Essential Stories of the Week
2026
Iran
Will the arsenal force the handshake?
Donald Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East serves as a coercive backdrop to fragile nuclear negotiations with Tehran.
Asia
Can stablecoins fix the flaws of global banking?
Asia leads the global shift toward cryptocurrency as stablecoin volumes for remittances and business transactions reach 4trn dollars.
Bangladesh
Can Bangladesh escape its past?
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the first competitive election since 2008 following a constitutional referendum and the rise of Islamist opposition.

