Bangladesh signs U.S. wheat-import deal in bid to curb tariff pressure
Bangladesh has signed a deal to import 700,000 tonnes of wheat annually from the United States over the next five years, aiming to ease trade tensions...
Investors are cautiously returning to the Middle East, betting on economic recovery and political stability following a fragile ceasefire and shifting regional dynamics. However, President Donald Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza has injected new uncertainty.
A historic shake-up in the region is attracting fresh investment. The end of the Israel-Hamas war, political changes in Lebanon and Syria, and a weakened Iran have fueled hopes for economic stabilization.
In Egypt, where economic collapse once loomed, the government successfully executed its first dollar debt sale in four years. Investors have also begun buying Israeli bonds again, while Lebanon’s debt markets are seeing renewed interest as Beirut moves toward financial restructuring.
Trump’s proposal to “clean out” Gaza and develop a Middle East "Riviera" was widely condemned. Egypt has called an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to address the implications.
Bond investors initially welcomed the ceasefire but reacted negatively to Trump’s plan. Amundi, Europe's largest asset manager, reduced exposure to Egyptian bonds, fearing U.S. pressure on Cairo to accept Palestinian refugees.
Credit rating agency S&P Global has signaled that Israel's downgrade warning could be lifted if stability holds. Meanwhile, Michael Fertik, a U.S. venture capitalist, cited reduced geopolitical risk in his decision to expand operations in Israel’s AI sector.
However, risks remain. Yemen’s Houthi attacks have cost Egypt’s Suez Canal $7 billion in lost revenue, forcing shipping routes around Africa. Investors warn that any escalation could reverse economic gains.
Rebuilding efforts in Syria, Gaza, and Lebanon present opportunities for Turkey’s construction firms, with Trump’s envoy estimating a 10-15 year timeline for Gaza’s reconstruction. The World Bank estimates Lebanon’s war damage at $8.5 billion—about 35% of its GDP.
Lebanon’s defaulted bonds have more than doubled in price since Hezbollah’s influence weakened. New President Joseph Aoun is set to visit Saudi Arabia, a potential backer of Beirut’s restructuring, though $45 billion in debt still needs renegotiation.
The Middle East is entering a crucial economic phase, with peace prospects driving investment interest. Yet, uncertainty over Gaza, U.S. policy shifts, and regional tensions continue to shape the financial landscape.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s foreign ministers met in Tianjin on 15 July, laying the groundwork for the upcoming SCO summit set for the end of August.
The opening ceremony of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, held under the theme “Digital Pathways: Strengthening Information and Media Resilience in the Age of AI,” is currently underway.
On July 19, Ukrainian media provided extensive coverage of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s speech and responses to journalists’ questions during the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum, held in Khankendi under the theme “Digital Pathways".
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 56 kilometres east of Gorgan in northern Iran early Sunday morning, according to preliminary seismic data.
President Ilham Aliyev has publicly pressed Russia to admit it accidentally shot down an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane in December, an incident that killed 38 people.
Iran says its cooperation with the IAEA will continue — but under new terms and stricter oversight, following what it calls politically motivated reporting by the agency.
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