A major maritime scare unfolded off the coast of Oman after the oil and chemical tanker Marivex caught fire while sailing toward Duqm with 24 Indian seafarers on board. A dramatic distress call from the vessel has gone viral, with crew members reporting severe damage, fire spreading across the ship and fears that the vessel could sink. The crew also claimed the ship may have been struck, although authorities have not confirmed the cause of the incident. The vessel was sailing from Karwar in India to Oman when the fire broke out. Indian authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Shipping Ministry and Indian Navy, are closely monitoring the situation.

Saudi Arabia has officially drawn a firm red line. In a stunning geopolitical move, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has reportedly rejected an ultimatum regarding the normalization of relations with Israel, putting the Palestinian issue squarely back at the center of Middle East diplomacy.