Trump Tells Troops 'Fear' Is Powerful Motivator in Difficult Iran Talks
President Donald Trump addressed troops at Fort Bragg, warning that fear may be necessary to compel Iran in stalled nuclear negotiations. He highlighted the recent deployment of a second U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East as a contingency if talks fail. The remarks referenced the June bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and noted Oman’s role in facilitating the latest diplomatic overtures. The speech also mixed military briefing with partisan criticism of Democrats ahead of upcoming elections.
British Gas Boss Warns UK Electricity Bills Will Soar by 2030
British Gas chief executive Chris O’Shea warned that UK electricity bills will exceed the 2022 peak by 2030 as the country scrambles to fund massive grid upgrades. He attributed the surge to years of under‑investment, with two‑thirds of future costs...
Tariffs, Supplier Fire Continue to Batter Ford
Ford Motor Co. reported a roughly $2 billion tariff hit in 2025, double the amount projected just months earlier, after a miscommunication about the effective date of auto‑part tariff offsets. A fire at Novelis’ Oswego aluminum plant added another $2 billion headwind,...
Elon Musk’s X Is Accused of Selling Blue Checkmarks to Sanctioned Iranian Government Accounts
Elon Musk’s X platform has granted blue‑checkmark Premium subscriptions to more than two dozen Iranian government officials and state‑run media outlets that are subject to U.S. sanctions, according to a Tech Transparency Project report cited by Wired. The blue checkmark,...
Trade Pacts Will Open New Markets & Won't Hurt Farmers, Assures Chirag Paswan
India’s decade‑long reform agenda, highlighted by UPI, GST and digital payment schemes, is now bearing fruit, according to Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan. New free‑trade agreements, especially the pending pact with the United States, are expected to unlock fresh export...
Rubio Holds Joint Talks with Syria's FM and SDF Commander in Munich
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al‑Shibani and Kurdish‑led Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Kobane on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The talks came two weeks after a Jan. 30 cease‑fire that promises to...
Lithuania Could Break EU Ranks Over Critical Minerals Deal
Lithuania warned it may negotiate a stand‑alone critical minerals agreement with the United States if the European Union fails to deliver a bloc‑wide pact promptly. The move aims to secure rare‑earths, battery metals and other strategic inputs for its defense...
Russia to Build 10 More Icebreakers and 46 Salvage Vessels to Develop NSR
Russia announced a second phase of Northern Sea Route development, planning to build ten additional nuclear icebreakers and 46 salvage vessels by 2035, supported by three new Arctic rescue‑fleet bases. The current fleet includes eight nuclear icebreakers, with the latest...
Health Cover to Be Bundled with Pension Schemes, Says PFRDA Chief
India’s PFRDA is piloting pension plans that bundle health insurance, allowing up to 30% of the retirement corpus to be earmarked for medical expenses. ICICI, Axis and Tata‑backed funds are testing the “Swasthya” product, which could leverage pooled investors to...
The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway: Still Growing 8 Years Later
Eight years after its 2018 launch, the Addis Ababa‑Djibouti Railway has become a fully Ethiopian‑Djiboutian‑run, electrified corridor linking land‑locked Ethiopia to the Port of Djibouti. Management shifted from China Railway Construction Corporation to the two governments in May 2024, and Djibouti’s top...
U.S. Rig Count Holds Steady as Oil Drilling Slips and Gas Activity Climbs
The U.S. rig count held steady at 551 this week, with oil rigs slipping by three to 409 while gas rigs rose by three to 133. Crude output climbed to 13.713 million barrels per day, edging close to an all‑time high....
Carbon — In Focus: EU ETS in Political Crosshairs
Political scrutiny of the EU emissions trading system intensified in mid‑February, pushing the front‑year EU ETS contract down almost 6% on Feb 5 and a further 7% after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s comments. EU officials denied reports of extending free‑allowance allocations beyond...
Zelenskiy Meets Iranian Opposition Figure Pahlavi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met exiled Iranian opposition leader Reza Pahlavi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The two discussed the need to tighten sanctions on Iran and other authoritarian regimes, and jointly condemned the growing military cooperation between...
One in Three French Car Manufacturing Jobs Was Lost in Dramatic 13-Year Decline
Employment in France’s automotive sector dropped from 425,500 in 2010 to 286,800 in 2023, a loss of nearly 139,000 jobs or 33 %. The decline was driven primarily by car manufacturers, which shed 46,000 positions, while parts suppliers lost 31.5 % of...
Crypto Markets Rally After Softer-Than-Expected US Inflation Report
Crypto market capitalization jumped nearly 5% to $2.44 trillion after the U.S. CPI report showed inflation at 2.4%, below expectations. Bitcoin surged past $69,000, up 4.5%, while Ethereum reclaimed the $2,000 level with a 7.5% gain. Despite the price rally, on‑chain...
Infosys ADRs Surge 4%, Wipro's Rise over 2% Despite Weak Wall Street Trade
Infosys ADRs rebounded on Friday, jumping 4% to a intraday high of $14.77, while Wipro ADRs rose 2.2% to $2.33 despite a weakening Nasdaq and soft domestic IT trading. The broader U.S. market slipped, with the Nasdaq down 0.9% and...
TC Energy Tops Q4 Profit Estimate on Strong U.S. Natural Gas Demand
TC Energy reported fourth‑quarter earnings per share of US $0.72, beating the consensus estimate of $0.68, driven by record natural‑gas deliveries in both the United States and Canada. U.S. pipeline flows rose 9.5% YoY to 29.6 Bcf/d, while Canadian deliveries hit a...
Pulse of the Street: Tech Rout, Muted Earnings Singe Indian Markets
Indian equities broke their recent rally as a broad technology sell‑off combined with mixed earnings commentary and profit‑taking pressured the benchmark indices. The IT sector led the decline, slipping sharply amid global chip‑maker weakness. Meanwhile, consumer‑focused stocks and a handful...
Electronics Exporters Can Grab a Greater Share of the US, EU Markets: Niti Aayog Report
India’s electronics sector can tap a $1.6 trillion US‑EU market after the India‑EU free trade deal and a modest 18 % U.S. tariff, giving it a cost edge over China, Vietnam, Mexico and Thailand. Currently, India holds only about 1 % of the...
Damietta Waits in the Wings as Suez Reopening Threatens Fresh Med Congestion
The episode examines the launch of Egypt’s Damietta Alliance Container Terminals (DACT) and its potential role as a relief hub for Europe’s container supply chain as Suez Canal traffic resumes. It outlines the combined 5.5 million TEU of new capacity in...
Trump Says Change of Power in Iran Would Be 'Best Thing'
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for a regime change in Iran, saying it would be the "best thing that could happen," while dispatching a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to the Middle East. The move intensifies U.S. military pressure...
Enbridge Books Record-High Core Earnings for 2025
Enbridge posted record‑high 2025 core earnings, reporting adjusted EBITDA of US$14.7 billion, a 7% increase over 2024, and a 9% rise in adjusted earnings. The fourth‑quarter adjusted EPS of US$0.65 topped analyst forecasts of US$0.56. The company credited expanding pipeline takeaway...
Denmark Records 292 Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers Passing Through Danish Straits
New data from the Danish Maritime Authority shows that 292 EU‑sanctioned Russian tankers sailed through the Øresund, Great Belt and Skagerrak in 2025, confirming the Danish straits as a critical gateway for Russia’s shadow fleet. The fleet has expanded since...
Atlantic Council to Host Inaugural US–Caribbean Maritime and Ports Forum in Miami
The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, together with Florida International University, will host the inaugural US‑Caribbean Maritime and Ports Forum in Miami on February 20, 2026. The two‑hour event gathers senior government officials, port authorities, shipping executives and financiers to discuss...
‘Selling in Germany Requires Consumer-Oriented Approach’
Germany’s e‑commerce market generated €83.1 billion last year, attracting cross‑border sellers. Andreas Giese of Dexport warns that German shoppers prioritize trust and deliberate decision‑making over impulse purchases. Success hinges on authentic social‑media content, user‑generated proof, and a mobile‑first brand website, while...
The Medical Device Industry: The Real Effects of Tariffs
The medical device sector is grappling with a wave of new and proposed tariffs that have lifted costs for metals, electronics, and finished components throughout global supply chains. Manufacturers must decide whether to absorb these higher expenses, pass them to...
THINK Ahead: Green Shoots or Just Weeds? What This Week’s Data Signals
Economists spot early signs of recovery in the US labor market, with private payrolls accelerating, yet underlying job quality remains thin. The Federal Reserve is expected to deliver two 25‑basis‑point cuts, likely in June and September, as inflation stays modest....
IEA Dials Back Its Oversupply Warning After Winter Shocks
The International Energy Agency trimmed its 2026 oversupply warning after a surprise 1.2 million barrels‑per‑day supply drop caused by cold snaps in the United States and a power‑outage‑forced shutdown at Kazakhstan’s Tengiz field. Europe’s gas inventories fell to just 35 % of...
Why North Korea Is Unlikely to Renew Cooperation at Kaesong
The Kaesong Industrial Complex, once a flagship of inter‑Korean economic cooperation, has remained closed since South Korea halted operations in 2016. South Korean officials are now urging a restart, but the Kim Jong Un regime shows little appetite to revive the site....
MSC Extends Dominance as Container Fleet Surpasses 7.2 Million TEU
Geneva‑based Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has pushed its container capacity beyond 7.2 million TEU, cementing its lead as the world’s largest carrier with a 21.4 % share of the global fleet. The company now operates 980 vessels, 727 owned and 253 chartered,...
What Colby’s Northeast Asia Tour Tells Us About the Future of Japan-Korea-US Trilateral Deterrence
U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby toured Japan and South Korea in late January, reinforcing the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy that prioritises deterrence‑by‑denial along the First Island Chain. The visits highlighted Washington’s push for allies to shoulder...
US Inflation Details Offer Room for Deeper Fed Rate Cuts
U.S. consumer price inflation in January eased to 0.2% month‑on‑month, with core CPI matching expectations at 0.3% and both headline and core year‑on‑year rates falling to four‑year lows of 2.4% and 2.5%. Goods prices excluding food and energy were flat,...
Crises Everywhere, but the Markets Don’t Seem to Mind
Despite a cascade of wars, pandemics, social unrest and economic strain, global equity markets are soaring, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average breaking the 50,000 mark. The article argues that this disconnect is not a glitch but a structural feature:...
Maersk, Eurogate Plan €1 Billion Bet on Zero-Emission Bremerhaven Container Hub
Maersk’s APM Terminals and Germany’s Eurogate are negotiating a partnership that could inject up to €1 billion into Bremerhaven’s North Sea Terminal. The funding aims to fully electrify the site, power it with renewables and lift capacity from 3 million to 4 million...
EUR/GBP Bounces From Daily Lows as Eurozone GDP Supports the Euro
Eurozone preliminary GDP showed a 0.3 % QoQ rise in Q4 2025, matching expectations and nudging annual growth to 1.4 %. The United Kingdom posted a weaker 0.1 % QoQ increase, missing forecasts and pulling annual growth to 1 %. The data lifted the...
US January CPI +2.4% Y/Y vs +2.5% Expected
U.S. consumer price index for January rose 2.4% year‑over‑year, missing the 2.5% consensus, while month‑over‑month inflation eased to 0.2% against an expected 0.3%. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, held steady at 2.5% y/y and 0.3% m/m, in line...
With Competitors Hot on Its Heels, How Can Singapore's Port Stay the Course?
Singapore’s port recorded a historic 3.22 billion gross tonnes of vessel arrivals and 44.66 million TEUs in 2025, marking 3.5% and 8.6% growth respectively over 2024. The hub remains second only to Shanghai, with Ningbo‑Zhoushan closing the gap, while contributing roughly 7%...
US CPI Data Expected to Show a Mild Decline in Inflation in January
U.S. consumer price index data for January showed annual inflation easing to 2.4% from 2.7% in December, missing the 2.5% market forecast. Monthly CPI rose 0.2% and core CPI remained at 2.5% year‑over‑year, matching expectations. The softer headline number nudged...
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France Aims to Boost Decarbonised Power Production by 20% over Decade, Encourage Demand
France’s new energy planning law (PPE) sets a decarbonised electricity goal of 650‑693 TWh by 2035, up from 540 TWh today, and aims for 70% of total energy consumption to come from clean power. The decree trims wind and solar targets by...
The SBA's New Credit Restrictions Are a Disaster for Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration has announced a rule that excludes permanent‑resident (green‑card) holders from eligibility for SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. The change eliminates a primary source of affordable credit for many immigrant‑owned small businesses, especially in states with large...
Is Central Asia Still Russia’s Backyard?
Russian commentators continue to label Central Asia as a Russian sphere of influence, but the region is asserting its independence. Over the past 35 years, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have leveraged their abundant critical minerals and transit corridors...
Box Carriers Set New Surcharges Amid Winter Headwinds
The episode examines how severe winter weather across Europe is forcing major box carriers to impose new emergency surcharges, with CMA CGM adding $100 per container for shipments from North Europe to India and Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd issuing similar cost warnings....
New Chief Economic Advisor to the Treasury Appointed
Professor Brian Bell has been appointed as the Treasury’s chief economic advisor, taking up the post on 9 March. He will serve as the principal adviser to Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Prime Minister on macro‑economics and fiscal policy, overseeing the department’s...
The Year of the Horse, but Good Luck Finding One with Wheels
The episode examines how the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, officially Feb 17‑23 2026, creates a six‑to‑eight‑week disruption to China’s inland trucking network, with capacity draining from mid‑January and only slowly returning by early March. It highlights the ripple effects on ocean...
European Pulp Prices Climb Amid Ongoing BEK and NBSK Negotiations
European pulp markets are seeing divergent trends as bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) prices jumped $120 per tonne for January, while northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) only posted modest gains. The BEK surge is driven by supply constraints from Iberian strikes,...
High-Spending Carriers Still Have an Appetite for Larger Box Ships
The episode examines the robust demand for larger container ships, noting the orderbook has reached a 15‑year high at roughly 36% of the active fleet. Maersk Line is narrowing the gap with MSC by ordering eight 18,600 TEU LNG dual‑fuel vessels...
USD/CAD: Sideways Range with Tariff Risks – Rabobank
Rabobank analysts Molly Schwartz and Christian Lawrence project the USD/CAD pair to remain largely sideways throughout 2026, confined to a 1.36‑1.41 band. The outlook is driven by persistent US‑Canada trade tensions, a looming USMCA review, and a weakening U.S. dollar...
Polish Disinflation Continues Despite Upside Surprise in January CPI
Poland’s January flash CPI showed headline inflation at 2.2% YoY, modestly above the 1.9% consensus but still under the NBP’s 2.5% ± 1‑point target. The decline was driven by a 7.1% drop in gasoline prices, while food prices held steady at 2.4%...
Australia Should Have CBAM on some Commodities: Review
Australia’s latest carbon leakage review recommends a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), beginning with cement and clinker imports and potentially expanding to hydrogen, steel, ammonia and related products. The review, led by ANU professor Frank Jotzo, evaluated 75 trade‑exposed commodities...
BNP Election Win Could Reshape Bangladesh's Energy Mix
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a decisive parliamentary majority, clearing the path for a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s energy strategy. Its manifesto pledges to lift renewable power to 20% of the mix by 2030, a dramatic rise from today’s...