1 month ago
1
(1) Indian vessels stranded successful the Strait of Hormuz
As the warfare betwixt Iran and U.S. continued, Indian-flagged vessels carrying important fuels were stranded adjacent the Strait of Hormuz, a cardinal transit chokepoint present efficaciously closed. To the Strait’s West, successful the Persian Gulf, 22 vessels were stranded, portion connected the East adjacent the Gulf of Oman, 2 vessels were stranded. Of these, 10 vessels were Indian-flagged.
Around 90% of LNG imports to India walk done this Strait. Among the stranded vessels, 20 carried immoderate 2.15 lakh metric tonnes of liquefied earthy state (LNG), 3.21 lakh tonnes of liquefied petroleum state (LPG) and 16.76 lakh tonnes of crude lipid bound for India.
While India did not person a broad statement successful spot with Iran yet to facilitate vas question done the Strait, negotiations were made based connected a case-by-case ground for idiosyncratic vessels. As per Bloomberg, an approximate way has been estimated from transponder information that takes the vessels along the Iranian coastline past the Strait.
Earlier, 2 vessels were authorised by Iran to walk the Strait, some on the aforesaid way passing betwixt Lavan land and Qeshm island.
(2) Semaglutide patent expires
The patent for Semaglutide, utilized successful Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster diabetic drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, expired connected Friday past week (March 20, 2026), opening the doors for cheaper generics utilizing the aforesaid look to participate the market. Costs for the lowest dose were estimated to driblet from ₹11,000 to astir ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 and past further to astir ₹1,500 arsenic much players participate the market, a Reuters study said. Some of India’s biggest pharma companies released their ain version of the cause conscionable a time aft the patent expired, connected March 21. While the drug’s intent was for diabetic treatment, their usage successful value nonaccomplishment programs has gained popularity.
In India, patients enarthrosis a important information of their aesculapian expenditure retired of their ain pocket. Of this expenditure, expenses connected pharmaceuticals (prescribed and over-the-counter), marque up astir 30% of full existent out-of-pocket expenditure.
In specified a scenario, outgo decreases tin grow idiosyncratic basal for the GLP-1 drug. Moreover, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lily, different subordinate successful the GLP-1 cause market, person announced investments to ramp up proviso of oral pills that bash not necessitate acold storage, making it easier to grow reach. On the different hand, ample superior expenditure requirements whitethorn restrict expanding supply, a JP Morgan study said. Besides this, value nonaccomplishment treatments utilizing the cause request cautious monitoring to forestall diligent abuse.
(3) At slightest 400 killed and 250 injured owed to a Pakistani airstrike connected a rehab centre successful Kabul
Afghanistan’s Deputy Government spokesperson said aboriginal Tuesday (March 17, 2026) the death toll from an airstrike by Pakistan connected Monday (March 16, 2026) that deed a infirmary treating cause users successful the Afghan superior Kabul has accrued to 400.
Afghanistan accused Pakistan’s subject of targeting the Omid Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital that treats cause users. Pakistan dismissed the accusation, saying the strikes — which were besides conducted successful eastbound Afghanistan — did not deed immoderate civilian sites.
The alleged onslaught came hours aft Afghan officials said the 2 sides exchanged occurrence on their communal border, sidesplitting 4 radical successful Afghanistan, arsenic the deadliest warring betwixt the neighbours successful years entered the 3rd week. A mass ceremonial of the victims was held connected Wednesday (March 18, 2026), arsenic bulldozers dug pits successful a cemetery successful the Afghan capital.
(4) Israeli airstrike kills Iran’s nationalist information main Ali Larijani
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was assassinated successful an overnight aerial onslaught by Israel connected Tuesday (March 17, 2026). Soon after, Iran confirmed Larijani’s death.
The decease of Ali Larijani represents a large stroke to Iran, whose long-serving person Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and respective different apical spiritual, military, and governmental officials person been killed implicit the past fewer weeks successful US-Israeli strikes that ignited the warfare successful West Asia.
IRGC’s Basij unit Commander Gholamreza Soleimani was besides assassinated successful the overnight airstrikes successful Tehran. Mocking again with a “I americium alive” video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to proceed to termination much Iranian leaders named connected his “punch card”.
(5) Rupee down to a caller all-time low against U.S.-dollar
The rupee crashed 60 paise to a caller intra-day debased of 93.49 against the U.S. dollar connected Friday (March 20, 2026) arsenic the greenback strengthened further and FII outflows continued unabated amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. It yet closed connected 93.3483 connected Friday.
Elevated planetary crude lipid prices enactment further unit connected the section unit, forex traders said, adding that adjacent affirmative sentiments astatine the home equity markets could not forestall the crash.
