Author: Gulf News Week

It is the single point of failure of globalised production.The Strait of Hormuz is the only major commercial artery on earth named after a god. The name derives from Hormoz, the Middle Persian rendering of Ahura Mazda – the Zoroastrian deity of wisdom, light, and cosmic order. This is not poetic licence; it is an etymological fact. The ancient Persians did not simply build a trade route here. They consecrated it.A place named after the god of order has become the single point where global order faces its greatest vulnerability. Through these waters – 167km (104 miles) long, 39km (24…

History teaches us that the West’s promises of caring for our ‘freedoms’ are empty. Because imperialism wants control.My deepest sympathies lie with the Iranian people, whose hearts are torn in many directions. Many long for freedom and dignity, yet they remain wary of the long history of Western imperial intervention across the world, including their own country.The Iranian people who took to the streets in recent years did not call for one form of domination to replace another. They demanded an end to oppression in all its forms, not the beginning of a new round under the Western thumb. Nor…

Regulators move to cap electricity prices under a new administered scheme as geopolitical tensions threaten fuel supply stability. MANILA — The Philippines suspended its wholesale electricity spot market across all three national grids on Thursday, citing heightened fuel supply risks and price volatility triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced the indefinite suspension in a statement, saying it has proposed a modified administered pricing mechanism to stabilize the market while shielding consumers from potential spikes in power costs. The new pricing framework is expected to be finalized by April 1. “Under the proposed…

From Gosden’s Turf hopeful to Bentornato’s sprinting double bid and Pyromancer’s Derby test, connections lay out their strategies ahead of Dubai’s richest racing night. DUBAI — With the $12 million Dubai World Cup set to headline Saturday’s blockbuster card, trainers from around the world used Wednesday’s final preparations to reveal their ambitions across a support slate that, in any other setting, would command top billing. As Meydan Racecourse buzzes with activity ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Dubai Racing Carnival, connections are fine-tuning everything from draw strategies to track conditions, with veteran champions and emerging talents alike poised to take…

The Emirati oil executive said any Iranian restriction on the critical waterway forces “every nation” to pay higher prices, speaking after meeting with US Vice President JD Vance. WASHINGTON — The chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company has condemned any Iranian attempt to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz as “economic terrorism,” warning that such actions destabilize global markets and hurt consumers worldwide. Sultan Al Jaber, who leads ADNOC, delivered the sharp rebuke in a speech in the United States on Wednesday, framing the strategic waterway—a chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global oil supply—as a vulnerability that, if…

A California jury’s verdict against the tech giants over addictive platform design could reshape thousands of pending lawsuits from parents, states, and school districts. LOS ANGELES — In a landmark decision that threatens to upend decades of legal protection for major tech platforms, a Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Google and Meta liable in a social media addiction lawsuit brought by a young woman who said she became hooked on their apps as a child. The verdict marks a significant turning point in the growing legal battle over youth mental health and online safety. It is expected to influence thousands…

The termination of the US-Israeli war on Iran would require solid guarantees and a credible guarantor.On March 23, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Iran had reached “major points of agreement”. Shortly after, he claimed that Tehran had delivered a significant concession related to oil, gas, and the Strait of Hormuz.These statements, along with the decision to postpone strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, generated considerable diplomatic optimism. Global markets responded positively to what was perceived as a sign of de-escalation.This optimism, however, conflates two analytically distinct phenomena: the emergence of a mutually hurting stalemate, which creates the…

As such, it requires urgent action.For more than two weeks now, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted. Several vessels have been attacked, and many others have been stuck on the two ends of the strait, unwilling to take the risk of passing through.This has had not just regional but global repercussions. The strait is the principal gateway for several Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to global markets. About 20 percent of the world’s petroleum and nearly a fifth of global liquified natural gas (LNG) flows pass through it. For this reason, the Strait of Hormuz is…

The Israeli military says it targeted two key cruise missile production sites, dealing another blow to Iran’s military infrastructure amid heightened regional tensions. Jerusalem: The Israeli military announced Wednesday that it had struck a naval cruise missile production facility operating under Iran’s Ministry of Defense in Tehran, marking a significant escalation in direct hostilities between the two regional rivals. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Israeli Air Force, acting on military intelligence, targeted “two key naval cruise missile production sites in Tehran” in recent days. The facility was used to “develop and manufacture long-range naval cruise missiles,…

The Philippine vice president sends another ‘ad cautelam’ letter questioning the committee’s jurisdiction, as activist group Bayan accuses her of “utter disdain for truth, accountability, and justice.” Manila: Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from Tuesday’s Committee on Justice hearing on the impeachment complaints against her, instead submitting another legal letter challenging the panel’s jurisdiction and dismissing the proceedings as a “fishing expedition.” Duterte’s second ad cautelam—a Latin term meaning “with caution”—letter argued that the House of Representatives committee lacks the authority to conduct the hearing, maintaining that only the Senate has the power to hold an impeachment trial. She added…