Strait of Hormuz Crisis: U.S. President Donald Trump has called for a coalition of around seven countries to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran intensify.

Allied Hesitation: Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom have officially stated that they currently have no plans to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz despite pressure from the United States.

Dubai Airport Disruption: Dubai International Airport (DXB) suspended flights early today following a drone strike on a fuel storage tank. Operations have partially resumed for selected destinations.

U.S.-China Trade Talks: High-level delegations led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng began talks in Paris today. The meeting is being seen as a precursor to a possible Trump-Xi summit.

Iran-France Diplomacy: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss ways to de-escalate the regional conflict.

Congo Elections: Ballot counting is underway in the Republic of the Congo following yesterday’s presidential election, with President Denis Sassou N’Guesso seeking a fifth term.

AI Misinformation Claim: President Trump accused Iran of using AI-generated deepfake media to exaggerate its military strength and spread misinformation about the conflict.

Threat to Close the Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s leadership has reiterated threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could disrupt nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

India-BRICS Mediation: Reports suggest that India is facilitating negotiations within the BRICS framework to seek a diplomatic resolution to the West Asia conflict.

Cuba Diplomacy: The U.S. administration has hinted at a potential deal with Cuba in the near future, though the Iran conflict remains its top foreign policy priority.

Economy and Business

Global Oil Surge: Brent crude prices rose by 1% today to cross $105 per barrel amid fears of supply disruption in the Middle East.

Indian Stock Markets: The Sensex and Nifty rebounded in mid-day trade after a three-day slump, supported by value-buying in HDFC Bank and SBI.

Gold Prices: Gold is hovering near a record level of $5,000 per ounce as investors move towards safe-haven assets amid war-related uncertainty.

Nepal Fuel Crisis: Nepal has increased petrol prices by NPR 15 per litre today as a direct result of the West Asian oil supply shock.

China’s Economic Rebound: Fresh data shows that China’s industrial production grew by 6.3% during the January-February period, exceeding expectations despite global trade tensions.

Fitch Ratings Update: Fitch has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 7.5%, citing strong domestic demand.

MSME AI Potential: A joint report by PwC and ORF states that AI adoption could unlock a $3 trillion opportunity for India’s MSME sector by 2047.

Baidu’s New AI Service: Baidu AI Cloud launched “DuClaw” today, a web-based platform that allows users to access AI agents without complex technical setups.

TikTok Deal: Reports indicate that the U.S. government may receive a $10 billion fee for brokering a restructuring deal involving TikTok.

Gold Hallmarking Expansion: The Government of India has added seven more districts under the mandatory gold hallmarking regime to ensure jewellery purity.

Science, Technology and Environment

NASA Mars Mission: NASA launched twin spacecraft today under the ESCAPADE mission to study how Mars lost its atmosphere.

Cancer Research Breakthrough: Scientists have developed a “cancer flashlight,” a tiny antibody-based tool that makes tumours glow during PET scans, making detection easier.

Physics Milestone: Researchers announced that a new AI system called “THOR” has solved a century-old physics problem related to complex particle interactions in just seconds.

Lunar Magnetism Explained: A study from Oxford University suggests that the Moon’s intense magnetism was short-lived and caused by rare titanium-rich rocks, rather than a permanent core dynamo.

Recyclable Boats Innovation: Northern Light Composites showcased a new thermoplastic matrix that allows fiberglass boats to be fully recycled at the end of their life cycle.

Dam Safety AI in India: Union Minister C.R. Patil launched “NETRA,” an AI-based platform designed to monitor and review dam safety across India.

Sports and Entertainment

98th Academy Awards: The Oscars concluded in Los Angeles today, with One Battle After Another winning both Best Picture and Best Director.

Acting Awards: Michael B. Jordan and Jessie Buckley won Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, at the 2026 Academy Awards.

Cricket Retirement: Former Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announced his retirement from all forms of cricket today.

Finalissima Cancelled: The Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain, which was scheduled to be held in Qatar, has been officially cancelled due to the regional war.