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Energy Markets Entering A New Phase Of Infrastructure-Related Uncertainty

Android exploit targets payments without app tampering

A newly identified Android attack technique that alters the operating environment rather than modifying applications has raised fresh concerns over the resilience of mobile payment systems, with researchers warning that conventional app-level protections may no longer be sufficient. Security analysts at CloudSEK have detailed a method that leverages a framework known as LSPosed to manipulate how Android apps behave at runtime. Instead of injecting malicious code directly […]

CursorJack flaw raises AI code risks

Security researchers have identified a technique that could allow attackers to execute malicious code within AI-assisted development environments by manipulating installation links, raising fresh concerns about the integrity of modern coding workflows. The method, termed “CursorJack”, exploits how some AI development tools handle external package installation and repository linking. By redirecting or tampering with these links, attackers can introduce harmful code into a developer’s environment without immediate […]

Researchers expose Cortex XDR detection evasion flaw

Cybersecurity analysts have uncovered a method that enables attackers to bypass behavioural protections in Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR platform, raising fresh concerns over the resilience of endpoint detection systems widely used by enterprises. The findings centre on the platform’s Behavioural Indicators of Compromise, or BIOC rules, which are designed to identify suspicious activity beyond traditional signature-based detection. Researchers demonstrated that these rules, distributed in encrypted form […]

Deadly blasts shake Maiduguri city centre

Multiple explosions tore through parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, leaving more than twenty people dead and dozens injured, according to local authorities and security officials, in one of the most severe attacks on the city in months. The blasts struck crowded locations, including a busy market area and entry points to residential neighbourhoods, amplifying the scale of casualties and damage. Emergency services and military […]

Hybrid directory gaps expose identity drift risk

Gaps between on-premise and cloud identity systems are creating a growing security blind spot, as organisations adopting hybrid Active Directory environments struggle to maintain consistent user credentials across platforms. Security analysts warn that “identity drift” — a condition where user attributes, permissions or credentials fall out of sync between systems — is emerging as a critical vulnerability in enterprise infrastructure. Hybrid identity setups, commonly built around Microsoft’s […]

PwC flags AI fraud threat to Nigeria telecoms

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector faces escalating risks from artificial intelligence-driven fraud, prompting warnings that operators must strengthen defences with advanced detection systems and tighter internal controls to protect revenue and customer trust. A new advisory from PwC highlights how fraudsters are increasingly deploying generative AI tools, automated bots and deepfake technologies to exploit vulnerabilities across mobile networks, digital payment platforms and customer verification systems. The firm says the […]

Gulf conflict drives surge in shipping costs

Supply chains across the Gulf are under mounting strain as escalating conflict in the Middle East disrupts shipping lanes and drives a sharp rise in insurance premiums, with business leaders warning of wider economic fallout and higher consumer prices. The Federation of GCC Chambers said companies across member states were facing severe logistical bottlenecks after maritime risks intensified in key transit routes, including the Strait of Hormuz […]

Petro Products Prices In Import-Dependent India May Surge Further

Gulf states brace for post-Iran war order

Arabian Post Special Missile and drone strikes linked to the widening confrontation around Iran have forced Gulf governments to confront a reality long considered unlikely: the region’s economic hubs, energy infrastructure and aviation networks can no longer assume insulation from large-scale conflict. Airports, oil terminals and urban centres across the Gulf have experienced disruptions as Iranian projectiles and drones targeted sites tied to military or logistical support […]

Trump proposal puts spotlight on China naval role

President Donald Trump’s call for China to deploy naval forces to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has stirred a sensitive strategic debate in Beijing, drawing attention to the question of whether the world’s second-largest economy should assume a greater military role in safeguarding global trade routes. Trump argued that China, as one of the largest importers of Gulf energy supplies, should contribute naval assets to […]

NHRI denounces Iranian strikes on UAE territory

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai National Human Rights Institution has issued a strong condemnation of Iranian military attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, describing the strikes as a grave violation of sovereignty and a direct threat to civilian safety and fundamental human rights. The institution said the attacks, which have involved missiles and drones striking or attempting to strike locations across the country since late February, amount to […]

Dubai airport halts flights after fire

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Flight operations at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended after a fire broke out near the airfield, prompting authorities to divert several aircraft to Al Maktoum International Airport while emergency crews brought the blaze under control. Authorities in Dubai halted departures and arrivals at the region’s busiest aviation hub as a precaution after flames were reported in the vicinity of the airport’s fuel […]

Fuel pressures test Jakarta ahead of Eid travel

Rising oil prices linked to the war involving Iran are creating fresh economic strain for Indonesia just as millions prepare for the annual Eid al-Fitr travel surge, placing President Prabowo Subianto’s administration under mounting pressure to shield consumers from higher fuel costs.

Energy markets have been rattled by escalating conflict across the Persian Gulf, where attacks on shipping routes and oil infrastructure have disrupted global crude supplies. A large share of the world’s petroleum exports passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime corridor connecting Gulf producers with international markets. Disruption to tanker traffic through this chokepoint has pushed benchmark crude prices sharply higher, triggering fuel price increases across Asia and raising fears of supply shortages in import-dependent economies.

Indonesia faces particular vulnerability because it relies heavily on imported energy. Around a quarter of its crude oil and roughly a third of liquefied petroleum gas supplies originate in the Middle East. Shipping disruptions in the Gulf have already complicated trade flows, with tanker movements slowed by security risks and insurance costs rising for vessels operating in the region. Market volatility has driven crude prices beyond the psychological threshold of $100 per barrel, fuelling concern that further escalation could drive them even higher.

The timing of the price shock has heightened the challenge for Jakarta. Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, triggers one of the largest annual travel movements in the country as families journey from major cities to hometowns across the archipelago. State energy company Pertamina anticipates gasoline demand during the holiday period to climb by more than 10 per cent, intensifying pressure on supply chains already strained by global market turbulence.

Authorities have attempted to reassure the public that domestic fuel supplies remain sufficient. Officials say government stockpiles and logistics networks can support the expected surge in consumption during the festive season. At the same time, policymakers have signalled that subsidised fuel prices will remain unchanged until the Eid holidays conclude, a move designed to prevent abrupt increases in transport costs during the peak travel period.

Holding prices steady carries significant fiscal implications. Indonesia already devotes substantial resources to energy subsidies, allocating more than 380 trillion rupiah in the state budget to keep fuel and electricity costs manageable for households and businesses. Sustaining those subsidies while global oil prices rise could widen the fiscal deficit or force adjustments elsewhere in the budget.

Economists warn that prolonged turbulence in global oil markets may reverberate across the broader economy. Higher crude prices increase the cost of imports and can erode Indonesia’s trade balance, particularly because the country has transitioned from being an oil exporter to a net importer over the past two decades. Analysts estimate that each $10 increase in the price of oil could shave hundreds of millions of dollars from the country’s trade surplus while raising domestic inflationary pressures.

Currency markets have already reacted to the geopolitical shock. The rupiah has faced downward pressure amid investor concerns about rising energy import costs and potential fiscal strain from expanded subsidies. A weaker currency makes fuel imports more expensive, compounding the burden on state finances and increasing the risk that domestic prices may eventually need to adjust.

Officials are exploring alternative strategies to mitigate the impact. One approach involves diversifying crude imports away from the Middle East by securing additional shipments from suppliers such as the United States and other regions less affected by the conflict. Authorities are also considering longer-term measures including accelerated blending of biofuels and the expansion of renewable energy capacity to reduce dependence on imported oil.

Energy security has become a central concern for policymakers across Southeast Asia as the Gulf crisis unfolds. Countries throughout the region rely heavily on imported petroleum and have limited capacity to absorb sustained price shocks. Governments have begun introducing conservation measures, adjusting subsidies, and seeking alternative suppliers as they attempt to stabilise domestic markets.

Indonesia’s logistical challenges are magnified by its geography. The archipelago spans more than 17,000 islands, making fuel distribution complex even during stable market conditions. Sudden shifts in global prices can ripple quickly through domestic supply chains, affecting transportation costs, food prices, and broader consumer inflation.

Political pressures add another layer of complexity for the administration. Public sensitivity to fuel prices has historically been high, and previous attempts to reduce subsidies have sparked protests and social unrest. Managing the current crisis therefore requires balancing fiscal prudence with the need to maintain social stability and support economic growth.

Market analysts say the duration of the Middle East conflict will determine how severe the economic impact becomes. If disruptions to shipping lanes and energy infrastructure persist, global crude supplies could tighten further, pushing prices to levels that strain government budgets and household finances alike. A prolonged crisis could also prompt broader shifts in energy policy, encouraging faster investment in domestic energy resources and renewable alternatives.

Japan wary of joining Hormuz naval escorts

Pressure from Washington for allies to help secure shipping lanes in West Asia has placed Tokyo in a delicate strategic position, with senior figures signalling that dispatching Japanese military vessels to the Middle East would face formidable political and legal barriers. Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, stated that any move to send Japanese naval assets to escort commercial vessels through the Strait […]

Habtoor and Jehangiri advance to Dubai polo final

Al Habtoor Polo and Jehangiri Polo have secured places in the final of the fourth Dubai Polo Challenge Cup after winning their respective qualifying matches at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club in Dubai, setting up a decisive clash in one of the region’s prominent mid-handicap tournaments. The competition, staged at the sprawling polo grounds on the outskirts of Dubai, features four teams with handicap ratings […]

War strikes raise fears of decades-long toxic fallout

Greenlogue/AP Thick clouds of smoke rising over fuel depots and refineries in Iran have triggered growing concern among scientists and public-health experts that the environmental impact of the ongoing US and Israeli military campaign could linger for decades. Fires sparked by strikes on energy infrastructure have released a complex mix of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere, raising fears of long-term contamination of air, soil and water across […]

India seeks wider Hormuz passage for fuel ships

New Delhi has pressed Tehran to allow more India-bound vessels to cross the Strait of Hormuz after two liquefied petroleum gas carriers carrying critical fuel supplies cleared the strategic waterway, highlighting the vulnerability of energy flows through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints.

Officials confirmed that two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, passed through the strait with cargo bound for ports in Gujarat, transporting roughly 92,700 tonnes of cooking gas. The shipments represent more than a day’s requirement for household LPG consumption, providing partial relief amid tightening supplies.

Government representatives indicated that discussions with Iranian authorities are continuing to secure safe transit for additional tankers waiting in the Persian Gulf. More than twenty vessels carrying crude oil and gas destined for India have been held up near the waterway during the standoff, raising concerns over prolonged disruptions to fuel deliveries.

The Strait of Hormuz, situated between Iran and Oman, handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Any disturbance along this narrow corridor has the potential to reverberate across global energy markets and shipping routes. Escalating tensions across West Asia have already led to attacks on several vessels and heightened security risks for commercial shipping in the region.

Iran’s decision to permit the two LPG carriers to sail through the strait marked an exception to restrictions imposed after military action targeting Iranian infrastructure triggered a broader confrontation. Tehran has maintained that vessels from most countries can navigate the passage but warned that ships from states viewed as hostile could face restrictions or heightened scrutiny.

Diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Tehran played a role in securing the initial transit. Conversations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian, along with discussions between foreign ministers, focused on safeguarding energy shipments and the safety of nationals in the conflict-affected region.

India depends heavily on Middle Eastern suppliers for its energy needs. About 90 per cent of the country’s imported LPG originates from the region, while a substantial share of crude oil imports also passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That reliance has made the stability of the shipping lane central to the country’s energy security strategy.

Officials from the shipping ministry confirmed that Indian authorities are coordinating with regional partners and monitoring maritime traffic closely. Naval vessels deployed in the Gulf under Operation Sankalp have been keeping watch over merchant ships heading towards the subcontinent, providing situational awareness and escort support where necessary.

Energy analysts say the partial reopening of the route for Indian cargo illustrates the delicate balance between geopolitical confrontation and commercial necessity. Countries reliant on Gulf hydrocarbons have sought diplomatic channels to keep trade flowing even as military tensions complicate navigation in the region.

Oil markets reacted sharply to the conflict surrounding the strait, with benchmark crude prices surging amid fears of prolonged disruption to supply. Traders remain wary that even isolated incidents could affect tanker movements through the corridor, where narrow shipping lanes and heavy traffic leave little room for error.

The two LPG carriers now sailing toward the western coast highlight the importance of maintaining uninterrupted access to the strait. With domestic demand for cooking gas remaining high, authorities have prioritised household supply chains while assessing contingency measures for industrial users if shipments continue to face delays.

Shipping industry figures note that vessels have increasingly adopted precautionary routes or delayed departures until security conditions improve. Insurance costs for tankers operating in the Gulf have also climbed, reflecting the heightened risk environment created by missile strikes, drone attacks and naval deployments in surrounding waters.

Strategic calculations extend beyond immediate fuel deliveries. India has been strengthening diplomatic engagement with Gulf producers and maritime partners to ensure continued energy access during periods of instability. The country has also expanded storage capacity and diversified crude sources over the past decade to mitigate supply shocks.

Even with those measures, the Strait of Hormuz remains a critical artery for trade between the Gulf and Asia. Any sustained restriction would affect not only India but also large importers such as China, Japan and South Korea, which depend on the same route for oil and gas shipments.

Global crackdown dismantles SocksEscort proxy botnet

A coordinated international law enforcement operation has dismantled SocksEscort, a large malicious proxy service that enabled cybercriminals to hide their identities while carrying out fraud, ransomware attacks and other online crimes. The operation, codenamed Operation Lightning, targeted infrastructure spread across multiple countries and led to the seizure of dozens of domains and servers used to run the network. Authorities said the proxy service relied on malware that […]

GlassWorm malware quietly infiltrates developer toolchains

A sophisticated malware operation targeting software developers has expanded its reach by exploiting trusted extension ecosystems, with security researchers uncovering dozens of malicious packages distributed through the Open VSX marketplace. The campaign, known as GlassWorm, now relies on hidden transitive dependencies to introduce malicious code into developer environments, marking a notable shift in tactics within the growing wave of software supply-chain attacks. Security analysts have identified at […]

Analysts See Prolonged War Cutting Up To 70% Of Crude Output

Gulf banks hold steady amid war tensions

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States has entered a second week, prompting heightened caution across financial markets in the Gulf while investment banks operating in the region signal that their local operations remain in place despite escalating security warnings. Financial institutions active in the Gulf Cooperation Council have indicated that dealmaking teams and advisory units will continue functioning as normal even […]

Saudi output drops sharply as Gulf war disrupts oil

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Saudi Arabia has cut crude oil production by about two million barrels per day after shutting down major offshore fields as conflict around Iran disrupts shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the world’s largest exporter to scale back output and reroute supplies. Production has fallen to around eight million barrels per day, down from more than 10 million barrels per day earlier […]

US deploys interceptor drones to counter Iran

United States military authorities have dispatched thousands of interceptor drones originally refined on the battlefields of Ukraine to the Middle East, aiming to counter Iranian aerial attacks while reducing reliance on expensive missile defences. Officials say about 10,000 drones were moved to the region within days of a joint US–Israeli military campaign against Iranian targets that began in late February. The deployment reflects a broader shift in […]