Uncategorized - Gulf Insider

1 month ago

More than 13 tonnes of fake shisha tobacco materials seized in Barka

The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), in coordination with the Public Prosecution and the Royal Oman Police (ROP), has dismantled an illegal counterfeit tobacco operation in Barka, seizing more than 13 tonnes of materials used to manufacture fake flavoured shisha tobacco. The raid targeted a residential house in the Wilayat of Barka that had been converted into an illicit production facility for manufacturing, mixing, packaging and storing counterfeit shisha tobacco before distributing it in the local market under the guise of genuine branded products. According to the CPA, the operation followed a tip-off received by its Consumer Protection Department in Barka alleging that expatriate workers were producing and storing tobacco products inside the house. After verifying the information, investigators obtained a search warrant from the Public Prosecution and coordinated with the ROP to carry out the raid. During the operation, judicial enforcement officers caught four Asian workers in the act of mixing, manufacturing and packaging flavoured shisha tobacco using sealing and packaging equipment. The counterfeit products were packed in bags bearing well-known trademarks in an apparent attempt to market them as authentic brands. Inspectors found the unlicensed facility operating under poor sanitary and technical conditions, in violation of the Consumer Protection […]

1 month ago

China Bans Helium Exports As Qatar Outage Deepens Global Supply Squeeze

China has abruptly banned helium exports, a key component in semiconductors, which adds yet another serious constraint to a global market already reeling from the loss of production in Qatar. In a two-sentence Friday announcement, China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs said helium covered by customs code 2804290010 was subject to a temporary prohibition on exports, effective immediately. The agencies cited China’s Foreign Trade Law but provided no explanation, expiration date, transition period or exemptions. Any future adjustments, they said, would be announced separately. See the official Chinese government announcement. The decision is more restrictive than an export-licensing requirement. It appears to prevent covered shipments to all foreign destinations, regardless of buyer or intended use. The announcement does not explain how customs officials will treat previously signed contracts, cargo awaiting departure or helium originally imported into China and subsequently repackaged for re-export. Nor does it carve out exceptions for hospitals, scientific laboratories, semiconductor manufacturers or humanitarian users. The physical volume removed from the international market may be relatively small. China accounted for an average of 5 percent of U.S. helium imports between 2021 and 2024, compared with 47 percent from Canada, 28 percent from Qatar and 10 […]

1 month ago

Ryanair Passenger Partially Sucked Out Of Plane After Window Shatters

A 61-year-old Serbian man was almost sucked out of a Ryanair flight after a piece of the plane’s engine broke off and struck a window on the Boeing 737-800, causing it to shatter. The man’s wife and other passengers pinned the man to his seat for five minutes as his “head and shoulders” were hanging outside the plane, which had left Greece’s Macedonia airport for Germany at 5:55 a.m. CNN Greece reports. “The plane window broke and his wife held him for 5 minutes from the feet so that he would not leave. With the help of many passengers, they managed to pull him into the cabin,” said trade union official, Michalis Giannakos, adding “the injured person is in shock and with friction burns.” Engine debris shattered a cabin window on a Ryanair Greece–Germany flight, nearly pulling a 61-year-old passenger out. She suffered friction burns. pic.twitter.com/cGh1Wwmoq3 — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) July 10, 2026 The window shattering sounded like “a tire bursting,” one passenger told Radio Thessaloniki, adding “We immediately realised there had been a decompression. There were screams … for a moment I thought someone had accidentally opened the emergency door.” “The masks dropped and there was a strong smell. The head […]

1 month ago

Erdogan Taunts Israel & Greece After Trump Hands Turkey F-35, Sanctions Win

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has responded to ongoing Israeli and Greek objections to the possible US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey by mocking the Turkish enemies and rivals. Opposition to the potential stealth fighter transfer raised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis “has no place in my world,” Erdogan said in his characteristically bellicose manner. “Hopefully, when the F-35s are delivered to Turkey, the whole world will say America kept its promise,” Erdogan said at a Wednesday closing news conference for the NATO summit hosted in Ankara. Netanyahu told Fox News on Monday that “Turkey is a great country, but it’s governed by a man who calls openly for the annihilation of Israel” – in reference to Erdogan. “He occupies half of Cyprus, a NATO country. He’s threatening Greece, another NATO country, and he talks openly about conquering Jerusalem.” The Israeli leader also said that giving Ankara F-35s or fighter jet engines would “upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also by, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East.” He’s been urgently requestion that the White House reign in Erdogan and his provocative rhetoric. However, […]

1 month ago

Cargo plane from Sharjah crashes near Pakistan, Prime Minister confirms

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic incident involving a private cargo aircraft en route from Sharjah to Karachi, which went missing after crashing into the Arabian Sea, according to a statement by his office. Sharif extended his heartfelt sympathies to the families of the five crew members on board the aircraft. He directed Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force to intensify search and rescue operations in the Arabian Sea and utilise all available resources. According to preliminary data shared by flight tracker, FL360aero, the plane first indicated a drop in altitude, followed by a climb, then a sharp drop in altitude, before disappearing from radar entirely. Here’s a look at what data suggests happened to the K2 Airways plane: The company operating the aircraft, K2 Airways, revealed the identities of its five crew members:

1 month ago

Gulf Hotels Group Sets Sights on the Maldives With Landmark Kaafu Atoll Resort

Bahrain’s Gulf Hotels Group (GHG) has confirmed plans for its first venture into the Indian Ocean, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Maldivian firm Keiretsu Pvt Ltd to develop a luxury island resort in Kaafu Atoll. The agreement, signed in Bahrain, marks a significant expansion of GHG’s international footprint and its long-standing owner-operator model. A Strategic First Step Into the Maldives The proposed resort will sit within a private lagoon roughly 15 to 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, a location chosen to balance seclusion with accessibility. Kaafu Atoll is among the Maldives’ most established tourism regions, and the site’s proximity to the international gateway is expected to be a key draw for the project. The MoU lays the groundwork for a long-term strategic partnership, pairing GHG’s owner-operator expertise with Keiretsu’s established local experience in Maldivian project development. Both companies have framed the agreement as more than a transactional deal, describing it instead as the foundation for sustained collaboration. Executives Weigh In Speaking on the new partnership, GHG’s CEO, Ahmed Janahi, said: “This project marks an important step in Gulf Hotels Group’s growth journey as we expand beyond our traditional markets and establish a presence in the Indian […]

1 month ago

No One Can Force UAE Delivery Riders To Work In The Midday Heat

More than 12,000 air-conditioned rest areas support riders throughout the summer ban Dubai: The UAE has reaffirmed that delivery riders cannot be compelled to work during the country’s midday summer work ban, while expanding a nationwide network of more than 12,000 air-conditioned rest areas to protect workers from extreme heat. According to Al Bayan newspaper, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) said that delivery riders may choose whether to continue working during the daily midday work ban from 12:30pm to 3pm, provided the arrangement is coordinated with their employer. The ministry stressed that companies are not permitted to compel riders to work during the restricted hours, reinforcing compliance with worker safety regulations during peak summer conditions. The clarification comes after the ministry announced the provision of more than 12,000 air-conditioned rest stations equipped with essential amenities across the UAE for delivery workers. The facilities, established in partnership with government entities and private-sector organisations, are available throughout the summer heat protection period, which runs from 15 June to 15 September. The initiative, now in its fourth consecutive year, forms part of the UAE’s wider strategy to safeguard workers from heat stress while strengthening occupational health and safety standards across […]

2 months ago

Small Choices, Big Impact: How Bahrain’s Youth Diverted 6 Tonnes of Waste From Landfills

In a strong display of youth-led climate action, the first edition of Nidukki’s Recycling Warriors League (RWL) 2025-26 has ended, successfully engaging over 10,000 students across Bahrain. This friendly inter-school competition included eight top private schools: American School of Bahrain (ASB), Multinational School, Abdul Rahman Kanoo (ARKS) Diyar, Ibn Khuldoon National School (IKNS), Nadeen School, St Christopher’s School, Canadian School Bahrain, and Abdul Rahman Kanoo International School (ARKIS). Over five active months of competition in January, February, April, and May 2026, the participating school communities together diverted 5,981.5 kilograms of paper, cardboard, and plastic from landfills. This significant environmental effort avoided an estimated 10 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to what roughly 450 mature trees absorb in a year. Turning Classroom Waste into Circular Economy Action Organised by Nidukki, a local leader in recycling and circular economy, the league came from a longstanding commitment to community-driven sustainability. Nidukki started its work with local schools in 2022 through a partnership with DGrade, a recycling firm based in Dubai, focusing on a PET bottle collection initiative called Simply Bottles. After that partnership ended, Nidukki expanded its school programs to cover all recyclable materials. The Recycling Warriors League, launched for the […]

2 months ago

Foreign Cargo Ship Struck By ‘Massive Projectile’ Just Off Iraq

A commercial cargo ship navigating the Arabian Gulf was struck by an unidentified projectile, triggering a “large explosion,” according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The maritime strike took place approximately 65 nautical kilometers (40 miles) southeast of Umm Qasr, Iraq. At this time, the UKMTO noted that it is unaware of any environmental damage resulting from the blast. Initially Iraqi media reported the blast was due to “mechanical failure” – but soon after other regional media said it was the result of being hit by a “massive projectile”. “A cargo ship was hit by a massive projectile explosion off the coast of Umm Qasr in Iraq, according to Al Hadath, a Saudi-owned channel. According to another maritime industry source: Most of the attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf region since the war in Iran started have been in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, extending as far west as Bahrain and Qatar. Only one other attack reported off Iraq was on the Greek-owned chemical/product tanker Zefyros and the US-owned Safesea Vishnu on 12 March which left one seafarer dead. There have also been incidents off Kuwait with Suezmax tanker Sonangol Namibe anchored 30nm southeast of Mubarak Al […]

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More than 13 tonnes of fake shisha tobacco materials seized in Barka

China Bans Helium Exports As Qatar Outage Deepens Global Supply Squeeze

Ryanair Passenger Partially Sucked Out Of Plane After Window Shatters

Erdogan Taunts Israel & Greece After Trump Hands Turkey F-35, Sanctions Win

Cargo plane from Sharjah crashes near Pakistan, Prime Minister confirms

Gulf Hotels Group Sets Sights on the Maldives With Landmark Kaafu Atoll Resort

No One Can Force UAE Delivery Riders To Work In The Midday Heat

Small Choices, Big Impact: How Bahrain’s Youth Diverted 6 Tonnes of Waste From Landfills

Foreign Cargo Ship Struck By ‘Massive Projectile’ Just Off Iraq

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Oman intensifies oil spill response as Ras Madrakah cleanup continues

Tesla’s New Roadster Reportedly Uses SpaceX Cold-Gas Thrusters To Fly

Saudi Oil Fleet Increasingly Going ‘Dark’ Due To Houthi Blockade

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