Iran war may disrupt H-1B travel, jobs: What US visa holders must know

US‑Iran conflict is spilling into US immigration: shattered travel via Gulf hubs and suspended consulates are stranding H‑1B/L‑1 workers, jeopardizing jobs and status. Attorneys advise avoiding travel, tracking I‑94, filing timely extensions, and employer flexibility as H‑1B cap season runs.

OPPO will add Android Quick Share–Apple AirDrop interoperability to the Find X9 series via a March update, co-developed with Google and MediaTek, enabling secure cross-platform sharing. OPPO will also launch the Find X9s in India and take the Find X9 Ultra global with Hasselblad-backed imaging.

Kurds, a 30–40 million stateless people across Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran, have long faced repression and conflict. Key groups include PKK, PJAK, KDPI and others. Autonomy in Iraqi Kurdistan; pivotal vs ISIL in Syria. New alliance amid US-Iran tensions; Iran strikes bases in Iraq.

As conflict in West Asia disrupts oil and LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Indian energy firms including Petronet LNG, Mangalore Refinery and Gujarat Gas have invoked force majeure. Here’s what the clause means, why it is being triggered, and how supply risks are driving prices higher.

Great Eastern Shipping shares jumped up to 6% after it agreed to buy a 2014-built 81,094 dwt Japanese Kamsarmax, funded via internal accruals, for delivery by Q1 FY27. Fleet rises to 41 with near-100% utilization. VLGC Jag Vishnu sale due Q4 FY26; Q3 FY26 profit +37% to ₹813 cr, sales +18%.

PM Narendra Modi met Finnish President Alexander Stubb in New Delhi during Stubb’s state visit, including a keynote at the Raisina Dialogue. Talks aim to boost India‑Finland ties, trade and people links, and coordination on regional, global and multilateral issues. Stubb will also visit Mumbai.

Investor Jim Rogers says geopolitical shocks fade but a major U.S. market correction looms, so he’s holding USD cash. He’s long-term bullish on gold and silver, wary of AI stock hype, upbeat on India (no positions) and China, favors commodities—especially agriculture—and sees oil above $100.

Realme Narzo Power launches in India at Rs 27,999 (8/128) and Rs 29,999 (8/256), on Realme and Amazon. Specs: 6.8-inch FHD+ 144Hz AMOLED, Dimensity 7400 Ultra, Android 16, 50MP+8MP, 16MP, 10,001mAh with 80W, IP66/68/69, Gorilla Glass 7i. Offers: up to Rs 4,000 off, 4‑yr battery warranty.

OpenAI launched GPT‑5.3 Instant, upgrading ChatGPT with more direct, relevant replies, fewer unnecessary refusals, and a steadier tone. Hallucinations drop ~20–27% in tests. It improves writing help and is live for all and via API (gpt-5.3-chat-latest). GPT‑5.2 Instant retires June 3, 2026.

Volatility triggered by the Iran war may provide long-term investors an opportunity to accumulate quality Indian stocks, says PhillipCapital, which has retained its Nifty target of 26,500-27,500 by March 2027.

External MPC member Nagesh Kumar says West Asia war brings short-term risks to India—higher oil, export disruption, remittance hit—but long-term growth intact. Inflation benign; Goldilocks possible. Urges fiscal-monetary coordination, diversification, push manufacturing to lift GDP from 7% to 8%

Apple debuts MacBook Neo as entry-level: A18 Pro, 13" display, 8GB RAM, 256/512GB, 2x USB‑C, Wi‑Fi 6E, 16‑hr video, 1 external display. Updated MacBook Air gets M5 for higher AI/multitasking, 13.6/15.3", 16GB base up to 32GB/4TB, MagSafe+TB4, Wi‑Fi 7, 18‑hr video.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will resign just months into his 10th term to contest the March 16 Rajya Sabha polls, aiming to complete service in all four legislatures. He’ll stay CM till the vote, pledges support to the next government, and shifts focus after two decades leading the state.

After a record rout, South Korea’s Kospi rebounded 12% Thursday, extending a 34% YTD gain after a 2025 AI-fueled surge. CLSA’s 2026 theme is “Rotation,” trimming overweight amid overbought signals, rich 2.1x P/B and US correlation. Still constructive on earnings upgrades

WhatsApp is testing an optional WhatsApp Plus subscription for Android/iOS, adding personalization and chat tools: up to 20 pinned chats, 14 app icons, 19 accent colors, exclusive stickers, custom ringtones and richer reactions. Core features stay free. No pricing; limited beta waitlist.

Indian stocks rebounded Thursday on +ve global cues: Nifty 50 +0.55% to 24,619; Nifty 500 +0.63% to 22,554 after a sharp 3-day selloff tied to US‑Israel‑Iran tensions. Mid/small caps fell harder; 96 Nifty 500 stocks are RSI-reading oversold (14 below 20). oversold doesn’t ensure reversal.

Gujarat Gas shares fell up to 6.7% after declaring force majeure, curbing industrial gas supplies from Mar 6, 2026 amid R-LNG shortages tied to the West Asia conflict. Acts of war aren’t insured; impact unclear. Volume spiked. Q3 FY26: revenue and net profit dipped QoQ; EBITDA rose YoY.

Meeting in Canberra, Canada’s PM Mark Carney and Australia’s Anthony Albanese urged de-escalation of the Iran war and insisted Iran must never get a nuclear weapon. Citing a US sub sinking an Iranian warship and NATO stopping a missile near Türkiye, they urged GCC roles.

Ramky Infrastructure shares jumped ~14% after winning a ₹1,401.84 crore EPC contract from MITL for Phase 1 infrastructure at Dighi Port Industrial Area under the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor. The 930-day project includes four years of O&M; trading volumes surged as recent losses reversed.

South Korea’s chip sector warns the Iran crisis could disrupt Middle East supplies (notably helium), raise energy costs and chip prices, and delay AI data center plans, tempering demand. SK Hynix cites inventories and diversified sourcing. Amazon data centers were hit as regional tensions escalate.

After finding wired Android Auto/CarPlay inconvenient, I tested UltraProLink DriveLink, a ₹2,999 USB dongle that enables wireless function. It’s tiny, easy to set up, preserves controls and near‑wired audio, but runs hot with occasional dropouts, slow pairing, and average build—handy, not flawless.

Nepal began voting in its first general election since the 2025 Gen Z-led protests that forced former PM K P Sharma Oli to resign. Over 18.9 million voters are electing a 275-member House amid tight security, with Balendra Shah emerging as a key contender in a high-stakes contest.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said its finalized $30B stake in OpenAI and $10B in Anthropic will likely be its last as both eye 2024 IPOs. A proposed $100B OpenAI deal was scrapped amid sector doubts and circularity concerns. Anthropic’s IPO plans are not final.

Big Tech lobby ITI (members include Nvidia, Amazon, Apple) urged Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth to reconsider labeling Anthropic a supply-chain risk after a federal ban and Pentagon purge, warning it creates uncertainty and could limit access to top U.S. tech. ITI urges using FASC and standard channels.

Estée Lauder will acquire the remaining stake in India’s luxury Ayurveda brand Forest Essentials, with closing expected in H2 2026. Founder Mira Kulkarni and team will keep leading from New Delhi as ELC scales the brand globally while preserving its Indian identity.

Nothing launches the Phone 4a series today (Mar 5, 4 PM IST) in London, livestreamed on its site/YouTube. Phone 4a keeps a transparent design with a brighter Glyph Bar and new colors; 4a Pro gets a Phone 3–like Glyph Matrix. Snapdragon, bigger battery/UFS 3.1 tipped. Headphone (a) debuts. 

A US/Israel–Iran conflict could trigger a major oil shock if Strait of Hormuz flows stall. Attacks on Saudi/Qatari energy and traffic falling to ~5 tankers/day would endanger up to 15 mb/d of oil and ~20% of LNG. Sparse bypass routes could flip surplus to deficit and spike prices.

India is bolstering defences as West Asia conflict disrupts energy and trade: panel to keep flows, diversify crude, review buffers; RBI curbs rupee slide. With 8 weeks oil stocks but tight LPG, risks loom for inflation, CAD and growth. Possible shift to Russian oil; evacuation and remittance at risk

Apple launched the 13-inch MacBook Neo on Mar 4, powered by A18 Pro. Fanless aluminum design, macOS Tahoe, 8GB RAM, 256/512GB, 13-inch 2408×1506 display, 16h battery, 1080p cam, Wi‑Fi 6E, USB‑C charging. Starts at Rs 69,900. Preorders now, on sale Mar 11. Colors: Silver, Blush, Citrus, Indigo.

Two Russian tankers with 1.4mn barrels of Urals crude, initially bound for East Asia, have diverted to India amid West Asia turmoil and Hormuz disruptions. Odune to Paradip, Matari to Vadinar; Indri may follow. Despite US pressure, India is turning back to Russian oil. All three ships are sanctioned

Persistent poor sleep—loud snoring with pauses, unrefreshing rest, fatigue, headaches, poor focus—can signal sleep disorders, especially obstructive sleep apnoea. Ignoring them raises risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. Seek evaluation; CPAP and lifestyle changes help.

Antique Stock Broking initiates Buy on five AHFCs, preferring Aadhar, Home First, India Shelter, Aptus, Aavas. Cites strong growth drivers and tech-led moat; recent headwinds cut valuations. Expects asset quality to normalize, AUM to grow 20–25% (India Shelter ~27%)

An unidentified US Navy submarine sank Iran’s frigate Iris Dena near Sri Lanka with a Mark 48 torpedo—the first US sub torpedo strike in combat since WWII. DoD released video; 32 of ~180 crew rescued. Officials called it swift. The report reviews sub warfare history and the torpedo’s lethal effects.

Morgan Stanley cut ~2,500 jobs (3%) across investment banking/trading, wealth management, and investment management, hitting private bankers and back-office roles but sparing advisers. Despite strong 2025 results, it cites new priorities, location shifts, and performance.

Delhi saw a warm morning with improved air a day after Holi: AQI 135 (moderate). Of 45 stations, 42 moderate, 2 poor (Punjabi Bagh 276, NSIT Dwarka 228), 1 satisfactory (DTU 98). Steady winds (gusts to 35 kmph) may further disperse pollutants. Max 32–34°C, min 16–18°C.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei resumed Pentagon talks after a clash over bans on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons led to a “supply-chain risk” label. A deal could avert blacklisting as OpenAI inks a DoD pact. Despite uncertainty, Anthropic’s growth surges; tech giants urge reversal.

At least 37 Indian-flagged ships with over 1,100 seafarers are stranded in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman after tensions between the US, Israel and Iran disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

China cut its 2024 GDP target to 4.5–5% (from 5% in 2023) amid U.S. tariffs, global turmoil, and property/job headwinds. At the NPC, Premier Li set goals: jobless ~5.5%, 12m jobs, CPI ~2%, income gains, CO2 cuts. Consumption push: 250b yuan bonds and a 100b fund. Xi attended amid PLA purges.

Antony Blinken warns a prolonged US-Israel war with Iran could drain US munitions and weaken deterrence vs China/Russia. He cites high costs, defense production talks, and need for public buy-in, even troops. A quick victory is hollow; only real change in Tehran could reshape the region.

Musk said he paid full price for Twitter in 2022 because he believed Delaware Chancery Chief Judge Kathaleen McCormick was biased and lawyers warned he’d lose. In a San Francisco investor trial, he denied manipulating shares. Her rulings spurred Tesla’s move to Texas; Delaware later revised laws.

Indian stocks set to open higher on Asian rebound; GIFT Nifty +114. Wall St up; gold/silver rise, Brent flat. Watch: Gujarat Gas force majeure; GE Shipping vessel buy; Ramky Rs1,402 cr EPC; HUL exits Nutritionalab; BSE Sensex Next 30 derivatives nod; DLF clarifies

US-Spain rift deepened as Washington claimed Madrid agreed to US use of Spanish bases for Iran operations; FM Albares denied any shift. PM Sánchez condemned strikes, vowing “No to war.” Trump threatened to cut trade; EU backed Spain. Embargo feasibility unclear; Spanish business groups urged calm.

A New York judge ruled all importers are owed refunds on Trump-era IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court, halting collection and ordering recalculation, even post-liquidation. Refunds could reach $175B; the government may seek a stay as CBP builds a mass-refund process with 180-day limits.

US and European stocks rose as oil’s surge paused and cryptos rallied, boosting risk appetite despite heightened US‑Iran tensions. The dollar eased while Treasury yields climbed. Wall St and STOXX 600 advanced; Asia fell. Bitcoin jumped, semis/software led. Oil flat; gold and silver rebounded.

Amid escalating West Asia conflict, the US says 17,500 citizens have returned since Feb 28, including 8,500 Tuesday. State Dept runs a 24/7 task force, hotlines, and departure assistance. CENTCOM reports ongoing airstrikes in Iran as Tehran retaliates; Americans urged to enroll for travel options.

India shifts from winter to early summer as IMD warns max temps 4–6°C above normal this week. Central, AP and Maharashtra to warm then stabilise; NW/east nights rising. Hills (J&K, Ladakh, HP, Uttarakhand) may see light rain/snow on Mar 7–10.

At the White House, Trump touted US success in “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran, rating it “15/10,” claiming joint US-Israeli strikes crippled Iran’s forces and leadership. He defended axing the 2015 nuclear deal, cited Soleimani’s killing, urged pre-emption, and praised oil ties with Venezuela.

Google will cut Play Store fees to 10–20% and add a 5% processing option, while certifying alternative app stores—steps that end its antitrust fight with Epic. The plan needs court approval and will roll out in the US, UK, and EU, with global expansion pending. Both sides tout a more open Android.

Senate Republicans blocked a war powers resolution 47–53, signaling early support for President Trump’s expanding war with Iran. Mostly party-line with exceptions, the vote highlighted oversight demands amid casualties, shifting goals, and a looming House vote.