April 5, 2026
World
World
ROME, April 5 — The former seaside summer residence of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini has been sold for €1.2 million and is now owned by the local council, municipal officials confirmed.
LONDON, April 2 — The United Kingdom is convening a summit today to build a multinational coalition tasked with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following President Donald Trump’s declaration that securing the passage is a responsibility for other global powers.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper will lead a virtual conference of approximately 35 nations—including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the UAE—to discuss restoring maritime access. Notably, the United States is not scheduled to participate in these specific deliberations.
This diplomatic push follows Trump’s recent address, in which he suggested the Strait would reopen "naturally" and insisted that countries dependent on the waterway must take the lead in ensuring its security.
The strategic passage, which handles 20% of global oil consumption, remains effectively closed by Iran in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli military actions. With energy prices skyrocketing, the international community has made the waterway's restoration a top economic priority.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the meeting will evaluate "all viable diplomatic and political measures" to ensure free navigation once a ceasefire is in place. While European nations previously resisted military involvement to avoid conflict escalation, rising energy costs have shifted their focus toward a coordinated reopening strategy.
Today’s session serves as the inaugural formal gathering of the group, with technical discussions involving military strategists expected to follow. Officials suggest a two-stage plan: an initial mine-clearing operation followed by the implementation of protection details for commercial tankers.
Starmer acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting it would require a "united front" combining military resolve, diplomatic efforts, and close cooperation with the global shipping industry.
In contrast to the UK's diplomatic approach, Trump urged beneficiary nations to "build up some delayed courage" and simply "grab" the waterway for their own use and protection. — Reuters
