Middle East tensions have entered their fifth day and the UAE is slowly moving back towards normalcy. After a two-day pause, stock markets are set to reopen, and offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are preparing for staff to return in person. The UAE Capital Market Authority earlier confirmed that trading and settlement on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and the Dubai Financial Market will resume on Wednesday. Despite the gradual reopening, market participants are still cautious, with the threat of further Iranian strikes continuing to loom over the region. Analysts warned that while immediate disruptions may be limited, ongoing geopolitical tensions could weigh on investor sentiment in the near term.“The reopening of markets and offices is a critical step in stabilising confidence,” a senior finance official told ET, adding, “uncertainty remains a major factor for both local and international investors.”In last trading session on Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s TASI (Tadawul) had plunged about 4.8%, touching a 35-month low before recovering some ground. The Qatar Stock Exchange index also fell by more than 4% when trading resumed on Monday morning.Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), home to 8,844 active firms including 102 hedge funds, will resume in-person operations from Wednesday. Retail and food outlets within the centre are expected to function fully. “Commercial and corporate entities and other offices should continue to follow their internal protocols and business continuity plans,” the DIFC Authority said on Tuesday evening.Earlier disruptions caused by damage to an Amazon Web Services data centre in the UAE and another facility in Bahrain affected certain banking and delivery services on Monday, though services were restored by Tuesday.Much like traders, travellers are also beginning to resume normal schedules. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the government announced that national airlines will add 80 extra flights daily in the next phase, providing capacity for 27,000 passengers. Minister of economy and tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri highlighted that since March 1, a total of 60 flights have already departed, carrying 17,498 passengers.Authorities have also established a safe air corridor in coordination with regional countries, capable of handling up to 48 flights per hour, the minister said.Recently, the kingdom’s President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan along with Dubai Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum were seen dining at a restaurant in Dubai Mall on Monday evening, a move that helped project confidence to residents and investors.After Iran announced a ban on exports of all food and agricultural products, Al Marri assured that the UAE has adequate reserves. He stated that stockpiles of essential goods and key commodities are sufficient for four to six months.The UAE imports about 80% of its food supplies, with Iran being an important supplier. Authorities are closely monitoring markets to prevent unjustified price increases, and residents have been urged not to panic-buy or hoard supplies.

The first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set for a blockbuster showdown as the unbeaten South Africa takes on New Zealand at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, March 4. With a spot in the March 8 final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on the line, both teams are gearing up for a high-stakes encounter under the Kolkata lights.

South Africa enters the contest as the tournament’s only unbeaten team, having won all seven matches played so far – four in the group stage and three in the Super 8 round. New Zealand, despite facing a defeat a defeat against England in the Super 8 stage, qualified courtesy of their superior net run rate over Pakistan.

Eden Gardens Pitch Report for SA vs NZ Semi-Final

The iconic Eden Gardens surface is expected to provide a well-balanced contest between bat and ball. Traditionally known for producing high-scoring encounters, the pitch usually offers consistent pace and bounce, allowing batters to play their shots with confidence once they settle in. Fast bowlers, however, won’t be completely out of the game. By hitting the right hard lengths, pacers can extract extra bounce from the surface, which could trouble batters early on. With a lightning-fast outfield and short square boundaries measuring around 62m and 64m, the venue tends to reward aggressive stroke play, meaning totals below 190 could be difficult to defend.

As the match progresses, the conditions could gradually start assisting spinners. The surface may offer a bit of grip and turn, allowing slower bowlers to play a crucial role in the middle overs. Pacers might also rely on variations such as cutters to make the ball hold up slightly on the pitch. Despite these factors, the track is not expected to deteriorate significantly during the game, ensuring fairly consistent conditions throughout.

Also READ: SA vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2026 1st semi-final Match Prediction – Who will win today’s game between South Africa and New Zealand?

Eden Gardens T20I Stats and Records

• Total matches played: 19
• Matches won batting first: 9
• Matches won bowling first: 10
• Average 1st innings score: 162
• Average 2nd innings score: 143
• Highest total recorded: 207/4 (20 Overs) by Scotland vs Italy
• Lowest total recorded: 70/10 (15.4 Overs) by Bangladesh vs New Zealand
• Highest score chased: 199/5 (19.2 Overs) by India vs West Indies
• Lowest score defended: 186/5 (20 Overs) by India vs West Indies

Also READ: Mohammad Amir makes a bold prediction ahead of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final clash with England

The United States may run low on critical missile if strikes if strikes on Iran continue for more than 10 days, Al Jazeera reported.According to the report, the Pentagon has also warned US President Donald Trump at an extended military campaign in Iran would carry serious risks, including the high cost of replenishing Washington’s dwindling munitions stockpiles.However, Trump on Tuesday said that US has enough in its stockpile to keep the military campaign in Iran going.“The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better – As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons. Wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.Weapons US using to attack IranAccording to the US military’s Central Command, it has used more than 20 weapons systems across air, sea, land and missile defence forces during its ongoing operation in Iran.

The US is using B-1 bombers, B-2 stealth bombers, F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters, F-22 Raptor jets, F-15s and EA-18G Growlers. It is also using drones and long-range strike systems, including the Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) one-way drones, MQ-9 Reaper drones, M-142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and Tomahawk Cruise Missiles.Here is the complete list

Two US aircraft carriers, the USS Abraham Lincoln and the USS Gerald R Ford, were in the Middle East when the attack on Iran began.Which weapons could the US run out of?The United States’ arms and ammunition stockpiles have been stretched by sustained military support to allies such as Israel and Ukraine.If a war with Iran continues, the most likely shortages would be in precision, high-end munitions and advanced missile interceptors such as the THAAD system.

Last year, during the 12-day Israel-Iran war, Washington joined Israel in bombing Iranian nuclear facilities toward the end of the conflict. The US deployed two batteries of its advanced THAAD missile defence system to Israel during that period.US officials later said more than 150 THAAD interceptors were fired to counter incoming Iranian missiles — roughly 25% of the country’s total stockpile.

A single THAAD battery typically includes 95 soldiers, six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors (eight per launcher), one radar system, and a fire-control and communications unit. As of mid-2025, there are nine active THAAD batteries worldwide, according to Lockheed Martin.US media reports also said that large numbers of ship-borne interceptors were expended during the conflict. This included Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) — GPS-guided kits that convert unguided bombs into precision-guided “smart” weapons.High-end missile defence systems are designed to counter limited, high-intensity attacks from adversaries such as Russia, China or North Korea — not prolonged barrages of cheaper missiles. Over time, finite stockpiles of advanced interceptors can be depleted quickly. Each interception can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, often to neutralise a missile that may have cost only a few thousand dollars to produce.What happens if the US runs low on weapons?According to Al Jazeera, the US could ramp up production or redeploy weapons to the Middle East from other regions.Christopher Preble, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank, said that while Washington can absorb the financial cost of war given its trillion-dollar defence budget, the real constraint lies in interceptor stockpiles such as Patriot and SM-6 missiles.Some of these interceptors were earmarked for Ukraine to defend against Russian strikes, he noted.Others are positioned in the Indo-Pacific, where they would be critical in the event of a regional contingency. Diverting them to the Middle East could raise concerns about weakening deterrence elsewhere.How much are the strikes costing US?The Pentagon has not disclosed the total cost of operations. However, estimates suggest the expenses are mounting rapidly.Reports indicate the US spent approximately $779 million in the first 24 hours of operations in Iran, with an additional $630 million allocated to pre-strike preparations — including aircraft movements, deployment of more than a dozen naval vessels, and mobilisation of regional assets.The Center for a New American Security estimates that operating a carrier strike group, such as the USS Gerald R. Ford, costs about $6.5 million per day.

Back at the Wankhede, Team India opener will hope to rediscover fearless touch at the venue where he smashed 135 vs England last yearMUMBAI: Given the way Abhishek Sharma punished everything bowled at him in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, he was tipped to light up the tournament. It also meant opposition teams went the extra mile to probe for chinks in his armour.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Barring the Zimbabwe game — where the left-hander struck a half-century — rivals have largely succeeded in keeping him quiet. His scores read 0, 0, 0, 15, 55 and 10. Yet the team management have shown faith in the 25-year-old, backing him despite his visible dip in confidence. With the semifinal against England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, changes in the starting XI look unlikely.

India trained in full strength on Tuesday, with players spending considerable time across the four nets at the venue. Abhishek was the last among the playing XI batters to pad up, facing mostly net bowlers, with Arshdeep Singh and Tilak Varma the only regulars to bowl at him. He faced a leg-spinner, two off-spinners — operating from both sides of the crease and bowling back of a length — and a couple of right-arm pacers.The Sunrisers Hyderabad opener focused on playing as straight as possible, a routine he has adopted after his early struggles in the tournament. His six dismissals so far show a clear pattern. Teams have tried to block his scoring zones, cramp him for room and take pace off the ball.Against Pakistan, Netherlands and West Indies, he fell to spinners firing in back-of-a-length darts into middle and leg, keeping the ball out of his arc as he attempted to pull or hoick towards the leg side. Against South Africa and Zimbabwe, slower deliveries from pacers deceived him, resulting in miscued shots.A high-risk approach carries its own perils and altering it overnight is never easy. However, there were signs of adjustment during his 30-ball 55 against Zimbabwe — the second slowest fifty of his T20I career — where he showed greater intent to play with a straight bat.Off-spinners Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt have troubled him, so it will be interesting to see if England use Will Jacks early, even though India have tried to balance their left-heavy top order with the inclusion of Sanju Samson.For Abhishek, the immediate challenge will be to shelve the pull shot against spinners in the early stages and devise a plan for back-of-length deliveries. He could, for instance, take a leaf out of Samson’s playbook against West Indies — creating room to cut square of the wicket or stepping inside the line to access the leg side. Experts believe he should trust his natural instincts but give himself time at the crease before shifting gears.Just over a year ago, Abhishek hammered a 54-ball 135 — his highest T20I score and second century — against England at the Wankhede, facing an attack that included Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid. The Indian think tank will hope he can draw inspiration from that innings and rediscover the fearless strokeplay that once made him the toast of Indian cricket.

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Gold and silver began Wednesday’s session with strong gains on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India as intensifying US-Israeli air strikes on Iran and mounting geopolitical tensions spurred increased buying in safe-haven assets.

April 2026 gold futures on the MCX climbed by more than Rs 2,157, or 1.33%, to trade at Rs 1,63,265 per 10 grams. At the same time, silver contracts for May 2026 delivery jumped Rs 5,682, marking a 2.1% rise to Rs 2,71,000 per kilogram.

Rupee tumbled 69 paise on Wednesday, sliding to hit a record low of 92.18 against the US dollar amid surging oil prices and a pullback from riskier assets. Analysts have cautioned that the currency could remain under strain until tensions in the Middle East subside.Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have sent shockwaves through global markets, strengthening the dollar and driving crude oil to around $85 per barrel. These developments have pushed inflation fears higher and posed risks for economies like India that rely heavily on energy imports.So far this year, rupee has already lost more than 2%, after shedding almost 5% in 2025. Although a recent US-India trade deal briefly boosted foreign inflows and provided some relief, the resurgence of conflict across the Middle East quickly erased these gains. The currency had suffered significant losses earlier this week. On Monday, it dropped 41 paise to settle at 91.49 against the dollar, following intensified US and Israeli attacks on Iran. According to forex traders, Rupee was under pressure due to massive selling in domestic equity markets and withdrawal of foreign funds. Meanwhile, Dalal Street was also trading in red. In early trade, Nifty50 fell below 24,400, standing at 24,380.45 at 9:16 AM, down 485 points or 1.95%. BSE Sensex dropped 1,644 points, or 2.05%, to 78,594.94, reflecting investor concerns over escalating Middle East tensions and the widening US-Israel-Iran conflict. Global financial markets moved into risk-off mode as concerns over rising inflation rattled stocks and bonds across the world.“Global equities slid as disruptions to Middle East energy supplies threatened to reignite price pressures. Crude oil gained around 5 per cent, while European wholesale natural gas surged a punishing 40%,” said Devarsh Vakil, Head of Prime Research at HDFC Securities. “Prolonged tensions among the United States, Israel, and Iran are mounting pressure on India across its current account, inflation outlook, and currency stability. Elevated crude prices stand to raise the country’s import bill, widen its current account deficit, weaken the rupee, stoke inflation, and trigger foreign capital outflows,” the expert further told ANI.