Commerce Ministry Assures of Restoration of Full RoDTEP Benefits to Exporters From April 1: FIEO
India's Commerce Ministry announced that the full Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) benefits will be reinstated from April 1, 2026, after a temporary 50% reduction that lasted until March 31. The scheme, which refunds 0.3%‑3.9% of export value, was originally allocated ₹18,232 crore for 2025‑26 and proposed to rise to ₹21,709 crore for 2026‑27, but only ₹10,000 crore was approved. Exporters have been pressured by rising freight, insurance costs and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The restoration aims to bolster competitiveness as India’s trade deficit widens.
Gold Price Will Continue to Rise as Central Banks Continue to Diversify Into Non-Dollar Reserves: SBI Research
Gold prices have surged 47.6% since August 2025, reaching $5,092 per ounce, as central banks shift from Treasury securities to gold. The United States and Germany now report gold comprising over 80% of their reserve portfolios, with Italy and India also...
ASH: Iran War - Who Needs Nukes when You Have Drones?
Iran’s low‑cost, $20,000 drones are emerging as a more disruptive strategic weapon than its nuclear program, targeting the Gulf’s diversified economic assets. The drone campaign threatens energy, logistics, tourism, real‑estate and financial sectors, raising the risk of capital flight and...
Hezbollah, Israeli Troops Clash on the Ground in Eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa
Israeli forces attempted a landing operation near the Lebanon‑Syria border, sparking ground clashes with Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley town of Nabi Chit. Israeli air raids killed at least 16 civilians and wounded 35, marking the deepest incursion since November 2024....
China’s Missile Reach Forces Japan Back to Iwo Jima
Japan’s Defense Ministry is studying a major upgrade of Iwo Jima, including runway extension, port enhancements and a floating pier, to host JSDF fighter jets permanently. The move seeks to close a Pacific‑side surveillance gap and provide a redundant air hub...
Japan Seeks Exemption From US Tariff Hike Amid Trade Concerns
Japan has asked the United States to exclude it from a planned tariff hike that would raise duties from 10% to 15%, warning that higher rates could damage its auto sector and jeopardise the $550 billion Strategic Investment Initiative tied to...
When Neighbours Stop Knocking: The Hidden Impact of Canada’s 2025 Tourism Decline on US Local Labour Markets
In 2025, Canadian tourism to the United States dropped 25% after heightened geopolitical tensions and Trump‑era rhetoric. The decline hit service‑oriented ZIP codes where Canadian visitors comprised at least 1% of foot traffic, leading to a 6% employment contraction in...
Cross-Border Restrictions in the Age of Geopolitical Tensions: What Seven Decades of Data Tell Us
A new study uses large‑language‑model techniques to convert the IMF’s 70‑year AREAER narrative archive into a daily, country‑level dataset of cross‑border financial restrictions (iBoP‑C and iBoP‑S). The high‑frequency indices reveal a stop‑go pattern of financial liberalisation, with advanced economies easing...
Inside Trump’s Long-Term Economic Strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic
John Jovanovic, chairman of the U.S. Export‑Import Bank, outlined a long‑term economic agenda that aligns with former President Trump’s focus on export resilience and strategic stockpiles. He detailed Project Vault, a demand‑driven critical‑mineral reserve designed to curb just‑in‑time vulnerabilities. Jovanovic also...
Muted Iran War Stance Fits Concerned Onlooker China’s Priorities
China’s response to the US‑Israeli strike on Iran was deliberately muted, reflecting its doctrinal opposition to regime‑change interventions and a focus on protecting Chinese nationals. Beijing issued a UN Security Council appeal and condemned the attacks, but paired diplomatic protest...
IDB Invest and Banco Bolivariano Launch Ecuador’s First Biodiversity Bond
IDB Invest has committed $50 million to Ecuador’s inaugural biodiversity bond, part of a $120 million issuance also backed by the International Finance Corporation and Dutch development bank FMO. The bond, issued through Banco Bolivariano, will fund projects under its Biodiversity Financing Framework,...
China Really Thinks It Is Just Defending Itself
China’s Communist Party frames its far‑reaching global actions as defensive, even as it expands military capabilities, maritime claims and economic influence. This self‑perception stems from a blend of historic victimhood and a belief in inherent peacefulness, which turns defensive intent...
South Korea and the Philippines Expand Ties in Nuclear Energy and Critical Minerals
South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung visited the Philippines on March 3‑4, 2026, marking the 77th anniversary of diplomatic ties and signing ten memoranda of understanding across AI, cybersecurity, defense, and energy. The two leaders pledged deeper cooperation on critical minerals, leveraging...
Mumbai - Ahmedabad High-Speed Line Costs Rise by 83%
The Mumbai‑Ahmedabad high‑speed rail corridor’s budget has surged 83%, climbing to roughly Rs 2 trillion after land‑acquisition disputes inflated costs. Japan’s Official Development Assistance, which covered 81% of the original estimate, is unlikely to be extended, forcing India to tap its Consolidated...
Hajjar Chemali Interviewed on CNN Discussing the Growing Economic Collapse Inside Iran
In a recent CNN interview, political analyst Hajjar Chemali warned that Iran’s economy is spiraling toward collapse. He highlighted hyperinflation, a depreciating rial, and shrinking oil revenues as core drivers. Chemali also noted rising unemployment and mounting public unrest as...
Senegal Cuts Government Agencies to Save Cash Amid Debt Woes
Senegal announced the closure of 19 government agencies, eliminating roughly 1,000 public‑sector jobs. The move is projected to save at least 55 billion CFA francs over the next three years. The decision comes as the country's debt surged to 132% of...
Hong Kong Is Beijing’s New ‘Vanguard’ in the Contest for Financial Sovereignty
China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan designates Hong Kong as the vanguard of its “strong financial nation” strategy, shifting the city from a neutral capital bridge to a core component of Beijing’s financial security architecture. The 2026‑27 Hong Kong budget formalizes this...
Digital Rupee vs Digital Euro: Which CBDC Is More Business-Friendly?
The article pits India’s Digital Rupee against the EU’s Digital Euro, evaluating which central bank digital currency (CBDC) best serves commercial users. It notes the Digital Rupee’s near‑real‑time settlement, open‑source APIs, and early integration with Indian e‑commerce giants, while the...
How the White House’s Plan B on Tariffs Can Give It All the Trade Leverage It Needs
The Supreme Court’s February 20 decision barred the president from imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ending the Trump administration’s primary trade‑leverage tool. Until that ruling, the administration had clinched eight reciprocal trade agreements and ten framework deals...
India and Canada Reset: Pragmatism Takes Precedence Over Recriminations
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s four‑day visit to India in late February marked a pragmatic reset in bilateral ties, delivering a suite of agreements across energy, AI, defense, space and critical minerals. The centerpiece is a $1.91 billion uranium supply contract...
How Will the Iran War Affect the Global Economy?
The Iran‑Hamas war is unlikely to dent global GDP, as the Gulf accounts for only 2‑3% of world output. However, the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly a quarter of seaborne oil and one‑fifth of LNG flow—poses a serious chokepoint for...
Reliance Diesel, Jet Fuel Ships Turn to Asia Instead of Europe Amid Iran War
Reliance Industries rerouted two fuel tankers—about 100,000 metric tons of diesel and 75,000 tons of jet fuel—from Europe to Asia as the Iran‑Israel conflict chokes supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Asian jet‑fuel margins surged to a record $80 a...
WisdomTree Launches India Earnings ETF
WisdomTree has introduced the WisdomTree India Earnings UCITS ETF, an earnings‑weighted fund that tracks the proprietary WisdomTree India Earnings Index. The ETF carries a 0.55% total expense ratio and is listed on Xetra, Borsa Italiana, SIX Swiss Exchange and the...
ASEAN–Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative: Reimagining Travel for a New Era
In October 2023 ASEAN and Japan launched the ASEAN‑Japan Sustainable Tourism Initiative, a practical platform that showcases real projects ranging from community‑based tourism to low‑carbon travel. The effort moves beyond policy rhetoric, emphasizing knowledge exchange, job creation, ecosystem protection, and...
How to Deliver Results at Scale for People and Planet
Five years after its launch, Finance in Common (FiCS) now coordinates over 540 public development banks (PDBs) managing roughly $23 trillion, demonstrating that collective financing can support Sustainable Development Goals. The International Development Finance Club (IDFC) deepens this effort by aligning...
US-Israel-Iran War: JMIC Data Shows ‘Near-Total Temporary Pause in Routine Commercial Traffic’ Through Strait of Hormuz
JMIC data shows routine commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has virtually stopped, with only two cargo vessels recorded in the past 24 hours versus the usual 138. The pause follows a U.S.–Israel strike on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory...
AI Begins to Take Root in Emerging Market Firms
AI adoption is gaining traction in emerging market firms, with roughly 40% reporting use of AI for internal processes or customer‑facing products. Digital‑first companies lead the wave, achieving a 64% adoption rate, while newer startups founded after 2015 exceed 50%...
IMF Chief Says Ready to Act if Countries Crippled by Middle East Conflict Need Help — ‘We Recognise Our Responsibility’
The International Monetary Fund announced it is prepared to assist nations whose balance‑of‑payments are strained by the escalating Middle East conflict. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that higher energy prices could lift inflation by 40 basis points and shave up...
Why Somalia's Banks Must Consolidate
Somalia’s banking sector has rebounded over the past decade, quadrupling assets to $1.8 billion and expanding deposits to $1.43 billion, yet it remains highly fragmented with 13 small, under‑capitalised banks. Most institutions are privately owned, Sharia‑compliant and concentrated in urban centres, leaving...
Will China Overplay Its Hand?
The Trump‑Xi summit scheduled for late‑2026 follows a fragile 2025 Busan truce that temporarily halted tariffs and export bans. While the pause eased immediate market stress, critical issues such as transshipment tariffs, rare‑earth and high‑end semiconductor controls remain unresolved. Chinese...
India & China Must-Win Markets on Rising Middle-Class Households: Reckitt Chief
Reckitt Benckiser’s CEO Kris Licht declared India and China must‑win markets as middle‑class households there now outnumber those in Europe and the United States combined. Emerging markets now represent about 42 % of Reckitt’s core net revenue, with India and China...
Sanctions and Financial Repression
The interview with Oleg Itskhoki examines how Russia employed financial repression in 2022 to weather the largest post‑war sanctions package. By banning cash withdrawals and obligating exporters to surrender foreign‑currency earnings, Moscow halted a ruble freefall and stabilized its fiscal...
Asian Development Bank Giving Central Asia Lots of Attention
The Asian Development Bank announced a $5.4 billion financing plan for Kazakhstan, a $1.1 billion package for Tajikistan, and a $2.5 billion commitment to Azerbaijan, all aimed at strengthening the Middle Corridor trade route. The bank also launched a technical assistance program to...
How the Gulf Countries Are Responding to Iran’s Attacks
Iran’s recent drone and missile barrage has struck the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman, with more than 95% of projectiles intercepted by Gulf defenses. The attacks have shaken public confidence but quickly gave way to a resilient mood as...
In Trump’s Precarious World, NZ Will Need All the Middle-Sized Friends It Can Get
New Zealand faces a shifting global order as Donald Trump’s America‑first agenda threatens the rules‑based system the country has long relied on. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for middle powers to devise practical “workarounds” highlights the urgency for smaller...
The Iran War Spills Beyond the Middle East
The U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran has rapidly expanded beyond the Middle East, affecting more than a dozen nations. Azerbaijan reported Iranian drones over its Nakhichevan exclave, while Tehran denied involvement and blamed Israel. A U.S. submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship...
GCC Banks Show Resilience Amid Regional Conflict
GCC banks have shown resilience as the region endures fresh hostilities between Israel, the United States and Iran. Central Bank of the UAE reported banking assets above AED 5.42 trillion with a 17 % capital adequacy ratio and 146.6 % liquidity coverage ratio, both...
The Renminbi Is Winning over Africa—But Can It Rival the Dollar?
The US dollar still dominates Africa’s trade, finance and debt, but China’s renminbi is gaining traction. African policymakers have launched the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable local‑currency cross‑border payments, yet adoption remains modest. Since 2024, renminbi usage...
China Military Tense, Xi at Ease at Start of National People's Congress
At the opening of China’s National People’s Congress, PLA officers listened intently to the government work report, signalling renewed loyalty to the Party. The display comes as Xi Jinping presides over the session with a calm demeanor, despite a sweeping...
Centre May Extend Sector & Sponsored Schemes Beyond April 1 Amid Ongoing Review
The Indian government is likely to let central sector and centrally‑sponsored schemes run in their existing format beyond April 1, as ministries have not finished a comprehensive review tied to the Sixteenth Finance Commission. The evaluation, which includes third‑party reports, aims...
Annual Inflation in Uzbekistan Ticks up 0.1pp to 7.3% in February
Uzbekistan’s annual inflation ticked up to 7.3% in February, a modest 0.1 percentage‑point rise from January and still 2.8 points below the 10.1% recorded a year earlier. Monthly inflation eased to 0.6% month‑on‑month, while core inflation rose to 0.5% month‑on‑month, pushing...
French Delegation Explores Investment Opportunities at Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone
A high‑level French embassy delegation toured Zambia’s Kalumbila Multi‑Facility Economic Zone to assess investment prospects in the country’s mining supply chain. Hosted by First Quantum Minerals, the visit highlighted the zone’s 5,000‑hectare footprint, fiscal incentives and ready infrastructure. Kalumbila MFEZ’s...
The Ousting of Peru’s President Points to a Deeper Crisis
Peru’s interim president José Jerí was censured and removed by Congress after just four months, amid ethical scandals, and succeeded by José María Balcázar. His ouster comes less than two months before a historic April 12 election featuring a record...
MoSPI to Launch New Surveys, Boost High-Frequency Economic Indicators: Saurabh Garg
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has completed base‑year revisions for the CPI and GDP and is now turning to high‑frequency economic indicators. A trial Index of Services Production (ISP) will be released in 2026, supported by a...
Not Going, Bananas: Ramzan Ripe Time for Most-Exported Fruit but Iran War a Spoiler
India’s banana exports, worth roughly ₹3,500 crore annually, are being hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The blockage has stranded 1,500–2,000 containers, valued at up to ₹200 crore, just as Maharashtra ramps up shipments for Ramzan demand across the...
New Modelling Shows Renewable Electricity Can Meet NZ’s Future Demand – without Importing Gas
New modelling indicates New Zealand can satisfy its projected electricity demand through 2030 using existing renewable projects, especially if offshore wind is added. Without offshore wind, hydro would fall short for about 474 hours a year, but offshore wind would keep...
The Drone Attrition Trap
The article warns that the United States is falling into a "drone attrition trap," where cheap Iranian‑made Shahed‑136 drones, priced around $20,000, force the U.S. and allies to expend multi‑million‑dollar Patriot and SM‑6 interceptors. Ukraine’s four‑year experience shows that a...
Enforce Sanctions to Prevent Russia From Benefitting in a Prolonged Iran Crisis
The United States and its allies are warning that the Iran‑Israel conflict could lift oil prices to $80‑plus per barrel, creating a lucrative window for Russia’s sanctioned oil stockpiles. Russia, facing dwindling revenues after years of sanctions, now eyes the...
Apple, Microsoft, Palantir Lead Wedbush Top Tech Picks Amid Iran Tensions
Wedbush Securities highlighted Apple, Microsoft, ServiceNow, Palantir and several cybersecurity firms as its top technology picks as geopolitical tensions with Iran rise. The analysts described these stocks as defensive, citing strong cash flows, AI and cloud capabilities, and exposure to...
Truth Is Everyone’s Responsibility
A memorandum of understanding was signed between leading Philippine news outlets and the Presidential Communications Office to tackle the surge of fake news. The article argues that disinformation has become a structural threat to democracy, eroding public trust and distorting...