India, March 16 -- Talk show host and comedian Conan O'Brien returned to host the Oscars for the second year in a row, and this time, he was not afraid to go there. The host, usually measured in his approach to humour, addressed everything from the Middle East conflict to artificial intelligence (AI) in an unusually politically charged monologue.

Conan opened his second Oscars with a reference to "chaotic and frightening times", a reference to the conflict in the Middle East between Iran, Israel, and the US. But he added that the current geopolitical climate made the Oscars all the more resonant as a globally unifying force.

Conan then turned his attention to the industry itself, reserving some of his best jokes for streaming giants. Ta...