Airport

lines ease

(AP) — Frustrating security lines dwindled at U.S. airports Monday, clearing the worst bottlenecks as Transportation Safety Administration officers began receiving backpay for working during the government shutdown.

What was a four-hour checkpoint line at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport turned into a wait of 10 minutes or less. In previous trouble spots such as Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington International Airport, travelers were moving smoothly to their flights.

After weeks of airport chaos, there was finally optimism for the beleaguered aviation system.

Weary travelers hope the overdue paychecks will end the seemingly endless security lines and missed flights many experienced. It remains unknown how long federal immigration officers will maintain a visible presence in airport terminals as the busy spring break travel season continues.

TSA workers told union leadership Monday that they received some — but not all — of their back pay, according to Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees. He said the rest is expected by next week. Some employees also reported incorrect backpay amounts, including missing overtime, the union said.

Gulf allies

offer views

WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf allies of the United States are urging President Donald Trump to keep prosecuting his war against Iran, saying the month of strikes has not weakened Tehran enough.

That’s according to U.S., Gulf and Israeli officials who were not authorized to comment publicly about the sensitive diplomatic conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are pushing the hardest, with the UAE favoring a ground invasion.

Oman and Qatar prefer diplomacy. Gulf leaders want big changes in Iran’s behavior, including ending its nuclear and missiles programs. Meanwhile, Iran is threatening Gulf neighbors’ infrastructure if the war expands.

Israel backs

death penalty

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s parliament has passed a law approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, a measure critics condemn as discriminatory and inhumane. The bill’s passage on Monday marked a major victory for Israel’s far-right, which has long pushed the measure.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the chamber to vote yes in person. The law makes the death penalty — by hanging — the default punishment for West Bank Palestinians convicted for nationalistic killings.

It also gives Israeli courts the option of imposing the death penalty on Israeli citizens convicted on similar charges but legal experts say the language rules out Jewish citizens of Israel. The law is expected to face legal challenge in Israel’s Supreme Court.

US stocks

slide lower

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks swung as oil prices kept climbing because of uncertainty about when the war with Iran could end. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Monday and deepened its loss since the war began to pull 9.1% below its record.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.7%. Caution was prevalent throughout markets.

After jumping to an initial gain of 0.9%, the S&P 500 quickly erased nearly all of it before seesawing lower. Indexes rose in Europe but fell sharply in some Asian markets, while the price of U.S. oil topped $100 per barrel.