Top theme: Middle East conflict escalates as Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, oil jumps 13%.
Notable: US embassy in Riyadh hit by drones; Kramatorsk shelling kills 3; Japan-
India rare earth deal to counter
China; 318 million face acute hunger globally.
Weather: Flooding risk across central US; Florida drought persists into March.
Flows: Energy supply chains fracture as Hormuz closes; tech layoffs reach 51,000 in 2026; ransomware breaches compound.
Framing: US-Iran strikes framed as "dragged into war" (US) vs "righteous retaliation" (Iran/regional).
Saudi Arabia positioned as victim vs complicit proxy depending on source.
Mood: Tense
Pattern: When energy choke points close, every headline pivots to price.
Perception Gap: US-Iran conflict - rough PGI 8. US frames as Iranian aggression requiring defense; Middle Eastern sources emphasize disproportionate strikes and civilian casualties; European sources caught between alliance obligations and energy security concerns; Asian sources focus on economic impact via oil prices.