Middle East Policy

Business

LyondellBasell Navigates 'Deepest Downturn' with Cost Cuts and Strategic Shifts Amid Trade Volatility

Facing what CEO Peter Vanacker calls the 'deepest and longest downturn' of his career, LyondellBasell reported Q1 2025 results while detailing a new $500 million cash improvement plan. The chemical giant is leaning into portfolio restructuring and its global supply network to weather trade policy uncertainty and weak demand.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Syria Announces Plan to Shutter Notorious ISIS-Linked Camps, Raising Questions Over Fate of Thousands

Damascus has declared its intention to permanently close the sprawling al-Hol and Roj displacement camps in northeast Syria, which house over 28,000 people connected to the Islamic State. The move, confirmed by officials and aid groups, sparks urgent debate about the future of detainees, including foreign nationals.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

U.S. Wholesale Inflation Surges in December, Fueled by Jump in Service Costs

U.S. producer prices rose more than expected in December, driven by the largest increase in service costs in months, complicating the inflation outlook as the Federal Reserve weighs its next policy move.

Jan 30, 2026

World

ASEAN Holds Firm on Myanmar Peace Plan Despite Stalemate, Eyes Post-Election Engagement

As Southeast Asian foreign ministers gather in Cebu, ASEAN reaffirms its commitment to a stalled five-point peace consensus for Myanmar. While acknowledging the plan's failure to halt the civil war, Thai diplomats suggest recent elections—though widely criticized—could offer a new avenue for dialogue and humanitarian access.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Coinbase CEO Pledges to Match Federal 'Trump Accounts' Contributions, Eyes Bitcoin Payments

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong announces the company will match the U.S. government's $1,000 'Trump Accounts' contribution for eligible children of employees, with a preference to execute the match in Bitcoin, highlighting crypto's growing intersection with federal policy initiatives.

Jan 30, 2026

World

Venezuela Opens Oil Sector to Private Investment in Major Policy Shift

In a landmark move, Venezuela's parliament has passed reforms to its hydrocarbons law, easing state control and aiming to lure back foreign capital to its struggling oil industry, coinciding with a partial easing of U.S. sanctions.

Jan 30, 2026

Business

Sea Limited's Stock Plunge: A Buying Opportunity or a Value Trap?

Sea Limited's shares have tumbled over 11% year-to-date, sparking debate among investors. While a discounted cash flow model suggests the stock is deeply undervalued, its lofty P/E ratio tells a more cautious tale. We examine the conflicting signals and what they mean for the Southeast Asian tech giant's future.

Feb 2, 2026

World

MSF Chief Warns of 'Catastrophic' Fallout as Israel Bans Aid Group from Gaza

The head of Médecins Sans Frontières warns that Israel's decision to terminate the group's operations in Gaza and the West Bank will deepen the humanitarian crisis, calling it a pretext to restrict vital aid.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Crypto Funds Bleed $1.7 Billion as Hawkish Fed Fears Trigger Market Retreat

Digital asset investment products have recorded a second straight week of heavy outflows, with U.S.-listed funds leading the sell-off. Analysts point to market jitters over a potential policy shift at the Federal Reserve following a key nomination by President Trump.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Navigating RMDs at 60: Is a $100K Annual Roth Conversion the Right Move for a $1.1M IRA?

For retirees facing Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), converting a traditional IRA to a Roth can offer relief—but at a significant upfront tax cost. We analyze the long-term math and trade-offs for a 60-year-old with a $1.1 million portfolio, exploring whether staged conversions make financial sense.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

A New Direction for the Fed: How Kevin Warsh's Nomination Signals Relief for Main Street and the Trucking Industry

After years of aggressive rate hikes blamed for stifling manufacturing and squeezing truckers, the nomination of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve suggests a pivotal policy shift. This analysis examines the toll of recent monetary policy on the freight sector and what a Warsh-led Fed might mean for its recovery.

Feb 2, 2026

World

Exclusive: US Contractor's Gaza Reconstruction Plan Sought 300% Profit Guarantee and Seven-Year Monopoly

A draft proposal from disaster response firm Gothams LLC, obtained by The Guardian, outlined terms for a trucking and logistics monopoly in Gaza that would guarantee extraordinary returns, raising questions about oversight and ethics in post-conflict rebuilding.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh's Fed Dilemma: Navigating Growth, Inflation, and a Faltering Labor Market

If confirmed, incoming Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will inherit a booming yet bifurcated economy. Despite strong GDP growth and a surging stock market, stagnant hiring and sinking consumer confidence present a policy puzzle where interest rate cuts may offer no easy fix.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Warsh Nomination Sends Shockwaves Through Precious Metals Market

President Trump's selection of Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve has bolstered the dollar and triggered a sharp sell-off in gold and silver, raising questions about the future of the metals trade amid shifting monetary policy expectations.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Wall Street Braces for Warsh Era: Rate Cut Forecasts Hold Steady Amid Fed Leadership Speculation

Major financial institutions Barclays and Morgan Stanley maintain projections for two interest rate cuts in 2024, despite President Trump's nomination of inflation hawk Kevin Warsh to chair the Federal Reserve. Analysts suggest policy continuity in the near term, though Senate confirmation faces political hurdles.

Feb 2, 2026

World

The Weight of a Word: How the 'Axis' Metaphor Reshapes Global Alliances and Rivalries

From Mussolini's Rome-Berlin Axis to Bush's 'Axis of Evil,' the term has evolved into a potent geopolitical label. Its revival to describe groupings like the 'Axis of Upheaval' reveals how language frames modern conflicts and defines the boundaries of legitimacy in international politics.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Sweetgreen Sees Price Target Boost Amid Broader Restaurant Sector Optimism

Goldman Sachs raises Sweetgreen's price target to $5.60, citing policy tailwinds for consumer spending, even as it maintains a Sell rating. The salad chain's expansion and strong revenue growth continue to draw investor attention.

Feb 2, 2026

US

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter in 140th Annual Groundhog Day Spectacle

The famed Pennsylvania groundhog saw his shadow on Gobbler's Knob, forecasting a prolonged winter season as thousands braved the cold for the iconic ceremony, while meteorologists warn of ongoing cold spells across the eastern U.S.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fed Chair Contender's 'New Gold' Bitcoin Endorsement Clashes With Market Slump

Kevin Warsh, a leading candidate for Federal Reserve Chair, has historically framed Bitcoin not as a threat but as a crucial policy signal. His past comments labeling it 'the new gold' for younger investors stand in stark contrast to the cryptocurrency's recent 3% decline, highlighting the volatile intersection of regulatory sentiment and digital asset markets.

Feb 2, 2026

Business

Fed Chair Contender Kevin Warsh Faces Defining Test: Preserving Central Bank Independence Amid Political Pressure

As speculation mounts over the next Federal Reserve leadership, top economists point to Kevin Warsh's crisis-era experience as a strength, but warn his legacy will hinge on a single, monumental challenge: shielding interest-rate policy from political influence.

Feb 2, 2026