Panama Growth Hinges on Cobre Panama Restart: Report
Panama’s economy expanded 4% in 2025, driven mainly by services, while manufacturing lagged at 0.46%. Business group SIP says reopening First Quantum’s Cobre Panama copper mine could lift GDP growth to 6% by 2027, versus a 3.7% slowdown if the mine stays closed. The mine, which supplies roughly 2% of global copper, also underpins employment and diversification efforts. President José Raúl Mulino is expected to decide on the restart by June, adding uncertainty to the copper market.
Nigerian Government Accused of Electoral Act Loophole
President Bola Tinubu signed an amendment to Nigeria's Electoral Act that mandates electronic transmission of results but retains a manual fallback if technical issues arise. The law also omits a real‑time publishing requirement, prompting opposition parties and civil society to...
Capital Plan Tests Nerves in Brasília
The Federal District government has introduced a bill to inject up to BRL 6 billion into BRB Banco de Brasília following the Master Bank fraud, allowing borrowing from the Credit Guarantee Fund or other lenders. The proposal also reduces the number of...
Loan Note: The Rise of the Zombie Funds; Record Year for Emerging Market Private Credit
The loan‑note briefing highlights a surge in so‑called “zombie” funds that continue to chase low‑yield opportunities despite deteriorating market conditions. At the same time, emerging‑market private credit achieved a record deployment year, reflecting strong investor demand for higher returns. Arctos’s...
Iran-US Nuclear Talks in Geneva Pause for Break as IAEA Chief Joins Consultations
Iranian and American negotiators held the third round of nuclear talks in Geneva on February 26, briefly pausing before resuming later that day. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Busaidi, who is mediating the talks, described the atmosphere as "creative and positive." The International...
MOSCOW BLOG: Russia as a Supermarket Dressed up as a Country
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced a sweeping fiscal overhaul, lowering the oil‑price budget rule threshold by $1 each year for five years to shift revenue reliance from oil and gas to domestic consumption. The move follows a sharp drop...
More than 1,000 UK Councillors Sign Palestine Pledge as Local Polls Loom
More than 1,100 English councillors have signed the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s “Councillor Pledge for Palestine,” urging councils to adopt BDS‑aligned policies ahead of the May 2026 local elections. The signatories are led by the Green Party (387), Labour (375) and...
What’s Next for China’s Yuan Payment System? Adviser Banks on Close Trade Partners
Former ICBC chairman Chen Siqing urged China to embed its Cross‑border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) into bilateral trade frameworks, especially with Belt‑Road and RCEP partners, as geopolitical tensions heighten reliance on non‑US payment networks. He highlighted CIPS’s rapid growth, processing...
China Lithium Prices Surge as Zimbabwe Suspends Raw Mineral Exports
China’s lithium carbonate futures surged after Zimbabwe suspended all raw mineral and lithium concentrate exports. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange contract jumped 6.07% to 178,020 yuan, having peaked above 9% earlier in the session. Zimbabwe, the continent’s top lithium producer, shipped...
Ghana to Channel Artisanal Gold Into Formal Trade to Boost Revenue
Ghana announced an artisanal and small‑scale mining (ASM) gold formalisation programme that will channel roughly 127 metric tons of gold per year into official trade. The Ghana Gold Board, via the newly created GoldBod, will purchase a minimum of 2.45 tons weekly,...
Tshisekedi Prioritises Gold Sector Reform to Boost State Revenue
President Félix Tshisekedi announced a comprehensive reform of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's gold sector, targeting the massive revenue loss from smuggling and informal trade. The plan, presented at a Council of Ministers meeting on 20 February 2026, seeks...
London Gateway Closes in on Post-Brexit UK Port Leadership
London Gateway, DP World’s flagship UK terminal, is on track to become the nation’s leading container port after handling 3 million TEU in 2025 and surpassing Felixstowe in Q3 2025. The port’s rapid growth stems from a £1.5 bn initial outlay followed...
Agoa Extension Brings Relief, yet Policy Uncertainty Clouds US-Africa Trade Future
The U.S. Senate trimmed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) renewal to a single‑year extension, sparking optimism among exporters but deepening long‑term uncertainty. Simultaneously, Washington imposed tariffs of 10‑30% on key African products, and non‑tariff measures continue to raise...
India Braces for Unusually Hot March that Can Put Key Crops at Risk, Sources Say
India is expected to experience one of its warmest Marches on record, with temperatures projected up to 7 °C above normal in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh. These states produce more than 80 % of the nation’s...
Trade Doesn't Flow on Roads − It Flows on Data
Africa’s trade potential hinges on overhauling its digital infrastructure, not just fixing ports or roads. Current IoT systems rely on permanent roaming SIMs and single‑core networks that crumble at borders, inflating costs and risk. Surveys show operators are shifting to...
UK Wants to Ban Firms From Insuring Russian Oil
The United Kingdom announced it will back a full ban on maritime services – including insurance and shipping – for Russian crude and refined oil, moving beyond the existing $44.10‑per‑barrel price‑cap rule. Trade Minister Chris Bryant said the UK will...
Celio’s Francois Gomez Bets on Bigger Stores, Honest Pricing and Sharper India Play
At the ET Retail GIRS 2026 conference, Celio COO Francois Gomez outlined a new growth plan for India, emphasizing larger‑format stores and a shift away from discount‑driven sales. The brand will prioritize honest pricing and its core apparel DNA—suits, polos, shirts and...
Ukraine Is Losing the War
Four years after Russia launched its full‑scale invasion, a draft U.S. peace plan proposes recognizing Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as Russian‑controlled and allowing Russia to keep occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Kyiv, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, has rejected any...
Southeast Asia’s Grab Finally Turns a Profit
Southeast Asian super‑app Grab reported its first full‑year profit in 2025, posting a $200 million net gain after narrowing losses from $1.7 billion in 2022 to $158 million in 2024. Revenue climbed roughly 20% to $3.4 billion as transaction volume rose 21% to $22 billion...
CDSCO Eases Drug Testing Approvals, New Fast-Track System From June 1, 2026
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will issue No Objection Certificates (NOC) for drug‑sample testing immediately upon receipt of applications, eliminating the prior detailed specification review. Companies can begin laboratory testing at designated Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and other central...
Dar Ports Become Bargaining Chip Against Mombasa for EA Traders
South Sudan is redirecting most of its import‑export cargo from Kenya’s congested Mombasa port to Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam and Tanga terminals after a bilateral agreement. The shift follows persistent delays, a $5,000 security levy per container, and higher handling...
Kenya, Uganda in Race to Change Sacco Rules as Losses Hit Members
Kenya and Uganda are overhauling Sacco regulations after a series of collapses and fraud that have eroded member confidence. In Kenya, the Kuscco scandal exposed a $103 million loss, prompting a committee to recommend raising the minimum membership to 100 and...
Tactical Agreement Proving Elusive for Central Asian States Grappling with Water Deficit
Central Asian states recognize an urgent water shortage as they pursue water‑intensive projects like nuclear plants, data centers and expanded mining. Upstream nations Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan control most supplies, while downstream Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan depend on irrigation, creating a...
Russian Religious Networks and Armenia’s Church-State Confrontation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has intensified a clash with senior Armenian Apostolic Church leaders, accusing them of serving Russian intelligence and undermining sovereignty. The dispute highlights Moscow’s use of religious networks as soft‑power tools across the post‑Soviet space, especially...
The Emerging US Influence Threat to British Democracy
The United States’ 2025 National Security Strategy signals a new soft‑power push, funding MAGA‑aligned think tanks in the UK and Europe while tech oligarchs pour record sums into political campaigns. By the end of 2025, US‑backed donors contributed $429 million to...
Geopolitics in the Evaluation of International Scientific Collaboration
Recent randomized surveys of US policymakers and scientists reveal a pronounced “China penalty” in grant evaluations. When the only variable changed is the collaborator’s nationality, support for US‑China proposals drops sharply compared with identical US‑Germany proposals, with unconditional approval falling...
Thai AirAsia Pins Growth Hopes on China, Long-Haul Markets
Thai AirAsia is targeting 6‑9% year‑on‑year revenue growth in 2026, driven by an expected 23.5 million passengers and an 85% load factor. The carrier will add five Airbus A320s to launch new China‑Chiang Mai services and expand fifth‑freedom routes. It is also...
Steve Madden Won’t Give Profit Guidance as Planned Due to Supreme Court Tariff Ruling
Steve Madden announced it will not issue profit guidance for 2026 after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated President Trump’s emergency‑powers tariffs. The ruling introduced significant uncertainty around trade costs, prompting CEO Edward Rosenfeld to postpone the company’s full financial forecast....
Modi’s Israel Visit Underscores Deep Ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two‑day state visit to Israel, meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addressing the Knesset and touring Yad Vashem. The trip underscores a decade‑long transformation of India‑Israel relations into a deep strategic partnership, with Israel now...
Why the Arctic Matters to the United States
The Arctic is emerging as a strategic frontier for energy, trade and security, as melting ice unlocks vast hydrocarbon and critical‑mineral deposits and shortens shipping lanes. Russia controls more than half the Arctic coastline and is modernizing its military presence,...
Sri Lanka Is Now India’s Best – and Maybe Last – Friend in South Asia
India has re‑asserted Sri Lanka as its most dependable South Asian partner through swift humanitarian aid after Cyclone Ditwah and a $4 billion financial lifeline during the 2022 debt crisis. Operation Sagar Bandhu delivered $450 million in disaster relief without adding to Colombo’s debt burden, while...
Saskatchewan Premier Heads to India for Trade Talks
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is leading a week‑long trade mission to India, concentrating on agriculture, potash and uranium. The trip coincides with the Raisina Dialogue and runs alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moe aims...
The US and Mexico Need Stronger Financial Cooperation to Disrupt Illicit Financial Flows
The United States and Mexico have launched a new financial‑intelligence partnership to curb the money that fuels drug cartels, highlighted by the recent killing of Jalisco New Generation leader El Mencho. Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit and banking regulator have shifted toward...
Can Project Vault Fortify the US Industrial Base Against Mineral Chokepoints?
In February 2026 the U.S. Air Force faced F‑35 radar delays because gallium supplies were blocked by China, prompting the launch of Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic critical‑mineral reserve backed by the Export‑Import Bank and private investors. Unlike the historic...
Why Venture Capital Is Moving Into African Solar Microgrids
Venture capital in Africa is pivoting from fintech to solar microgrid projects as investors chase more predictable, asset‑backed returns. After a fintech boom between 2016‑2021, market saturation, rising customer‑acquisition costs and tighter regulation have eroded margins. Solar microgrids, backed by...
JPMorgan, BofA Favor Venezuela Bonds With More Unpaid Interest
JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America are urging clients to buy Venezuelan global bonds that carry large amounts of unpaid interest, known as accrued coupons. The banks argue that these distressed securities could deliver outsized returns if Venezuela...
Goal Is to Remove Fear of ‘Tariff Wall’, but Can’t Rush: Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the 2026‑27 budget will lower tariffs only after a detailed sector‑by‑sector review of protection duration and domestic capacity. She emphasized removing the fear of a “tariff wall” while avoiding rushed cuts that could harm...
Zambia to Build ‘Rainy Day’ Fund While Metals Surge
Zambia will establish a “rainy day” stabilisation fund to lock away surplus copper revenues as production hits record levels and prices hover near historic highs. The Treasury plans to finalise the fund’s framework this year before beginning deposits, using the...
Mombasa Port Congestion Disrupts Coffee Exports
Severe congestion at Kenya's Port of Mombasa is disrupting East Africa's coffee trade, with major exporter Sucafina warning of missed shipments and rising costs. Truck queues, customs bottlenecks, and limited empty‑container depots have left vessels idle and cargo handovers delayed....
South Africa to Earmark R1.58 Trillion Towards Social Services
South Africa’s 2024 budget earmarks R2.67 trillion in total spending, with R1.58 trillion directed to social services. The largest allocations go to education (R527.2 billion), social development (R446.6 billion), health (R310.4 billion) and economic development (R283.9 billion). Peace and security receives R274.6 billion, funding police, defence and...
Waaree Energies, Premier Energies Slip After US Announces 126% Duty on Solar Imports, Firms See No Material Impact
The U.S. announced a preliminary 126% counter‑vailing duty on certain solar imports from India, sending Waaree Energies and Premier Energies shares sharply lower—Waaree down 10% and Premier down 6%. Both companies said they have diversified supply chains and ongoing US...
Japanese Chemical Firms Pivot From China to India
Japanese chemical giants such as Mitsui Chemicals and Sumitomo Chemical are scaling back their China operations and redirecting capital to India. Investment in China dropped 46% year‑over‑year in 2024, while the number of Japanese sites in India rose to 5,205,...
China’s Biopharma Advance Draws Financial Investment
Chinese biotech firms are moving beyond licensing deals as capital markets open, highlighted by a 64% rise in the Hang Seng Biotech Index in 2025. Reforms to listing rules since 2018 have unlocked public financing, enabling a record $138 billion in...
Delhi-Katra Expressway Construction on Track, Will Be Completed by March 2027: NHAI
The National Expressway 5, linking Delhi, Amritsar and Katra, is slated for completion by March 2027 after a slowdown caused by Operation Sindoor and severe flooding. Construction, which began in April 2021, has regained momentum using segmental bridge technology and an elevated 21.5‑km corridor....
To Harness Saudi Arabia’s Demographic Dividend, Riyadh Must Invest in Human Capital
Saudi Arabia has appointed Fahad Al‑Saif as minister of investment, signaling a pivot from pure capital accumulation to a focus on total factor productivity. Foreign direct investment inflows have surged from roughly $3 billion in 2019 to $22‑28 billion today, while outbound...
DICT Outlines Massive 18GW Data Center Expansion to Lead ASEAN
Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology announced an 18‑gigawatt data‑center expansion plan over the next decade, aiming to become Southeast Asia’s digital hub. The rollout targets 1.5 GW of new capacity by end‑2027 and at least 1 GW annually thereafter. Investments...
African Guarantee Fund: De-Risking Africa's Growth Story
The African Guarantee Fund (AGF) has leveraged nearly $3 billion in guarantees to mobilise $6.5 billion in loans for micro, small and medium enterprises across 44 African nations. By sharing credit risk with partner banks, the fund has reached more than 50,000...
Nepal's Soyoil Exports to India Jump Tenfold on Duty Free Access
Nepal's soybean oil exports to India surged more than tenfold in 2025, reaching a record 694,153 metric tons and generating over $1 billion in revenue. The growth was driven by duty‑free access under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement, allowing Nepal...
Govt Plans to Expand Domestic Shipping Industry to Reduce Dependence on Foreign Vessels: Sanjeev Sanyal
India is launching a ₹77,000 crore programme to build a domestic merchant fleet and expand shipbuilding, aiming to cut its reliance on foreign vessels that handle more than 90% of imports and exports. The plan prioritises ship construction, port upgrades, and...
Policy Blindspots Threaten Nigeria’s .ng Domain Adoption, NiRA Flags
Nigeria’s digital strategy hinges on expanding the local .ng domain, but the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA) warns that policy gaps are stalling adoption. Although the 2025 Nigeria First Policy obliges government bodies to migrate to .ng addresses and host...