extr Volatility Index is up 11.949211%, currently at 29.98
Effective 44 min ago ---
There are no serious national events at this time.
Acute geopolitical escalation in the Middle East, particularly US-Iran tensions and multi-front Israeli operations, combined with explicit threats to critical global energy infrastructure and trade routes, creates near-term risk of major disruption. Financial markets are already pricing in energy supply concerns with gasoline prices surging and volatility indices rising sharply. The interconnected nature of multiple regional conflicts increases risk of rapid escalation within days to weeks.
LAST UPDATED 03-23-2026 @ 05:31AM (CDT)World Clock
At time of updateWashington, D.C.
06:31AMLos Angeles
03:31AMLondon
10:31AMMoscow
01:31PMBeijing
06:31PMUrgent
The most severe events and alertsAlerts
The most recent alertsadvi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 3 min ago Expires in 7 min
advi Wind Advisory
Klamath Falls, OR
Effective 8 min ago Expires in 11 hr
advi Special Weather Statement
Yanceyville, NC
Effective 13 min ago Expires in 2 hr
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 13 min ago Expires in 3 min
advi Test Message
Gaithersburg, MD
Effective 23 min ago Expires in 13 min
Events
The most recent eventsFinancial
The latest global financial dataCardano (ADA)
0.249
-0.68%
Coinbase
Bitcoin (BTC)
68170.13
0.48%
Coinbase
Dogecoin (DOGE)
0.08961
-0.67%
Coinbase
Ethereum (ETH)
2038.84
-0.71%
Coinbase
Solana (SOL)
85.53
-0.78%
Coinbase
DOW
45577.47
-0.96%
Yahoo Finance
FTSE 100
9740.29
-1.80%
Yahoo Finance
DAX
21971.11
-1.83%
Yahoo Finance
S&P 500
6506.48
-1.51%
Yahoo Finance
Nikkei
51515.49
-3.48%
Yahoo Finance
Volatility Index
29.98
11.95%
Yahoo Finance
Crude Oil
99.32
1.11%
Yahoo Finance
Gold
4277.5
-6.50%
Yahoo Finance
DOW Futures
45543
-0.76%
Yahoo Finance
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - National
3.72
6.23%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - East Coast
3.577
6.36%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - New England
3.538
5.55%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Central Atlantic
3.612
5.64%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Lower Atlantic
3.566
7.09%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Midwest
3.393
3.57%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Gulf Coast
3.412
9.75%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - Rocky Mountain
3.637
11.63%
US EIA
U.S. Regular Gasoline Prices - West Coast
4.987
6.33%
US EIA
Financial markets and commodities show significant volatility and downward pressure. The Volatility Index has surged 12.5 percent to 30.13, indicating elevated market instability. Major stock indices experienced declines, with the Nikkei down 3.48 percent, DAX down 2.03 percent, S&P 500 down 1.51 percent, and FTSE 100 down 1.70 percent. Gold declined 6.91 percent while crude oil rose 1.66 percent. Most significantly, U.S. gasoline prices have increased sharply nationwide, with Rocky Mountain prices rising 11.63 percent and Gulf Coast prices climbing 9.75 percent, with increases of 5-7 percent across other regions.
Data
The latest global dataAustralia
Level 1
Latvia
Level 1
Geomagnetic Storm
none
Radio Blackout
none
Solar Radiation
none
Ireland
Level 1
Venezuela
Level 3
Togo
Level 2
Finland
Level 1
Oman
Level 3
Saudi Arabia
Level 3
The Gambia
Level 1
Belize
Level 2
Azerbaijan
Level 3
Guatemala
Level 3
Singapore
Level 1
Kuwait
Level 3
Lesotho
Level 2
Turkey
Level 2
Current DEFCON Level
DEFCON 4 - BLUE
North Macedonia
Level 1
Angola
Level 2
United Arab Emirates
Level 3
Cyprus
Level 3
Pakistan
Level 3
Bahrain
Level 3
Jordan
Level 3
Qatar
Level 3
Iraq
Level 4
Guinea
Level 2
Malawi
Level 2
Lebanon
Level 4
Malaysia
Level 1
Routine international security and space weather conditions persist. Australia, Latvia, and Ireland maintain Level 1 Exercise Normal Precautions status, indicating standard baseline security postures with no elevated threats. Space weather indicators including geomagnetic storm activity, radio blackout potential, and solar radiation levels all show normal parameters with no adverse conditions anticipated.
Headlines
The latest headlines of interest!!! Iran threatens to cripple Gulf water, energy systems after Trump ultimatum
France24 ---
!!! Live: Iran faces Trump's Hormuz ultimatum as IEA warns of worst global energy crisis in decades
France24 ---
US-Iran-Israel war LIVE: 'Attacks on commercial ships are unacceptable': PM Modi
WION News ---
India DID NOT pay in Chinese Yuan for oil tankers to cross Strait of Hormuz
WION News ---
Ukraine and US conclude talks as Zelensky urges sanctions pressure on Russia
South China Morning Post ---
Cuba says ready for potential US attack as it recovers from latest blackout
South China Morning Post ---
Israel says investigating whether own soldiers shot civilian on Lebanon border
South China Morning Post ---
Hormuz crisis underlines vulnerability of global trade chokepoints
South China Morning Post ---
Live: Iran faces Trump's Hormuz ultimatum as IEA warns of worst global energy crisis in decades
France24 ---
West Bank settler violence surges as Israeli strikes on Gaza kill four Palestinians
France24 ---
Iran threatens to cripple Gulf water, energy systems after Trump ultimatum
France24 ---
A former senior advisor to the Saudi government assesses the likelihood of a Gulf-style NATO
France24 ---
Trump threat to hit Iran power plants could violate Geneva Conventions
France24 ---
Photos from the Mideast in the 4th week of the Iran war
Associated Press ---
National Guard in Hawaii assist after Oahu flood
Al Jazeera ---
Rescue teams brave fire in suspected attack on Gaza City residential area
Al Jazeera ---
Kashmiris donate gold and cash to support Iran
Al Jazeera ---
Active large-scale US-Iran military operations are escalating rapidly with global energy and financial crises mounting alongside regional conflicts.
