7 AM After-Hours Flash: Kuwait's army says it has intercepted hostile drones over airspace | Tighter customs rules disrupt everyday life | UAE A

Geopolitical tensions are escalating across the Gulf as multiple nations report Iranian drone activity and related strikes. In the Asian market, Kuwait's army says it intercepted hostile drones over its airspace at dawn, the latest incident tied to the Iran conflict. The UAE air defences intercepted two Iranian drones on May 10 with no casualties, and authorities there say they have now neutralised more than 2800 aerial threats since the conflict began. Qatar's prime minister warned Iran's foreign minister that using the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool would only deepen the crisis and urged all parties to respond to mediation efforts. An unidentified projectile also hit a cargo vessel near Qatar with no injuries reported. These developments come as Bitcoin is trading at 80867 dollars up 0.8 percent over the past 24 hours and sits within 2 percent of the 80k level, underscoring risk-off flows that could keep volatility elevated for US options traders heading into Monday's open in Asia. SPX is trading at 7398.93 flat on the day while the VIX holds at 17.19. Russell's Morning Outlook is back Monday — stay with VixShield. I am your VixShield news reporter.