**Summary:** U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the United States is currently 'fine' with some Iranian, Indian, and Chinese ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to supply the world. Any further action to mitigate higher fuel prices will depend on the duration of the ongoing Iran war.

**Key points:**
- Iranian ships have already been transiting and the US has permitted this for global supply.
- Tanker traffic through the Strait has decreased due to Iran attacking commercial ships in the Persian Gulf.
- The Trump administration anticipates a 'natural opening' by the Iranians before allied forces escort commercial ships.
- Bessent suggested oil prices should fall below $80 per barrel after the conflict concludes.

**Why it matters:** The US position on allowing specific national tanker traffic through the critical Strait of Hormuz indicates a pragmatic approach to maintaining global fuel supply amidst regional conflict.

The Straits Times - US 'fine' with some ships getting through Strait of Hormuz, Bessent says

CNBC - U.S. is allowing Iranian tankers through Strait of Hormuz, says Bessent

US 'Fine' With Some Iranian, Indian, Chinese Ships Transiting Strait of Hormuz

**Summary:** The 98th Academy Awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles on March 15, hosted by Conan O’Brien for the second consecutive year. The film "Sinners" set a record for the most nominations in Oscar history with 16 nods.

**Key points:**
- "Sinners" broke the record for most Oscar nominations, surpassing the previous record held by "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016).
- "One Battle After Another" received 13 nominations, while "Marty Supreme," "Frankenstein," and "Sentimental Value" each secured nine nominations.
- The Spanish film "Sirât" earned two nominations, including Best International Film and Best Sound.
- Conan O’Brien hosted the event at the Dolby Theatre.
- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the winners.

**Why it matters:** The Oscars are the most important awards in the film industry, honoring the best movies and stars from the past year. The event marked a new nomination record for a single film.

Oscars 2026: Nominees list in full - MyJoyOnline

Los ganadores de los Premios Oscar 2026 - EL PAÍS

“Оскар-2026“: стали известны обладатели престижной кинопремии - Tengri Life

Winners Announced for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026)

**Summary:** The first round of the 2026 French municipal elections saw a national voter turnout of 48.9% by 5 PM, marking a significant increase compared to the 38.8% recorded at the same time in the 2020 elections held during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this participation rate remains lower than pre-Covid elections, such as 2014.

**Key points:**
- The 5 PM turnout was 10 percentage points higher than the 2020 figure.
- Turnout was notably higher in Corsica and the South of France, with Corse-du-Sud at 72.4%.
- Île-de-France departments, like Seine-Saint-Denis (37%), showed lower mobilization.
- Final participation is projected by pollsters to be between 56% and 58.5%.
- The election is considered a test one year ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly for the Rassemblement National (RN).
- Polling suggested a potential record abstention rate for local elections outside the Covid period.

**Why it matters:** The municipal elections serve as a crucial political barometer, testing the dynamics of the major political blocs, including the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Élections municipales : le récit du premier tour en direct

Élections municipales 2026 : la participation en forte hausse à 17 heures

Direct – Élections municipales en France : taux de participation de 48,9%, en hausse par rapport à 2020

CARTE. Municipales 2026 – 1er tour : à 17 heures, 48,90 % des électeurs sont allés voter en France… dans quels départements s’est-on le plus mobilisé ?

French Municipal Elections: 48.9% Turnout at 5 PM, Up from 2020

**Summary:** The process of evacuating foreign diplomats and citizens from Iran to Azerbaijan via the Astara border crossing is ongoing. Between 09:00 and 14:00 on March 15, 2026, six individuals—one Chinese citizen and five Azerbaijani citizens—crossed into Azerbaijan.

**Key points:**
- The evacuation is proceeding according to procedural rules and safety requirements.
- The Russian Consulate General in Isfahan, Iran, has temporarily suspended its operations due to the current situation.
- The evacuation process is being conducted in stages throughout the day at the Astara checkpoint.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian previously discussed de-escalation in the Middle East.

**Why it matters:** The continued evacuation and the temporary closure of a Russian consulate suggest ongoing instability or security concerns in the region involving Iran.

Еще шесть человек эвакуированы из Ирана в Азербайджан - day.az

Six more people evacuated from Iran to Azerbaijan - trend.az

Консульство России в иранском городе приостановило работу - lenta.ru

Evacuations from Iran to Azerbaijan Continue Amid Regional Tensions

**Summary:** Nineteen-year-old Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula One Grand Prix pole position at the Chinese GP in Shanghai, making him the youngest driver ever to achieve this milestone, breaking Sebastian Vettel's 2008 record. He led a Mercedes one-two finish in the race, with teammate George Russell finishing second.

**Key points:**
- Antonelli is now the second-youngest race winner in F1 history, behind Max Verstappen (who won at 18 years, 7 months, 15 days).
- Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff viewed the pole as 'great validation' for the team's decision to place Antonelli in a seat for the 2025 season.
- George Russell, who won the preceding Australian opener and China Sprint, finished second in the race.
- Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari last year, finished third, marking his first podium since Las Vegas 2024.
- McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both failed to start the race due to car problems.
- Antonelli is the first Italian winner since Giancarlo Fisichella in Malaysia 2006.

**Why it matters:** Antonelli's breakthrough performance immediately inserts him into the elite conversation regarding the youngest F1 race winners, framing expectations for driver development pipelines and altering strategic calculations for Mercedes and its rivals.

Youngest F1 Race Winner : Antonelli on Pole as All - Time List Rewrites the Stakes

Antonelli takes first F1 win with Mercedes one-two in China

Kimi Antonelli Becomes Youngest F1 Pole Sitter in Shanghai

**Summary:** South Korea is closely monitoring US President Donald Trump's call for Seoul and other nations to send warships to protect oil supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This follows attacks and threats by Tehran since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on February 28, which have nearly halted shipping in the vital strait.

**Key points:**
- Trump named South Korea and Japan among countries he hoped would send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
- Seoul stated it is carefully considering the matter in consultation with the United States.
- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party policy chief, Mr Takayuki Kobayashi, said the threshold for sending Japanese navy ships is 'extremely high'.
- South Korea has already imposed a fuel price cap due to the war's impact on energy supply, the first such measure since 1997.

**Why it matters:** The Strait of Hormuz is critical for global energy imports, with one-fifth of global oil supplies normally passing through it, making its security vital for energy-reliant economies like South Korea.

The Straits Times - South Korea ‘closely monitoring’ Trump call to send warships to Hormuz

South Korea Monitoring Trump Call for Warships in Strait of Hormuz

deccanchronicle.com - South Korea 'Closely Monitoring' Trump Call to Send Warships to Hormuz

**Summary:** The organization overseeing Formula 1, the FIA, announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for mid-April due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. The decision prioritizes the safety and well-being of the teams.

**Key points:**
- The cancelled events were scheduled for April 10-12 (Bahrain near Manama) and April 17-19 (Jeddah).
- The two events will not be replaced by other Grands Prix, reducing the 2026 season from 24 to 22 races.
- FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem expressed hope for calm and stability in the region.
- The region's races are considered 'incredibly important' to the F1 season ecosystem.
- The next scheduled races are in Japan (March 27-29) and Miami (May 3).

**Why it matters:** The cancellation of two significant sporting, economic, and media events highlights the severe impact of the escalating conflict in the Gulf region on international sports scheduling.

Формула - 1 отменила два этапа Гран - при из - за ближневосточного конфликта

Deux Grand Prix de Formule 1 annulés à cause de la guerre au Moyen-Orient

F1 Cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix Due to Middle East War

**Summary:** Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed on Sunday to "chase and kill" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating they would continue pursuing him with full force while the war with Israel and the United States continues into its sixteenth day. This threat follows Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran since February 28th, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

**Key points:**
- The IRGC made the threat on its website, Sepah News.
- The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US is reported to be in its sixteenth day.
- Iran has been retaliating by striking Israel and regional countries with missiles and drones since Khamenei's death.
- Separately, Iranian authorities announced the arrest of 20 people in Urmia, West Azerbaijan province, for allegedly spying for Israel and providing information on military sites.

**Why it matters:** The IRGC's direct threat against the Israeli Prime Minister escalates tensions amid ongoing military conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US, which has already seen the death of Iran's Supreme Leader.

Quarte Bot