Reopen

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...

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...

• 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.

• 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.

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.