This is NewsCard Daily for Wednesday March 11 2026 ... your briefing on the stories shaping our world.

We begin in the Middle East where the U.S. unleashes its most intense airstrikes yet on Iranian targets. Defense Secretary Hegseth calls it the heaviest day of bombing since the war started. Pentagon video shows American forces hammering Iranian ships and destroying 16 mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. That's the chokepoint for 20 percent of the world's oil. President Trump vows the conflict ends very soon but warns Iran of unprecedented military consequences if they mine those waters. At least 140 U.S. service members wounded so far. Families back home hold their breath as gas prices spike worldwide...

Shifting to global markets where oil prices plunge today on Trump's signals the war nears an end. Benchmark crude drops sharply after earlier surges rattled economies. That eases fears of supply chaos through the Hormuz Strait. But gold and silver hold firm as safe havens amid the chaos. Investors watch every tweet and strike. Fuel costs for everyday drivers hang in the balance from Texas to Tokyo...

Now to North America where the FBI thwarts a massive ISIS-inspired plot in New York City. Two teens charged with planning an attack bigger than the Boston Marathon. Agents blow up suspicious items in a Philadelphia storage unit linked to the plot. Panic averted but it exposes homegrown terror risks. Communities rally as authorities hunt for accomplices...

Over to Canada where gunfire rakes the U.S. consulate in Toronto. No casualties reported yet but security tightens amid rising Middle East spillover fears. Investigators probe motives as diplomats shelter in place. Cross-border tensions simmer...

In the Pacific we turn to the Philippines where lawmakers push a bill letting the president slash fuel excise taxes. Senator Mark Villar demands a probe into the sovereign wealth fund's investments. President Marcos digs in against rejoining the International Criminal Court. All this as oil volatility hits households hard from Manila to Melbourne...

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