Middle East
Sovereign wealth, energy transition, and geopolitical fault lines converge here in ways that ripple far past the region itself. The economies built on oil are racing to build what comes after it.
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May- 2026 -31 MayCompass
Iran war is emptying Southeast Asia’s guesthouses this summer
Southeast Asia's tourism economies are absorbing their second major shock in five years as the Iran conflict drives up energy prices and chokes long-haul travel demand. Visitor numbers to Cambodia's…
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30 MayCapital
South Korea’s stock market surges 45% while economy weakens under Middle East pressure
South Korea's KOSPI has surged 45% year-to-date as of May 29, 2026, yet the real economy is weakening. The Bank of Korea held rates at 2.5% while signalling readiness to…
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29 MayPower
Iran restores internet to 53% capacity, signalling flexibility in ceasefire talks with Washington
Iran has partially restored internet access to 53% of normal traffic volumes after blackouts in January 2026 and during the US-Israeli military campaign. WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook remain blocked or…
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28 MayEarth
Super El Niño and Iran’s fuel crisis converge to threaten Asia’s power grids this summer
Super El Niño and Iran's Hormuz closure converge to threaten Asia's power grids, agriculture, and manufacturing. Ocean temperatures could exceed 1877 catastrophic peak; 80% of Hormuz oil bound for Asian…
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27 MayCapital
Moody’s warns Indian banks most exposed to Strait of Hormuz oil disruption
Moody's Ratings has elevated a prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption to a central scenario, projecting Brent crude at USD 90–110 per barrel. Indian banks are identified as among the most…
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27 MayPower
China, Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela build shadow internet to fight state censorship
Across China, Iran, Myanmar, and Venezuela, a permanent shadow digital infrastructure has taken shape to fight state-controlled internet censorship. Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2025 report scores China at…
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26 MayCapital
Sri Lanka’s 100-bp rate hike risks derailing fragile IMF-backed recovery
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka raised its overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75% in May 2026 — its sharpest tightening in three years — as Iran-conflict-driven…
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25 MaySociety
Saudi Arabia manages haj pilgrimage amid Iran war ceasefire and extreme heat
The 2026 haj pilgrimage began with over 1.5 million pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia, posing a logistical and geopolitical stress test amid a fragile Iran war ceasefire and extreme temperatures.…
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25 MayCapital
Saudi Arabia’s $24.7 billion oil revenue masks market share loss in Asia
Saudi Arabia earned $24.7 billion from oil exports in April 2026, its highest monthly revenue in over three years, as Brent crude traded near $86 per barrel. However, Saudi crude…
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24 MayPower
Rubio signals Hormuz de-escalation progress as India seeks trade deal, worker visas
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi, citing progress on a framework to de-escalate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical…
