Category: Country Reports
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January 2021
Overview. The ruling Awami League has won the first phase of the municipal elections, winning 18 out of the 24 contested seats. ADB has forecast a 6.8% GDP growth for Bangladesh in the current fiscal year, despite the ongoing pandemic. Pharma companies saw profits increase in the first quarter of the ongoing fiscal year.…… Read…
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December 2020
Overview. While President Trump denies losing the election, the rest of the world knows Biden will be the new POTUS, and President Sisi, Trump’s ‘favourite dictator’ may see a shift in the USA’s approach to Egypt once the transition is complete but it won’t last long - if it happens at all.…… Read the rest
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December 2020
Overview. The ruling party and opposition party have blamed each other for the setting on fire of buses that took place throughout the capital on 12th November. The central bank is paving the way for small merchants to open bank accounts without a trade license; a very good development that will bring many small businesses…
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December 2020
Overview. November featured an anti-France sit-in protest in Islamabad and clashes with police, Imran Khan’s first visit to Afghanistan as PM, increased tension with India along the Line of Control, a rise in terrorist attacks in Balochistan and KPK areas bordering Afghanistan, and a surge in C19 cases. C19.…… Read the rest
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December 2020
Overview. The assassination of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh has once again raised regional tensions and indicates an Israeli (and probably Trump Administration) desire to complicate the regional landscape ahead of Trump’s departure. The expected and hoped-for win for Joe Biden was welcomed by many Iranians. The President Elect has recently written that he will re-join…
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November 2020
Overview. While President Trump denies losing the election, the rest of the world knows Biden will be the new POTUS, and President Sisi, Trump’s ‘favourite dictator’ may see a shift in the USA’s approach to Egypt once the transition is complete but it won’t last long - if it happens at all.…… Read the rest
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November 2020
Overview. The month saw opposition political parties launch their alliance against the government and their stirring of anti-government demonstrations in major cities, a number of protest rallies against the derogatory remarks about Islam by the French President, increased terrorist activity, FATF developments, a surge in C19 cases, and government responses to that surge. … Read…
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November 2020
Overview. The government has approved the extension to BNP Chief Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension by six months. The World Bank has said that Bangladesh’s GDP growth is set to slow down to 1.6% in the fiscal year 2021 because of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Square Pharmaceuticals is planning to invest Tk.…… Read…
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November 2020
Overview. Iranians of all political persuasions and none wait for the outcome of the US elections to find out what (they assume) will be the trajectory of relations with America, and by extension, their economic fortunes. The reality is of course more complicated and quick reversal of economic and social woes is not likely, particularly…
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October 2020
Overview. There have been pockets of unrest across Egypt; sparks that have quickly ignited but then died out as security forces smother them. In public President Sisi mainly ignores them and continues on his path of development, investment and growth. The pandemic has all but disappeared from the headlines as Egyptians adopt a ‘keep calm…