Middle East news: HSBC makes bold GCC prediction as Iran vs US-Israel war rattles markets and oil prices surge

War, Oil, Markets: HSBC’s Bold Bet on the Gulf Amid Iran vs US-Israel Crisis Even as geopolitical tensions escalate across the Middle East, global banking giant HSBC has publicly reaffirmed its confidence in the long-term economic strength of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies, signalling that international financial institutions are not retreating from the region […]

Watch: Video shows huge blaze after blasts hit oil tankers off Iraq’s Basra coast

At least one person has died and two oil tankers caught fire in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Basra, Iraq on Wednesday, after explosions that officials suspect were caused by an attack.Reuters reported that explosive-laden Iranian boats may have struck the vessels, citing preliminary findings from an Iraqi-led investigation into the incident. The […]

Explosions at Oman’s Salalah port: Iran drones hit fuel storage oil tanks? Tehran denies role as war with US-Israel engulfs Middle East

Iranian Drones Hit Fuel Tanks at Oman’s Salalah Port, Massive Fires Erupt, Tehran Denies Role The widening conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel has now reached one of the Gulf’s most strategically important maritime hubs. On March 11, 2026, multiple drones struck fuel storage tanks at the Port of Salalah in Oman, igniting […]

Confirmed, deleted, then clarified: US shifts stance on navy ‘escorting’ oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Confirmed, deleted, and then clarified. After Donald Trump‘s aide claimed in a boastful tone that the American navy had “successfully escorted” an oil tanker through the troubled Strait of Hormuz, the post was quickly deleted. The White House later clarified that the United States had not escorted any oil tanker through the key waterway, which […]

What is black rain? How oil fires, smoke, and atmospheric pollution can turn rainfall dark and potentially harmful |

Recently, the rare scientific phenomenon received global attention after reports from Tehran in March 2026 indicated that residents observed ‘dark rain’ following airstrikes on oil storage facilities. This led to massive fires that released thick smoke into the atmosphere. When rain clouds formed over the city, the raindrops fell into the clouds, thus forming dark […]

How the War in Iran Is Disrupting the World’s Oil

Our business reporter Peter Eavis looks at the global implications of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway to the south of Iran. He analyzes ship activity in the strait, comparing it before and after the United States and Israel initiated attacks on Iran. By Peter Eavis, Sutton Raphael, Leila Medina, Stephanie Swart, Blacki Migliozzi, […]

Stock market crash today: Nifty50 goes below 24,900; BSE Sensex down over 1,000 points on Middle East tensions

Stock market today (AI image) Stock market crash today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex crashed in opening trade on Monday amidst rising Middle East tensions and global market turmoil, with impact on crude oil prices and trade in focus. While Nifty50 went below 24,900, BSE Sensex was done over 1,000 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was […]

Why Venezuela has more oil than any country on Earth |

Why Venezuela has more oil than any country on Earth Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, officially holding about 303 billion barrels, or roughly 17 per cent of global crude, mostly in the Orinoco Belt, where the oil is unusually dense and heavy. The size of the reserves is a reflection of the […]

Saudi Arabia’s oil giant Saudi Aramco crosses 70% localisation milestone, $280 billion boost to GDP: Global firms rush in as iktva creates over 200,000 jobs

Saudi Aramco Achieves 70% Local Content Milestone in Supply Chain, Boosting Saudi Vision 2030 Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest integrated energy and chemicals company, has announced a major breakthrough in its In-Kingdom Total Value Add (iktva) programme by achieving a 70% local content benchmark in its supply chain, a milestone that underscores the Kingdom’s push […]