Category: Country Reports
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October 2018
Overview. The reporting period featured a visit by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, National Defence Day celebrations, an election for the President of Pakistan, frequent visits by the new PM to military institutions, and some steps towards electoral reforms. The frequency of terrorist incidents has significantly reduced, with no major terrorist incident this month.………
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October 2018
Overview. President Sisi was received warmly at meetings in New York cementing his position as an ally of both the Western and Middle Eastern nations. At home, he continues to restructure both his government and his economy. However, his representative came away from water rights talks with Ethiopia and Sudan empty handed despite offering compromises…
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September 2018
Overview. Whilst Bangladesh continued to be socially and politically fractious during August, there were some interesting corporate developments in tobacco, pharma, and biscuits/confectionery. As mentioned in the previous report the city corporation elections were held on 30th July 2018. Voting day in Sylhet especially saw several incidents, with the BNP accusing the ruling Awami League…
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September 2018
Overview. August was comparatively peaceful with no major terrorist incidents featuring. It had been presumed that the post-election period might witness a deterioration in law and order nationwide due to protest demonstrations by losing political parties. However, the various opposition parties were unable to agree and coordinate any concrete action between them.…… Read the rest
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September 2018
Overview. A somewhat slow month for news. President Sisi continues to try and shore up his position with sweeping new cyber laws and high-profile arrests aimed at quashing any attempts to overthrow his government through public protests. Egypt’s economy continues its slow surge with Cairo being ranked the most attractive city to investors in Africa,…
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September 2018
Overview. August has been dominated by Iran’s economic, social and political woes resulting from the US imposition of sanctions previously suspended under the nuclear deal (JCPOA). Political pressure is increasing on Rouhani’s government as prices rise for ordinary Iranians, official corruption is called out and international companies – particularly Europeans – leave the market.…… Read…
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August 2018
Overview. The reporting period featured fractious mayoral elections in three key city corporations, student protests in Dhaka over road safety, and mooted tax rises to improve the country’s tax revenue to GDP ratio. With Bangladesh’s 11th national elections due to occur in Q4, campaigning by the various parties has been underway for some time. … Read…
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August 2018
Overview. The period was dominated by the General Elections and, as predicted, violence increased significantly with over 300 people killed and more than 350 wounded versus 24 and 22 respectively in June. The 2013 elections, by contrast, saw 128 people killed and 142 injured. For all the pre-election predictions, the scale of the PTI’s victory…
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August 2018
Overview: July overall was not dominated by any single especially significant event. On 18 July President Sisi made his first foreign trip of this term to Sudan. Sisi and President Omar al-Bashir discussed border security and addressed Sudan’s support of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam project, which Egypt fears will reduce its share of Nile River…
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July 2018
Overview. The reporting period was dominated by the release of the 2018/2019 budget yet concerns remain over terrorism and political stability. Bangladesh is prone to regular periods of political instability involving frequent campaigns of street violence led by various political parties. The historic rivalry between the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the Islamist opposition…