Gulf Insider

4 minutes ago

41% Of Muslim Youth In Vienna Believe Their Religious Laws Take Precedence

A recent study conducted on behalf of the city of Vienna highlights a concerning trend among young Muslims regarding their religious and political views. This follows the recent announcement that Muslim children now comprise nearly 41 percent of the population in Vienna’s compulsory schools, making them the largest religious group. The study, published on May 12, 2026, was led by Kenan Güngör. He classifies the results as “very worrying,” noting that religion occupies a much larger space in the lives of Muslim youth compared to their peers. One of the most significant findings involves the hierarchy of legal and religious authority. Forty-one percent of Muslim youth agree with the statement that their religious laws take precedence over the laws in Austria, compared to 21 percent of Christian youth, as reported in Austrian news outlet Der Standard. Furthermore, 46 percent of Muslim respondents believe that one must be prepared to “fight and die in defense of one’s faith,” a view shared by 24 percent of Christians. Specifically, 73 percent of Shiite and 68 percent of Sunni Muslims identify as religious, while only 41 percent of Catholic and 38 percent of Orthodox Christian youth say the same. The study also delves into social and […]

Money & Business

15 minutes ago

China Confirms Boeing Jet Deal, Agrees To Cut Select Levies & Expand Agri Trade

China Responds With Agreements To Purchase Jets, Cut Levies, Expand Trade One day after President Trump left Beijing, following his multi-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, China’s Commerce Ministry released new details about agreements it had reached to purchase U.S. planes and farm goods. The exact wording “reach arrangements”s in the Bloomberg headline is important because it suggests a framework, a commitment, or a negotiated understanding, not necessarily a finalized purchase contract for Boeing commercial jets. Based on earlier reports, Trump said China agreed to buy 200 Boeing planes, with the total potentially rising to 750 aircraft. The next set of headlines shows that the Trump team and Beijing have reached a partial trade de-escalation package following the summit: The headlines point to a U.S.-China trade détente that is constructive for American industry, exporters, and U.S. farmers. Now the larger question is what Trump and Xi agreed to behind closed doors regarding Tehran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. and China Agree To Establish Trade And Investment Boards As Trump-Xi Summit Delivers Modest Wins U.S. and Chinese leaders agreed to establish a new “Board of Trade” and a parallel “Board of Investment” during President DonaldTrump’ss two-day […]

World

28 minutes ago

BRICS Summit Can’t Muster Joint Statement On Iran War Amid Deepening Division

The two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi ended on Friday without a joint statement due to “differing views” on the US-Israeli war against Iran and the current situation in West Asia, the Indian government said in a statement. Representatives expressed “their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives,” the Indian statement read. The statement added that one member state had “reservations” about issues related to Gaza, as well as security in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during the meeting that “Iran is a country that cannot be divided. The era of American dominance is over.“ He also singled out the UAE for blocking the ministerial BRICS statement, and pointed out its “own special relationship with Israel.“ The BRICS meeting coincided with major tensions between the Islamic Republic and the UAE – both bloc members. Tehran has repeatedly slammed the direct Emirati involvement in the US-Israeli war. On Thursday during the BRICS summit, Araghchi urged all members of the bloc to condemn the “unlawful aggression” by the US and Israel. Araghchi directly addressed the Emirati representative during the meeting, calling Abu Dhabi an “active partner” in the war on Iran. “I didn’t […]

Tech & Telecoms

40 minutes ago

China: Unitree Unveils Real-Life Transformer Robot. Only Costs $650,000

Chinese robotics firm Unitree, known for its robot dogs and humanoids, has unveiled a production-ready “manned mecha”: a large robotic machine piloted by a human. Unitree wrote on X that the manned mecha costs $650,000 and weighs as much as a car. The bipedal mecha is piloted by a human operator who sits in its belly. The machine looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. And it tranforms into a giant robo-dog. Chinese media outlet Global Times reported that Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing piloted the bipedal mecha in the promotional video, calling it the “world’s first production-ready manned mecha.” “The application scenarios for Unitree’s products are mainly aimed at changing the way we work. For example, our robots can be used in high-risk and harsh environments,” said Huang Jiawei, a marketing staff member at Unitree. Jiawei continued, “At this stage, our B2 and A2 quadruped robots are already being applied in consumer and inspection scenarios. Through the use of robots, we hope to improve work efficiency and optimize the way people work.” “The product is still in its first generation at this stage, and there is indeed a lot of room for imagination,” he said. We can use […]

Economy

50 minutes ago

How Global Economic Power Shifted In The Last 10 Years

The global economic order has shifted dramatically over the last decade, with countries reshuffling positions amid inflation shocks, geopolitical tensions, pandemic disruptions, and the rapid rise of AI-driven industries. This graphic, via Visual Capitalist’s Gabriel Cohen, compares the world’s 15 largest economies in 2016 and 2026 using IMF World Economic Outlook data, revealing which countries gained ground, which fell behind, and which surprised the most. The U.S. remains the world’s largest economy at $32.4 trillion in 2026 forecasts, while China crossed the $20 trillion mark. India posted one of the fastest growth rates among major economies, while Japan became the only G20 economy to shrink over the decade. The World’s Reordering of Major Economies The period from 2016 to 2026 saw major reordering among the world’s top economies, with Mexico overtaking Spain, India overtaking France, and Russia leapfrogging both Brazil and Canada. The table below lists the world’s 15 largest economies in both 2016 and 2026 based on their nominal GDP in billions of U.S. dollars. One of the biggest shifts in the rankings came from India, whose economy expanded by 83% between 2016 and 2026. By the end of the period, India’s GDP had nearly caught up with both Japan and Germany. Meanwhile, […]

Economy

1 hour ago

“Pushed Into Poverty”: Somalia’s Currency Crisis Leaves Traders Holding Worthless Cash

For decades, Muse Omar Jama made a living swapping currencies in Mogadishu’s Bakara market, where customers once lined up to trade Somali shillings for dollars and mobile money. Now his office sits mostly silent, and the safes around him are stuffed with cash no one wants, according to The Guardian. The problem began when traders in Somalia stopped accepting worn-out shilling notes, saying the bills were too damaged to use. The boycott quickly spread to shops, buses, and businesses across the country, wiping out the value of savings held in local currency. Jama describes the shock bluntly: “It’s like we went bankrupt overnight.” He can no longer exchange the piles of shillings stacked in his office for US dollars, and many former customers leave empty-handed. “I have to turn them away because my safes, shelves and tables are already full of Somali shillings,” he says. The Guardian writes that the crisis reflects Somalia’s long shift toward a dollar-based economy. The country hasn’t printed new banknotes since dictator Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, when the central bank collapsed. Since then, US dollars, remittances sent through hawala networks, and mobile payments have increasingly replaced local currency. The fallout has hit poor households hardest. […]

World

11 hours ago

Iran Says It Has “No Trust” In US, Insists There Is “No Military Solution”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and remains interested in negotiations only if Washington demonstrates seriousness, as talks aimed at ending the war remain stalled. Speaking to Indian media during the second day of the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi, Araghchi said military initiatives are ineffective in resolving regional crises, Turkey Today reported. “There is no military solution, and the U.S. must understand this reality,” Araghchi said, according to a statement shared by Iran’s Foreign Ministry. “They cannot achieve their goals through military action, but the situation would be different if they pursue diplomacy,” he added. Araghchi also said the United States and Israel had “tested” Iran at least twice during the conflict. The Iranian foreign minister said one of the main obstacles during negotiations with Washington has been inconsistent messaging from American officials. Araghchi said contradictory statements, interviews and communications from U.S. officials created deep mistrust between the two sides. Iran has repeatedly accused Washington of pursuing diplomacy publicly while supporting military pressure against Tehran behind the scenes. Regional tensions escalated after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran […]

UAE

11 hours ago

Great Global Energy Rewiring Accelerates: UAE To Double Crude Export Capacity Bypassing Hormuz Chaos

Days after the U.S. bombing campaign against Iran began, we pointed out on March 3 that the conflict was likely to accelerate a major Gulf infrastructure push to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline to the Red Sea stood out as the clearest signal that regional producers needed a credible Plan B for moving crude and crude products when the Hormuz chokepoint becomes disrupted. That logic is now coming into sharper focus for the UAE. March 3: Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC) is the UAE’s state-owned energy giant and is set to double its crude-export capacity that bypasses the Hormuz chokepoint next year with the construction of a new pipeline to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, according to a new Bloomberg report. The pipeline project would expand an existing 1.5 million-barrel-a-day pipeline, which has become critical for ADNOC amid the ongoing Hormuz disruption. This allows the UAE to keep about half of its oil exports flowing to the world. The current bottleneck for the UAE is that ADNOC’s pipeline can handle only about half of its normal export volumes, limiting revenues and proving particularly troubling for the Gulf producer, whose oil-related activity accounted for 22.7% […]

World

12 hours ago

Watch: Trump Spars With ‘Treasonous’ NYT Reporter On Iran War Coverage

Friday saw a wild exchange play out between President Trump and a member of the media aboard Air Force One as it made its way back from China. The New York Times’ David Sanger pointed out that Trump’s Operation Epic Fury did not result in political transition in Iran, but that the same Islamic Republic theocratic government is in charge. Sanger in essence questioned whether there was actually ‘total victory’ as Trump and his officials have repeatedly claimed. A visibly angered Trump, standing physically close to Sanger, rebuked this line of questioning as “treasonous” coverage of the “victory” accomplished by the United States. Watch the tense scene play out: “I had a total military victory. But the fake news, guys like you, write incorrectly. You’re a fake guy. We had a total military victory. I actually think it’s sort of treasonous what you write. You should be ashamed of yourself. I actually think it’s treason.” As if to emphasize the charge, Trump peppered his comments by using ‘treason’ or ‘treasonous’ several times throughout his response, singling out both the NY Times and CNN in particular. “I actually think it’s sort of treasonous what you write,” the president reiterated while lambasting […]

World

12 hours ago

“Send Us A Tip”: U.S. Dangles $15 Million Reward For New Intel On Iran’s Drone Network

There is little doubt that Iran’s Shahed drone threat has become a major concern, menacing surrounding Gulf states, commercial tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. bases across the region. This backdrop helps explain why the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has now put up to $15 million for new information in connection with an already sanctioned Iranian drone-production network linked to the IRGC-Qods Force. Rewards for Justice has named Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS), which the State Department says serves as the drone-production arm of the IRGC-Qods Force. KIPAS has tested drones, supported drone transfers to Iraq, and procured foreign-made components for Iran’s drone program. “The IRGC has financed numerous terrorist attacks and activities globally, including via its proxies outside Iran, such as Hamas, Hizballah, and Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq. The IRGC funds its international activities – in part – through sales of military equipment, including UAVs. Proceeds from Iran’s sale of weapons and UAVs, including to buyers in Russia, also benefit the Iranian military, including the IRGC-QF,” Rewards for Justice wrote on its website. The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC already sanctions KIPAS and appears on the Specially Designated Nationals list. OFAC designated KIPAS on October 29, […]

Economy

12 hours ago

India’s Trade Deficit Surges As Energy Import Prices Soar

India’s trade deficit soared in April by more than analysts expected, as the surge in oil and gas prices hiked the Indian energy import bill. The trade deficit jumped by $8bn from $20.6bn in March to $28.38bn last month, higher than the $26 billion estimate, on a broad-based increase in imports. At the same time, total exports grew by 13.8% in April from a year earlier to hit $43.56 billion. Oil imports sequentially rose by around 60% MoM likely driven by higher volumes in April (vs. March lows) and higher oil prices. The value of imports soared as international oil and gas prices jumped amid the Middle East conflict that forced India and every other major crude oil importer to source more expensive supply from producers not dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed to most tanker traffic two and a half months after the Iran war began. Meanwhile, petroleum product exports rose by around 48% mom s.a. likely driven by higher exports to Singapore. Gold imports rose sequentially likely driven by higher volume imports of semi-processed gold for refining and higher prices. However, gold imports (in volume terms) may likely decline in May following the government’s import duty hike to […]

World

12 hours ago

Beijing Showcased Future War Machines While Trump Was In Town

The 11th China Military Intelligent Technology Expo opened Thursday at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, showcasing a lineup of drones, robotic war dogs, grenade launchers, wheeled unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, and other modern battlefield technologies. The key takeaway is that many of these once-futuristic war machines have moved well beyond the conceptual stage and are already being tested, fielded, or deployed across multiple Eurasian conflict zones. State media outlet Global Times said the military and intelligence expo features 500 companies and draws tens of thousands of attendees from the defense industry. This year’s theme focuses on integrating technological innovation with industrial development, highlighting Beijing’s push to accelerate its military intelligence capabilities. Global Times published images of the latest tech: The real question is: What are the production numbers behind the items on display? Timing is also important because the expo occurred on the same day President Trump was in Beijing. In the U.S., President Trump’s war economy is beginning to ramp up, with the industrial base being pushed toward expanded production of drones, interceptors, and other next-generation weapons systems. This all comes as the world fractures into a more dangerous environment as the global security environment is likely […]

World

12 hours ago

Deadlocked At Square Zero: Very First Line Of Iran’s Latest Proposal ‘Unacceptable,’ Trump Says

Tehran and Washington are truly not just back to square one, but it’s as if no rounds of dialogue – direct or indirect – have even taken place. It’s more like being back at square zero – and the US President has just acknowledged it. President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One Friday while departing Beijing that even the very first first sentence of Iran’s latest proposal was “unacceptable” and blamed the Iranians for backtracking on the nuclear issue. The first sentence was an “unacceptable sentence, because they have fully agreed no nuclear, and if they have any nuclear of any form, I don’t read the rest,” he said, stressing that he remains unsatisfied with the “level of guarantee from them.” Trump’s remarks center on his allegation that Iran agreed to give up its “nuclear dust” but then quickly “then they took it back” – but then stated his view that Tehran will eventually agree to it anyway. “I looked at it, and I don’t like the first sentence. I just throw it away,” Trump said. He once again in the comments called for Iran to completely abandon any nuclear capability, insisting there can be “no nuclear of any form.” He described: “You’ve […]

Money & Business

12 hours ago

India Raises Fuel Prices For The First Time In Four Years

Indian state refiners raised their retail prices for gasoline and diesel by the equivalent of $0.031 per liter in response to tighter crude oil availability. This is the first fuel price hike in India in four years, Bloomberg noted in a report on the news. The hike amounts to over 3% and was necessitated by the global crude oil price surge that resulted in losses for India’s refiners. Still, New Delhi put off the price hike for much longer than other governments, due to the sensitivity of Indian consumers to such hikes. The Economic Times reported that wholesale fuel prices had surged in April, with gasoline prices up by 32.4% and diesel prices up by 25.19%. That’s up from a monthly rise of 2.5% for gasoline in March, and 3.62% for diesel. Since the war in the Middle East began and cut off over 40% of India’s crude oil flows, those that passed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the highest-flying economies in Asia, has seen its oil import bill soar, investors fleeing the capital market, and the local currency plunging to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar. As a result, the world’s third-largest crude importer saw its […]

Crime

1 day ago

Bahrain: Three Arrested Within 10 Hours After BD 600,000 Exchange Company Theft

In a rapid breakthrough, Bahrain’s Criminal Investigation Directorate arrested three suspects within 10 hours of a major theft involving BD 600,000 from a money exchange company. Authorities said specialized investigation teams launched an immediate probe after receiving the report, leading to the identification and arrest of the suspects in record time. Legal action has been initiated, while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the case. The swift operation underscores the efficiency of Bahrain’s security agencies in responding to major financial crimes.

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