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Gulf hostilities flared again yesterday as Iranian attacks on Kuwait damaged its airport and injured dozens while the US military carried out strikes ‌near the Strait of Hormuz, with diplomacy to halt the war showing little sign of progress.The attacks are the latest to ​test a shaky ceasefire, sending oil prices up nearly ‌2%, as the strait remains largely closed more than three months after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Flights at ‌Kuwait International Airport were suspended ⁠after an Iranian drone and missile attack ‌damaged airport facilities and diplomatic missions, killing one person and injuring ‌more than 60 others, Kuwaiti authorities and state media said.Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways later resumed flights after taking safety measures, the civil aviation authority said.Later, Kuwait's Foreign Ministry handed a formal protest note to the Iranian embassy, condemning "continued Iranian attacks". According to Kuwait's statement, delivered by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Hamad al-Meshan, the decision also announced measures to reduce the size of Iran's diplomatic mission, including declaring two diplomats persona non grata.Earlier, Iranian ⁠media reported that Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) had attacked the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a US airbase, as well as a vessel identified as Panaya. US Central Command denied its bases had been hit and said Iranian ballistic missiles failed to strike their targets in the region.IIGC however, said they did not fire at Kuwait's airport and blamed the destruction on US interceptor missiles that failed to hit their targets, according to Iranian state media. The US military said that was not accurate, and that Iranian drones targeted the airport deliberately.CENTCOM said it had carried out a new round of "defensive strikes" in southern Iran, targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats seeking to lay mines, and conducted strikes on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz after attempted Iranian attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later said in a post on X that his country's armed forces were conducting "self-defence strikes on sites the US is permitted to use to attack civilian shipping and violate the ceasefire". "Any ​hostile act will be met with an immediate, decisive response," he added.Since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, Tehran has repeatedly attacked targets in the Gulf region home to US military bases, hitting civilian and military targets.Hostilities have occasionally flared up in recent weeks despite a ceasefire agreed in early ‌April, as the US has pushed to reopen the ⁠Strait of Hormuz, a route ​that handled roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the war. Last week, Iran and the US signalled ​progress towards a tentative initial agreement to halt the war and reopen the strait, but the two sides have yet to sign off on the deal, which would leave more complex negotiations for later.Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iran would not allow the US to "overreach" either in negotiations or ceasefire arrangements.In a post on X, he warned that any aggression would be met with a barrage of missiles and drones.Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the United Arab Emirates president, said repeated attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain required a firm and cohesive Gulf response. "The aggression does not target one country alone, but all of us," he wrote on X.Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly said he is close to a deal to end the fighting and pave the way for negotiations on thorny issues including the future of Iran's nuclear program.In a podcast interview released yesterday, Trump said Iran had agreed to not have a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei was involved in negotiations.Yesterday, Israeli drone strikes killed at least six people in southern Lebanon and targeted a car just south of Beirut, Lebanese security sources said, while Israel said it intercepted a hostile aircraft likely fired by Hezbollah. There was no immediate response from the Israeli military to Reuters questions about the drone strikes, but the attack on the car appeared to mark the closest attack to Beirut since Trump asked Israel not to hit the Lebanese capital, under a US-mediated partial ceasefire announced on Monday. In his podcast comments, Trump acknowledged having called Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "crazy" during a reportedly expletive-filled phone exchange over the fighting in Lebanon as he sought a deal over the wider war."At some point I said, Bibi, we got to stop this. We got to stop it," Trump said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.Netanyahu told CNBC in an interview ‌that he and Trump sometimes had "tactical disagreements" but ​that they agreed on the main issues concerning Iran. 

The GCC's fastest-growing super-app begins its phased launch in Kuwait, bringing world-class technology to everyday life. Snoonu has officially launched its operations in Kuwait, marking a major milestone in the company’s regional expansion strategy and reinforcing its position as one of the GCC’s fastest-growing technology platforms.More than a delivery application, Snoonu is a technology-driven multi-service platform built on advanced cloud infrastructure and powered by a world-class team with expertise across leading global technology companies. The platform is designed to simplify everyday life by seamlessly integrating multiple services into one user experience. As part of its phased launch in Kuwait, Snoonu is introducing four core services to the market:Groceries: Fast and reliable delivery of everyday essentials.Snoosend: An on-demand courier solution enabling users to send and receive items quickly and conveniently.Flowers & Gifts: Curated gifting solutions for various occasions.Services: On-demand access to trusted home service professionals, including electricians, plumbers, maintenance specialists, and more. Additional verticals and services are expected to be introduced progressively over the coming months as the platform expands its footprint across Kuwait.“Kuwait represents a defining milestone in Snoonu’s regional growth journey. We are committed to building a platform that delivers real value through speed, operational excellence, and a world-class customer experience,” said Hamad Al Hajri, Founder of Snoonu and CEO of International Markets at Jahez International.“Our priority in Kuwait is to build a platform that genuinely understands the local market and evolves alongside the needs of its community,” said Bader Al Ajeel, CEO of Snoonu Kuwait.Founded in 2019, Snoonu has rapidly grown into one of the GCC’s leading technology companies. The Kuwait launch forms part of the company’s broader regional expansion roadmap following Jahez International’s majority acquisition of the company in 2025.Snoonu is now available for download on the App Store and Google Play.

The Arab League has strongly condemned the Iranian attacks on power and water desalination plants in the State of Kuwait.In a statement Monday, the organization slammed the attack as "malignant" and reiterated that any Iranian military assault on any Arab nation, whatever its kind or size, is "utterly rejected and deplored".It accused Iran of targeting civilian facilities, including water networks, energy and electrical facilities, transport centers, residential areas, and of "terrorizing" civilians.The league said such actions amount to a "flagrant breach" of law and its enduring precepts. It stressed that this act is tantamount to a full-fledged war crime under international humanitarian law, the consequences of which would be fully shouldered by the Iranian regime, including reparations for damages.As such, the Arab League reaffirmed that Iran should immediately live up to its obligation to implement the entirety of the content of Security Council Resolution 2817 and cease its attacks on Arab nations.

Qatar has expressed its condolences to the government of Kuwait and its people, on the death of two members of its armed forces while performing their national duties.In a statement issued on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed Qatar's full solidarity with Kuwait in this tragic loss and its support for all measures taken by Kuwait to preserve its sovereignty and security.  

Paris Saint-Germain beat Marseille on penalties to win a topsy turvy French Champions Trophy in Kuwait on Thursday.PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the night, saving two spot-kicks as PSG took the penalty lottery 4-1 after a frenetic end to the match left the two sides locked at 2-2.Desire Doue converted the decisive spot-kick after Chevalier had saved efforts from Marseille's Matt O'Riley and Hamed Traore.PSG had taken an early lead when their Ballon d'Or winning attacker Ousmane Dembele deftly lifted the ball over Marseille 'keeper Geronimo Rulli.Only Rulli's quick thinking prevented Nuno Mendes doubling PSG's advantage minutes later.Rulli's opposite number Chevalier displayed his own goalkeeping prowess when denying Marseille defender Emerson's goal bound shot after the half hour.PSG had Chevalier to thank again when the stopper somehow kept out Igor Paixao's header near the hour mark.But with a quarter of an hour remaining, an ugly challenge by Chevalier triggered a Marseille penalty and, after confirmation from VAR, former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood coolly converted the spot-kick.With the match only three minutes away from penalties, centre-back Willian Pacho's ill-advised clearance flummoxed his 'keeper as Marseille suddenly seemed set to seal their first silverware since their 2012 French League Cup title.But in the fifth minute of injury time Goncalo Ramos poked Bradley Barcola's cross in to level and send the game to penalties, and ultimately victory for Luis Enrique's PSG.This was PSG's record-extending 14th win in the equivalent of France's 'Super Cup' in a game virtually shunned by both sides' fans due to travel costs.A banner unfurled at Marseille's Stade Velodrome last Sunday during their 2-0 upset loss to lowly Nantes in Ligue 1 summed up the general mood of dissatisfaction from supporters hanging over the encounter.It read: "FCT 2026 in Kuwait. And for 2027, on the moon?"The fixture traditionally between the Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners has led a nomadic existence over the years as the French Football Federation seeks to promote Ligue 1 beyond its borders.Previous editions have been staged in Canada, China, Gabon, Israel, Qatar, USA, Morocco and Austria, amongst other venues.After this awayday in the Middle East the two teams refocus on domestic matters next week, with French Cup outings before PSG, one point behind Lens in second, host Lille next Friday, and Marseille, seven points adrift of PSG in third, travel to Angers.And in Europe, PSG will also be keen to wrap up automatic qualification to the Champions League last 16.The holders are third in the league phase standings with two games remaining while Marseille are 16th and in contention for a play-off spot.With PSG winning both the league and French Cup last season, Marseille owed their presence in Kuwait to being league runners-up in 2024/25, albeit a yawning 19 points behind their arch rivals.

The Minister of Social, Family and Childhood Affairs of Kuwait Dr. Amthal Al Huwailah stated that women in the region and the world are a driving force for positive transformation and for building a more inclusive, just, and equitable future for all, adding that investing in women is not only a commitment to equality but a genuine investment in creating sustainable solutions for entire societies.This came in Dr. Al Huwailah's speech at the opening of the high-level side event "SheBuilds: Women Innovating Social Solutions for an Inclusive Future," held as part of the 2nd World Summit for Social Development, and attended by HE Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) Representative to the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the Unesco Regional Office in Doha Salah El Din Zaki Khaled.Dr. Al Huwailah said that the event celebrates women's creativity in social development and their ability to devise solutions that make a real difference in communities and people's lives. She noted that women-led social innovation is inherently inclusive, grounded in a deep understanding of marginalized groups' needs and dedicated to removing barriers to participation in development.Women do not only come up with ideas, rather they are redefining the very meaning of development and justice from a human-centered perspective, Dr. Al Huwailah continued, adding that the workshop will begin with a brief presentation on women-led innovation in Kuwait, showcasing real-life stories and experiences of Kuwaiti women who have creatively and constructively addressed social challenges.She further said that participants will engage in an interactive experience, a journey of thought and practice that begins with inspiration and culminates in creativity, aiming to empower participants to adopt an innovative mindset in tackling social challenges by transforming ideas into practical, applicable solutions.

Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Culture (MoC), took part Tuesday in the preparatory meeting of the General Cultural Committee of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), held under the chairmanship of Kuwait.This meeting is a precursor to the gathering of the undersecretaries of culture ministries in GCC member states, scheduled to convene ahead of the 29th session of GCC ministers of culture, set to take place tomorrow.The Qatar delegation to the preparatory meeting was led by the MoC’s director of the Department of Culture and Arts Abdulrahman Abdullah al-Dulaimi.The meeting featured a comprehensive review of the agenda, which included 14 items spanning various domains of culture, arts, and heritage, aimed at strengthening joint cultural co-operation.

Kuwait has strongly condemned the Israeli occupation forces for intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.In a statement, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the safety of its citizens involved in the mission and is working to secure their safe return.The ministry also called for ensuring the security of all participantsin the flotilla and stressed the importance of upholding international and humanitarian law.Kuwait renewed its call on the international community to take responsibility and exert pressure on Israel to halt its ongoing violations of international law and human rights principles.Oman affirmed that it is following closely the situation of the Omani citizens participating in the flotilla, and reaffirmed its concern for their safety in preparation for their safe return home. It is working actively, through its partners and networks, to ensure the security of the citizens and their safe return to Oman.In a statement by the Omani Foreign Ministry, Oman called for safeguarding all participants in the convoy and ensuring they are not exposed to any risks.Oman renewed its call on the international community to assume its legal and humanitarian responsibilities, to pressure the occupation forces to halt their repeated violations, and to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip without obstruction.Meanwhile, Israel on Friday deported four Italian activists, the first of hundreds detained from an aid flotilla bound for Gaza, shortly after the interception of the group's final boat brought an end to its mission.The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail last month, ferrying politicians and activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg towards Gaza, where the UN says famine is taking hold.The Israeli navy began intercepting the boats on Wednesday. The military said yesterdat that the navy had stopped all 42 of the fleet's vessels "in an operation that lasted approximately 12 hours", and transferred flotilla members to Israel's Ashdod Port for processing by police.Israel's foreign ministry said it deported four Italian activists who were aboard the flotilla, adding that "the rest are in the process of being deported".Israeli police said "more than 470 flotilla participants were taken into custody by the military police, subjected to rigorous screening, and transferred to the prison administration".Authorities earlier said that none of the vessels had breached the maritime blockade of Gaza."Marinette, the last remaining boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was intercepted at 10:29am (0729 GMT) local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza," the flotilla's organisers said on Telegram.They added that Israeli naval forces had "illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels — each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel's illegal siege on Gaza".Among those detained were more than 20 journalists, according to media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), including reporters from Spain's El Pais, Qatar's Al Jazeera and Italy's public broadcaster RAI."Arresting journalists and preventing them from doing their work is a serious violation of the right to inform and be informed," said Martin Roux, head of RSF's crisis desk.

Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah arrived in Doha to participate in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled to take place today. Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al-Thani and Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Kuwait to Qatar Mohammed Al Zoubi.

Kuwait Bourse closed trading on Sunday as the All Share Index gained 68.20 points to reach 8,784.83 points, an increase of 0.78 percent. As many as 514.3 million shares valued at KWD 104.6 million (roughly USD 319 million) were traded via 24,040 transactions.The Main Market Index went up by 66.27 points to reach 8,002.73 points, up by 0.84 percent, through 316.9 million shares done via 15,462 transactions valued at KWD 46.19 million (roughly USD 140.8 million).The Premier Market Index gained 72.05 points to reach 9,413.99 points, up by 0.77 percent, through 197.3 million shares done via 8,578 transactions valued at KWD 58.4 million (roughly USD 178.12 million).Meanwhile, the bourse Main 50 Index went up by 80.86 points to reach 8,251.41 points, up by 0.99 percent, through stock volume of 250 million shares done in 10,531 deals at a value of KWD 38.5 million (roughly USD 117.4 million).

Kuwait Bourse closed trading on Tuesday as the All Share Index gained 72.42 points to reach 8,712.18 points, an increase of 0.84 percent.As many as 455 million shares valued at KWD 116.9 million (roughly USD 356.5 million) were traded via 27,306 transactions.The Main Market Index went up by 40.42 points to reach 7,881.67 points, up by 0.52 percent, through 223.18 million shares done via 14,110 transactions valued at KWD 39.9 million (roughly USD 121.6 million).The Premier Market Index gained 83.99 points to reach 9,349.85 points, up by 0.91 percent, through 231.9 million shares done via 13,196 transactions valued at KWD 77 million (roughly USD 234.8 million).Meanwhile, the bourse Main 50 Index went up by 71.06 points to reach 8,076.77 points, up by 0.89 percent, through stock volume of 177 million shares done in 8,905 deals at a value of KWD 31.9 million (roughly USD 97.2 million).

The economic shock from the Iran war is no longer hypothetical. What the United Nations Development Programme modelled as a four-week disruption has already been overtaken by events, with the conflict now stretching into a fifth week and signalling that the projected $120bn to $194bn loss in Arab economic output may prove conservative.  When UNDP released its assessment on 31 March, it warned that even a short, contained escalation would shrink regional GDP by 3.7 to 6.0%, erase up to 3.64mn jobs, raise unemployment by as much as four percentage points, and push between 3.05mn and 3.96mn people into poverty. That scenario assumed temporary trade disruption, limited infrastructure damage and manageable energy shocks. None of those conditions now hold. The conflict has since expanded geographically and operationally, with sustained exchanges involving Iran and spillovers across the Levant and Gulf. Strategic assets, including energy and petrochemical infrastructure, have come under repeated pressure, while rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil flows, have heightened market volatility. These developments align closely with UNDP's most severe scenario, which anticipated extreme trade disruption and hydrocarbon supply shocks.  That assessment is borne out by the data. Iran's strike on Qatar's Ras Laffan natural gas terminal wiped out 17% of the country's LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to take up to five years, according to state-owned QatarEnergy. The blow extends well beyond Qatar's balance sheet. Gita Gopinath, the former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, has written that global economic growth, expected before the war to reach 3.3% this year, could fall by 0.3 to 0.4 percentage points if oil prices average $85 a barrel through 2026. Carmen Reinhart, a former World Bank chief economist now at Harvard Kennedy School, has warned that the conflict is "raising the risk of higher inflation and lower growth," reviving uncomfortable parallels with the stagflationary oil shocks of the 1970s.Nowhere are the risks more concentrated than in the Gulf. UNDP had projected that the GCC economies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, could see GDP contract by 5.2 to 8.5%, translating into losses of $103bn to $168bn. Oxford Economics has since downgraded aggregate GCC real GDP growth for 2026 by 4.6 percentage points from its pre-war forecast to minus 0.2%, reflecting reduced oil production, exports, tourism and domestic demand. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE face the most severe downgrades, given their inability to reroute hydrocarbon exports, which means production will need to shut down once storage facilities reach capacity.  A Goldman Sachs economist forecast that if the war continues through the end of April it could shrink Gulf states’ GDP substantially. With energy infrastructure increasingly exposed and shipping routes under strain, the UNDP's upper-bound figures are now edging into view, if not beyond. The bloc could also lose up to 3.11mn jobs, with human development setbacks equivalent to one to two years of progress. In the Levant, where fragility was already entrenched, the impact is sharper still. GDP losses of up to 8.7% are now paired with a disproportionate surge in poverty, accounting for more than 75% of the region's projected increase in deprivation. The war's human toll, including displacement, disruption to education and healthcare, and damage to civilian systems, has compounded the economic shock, reinforcing UNDP's warning of a measurable decline in human development indicators. Inside Iran itself, the erosion is equally stark. UNDP estimates the country's human development index could fall by 0.47 to 0.56 percentage points, effectively wiping out one to one-and-a-half years of progress. With low-income households spending nearly 45% of their income on food, inflation and supply disruptions are rapidly translating into real hardship, particularly for informal workers and small businesses. The World Trade Organisation has said that if oil and gas prices remain elevated for the rest of the year, forecasted 2026 global GDP growth could be reduced by 0.3 per cent. Europe, as a heavy energy importer, could see growth fall by at least one percentage point below previous expectations. Beyond the immediate theatre, the fallout is rippling outward with particular severity through agricultural markets. The Gulf accounts for roughly a third of global urea exports and a quarter of ammonia, with up to 40% of world nitrogen fertiliser exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. With that passage now blocked, urea prices are up 50% since the war began and ammonia prices have risen 20%. The downstream consequences for food security are acute. The countries of the Gulf region, home to more than 60mn people, are almost entirely import-dependent across staple food categories, meaning any sustained disruption to supply chains will rapidly translate into food shocks. Oxford Economics has modelled a scenario in which prolonged disruption tips the world into outright contraction, with world GDP falling in the middle of the year, calendar-year growth for 2026 slowing to 1.4% and global inflation reaching 7.7%, close to the 2022 peak. Unlike 2022, when the global economy continued to expand through the price shock, the severity of this disruption could tip the world into recession, which Oxford's analysts describe as the worst synchronised downturn in 40 years outside the pandemic and the global financial crisis. Taken together, these developments point to a fundamental shift in the nature of the crisis. What began as a geopolitical confrontation is now manifesting as a multi-layered development shock, affecting growth, employment, poverty and long-term human welfare simultaneously. The longer the conflict persists, the more it entrenches structural damage across interconnected systems, from energy markets to food security. UNDP's original warning was stark: even a brief war could reverse years of progress. Five weeks on, the trajectory suggests something deeper. The economic and human setback now under way is likely to exceed initial projections, with consequences that will endure well beyond the battlefield.