Gulf Insider

1 hour ago

Honda Projects First Loss Since 1957 – $15.7 Billion – Thanks To EV Strategy Fail

A reassessment of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., corporate electric vehicle (EV) strategy and planned cancellation of three EV models for the North American market could lead to losses totaling approximately $15.7 billion for its fiscal year ending March 31, the company said in a news release on March 12. It would be the first time Honda has posted an annual loss since its shares were first listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1957. Honda said it initiated a strategic shift in its manufacturing plans towards electrification due to major policy changes in the United States that pushed for widespread adoption of EVs—especially in smaller passenger vehicles—as a long-term solution for reaching carbon neutrality. “Honda had been making steady progress in pursuit of EV adoption by leveraging its stable earnings base provided by existing gasoline and hybrid vehicle business based on technologies and know-how amassed through the development of hybrid models over many years,” the Tokyo-based automobile manufacturer said. However, Honda said it was forced to reexamine its automobile electrification strategy due to recent changes in the EV business environment that led to declining profitability. Honda reported a near 50-percent year-over-year decline in operating profit for the quarter ended Dec. […]

Health

1 hour ago

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Lower In Recent Months, Preliminary Data Show

The effectiveness of vaccines against influenza dropped during the 2025–2026 virus season, officials said on March 12, about two months after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped recommending flu vaccination for all children. Vaccine effectiveness for late 2025 and early 2026 against outpatient visits and hospitalization was pegged at 14 percent to 48 percent among children, Dr. Lisa Grohskopf, with the CDC’s Influenza Division, said at a meeting hosted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The shielding among adults was just 22 percent to 34 percent, she said, based on data from CDC networks in 16 states. Influenza vaccine effectiveness since 2009 has dropped as low as 19 percent and risen as high as 60 percent. It was 56 percent in late 2024 and early 2025, according to the CDC. Grohskopf said the reasons for the decline from the prior season are not yet clear. Factors could include that fewer people received vaccines and a mismatch between strains in the vaccines and the strains that ended up circulating. Most influenza cases in recent months have been caused by influenza A viruses, particularly an H3N2 subvariant called subclade K. Grohskopf said the data are preliminary and could […]

Money & Business

2 hours ago

Jet Fuel Prices Soar As War In Iran Ripples Through Global Aviation

As the war in Iran spills over into other parts of the Middle East, energy experts expect the price of several oil and gas products to soar over the coming months, driven by shortages. This will likely affect flight prices, with several airlines warning of anticipated price hikes. It could lead to a travel slump, as consumers wait for prices to fall again. Australia’s Qantas Airways, Scandinavia’s SAS, and Air New Zealand are three of the airlines to have already announced airfare hikes in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airlines cited the abrupt spike in the cost of fuel driven by the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran as the reason for the move. Jet fuel prices rose from between $85 to $90 a barrel before the attack on Iran to as much as $150 to $200 a barrel this week. This has led several airlines to reconsider their financial outlooks for 2026, as the uncertainty makes it impossible to predict where the price of fossil fuels will go in the coming months. The war in Iran has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key trade corridor connecting the Persian Gulf with the […]

UAE

2 hours ago

British Tourist Faces Prison Sentence In UAE For Filming Iranian Missiles

A British tourist is among about 20 people who are facing charges in the UAE for filming Iranian attacks on Dubai, as America’s Gulf Arab allies are taking steps to censor the impact of the war. According to The Guardian, the 60-year-old man is being charged with a law that prohibits sharing material that can endanger public security. The report said that he is still facing charges despite deleting the video immediately when he was asked to. The charge carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, and many could face similar charges for simply sharing videos of missile attacks that have already been published online. “The charges sound extremely vague but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online,” said Radha Stirling, the head of Detained in Dubai. “Under UAE cybercrime laws, the person who originally posts content can be charged, but so can anyone who reshapes, reposts, or comments on it,” Striling added. In the immediate aftermath of the US and Israel launching the war with Iran on February 28, videos of counterattacks in Gulf countries were widespread on social […]

Crime

2 hours ago

London Buses Must Now Be Equipped With Stab-Kits

Calls for “bleed kits” to be rolled out across London’s bus network have gained traction, with the London Assembly unanimously backing a motion to install them in major bus stations and trial them on high-risk routes. These kits, designed to stem severe bleeding from deep wounds, are pitched as a lifesaver in emergencies—yet their sudden necessity speaks volumes about the city’s descent into chaos under unchecked policies. The push comes from the London Youth Assembly, highlighting how young people feel increasingly unsafe on public transport. As Hugo Maxwell, chair of the London Youth Assembly, put it: “These kits are already in lots of Underground stations but buses are the mode of transport most used by young people and therefore it’s essential that we start the rollout there.” Labour’s transport spokesperson Elly Baker added: “I’ve heard too often from young people that they don’t always feel as safe as they should do travelling… Passing this motion will show that we are listening to young people and backing the investigation of a potentially valuable method of saving lives.” BBC reports frame this as a proactive safety measure, but online reactions cut through the evasion. One X user quipped: “The English will be wearing mail armor again. Return to feudal times.” […]

World

2 hours ago

The Most Expensive Science Lesson In European History

On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan and triggered a massive tsunami that slammed into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Three of the plant’s six reactors melted down, and it became the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. On the other side of the world, German Chancellor Angela Merkel panicked. Her government had extended the operating lives of Germany’s 17 nuclear reactors just five months earlier. But, because of the earthquake in Japan, Merkel reversed course overnight and mothballed eight German reactors. But Merkel’s decision wasn’t really about natural disasters. It was political. Merkel was terrified of Germany’s Green Party— which was literally founded on anti-nuclear activism in 1980 and had been gaining ground. A critical regional election was just two weeks away, and Merkel was hoping that she might pull out a victory if she killed the reactors. Her gambit didn’t work, and the Greens won anyway. But at that point the fate of nuclear had already been set in motion. Within three months, the German government decided to phase out EVERY nuclear reactor in the country. Bear in mind that Germany’s 17 reactors were generating over a third of the country’s […]

UAE

3 hours ago

Major UAE Fujairah Port In Flames As Iran Vows Escalation For Kharg Island Attack

Upon the overnight major US attack on Iran’s key oil hub of Kharg island, here’s what Iran’s military is threatening to do by way of response and escalation – which was also entirely predictable: “If Iran’s oil, economic, or energy infrastructure is attacked, we will immediately destroy energy and economic infrastructure across the region belonging to companies with American shareholders or ties to the U.S.” –IRGC spox Iran continues launching widespread missile and drone attacks on Israel and neighboring Gulf Arab states and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has vowed that any US site or any country hosting it will feel pain. “This war proved one thing quite clearly: American bases in our region do not protect anyone – they are a threat,” he wrote on X. “America sacrifices everyone for Israel and does not care about anyone but Israel.” He added, “Anyone clothed by the US is literally NAKED!” And in fact this retaliation is already in progress on Saturday. A missile struck a helipad inside the US Embassy compound in Baghdad, and debris from an intercepted Iranian drone hit an oil facility in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Iran’s Islamic […]

Crime

14 hours ago

Dubai Police Impound 251 Vehicles Over Noise And Illegal Modifications

Dubai Police have warned motorists against disruptive traffic behaviours, including excessive vehicle noise and unauthorised modifications, stressing that such actions disturb the community and compromise public safety. Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Operations Affairs at Dubai Police, said practices like engine modifications, altered exhaust systems, or reckless driving create loud noise, disturb residents, and undermine Dubai’s civilised image. He noted that these behaviours may also be linked to dangerous traffic practices that threaten road users. Since the start of Ramadan, authorities have impounded 251 vehicles and recorded 524 violations, including 220 offences for excessive noise and 304 for illegal vehicle modifications. Penalties were enforced under Local Decree No. 30 of 2023, with impound release fees up to AED 50,000, and drivers may face further legal action. Major General Al Mazrouei added that traffic patrols and monitoring campaigns continue to detect and act against offending vehicles. He urged motorists to follow traffic laws, avoid reckless driving, and respect vehicle modification rules, highlighting that responsible driving reflects social awareness. Members of the public are encouraged to report dangerous behaviours via the “We Are All Police” service (901) or the “Police Eye” app, helping to maintain safer roads and […]

Crime

14 hours ago

Bahrain Arrests Footballer Ahmed Mirza Musa, Five Others Over Social Media Posts

Bahraini authorities have arrested six people, including international footballer Ahmed Mirza Musa, on charges of misleading public opinion and publishing content deemed to violate the law on social media, the Interior Ministry said. In a statement, the ministry said the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security, represented by the cybercrime unit, had identified and detained the individuals. Authorities said the arrests followed the filming and publication of videos related to the “effects of the Iranian aggression”, as well as content expressing sympathy with and praise for what it called hostile acts. According to the statement, the videos were circulated through the suspects’ social media accounts, which authorities said could mislead public opinion, spread fear among citizens and residents, and harm public security and order. The ministry said legal measures had been taken and that the suspects had been referred to the Public Prosecution. Ahmed Mirza Musa, born in 1991, has played for several Bahraini clubs including Al Hidd and Al-Khaldiya, and has represented Bahrain’s national team, including during the 2021 Arab Cup.

Saudi Arabia

14 hours ago

Saudi Arabia Intercepts, Destroys 6 Drones In Eastern Region

The Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced that it has intercepted and destroyed six drones. In a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence Major General Turki Al-Maliki stated that six drones were intercepted and destroyed in Eastern Region.

World

17 hours ago

UBS And Goldman Map The Paralysis Across Hormuz Chokepoint

The second week of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is coming to a close, with no visible off-ramp yet emerging, even as the White House continues to project victory. Goldman now expects the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz to persist for three weeks, a timeline that suggests further intensification of what the IEA has already described as an unprecedented global energy shock. Focusing on the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint, data from UBS and Goldman desks show that flows through the critical waterway remain muted by the end of the week. Current situation in the Hormuz and Gulf area: Oil & gas tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, in number of ships, entering and exiting the Gulf. Crude loadings by ports in the Middle East (Mb/d) Iran’s crude loadings by port (Mb/d) Map of oil & gas infrastructure in the Persian Gulf Iranian attacks on vessels (direct & attempted) Summary of attacks on energy infrastructure In addition to UBS, Goldman’s tracking of Persian Gulf exports also shows limited activity through the strait. The estimated total hit to oil flows from the Persian Gulf stands at 16 mb/d (16 times larger than the peak April 2022 hit to Russian oil […]

World

17 hours ago

Panic Buying Sweeps India As War Disrupts Cooking Gas Supplies

Long lines are forming outside cooking gas dealers across India as fears of shortages spread following disruptions to fuel imports linked to the war in the Middle East. At a small distribution shop in Pune, gas dealer Vishal Vilas Mandhare has watched demand surge in recent days. Customers arrive carrying empty cylinders, pressing him and his staff for answers about when the next delivery of liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, will arrive. “The dealers are facing as much trouble as the customers,” he told Bloomberg, “just a different kind.” India depends heavily on LPG for everyday cooking, and millions of households rely on regular cylinder refills to prepare meals. But since hostilities in the Middle East began disrupting a major share of India’s fuel imports, panic buying has spread, straining the country’s vast distribution system. India is the world’s second-largest consumer of LPG and imports about 90 percent of the fuel it uses. Shipments for the week beginning March 9 are estimated at about 270,000 tons, the lowest level since April 2023, according to data from the analytics firm Kpler. Supplies from the Middle East have been sharply curtailed after attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel led […]

World

17 hours ago

Iranian State TV Drops Rare Footage From The Heart Of Hormuz Strait

In his first public statements of the war, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei stressed Thursday that“the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed.” Or rather, it is clearly closed to all but those countries Tehran gives approval to. Simultaneously Iranian state TV circulated rare “on the ground” direct reporting from the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, they had a correspondent literally in a fast-boat narrating what he saw in terms of surrounding stranded tankers. Clearly it’s also meant to intimidate the United States and the West – a form of psychological warfare – at a moment when extreme uncertainty lingers over global oil markets. The footage is possibly the first such local ‘from the scene of the crisis’ reporting – given the whole area has been on de facto lockdown under continued threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks, also given new reports the strait is being mined by the IRGC Navy. The country’s ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani has said, “Iran fully respects and remains committed to the principle of freedom of navigation under the law of the sea.” However, he stressed that “the current situation in the region, including in the Strait of Hormuz, is not the result of Iran’s […]

World

1 day ago

US Issues $10M Bounty For Location Info On Mojtaba Khamenei & Ali Larijani

The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program has newly issued a $10 million reward for information on the whereabouts of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani. The alert calls for information on the two “Iranian terrorist leaders” at a moment of ongoing heavy bombardment of Iran by the US and Israel. Interestingly the State Department said that informants could make people eligible for “relocation”. The Pentagon on Friday said it believes the new Ayatollah is likely wounded and disfigured. “These individuals command and direct various elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which plans, organizes and executes terrorism around the world,” the alert stated. It actually also seeks information on other top security and government officials. Below is the official US statement in part: Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on the key leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its component branches. These individuals command and direct various elements of the IRGC, which plans, organizes, and executes terrorism around the world. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), part of Iran’s official military, plays a central role in […]

World

1 day ago

Trump Crosses Iran’s ‘Red Line’ By Heavy Bombing Of Kharg Island, Endangering Energy Assets Across Region

In what could prove to be a major step up the escalation ladder in the two-week-old US-Israeli war on Iran, President Trump on Friday evening (notably after US market closure) announced that US Central Command had carried out a major bombing raid on Kharg Island, which handles upwards of 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Importantly, Iran has previously warned that an attack on the island would cross a red line, and precipitate Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure up and down the Persian Gulf. Perhaps with that previous Iran warning in mind — and to allay the fears of US allies in the region who don’t want to see their energy facilities go up in smoke — Trump emphasized that the attack was focused on military assets: “Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island. Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or […]