Singapore, alongside Fiji, Jamaica, and Malta, delivered a joint statement at the UN calling for the restoration of unimpeded transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which roughly 20% of global oil trade flows. Singapore's Permanent Representative Burhan Gafoor presented the statement, framing the issue as one of international law compliance rather than bilateral dispute. The joint appeal follows a UN Security Council veto that blocked a formal resolution on Hormuz transit rights, leaving the matter unresolved at the institutional level. The Strait of Hormuz is a chokepoint for liquefied natural gas and crude oil shipments from Gulf producers to Asian and European markets, making any restriction on passage a direct supply-chain and energy-price risk. Singapore's participation carries particular weight given the city-state's role as a major bunkering and shipping hub. Observers will watch whether additional maritime nations join the statement bloc, and whether the veto triggers alternative diplomatic or legal mechanisms under UNCLOS to enforce transit passage rights.
Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 1,430 with the US Geological Survey warning fatalities could top 10,000, placing it among Latin America's deadliest in a century. US military planes are landing in Caracas, Washington is mobilising $150 million in aid, and rescue teams from 17 countries are on the ground.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
