debuted with $80.6 million at the US box office this weekend, marking the biggest opening of 2026 so far.
• Starring Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller, the film achieved the largest opening ever for distributor Amazon MGM Studios.
• The sci-fi adaptation of Andy Weir's novel highlights strong audience interest in major studio releases amid competitive weekend performance.
The homeland security shutdown has snarled airport lines and halted pay for some, even as lawmakers negotiate a dealUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailRepublican senators are considering a bipartisan deal to restore funding to most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would initially exclude money for arrests and deportations of undocumented immigrants, according to media reports.Under the potential agreement, Republicans would accede to Democratic demands to restore funding to all parts of the department except for those involved in immigration enforcement operations, according to Politico and the Associated Press. The GOP would then move to pay for those enforcement operations using the budget reconciliation process, in which they can address spending and revenue issues without relying on votes from Democrats. Continue reading...
Some residents moved amid threat of flooding are under public guardianship due to reduced mental capacity. NT public guardian says they ‘would have been very frightened’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFrail aged care residents were forced to shelter in an open-sided basketball court in Katherine, sleeping in makeshift conditions as authorities scrambled to prepare for major river flooding triggered by ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle.Residents from Rocky Ridge and Katherine Hostel aged care facilities were evacuated to MacFarlane primary school where many spent the night at a covered basketball court, with rain blowing into the open-sided shelter, as the deep tropical-low swept through the region. Continue reading...
Incumbent Mette Frederiksen widely predicted to continue as PM but neither bloc expected to be able to form majorityDenmark election: far right has slowed under Frederiksen – but at what cost?After votes in France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia over the weekend, it’s now time for Denmark, as Danes go to the polls today amid the backdrop of (waves arms) everything, everywhere, all at once.As our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant explains, the incumbent, Mette Frederiksen, has been widely predicted to continue as prime minister after the election. Continue reading...
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) hosts a virtual Biogeosciences Early Career Open House on March 24, 2026, from 12:00-1:00 PM ET.
• Event targets early-career scientists in biogeosciences, a key area of Earth and climate studies.
• Provides networking and opportunities in U.S.-based research community focused on interdisciplinary environmental science.
Opening in May, Camden museum has 100,000-item archive telling story of British youth subcultures, from mods and rockers, to ravers and emoIn the basement of a new-build housing block in Camden, the ventilation system is working flat out. The fans whir like a chainsaw orchestra bouncing around the concrete room as they attempt to deal with a slight damp problem. “This is what it’d sound like if there was a fire!” shouts Jon Swinstead, the driving force behind the Museum of Youth Culture, as he tries to make himself heard above the din.It’s hard to imagine but in a few weeks this empty, slightly soggy space will be transformed into an institution dedicated to all things teenage – a project Swinstead has been working on in one way or another for almost 30 years. Continue reading...
• The sci-fi epic 'Project Hail Mary' starring Ryan Gosling earned $80.5 million in its opening weekend, representing approximately 5 million ticket buyers across North America and marking Amazon MGM Studios' largest opening ever.
• The film's performance puts it in 'rarefied air' alongside 'Oppenheimer,' achieving success for a non-franchise film that the industry hasn't seen since that blockbuster, with strong overindexing in markets like Salt Lake City, Denver, and Portland.
• 'Ready or Not 2: Here I Come' opened in fourth place with $9.1 million, while Disney's 'Hoppers' earned $18 million and the Bollywood sequel 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' made $9.6 million in their respective positions.
• US equities poised to open lower on March 23, 2026, following declines in overseas markets after a rough prior week.
• Russell 2000 index up over 3% in early indications amid broader market volatility.
• New comments from Trump stirring some optimism for potential conflict resolution, though sentiment remains cautious.
• President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. "obliteration" of key energy infrastructure, escalating the ongoing conflict into its fourth consecutive week.
• U.S. stock index futures fell sharply Sunday evening: S&P 500 futures declined 0.3% to 6,542.25 points, Nasdaq 100 futures fell 0.4% to 24,008.0 points, and Dow Jones futures dropped 0.16% to 45,821.0 points, reflecting market anxiety over potential military escalation.
• Major indexes have posted cumulative losses of 4-7% over the past 30 days as concerns mount over the long-term economic impact of prolonged conflict, compounded by stronger-than-expected inflation data reducing expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts this year.
• Amazon MGM's 'Project Hail Mary,' starring Ryan Gosling, debuted at number one with $80.5 million in North American ticket sales, marking the best opening for a non-franchise film since 'Oppenheimer.'
• The sci-fi epic, centered on Gosling's amnesiac astronaut racing to save the sun, drew about 5 million ticket buyers, with premium large format screens accounting for 56% of the gross and IMAX at 24%.
• Amazon MGM Studios head Kevin Wilson stated, 'What we’re seeing in theaters — the energy, the exit scores, the word-of-mouth — is everything we believed this film would deliver.'
Exclusive: Townsville lawyer and former detective Darren Robinson’s appointment by attorney general Deb Frecklington has ‘brought back a lot of trauma’ for Indigenous communityGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has “opened old wounds” by appointing a former police detective who was heavily criticised for his role in events surrounding the 2004 riots on Palm Island to the state’s Legal Aid board, say First Nations community leaders and members of the legal fraternity.The Liberal National party government sacked and replaced all Labor-appointed members of the Legal Aid Queensland board last month. Continue reading...
Electoral alliances expected to play vital role in number of contests including Paris and MarseilleVoting is under way in France in the second round of local elections – seenas a bellwether for next year’s presidential race – with cities including Paris and Marseille in the balance and both the radical left and far right hoping for gains.Most of France’s 35,000-odd communes elected their councils in the first round last Sunday, but in municipalities where the contest is tighter, including most large urban areas, the second round will be decisive, with electoral alliances playing a key role. Continue reading...
Trump tells Iran to reopen strait to shipping or face destruction of its energy infrastructure, as Tehran launches its most destructive attack yet on IsraelHello and welcome to our continuing live coverage of the US-Israel war on Iran and its repercussions for the Middle East, the world and the global economy.President Donald Trump has threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the strait of Hormuz within 48 hours – threatening a new escalation, just a day after the president spoke of “winding down” the war.Iranian ballistic missile barrages wounded about 100 people in southern Israel on Saturday, striking the cities of Arad and Dimona after air defence systems failed to intercept at least two projectiles. The Israeli Air Force is investigating its failure to prevent the attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future”.The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had received no indication of damage to the Negev nuclear research centre, which is near to Dimona.In the early hours on Sunday, Israeli military announced in a brief statement that it was conducting strikes in Tehran.Saudi Arabia’s ministry of defence said it had detected three missiles launched towards Riyadh early in the morning. One of the missiles was intercepted, while two fell in an uninhabited area, it saidIran on Saturday launched two ballistic missiles with a range of 4,000 km (2,500 miles) at the US-British military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to the Israeli military, which said it was the first time Iran had used long-range missiles since the conflict began on February 28.The British foreign secretary condemned the attacks on Diego Garcia, while stressing the UK has “taken a different position from the US and Israel” on the conflict. Yvette Cooper said ministers wanted to see a swift resolution to the war, adding the government was supporting defensive action against the “reckless Iranian threats”.A projectile struck close to a bulk carrier off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, causing an explosion, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.The death toll has risen to more than 1,500 people in Iran, more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, 15 in Israel and 13 US military members, and a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region, according to Associated Press. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced. Continue reading...
FoI request reveals no evidence of testing despite ministers hailing agreement as key to delivering AI-led public service reformWhen the UK government signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI, the tech firm behind ChatGPT, the partnership was hailed as one that could harness artificial intelligence to “address society’s greatest challenges”.But eight months on from the fanfare of that announcement, the government has yet to hold any trials involving the firm’s tech. Continue reading...
• The U.S. and allies intensified operations on March 20, 2026, deploying low-flying attack jets and Apache helicopters to target Iranian naval vessels and drones in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran's IRGC released video of a U.S. F-35 struck over Iranian airspace, forcing an emergency landing at a U.S. base; Pentagon confirms the $100 million jet incident.
• This battle threatens global energy supplies, with oil prices seesawing and predictions of $150-$200 per barrel if unresolved, exacerbating a crisis three weeks into the war.
Claims come despite Donald Trump saying he is not leaning towards putting ‘boots on the ground’Middle East crisis – live updatesThe US is reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait of Hormuz despite earlier suggestions by Donald Trump that he was not leaning towards putting “boots on the ground”.The claims, made on the Axios website, followed previous reporting that the US was considering occupying the key Iranian oil terminal. Continue reading...
Landowner disputes, coastal erosion and disused ferry hindering completion of King Charles III England coast pathThe longest managed coastal walking route in the world has been opened by the king at the Seven Sisters cliff walk.However, large parts of the King Charles III England coast path are still closed to the public after objections from landowners, fears about coastal erosion and a disused ferry. Continue reading...
• NERSC, at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, launched an open call for projects using the Perlmutter supercomputer to advance AI in scientific domains like climate, physics, and biology through January 19, 2027.
• Proposals require deep learning expertise, scientific domain knowledge, and proof-of-concept; evaluated on innovation, DOE relevance, feasibility, and scale readiness, with submissions rolling until April 30, 2026, for priority.
• NERSC supports 11,000 scientists annually, producing 2,000 peer-reviewed papers and aiding seven Nobel winners.
• OpenAI signed a new contract with Amazon Web Services on March 18, 2026, to provide AI tools to US government customers for both classified and unclassified projects.
• The deal, confirmed by AWS, expands OpenAI's federal footprint and offers an alternative procurement path amid tensions with other providers like Anthropic.
• This move reduces OpenAI's reliance on single cloud vendors and targets core government sectors including defense and intelligence.
Scotland’s busiest station to run reduced trains timetable after estimated 953,000 passenger journeys affected so farScotland’s busiest station, Glasgow Central, will partially reopen its main concourse on Wednesday, including for cross-border services, after a fire gutted the Victorian building next to it.There will be a reduced timetable, including a scaled-down service to London Euston, and passengers are asked to check journeys before travelling. Continue reading...
• West Texas Intermediate crude topped $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022 in early Monday trading, while Brent held above $102, driven by ongoing Middle East conflict in the Strait of Hormuz entering its third week.
• Several tankers successfully transited the waterway over the weekend, lifting market sentiment; however, WTI pulled back to $95 by late trading, down over 3%, as President Trump pressured NATO allies to help break Iran's blockade.
• The Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq rose as investors weighed the dual impact of potential Hormuz reopening against inflation concerns; Federal Reserve officials begin a two-day policy meeting this week amid uncertainty over rate path decisions.
• The Trump administration reopened the US embassy in Caracas on Saturday, marking the first diplomatic presence since 2019, with the American flag raised as part of resumed diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
• The embassy reopening follows a deadly US military strike in early January that led to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Celia Flores, a dramatic shift in bilateral relations.
• The diplomatic resumption represents a significant policy reversal in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela after years of sanctions and confrontational posturing.
Leaders seek a diplomatic solution despite US president’s threat of ‘a very bad future’ for Nato unless it provides warshipsMiddle East crisis – live updatesEuropean countries have ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz, despite threats from Donald Trump that Nato faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway.Germany ruled out participation in any military activity, including efforts to reopen the strait. “This is not our war, we have not started it,” said the country’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius. Continue reading...
• President Trump is suggesting he may delay his planned visit to China at month's end unless Beijing helps reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address soaring oil prices from the Iran war.
• U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Monday in Paris with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for trade talks intended to pave the way for Trump's Beijing trip, with a U.S.-China tariff truce currently in place.
• Trump's administration is seeking international assistance with naval escort efforts in the strait after initial unilateral approaches proved insufficient as oil prices escalated.
• Fingerprint, a Chicago-based device intelligence firm, launched the industry-first Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server on March 16, 2026, enabling direct integration of AI assistants with its fraud detection platform.
• The open-source server transforms complex fraud analysis from hours to real-time insights by connecting AI agents to device intelligence data.
• This breakthrough addresses rising AI-driven fraud threats, allowing organizations to deploy faster, more accurate defenses across industries.
US-based Zubeyda Muzeyyen, AKA DJ Haram, claimed a ‘Zio-Australian-Epstein empire’ was responsible for silencing dissentersFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe premier of New South Wales has ruled out cutting funding for Sydney’s Biennale arts festival after Jewish groups condemned language used by US artist DJ Haram at an opening night event at the White Bay Power Station in Sydney.At the centre of the controversy was the artist’s claim during her set that a “Zio-Australian-Epstein empire” was responsible for silencing dissenters. The words appear to link Israel to the convicted sex offender and New York financier Jeffrey Epstein and, critics say, feed into longstanding antisemitic tropes. Continue reading...
Government reluctant to dispatch ships amid concerns complying with Trump’s demands could escalate Iran crisisMinisters are drawing up plans to send minesweeping drones to the strait of Hormuz amid concerns in Whitehall that complying with Donald Trump’s demand to send ships could escalate the crisis.The government is considering dispatching aerial minesweepers to help clear the vital waterway of mines in an attempt to allow the flow of oil exports to resume. However, officials said that sending ships, as requested over the weekend by the US president, could worsen the situation given the volatile nature of the war. Continue reading...
US president urges nations to deploy vessels to keep key oil shipping route open amid conflict with IranDonald Trump has said the UK should send warships to help keep the strait of Hormuz open.In a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, the US president urged the UK and other countries to deploy vessels to the strait amid the conflict with Iran. Continue reading...
