Commentary

On June 11, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury is set to present the first national budget of the Bangladesh National Party (BNP)-led government, elected in February. At roughly USD 76 billion, the FY2026-27 plan is expected to be among the largest single-year expansions, nearly 18 percent above the current year. However, the budget will […]

Overview In the days following the May 14-15 Trump-Xi summit in Beijing, both governments released readouts that prioritize formal channels to manage commerce, but diverge on commercial deal details, geopolitics, and next steps for rare earth export controls. Notably, the White House fact sheet adopted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s new phrase “constructive strategic stability” to

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to quit the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), even as the war with Iran has caused the most severe energy crisis in history. The moment marks the coming together of several geopolitical trends, including the rift within the Gulf between Saudi Arabia and UAE, convulsions in

Summary Japan’s social security system faces fiscal and demographic pressures, with a shrinking workforce, rising costs, and slow economic growth undermining the sustainability of its traditional financing model. Comprehensive reform is urgently needed to balance access, affordability, and quality while ensuring fairness in contributions and protecting public trust. It is impossible to sustainably finance the healthcare system by reallocating funds

要旨 日本の社会保障制度は財政的・人口動態的な圧力に直面しており、労働人口の減少、費用の増大、そして低迷する経済成長が、従来の資金調達モデルの持続可能性を脅かしている。アクセス、コスト、質のバランスを保ちつつ、負担の公平性を確保し国民の信頼を守るための包括的な改革が急務である。

I attended CERAWeek in Houston last week at a moment when the global energy system was not being discussed in theory but tested in real time. Hosted by S&P Global, CERAWeek brings together thousands of executives, policymakers, investors, and analysts from across the energy value chain. While the agenda spans oil, gas, power, renewables, technology,

How the Gulf states reconcile their enhanced dependence on the United States with the need to diversify their strategic options will determine opportunities for businesses.  Once the guns fall silent in the current war, Gulf states will be left in a strategic quandary. On one hand, U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a war

Key Takeaways The World Trade Organization (WTO) has failed to reach a consensus on renewing its long-standing e-commerce tariff moratorium at its 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), leading to its expiration. The outcome was up in the air until the very end and now an extension will be taken up in the months ahead in the

1. Executive Summary The current trajectory of the Iran conflict points toward continued escalation rather than near-term de-escalation, with both Washington and Tehran operating from positions of overconfidence and widening maximalist demands. The United States appears focused on coercive pressure aimed at capitulation rather than traditional negotiation, while Iran — despite military setbacks — believes

For businesses, the EU’s CBAM is increasing compliance burdens and financial obligation, but it is also opening green tech and supply-chain opportunities.  In January 2026, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) moved from a transitional carbon reporting regime to enforcement with real financial and compliance consequences for exporters.   As free allowances under the EU