It’s another edition of NRTC WEEKLY Roundup —in this week’s instalment, we spotlight five major stories making waves across the globe.
In today’s fast-paced world, headlines evolve by the hour, making it easy to miss important developments shaping international politics, business, sports and entertainment.
Our weekly roundup highlights key global moments across the major beats covered by NRTC — your one-stop hub for reliable and engaging content on entertainment, sports, politics, metro, and major news stories.
Scroll down and catch up on some of the most global developments this week.
Trump orders ‘Obliteration’ of Iran’s Kharg Island
NRTC WEEKLY gathered that tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had ordered the “total obliteration” of military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the strike as one of the most powerful bombing raids in history, although he said he had chosen not to destroy the island’s oil infrastructure for what he described as reasons of “decency”.
The president, however, warned that the United States would reconsider its position if Iran attempted to interfere with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
Notably, Trump made no mention of the operation earlier in the day when he spoke briefly with travelling reporters before boarding Air Force One, adding an element of tactical silence to the unfolding events.
Oil prices surge above $100 amid Hormuz crisis
Global energy markets have been rattled as crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel, according to information gathered by NRTC WEEKLY.
The spike followed a strong message from Iran’s newly installed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who called for the permanent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes through the narrow waterway, raising fears of prolonged global inflation if the route becomes disrupted.
In response to rising fuel costs, several countries in Asia and Europe have reported a surge in demand for electric vehicles, as consumers increasingly seek alternatives to traditional petrol-powered transport.
Champions League knockout drama
European football also dominated headlines this week as the UEFA Champions League entered its knockout stage.
Clubs from England’s Premier League endured a difficult start after failing to secure wins in several first-leg fixtures.
Meanwhile, smaller teams have taken advantage of the competition’s revised seeding system to challenge Europe’s traditional heavyweights.
READ ALSO
One of the biggest surprises came from the Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, who continued their remarkable campaign with a commanding 3–0 victory over Sporting CP.
The win marked their fifth consecutive Champions League victory, having previously defeated major clubs such as Manchester City, Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid.
Despite the excitement, concerns over player fatigue and injuries continue to grow, with several high-profile footballers reportedly sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Attention now turns to whether Manchester City can overturn their 3–0 deficit against Real Madrid in the return leg.
98th Academy Awards Nominations
The entertainment industry buzzed with excitement following the announcement of nominations for the 98th Academy Awards.
This year’s shortlist has been widely described as the “Year of the Independent”, with smaller auteur-driven films dominating major categories and outshining several big-budget franchise productions.
🔎 Explore More
- 📚 NRTC English Knowledge Base – Learn, improve, and sharpen your English skills.
- 🌍 Top Stories From Around the World – Stay informed with the latest global news and insights.
- ⭐ Specially Curated Listicles – Discover interesting lists, guides, and deep dives selected for our readers.
- 📩 Stay Updated: Join our mailing list and never miss the latest articles and updates from NRTC.
Diversity and global representation also reached a new milestone, with a record number of non-English-language films receiving nominations in the Best Picture category.
Social media platforms have since erupted with debate over perceived snubs, particularly after a highly successful animated film that broke global box-office records failed to secure a nomination.
ByteDance finalises $10bn TikTok deal
Meanwhile, a long-running geopolitical technology dispute appeared to reach a turning point this week.
NRTC WEEKLY learnt that ByteDance finalised a $10 billion agreement to restructure ownership of TikTok through a majority American-owned joint venture.
The deal, reportedly involving a significant payment to the U.S. government, aims to safeguard the data of more than 200 million American users and prevent a nationwide ban on the popular social media platform.
The agreement comes as the United States intensifies efforts to strengthen technological sovereignty, ensuring that critical digital infrastructure remains under domestic oversight amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Here, the curtain of this week’s episode of NRTC WEEKLY will drop.
Join us for another edition next week as we take you around the trending stories across the globe.
