Donald Trump with Saudi crown prince (Image/AP)

As the war in the Middle East enters its fourth week, a new report has revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been urging US President Donald Trump to continue military operations against Iran. He described the conflict as a critical moment to reshape the region.According to The New York Times, the Saudi crown prince has, in recent discussions with Trump, pushed for sustained pressure on Iran. He argued that the ongoing US-Israel military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East. He has conveyed that Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf nations and that this threat can only be addressed by removing its current government.These developments come at a time when the conflict has significantly escalated, raising concerns over regional stability, global energy markets and the risk of a prolonged war. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also viewed Iran as a long-term threat, analysts note that Saudi Arabia’s concerns differ, particularly regarding the risks posed by a destabilised or failed Iranian state.Despite these reports, Saudi Arabia has publicly denied pushing for an extension of the war. In an official statement, the government said, “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began”. “Our primary concern today is to defend ourselves from the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure. Iran has chosen dangerous brinkmanship over serious diplomatic solutions. This harms every stakeholder involved but none more than Iran itself,” the statement further read.The war has already had serious economic and security consequences for Saudi Arabia. Iranian missile and drone attacks, launched in response to US-Israel strikes, have disrupted oil markets and threatened key infrastructure. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global energy supplies, has been severely affected, impacting exports from Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait.While Trump has alternated between signalling a possible de-escalation and hinting at further escalation, he recently claimed in his Truth Social post that there had been “productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities”.Prince Mohammed has argued in favour of stronger action, including targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure and has even suggested the possibility of ground operations to weaken the government in Tehran, according to The New York Times. Analysts also caution that Saudi Arabia faces a complex dilemma. While it may see strategic gains in weakening Iran, it is also vulnerable to regional instability. Past attacks, including a 2019 strike on Saudi oil facilities, have shown the kingdom’s exposure to Iranian retaliation.Saudi Arabia’s broader economic ambitions, particularly its Vision 2030 plan, could also be at risk if the conflict continues. A prolonged war could deter investment, disrupt energy exports and strain financial resources at a time when the country is undertaking major economic reforms.

Even after the release of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, an earlier controversy linked to Ranveer Singh continues to follow the actor. Last year, when Ranveer imitated the Daiva (Bhoota Kola) ritual—associated with Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, it drew criticism from sections of the public who felt their religious sentiments were hurt.Ranveer Singh has reportedly told the Karnataka High Court that he is willing to submit an affidavit offering an unconditional apology for his actions. He also expressed readiness to visit the Chamundi temple, in line with the court’s directions.The statement was made during the hearing of his petition seeking to quash the FIR filed against him in the case. During the proceedings, the High Court orally observed that what the actor did (the imitation) was not correct.For those not in the know, earlier Ranveer had approached the Karnataka High Court, challenging the case registered against him over his mimicry of a character from Kantara: Chapter 1. The controversy stems from his imitation of the Chamundi daiva, which drew criticism for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.During the hearing, Justice M Nagaprasanna made strong oral observations about the responsibilities that come with stardom. “A superstar is not ‘ooper’ (above) law. You have no right to hurt the sentiments of people. You, being an actor, have influence on people. Being a superstar, you have to be responsible in making statements. You cannot be loose-tongued at all,” he remarked.Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, representing Ranveer, argued that the actor had already acknowledged his mistake and apologised promptly. He stated that the remark was insensitive and made in poor judgment, adding that the magistrate’s order lacked proper application of mind.Responding to this, Justice Nagaprasanna underscored the lasting impact of public statements, saying, “I may forget, you may forget, and people may forget. The internet never forgets.”Meanwhile, the complainant’s counsel criticised the actor’s actions, describing them as a “shoot and scoot” attempt, implying a careless act followed by a quick apology.Following the uproar, Ranveer had issued a public apology on social media. He wrote, “My intention was to highlight Rishab’s incredible performance in the film. Actor to actor, I know how much it takes to perform that particular scene the way he did, for which he has my utmost admiration. I have always deeply respected every culture, tradition, and belief in our country. If I’ve hurt anyone’s sentiments, I sincerely apologise.”Meanwhile, the actor is currently enjoying the massive box-office success of ‘Dhurandhar 2’

US stocks slipped on Tuesday while oil prices resumed their climb, as continuing airstrikes on Iran and fresh missile attacks across the Middle East dampened the optimism that had lifted markets a day earlier.The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, giving back nearly half of its previous session’s gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 363 points, or 0.8%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.5%.Oil prices rose sharply amid persistent tensions. Brent crude advanced 3.5% to $103.47 per barrel after having slumped more than 10% in the previous session. Benchmark US crude also gained $2.20 to trade at $90.33 a barrel, while Brent added $1.47 to reach $101.41 in early trade, AP reported.Futures signalled a cautious start to the session. Contracts tied to both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 fell 0.1% before the opening bell, while Nasdaq futures were largely unchanged.Markets remained volatile as military action continued. Airstrikes battered Iran’s capital and Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel’s Tel Aviv and other sites across the region. With additional US Marines heading to the Gulf and both sides maintaining heavy barrages, concerns over the conflict’s escalation continued to weigh on investor sentiment.The latest developments came a day after US President Donald Trump said the United States had made progress in talks with Iran to end hostilities. He had also extended his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route whose disruption has pushed up fuel prices and threatened economic stability.Iran, however, denied that negotiations had taken place. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on social media platform X that “fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets”.Despite the uncertainty, some analysts saw tentative signs of progress. “Still, while there’s clearly a long way to go until some sort of ceasefire is agreed, and peace restored, we do at least seem to have taken the first step towards those ends,” said Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone.Global markets showed mixed trends. In Europe, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.4% to 7,759.97 in early trade, while Germany’s DAX edged up 0.2% to 22,695.54. Britain’s FTSE 100 was largely flat at 9,899.12.Asian equities rebounded more strongly. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.4% to close at 52,252.28 after earlier losses, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.7% to 5,553.92. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.8% to 25,063.71 and China’s Shanghai Composite added 1.8% to end at 3,881.28. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.2% to 8,379.40.Investors continued to track developments around the Strait of Hormuz, whose disruption has rattled global energy supply chains. The conflict, which began in late February, has driven sharp swings in financial markets, particularly in Asia where economies are highly dependent on energy shipments through the route.In corporate developments, Estee Lauder and Spanish cosmetics firm Puig confirmed they are in merger talks that could bring together brands such as MAC, Clinique, Charlotte Tilbury and Apivita. Estee Lauder said no final decision had been taken, and its shares were little changed in premarket trading.Separately, Toyota Motor Corp.’s shares rose 0.6% after the automaker announced a $1 billion investment in its Kentucky and Indiana plants. The move is part of a broader plan unveiled in November to invest up to $10 billion in the US over the next five years, as Japanese manufacturers seek to underline their contribution to American employment and economic growth.Markets are expected to remain sensitive to geopolitical developments, particularly any signals on ceasefire prospects, energy supply disruptions and oil price movements in the coming sessions.