Author: Gulf News Week

Dozens of nations report fuel hikes of up to 80% as Brent crude surges 57% in one month; UAE petrol prices expected to rise when new rates are unveiled on March 31. DUBAI — Retail fuel prices have surged across Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond, with increases ranging from under five per cent to more than 80 per cent, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt global energy markets. The sharp upward spiral follows the ongoing US-Israel-Iran military conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments—which has sent crude prices soaring. Dozens of…

Like in other conflicts, Israel launched the war on Iran together with the US without a realistic political plan.In recent days, alongside continued claims of successes in this war, a new tone is emerging in Israel’s media, piercing the Israeli sense of invincibility — the first hints of a narrative of defeat.Writing in Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on March 25, Yossi Yehoshua detailed tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief David Barnea regarding the failure of plans to collapse the Iranian regime.Three days earlier, The New York Times had reported that in January, Barnea presented US officials with…

The lawlessness and brutality of the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza have now spread to other parts of the world.We are witnessing a war on humanity. This might sound hyperbolic to some, but it should not. What is unfolding across the globe is not a series of isolated events or crises. It is a coordinated assault waged through brute force against the international systems that sustain humanity. The goal is a world order that doesn’t just quietly practise “might makes right” but proudly proclaims it.Yet we cannot understand this moment without understanding that Palestine – as both a place and a…

The war is feeding into a theological narrative of martyrdom and sacrifice that is helping maintain the Islamic Republic’s internal cohesion.The United States-Israel war against Iran is usually described in the language of strategy: Deterrence, escalation, military pressure, missile capacity, nuclear risk. All of these matter, but they do not tell the whole story.To understand how Iran may fight and survive this war, we need to look beyond military calculations and into the moral world through which the Islamic Republic understands power, loss, and, above all, endurance. This is not merely a state under attack, but one whose ideological core…

Turkish foreign minister says ministerial meeting with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt could take place this weekend, as Germany signals direct US-Iran negotiations in Pakistan ‘very soon’ ISTANBUL — Turkiye has proposed hosting a four-nation ministerial meeting in Pakistan this weekend to address the escalating conflict in the Middle East, as Islamabad continues to play a pivotal role as mediator between the United States and Iran. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced on Friday that talks involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkiye could take place on Pakistani soil, with the gathering bringing together the foreign ministers of the four Muslim-majority…

Debutants draw inspiration from 2022 semifinal run as they prepare to face Argentina, Algeria, and Austria in North America ANTALYA, Turkiye — Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami has urged his players to channel the spirit of Morocco’s historic World Cup semifinal run as the debutants fine-tune preparations for their first appearance at football’s global showpiece. Jordan will face Austria, Algeria, and 2022 champions Argentina in Group J of the June 11 to July 19 World Cup in North America. The squad is holding its final training camp in Antalya this week, where media access has been tightly restricted as the team…

Property firms deploy 24/7 engineering teams, activate warranty repairs, and urge residents to secure insurance as communities recover from record flooding DUBAI — Property developers across the UAE have activated emergency response protocols and are offering free maintenance services where applicable, as residents grapple with flooding and property damage following some of the heaviest rainfall in the country’s history this week. Engineering and maintenance teams have been deployed around the clock to assist communities, with developers coordinating cleaning efforts, providing technical guidance, and fast-tracking repairs covered under warranty periods. 24/7 Response and Warranty Coverage Ziad Haddad, senior vice-president at Damac Properties…

President signs law delaying inaugural polls in Muslim Mindanao for the third time amid legal challenges and political delays MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law postponing the first regular elections for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to September 14, marking the third delay for the long-awaited polls. The law, Republic Act No. 12317, amends the Bangsamoro Organic Law (Republic Act No. 11054), which originally scheduled the region’s elections to coincide with the national and local elections in May 2022. Under the new measure, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will continue to serve as…

As the Middle East conflict sends shockwaves through global markets, the Magnificent Seven have stumbled. Top strategists weigh in on whether this is a once-in-a-generation buying opportunity or the beginning of a deeper tech rout. NEW YORK — Even before US and Israeli attacks on Iran sent turmoil rippling through global markets, big US tech stocks were already under siege. Worries about an artificial intelligence bubble and runaway spending had investors on edge. Now, with oil prices spiking and geopolitical uncertainty at a fever pitch, the question gripping Wall Street is urgent: Is this a buying opportunity for names like Nvidia,…

With only 24 days of supply left and shipping costs soaring due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Filipino households face a P1,500 price tag for 11-kg LPG cylinders starting April 1. MANILA — Just as Filipino consumers were grappling with record-high fuel prices, another essential commodity is about to become significantly more expensive. Industry insiders warn that liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices will spike by P385 to P440 per 11-kilogram cylinder starting April 1, driven by the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war and its chokehold on global energy supply chains. The impending increase marks the latest blow to household budgets across the Philippines, where…