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Three very different storylines are starting to move at the same time, and the overlap is getting harder to ignore. Signals that once felt separate are beginning to collide, creating a sense that something larger is taking shape beneath the surface. Some of it looks like progress, some of it feels like pressure, and none of it is fully settled.

The question now is how these threads connect — and what happens if they all keep moving in the same direction.

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Good morning. Today we’re breaking down [the lead story], catching you up on [a secondary story], and highlighting what’s happening across politics, world affairs, markets, science, sports, and culture. First time reading? Sign up here.

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U.S. gas prices climbed above $4 a gallon Tuesday for the first time since 2022 as fears around the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude past $107 a barrel, leaving prices up about 45% since the war began in late February. The move underscores how sensitive energy markets are to any threat to a route that carries roughly a fifth of global oil supply.

President Trump criticized NATO allies on social media, saying they would have to rely less on U.S. protection and “start learning how to fight for yourself.” His remarks highlight growing friction within the alliance over how much support Washington is willing to provide as the conflict expands.

That tension is already playing out in Europe, with Spain closing its airspace to U.S. military flights, Italy blocking use of the Sigonella base for a strike mission, and France limiting flights from Istres to non-strike roles. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinforced the message, urging allies to step up while leaving open the possibility of U.S. ground troops entering Iran.

NASA’s Artemis II mission is heading toward a launch window that would send four astronauts around the moon on a 10-day flight, the first crewed lunar mission in more than five decades. History sits close to the surface here because the crew would include the first woman, first person of color, and first non-American to travel that far from Earth.

The mission is not a landing, but it is the most important human test yet of the Orion capsule and Space Launch System before later moon missions. Engineers still have little room for error after delays tied to leaks and earlier concerns about Orion’s heat shield.

Success would give NASA a badly needed momentum boost in its race to build a sustained lunar program. Failure would sharpen doubts about cost, delays, and whether the United States can turn symbolic ambition into repeatable deep-space capability.

King Charles is set to travel to the United States as the UK looks to ease tensions with President Donald Trump and stabilize a relationship that has come under pressure in recent months. The visit is being positioned as a deliberate effort to reset the tone at a sensitive moment for both governments.

British officials see the trip as part of a broader diplomatic push to reinforce ties as global uncertainty grows and coordination becomes more important. Royal visits have long been used to create space for political repair, especially when direct engagement between leaders is strained.

The timing highlights how much pressure allied relationships are under as multiple geopolitical challenges unfold at once. A smooth visit could help rebuild trust and improve cooperation on security and trade, while any missteps risk adding to already visible friction.

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker docked in Havana on Tuesday after the U.S. allowed it to pass through the blockade, easing months of severe fuel shortages on the island. The move shows how enforcing sanctions is becoming harder without worsening Cuba’s humanitarian situation.

Britain will send more troops and air defenses to the Gulf after Iranian drone attacks reached as far as Dubai. King Charles is still planning a Washington visit next month despite tensions with the White House.

Reports and eyewitness accounts suggest Iran has been using minors to staff checkpoints as its security forces come under strain from ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, with some recruits reportedly as young as 12.

A federal judge halted the executive order cutting federal funding to NPR and PBS just minutes after it was signed, preserving funding while the legal fight plays out. The ruling is a temporary block, not a final decision — expect this one to drag through the courts.

Three FBI agents who worked on Trump-related cases sued after being fired, alleging a coordinated “retribution campaign” led by Director Kash Patel. The case hinges on whether the dismissals violated whistleblower protections.

A U.S. journalist was abducted in Baghdad on Tuesday, with Iraqi forces intercepting one vehicle but losing the one carrying her; the incident comes as Iran-backed militias increase attacks on U.S. personnel and interests in Iraq amid the wider conflict.

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McCormick is buying Unilever’s food brands, including Hellmann’s, in a roughly $45 billion deal, one of the biggest consumer mergers in years. The stock fell about 6% on the news as analysts split on whether the move is a bold bet or a risky stretch.

Oracle is laying off thousands in its latest round of cuts, redirecting the savings into AI infrastructure and cloud computing. It's a familiar story — a legacy enterprise software company shedding headcount to fund a transition it should have started years ago.

Novo Nordisk is rolling out monthly Wegovy subscription plans, bypassing insurers as it tries to regain ground against Eli Lilly’s rival drugs. The move points to a more direct, consumer-focused model and shows how competitive the obesity drug market has become.

Eli Lilly agreed to acquire Centessa Pharmaceuticals for up to $7.8 billion, adding a clinical-stage sleep drug to its pipeline. The move shows how aggressively Lilly is expanding into sleep medicine as competition in the space heats up.

Nvidia took a $2 billion equity position in Marvell, continuing its strategy of locking in chip design partners through direct investment rather than acquisition. Marvell jumped 12% on the news.

New observations in comet spin reversal suggest a comet may have flipped its rotation and entered a destabilizing “death spiral” driven by uneven gas emissions. The finding highlights how fragile these objects are, with small internal forces capable of triggering changes that could eventually tear them apart.

The International Series returns to Asia with a new event in Japan tournament preview set for early April at Caledonian Golf Club. The event expands the tour’s global footprint as it continues building momentum across emerging golf markets.

The four-time champions head to Sarajevo needing a result against Bosnia to keep their World Cup hopes alive, an unexpected spot for a team of that pedigree. Kosovo vs Turkey and Sweden vs Poland are also on tonight’s slate.

The MLB scoreboard rolled into another full slate after opening-week storylines started to take shape across both leagues. Early records rarely decide much, but rotations, bullpens, and lineup depth start revealing themselves immediately.

Ten Asian broadcasters, including South Korea and the Philippines, are launching a standalone Asian version of Eurovision. The move leans on the region’s massive pop industry and an audience that’s followed the original for years.

No warning, no rollout, Swift dropped a video packed with nods to Elizabeth Taylor’s most iconic roles, and it racked up tens of millions of views within hours. The internet is already in full dissection mode.

Green announced Hollywood Ending, his first book for adults after two decades as one of YA’s biggest names. It’s a clear pivot and one of the more closely watched releases of the year.

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U.S. gas prices have surged past $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022, as detailed in gas price surge, marking a sharp and rapid increase that is already being felt nationwide. The spike highlights how quickly geopolitical conflict can move through global energy markets and show up in everyday consumer costs.

The surge is being driven less by domestic shortages and more by fears around global supply, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil shipments. Rising crude prices have pushed fuel costs higher across the board, affecting transportation, logistics and industries that depend heavily on energy inputs.

The effects are now spreading across the broader economy, with higher fuel costs feeding into food prices, airline tickets and shipping rates. Households are absorbing the immediate impact, while businesses face tightening margins as they attempt to manage rising operating expenses.

The longer-term risk is that sustained high energy prices could slow economic growth while keeping inflation elevated, creating a more difficult environment for policymakers and consumers alike. If instability in the region continues, the current spike could become a prolonged burden rather than a temporary shock.

A snake at a British college has produced offspring through a second virgin birth case, baffling researchers studying rare reproductive behavior in reptiles.

A rare bottle fetched a record-breaking price in a wine sale, underscoring continued demand for ultra-premium collectibles.

A horse earned a Guinness World Record for performing a series of tricks in a feat highlighted in horse tricks record, showcasing the growing range of trained animal performances.

That’s your Five Minute Daily for Tuesday, March 31. Share this edition with someone who wants the headlines without the sprawl, and subscribe if you want the next one in your inbox.

—The Five Minute Daily Team