Sectors
Security / Defence
Washington could prepare grounds for Syria withdrawal
According to reports, Washington could begin a drawdown from Syria within two months
SyriaDoha’s Congo-M23 mediation faces monumental challenges
Amid a deadlock in regional peace efforts, Qatar is poised to facilitate Congo peace negotiations
Congo-KinshasaFinance
Saudi debt drive is unlikely to decelerate
Saudi Arabia faces an uncertain oil outlook, undercutting financing needed to move with economic diversification plans
Saudi ArabiaMalaysia will cope with economic headwinds
Washington’s paused tariffs remain a major worry for Kuala Lumpur
MalaysiaEnergy
Saudi debt drive is unlikely to decelerate
Saudi Arabia faces an uncertain oil outlook, undercutting financing needed to move with economic diversification plans
Saudi ArabiaBulgaria’s US-sanctioned Peevski set to gain influence
The Alliance for Rights and Freedoms has withdrawn its support from the government, as a no-confidence motion is tabled
BulgariaManufacturing
Firm GDP is key to China’s view of its global standing
The economy grew by a better-than-expected 5.4% in the first quarter and services and manufacturing picked up in March
ChinaUS-China gallium controls raise concentration fears
Gallium is a relatively small market, dominated by China; its heat resistance makes it key to many advanced technologies
InternationalInfrastructure
US-China gallium controls raise concentration fears
Gallium is a relatively small market, dominated by China; its heat resistance makes it key to many advanced technologies
InternationalKey South and South-east Asian group will strengthen
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation held its latest summit last week
South AsiaFood / Agribusiness
US tariffs will unsettle Colombia’s coffee sector
A 10% ‘reciprocal’ tariff imposed by Washington this month on Colombian imports looks likely to dampen a coffee boom
ColombiaWest Africa's fishing industry faces a serious crisis
Economic, environmental and social pressures threaten a fishing industry that sustains millions of people
West AfricaTechnology / Media / Telecoms
Tech production in South-east Asia faces US risk
Economic uncertainty from US tariffs could hinder South-east Asia’s tech ambitions
InternationalChina is unlikely to revise its industrial policy
European businesses in China have seized on global trade turmoil to urge Beijing to address long-standing grievances
China