Iran-US Deadlock: Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support” after rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal, keeping the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut and pushing oil higher again—while markets try to look past the risk. Oil & Shipping Shock: Brent swings and rises as traders price a longer conflict; bunker fuel supply is strained, raising shipping costs and threatening wider price pressure. China Summit Pressure: Trump heads to Beijing with tech CEOs in tow, but Iran is expected to dominate talks with Xi—China wants de-escalation while the US presses for help reopening Hormuz. Regional Mediation Under Scrutiny: Reports claim Pakistan allowed Iranian aircraft to park at airbases to shield them from strikes, drawing US lawmakers’ backlash over Pakistan’s “neutral mediator” role. Human Rights & Academia: Iran executes aerospace engineer Erfan Shakourzadeh on CIA/Mossad spying charges; an Iranian studies group urges UN/EU to condemn alleged US-Israeli strikes on universities. Tech & Markets: AI optimism lifts some indexes, but IT stocks wobble as crude and the rupee hit sentiment; first-time buyers in the US stay sidelined as mortgage rates rise.