As military tensions escalate in the Middle East, the world’s most critical maritime artery—the Strait of Hormuz—has become a flashpoint for global economic anxiety. Responsible for the passage of nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, this narrow waterway serves as an irreplaceable gateway for energy exports from the Persian Gulf. The article explores how even a partial disruption to this route could bypass traditional market logic, sending crude oil prices soaring due to skyrocketing insurance premiums, shipping risks, and the lack of viable pipeline alternatives. For oil-dependent nations like India, the stakes are particularly high, as a blockade would not only threaten energy security but also trigger a wave of domestic inflation and fiscal instability.

The global “order of cooperation” has been supplanted by “might makes right”, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (February 26, 2026), blaming Russia for overturning territorial principles in its invasion of Ukraine, and the United States for weakening the United Nations and multilateralism.

During a public meeting in Kamuthi on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, her aide V.K. Sasikala announced her decision to launch a political party. She unveiled the party’s flag — featuring black, white, and red — which carries the portraits of former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), and Jayalalithaa.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will introduce a third language option for Class 6 students, in addition to two Indian languages, starting from the 2026-27 academic session. English will be classified as a “foreign” language, with the National Education Policy (NEP) requiring at least two of the three languages to be native to India, reported Indian Express.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) alleged that a high-level meeting convened to take forward the SIR process in West Bengal, as mandated by the Supreme Court, was attended by unauthorised persons, including former Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel unfolds against a backdrop of acute regional volatility, far removed from the optimistic landscape of his 2017 trip. As the U.S. and Iran teeter on the edge of military confrontation and international pressure mounts over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, New Delhi finds its “multi-alignment” strategy under its severest test yet. While the visit reinforces a bedrock of defense and technological cooperation, it simultaneously forces India to defend its moral standing in the Global South and navigate a diplomatic minefield where every handshake carries profound geopolitical weight.