Monday, March 23, 2026

World

Iran threatens to close Hormuz as US-Israel strikes continue

US and Israeli forces have struck Iran's South Pars gas field — the world's largest — while Iran has threatened to permanently close the Strait of Hormuz if its power plants are hit. The conflict has reached Qatar's side of the same geological formation, opening a second energy front that oil markets are struggling to price. Tehran has also warned it will "irreversibly destroy" essential regional infrastructure, including water systems, if Trump follows through on threats to "obliterate" Iran.

Economy

Iran war doubles oil prices as airlines sound alarm

The Iran conflict has sent oil prices soaring roughly 100%, and airlines are already rationing fuel and cutting routes — a pattern economists treat as an early warning for broader economic pain. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil flows, remains under threat of closure. United Airlines has publicly flagged jet fuel costs as an existential pressure on its business model.

Politics

Trump faces US shutdown as immigration agents hit airports

A US government shutdown standoff has forced Trump to deploy immigration agents to airports, where security staff are going unpaid and queues are spiralling. The move escalates tensions with Congress as essential services buckle under the funding freeze. The Senate is simultaneously advancing Markwayne Mullin's nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security, with a confirmation vote expected Monday.

World

French left holds Paris and Marseille in local elections

France's second-round municipal elections have kept the left in control of its two biggest cities, with Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire winning the Paris mayoralty with roughly 53% of the vote, defeating former conservative minister Rachida Dati. Marseille's leftist incumbent Benoît Payan also held on, while the nationalist right claimed Nice. The results extend 25 consecutive years of Socialist control over the French capital.

Health

Study links childhood social media use to teen depression

Children who spend more than three hours a day on social media are significantly more likely to develop depression and anxiety by their teenage years, according to new research. The effect is driven largely by sleep disruption from late-night use, and is measurably more pronounced in girls. The findings add fresh empirical weight to calls for age-based restrictions on platforms.