Leon Hadar

Having cleared the Senate Banking Committee on a 13-11 party-line vote, Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh is poised to succeed Jerome Powell after May 15.
THINKING ALOUD

Kevin Warsh’s Fed: Reform agenda or reputational risk?

His early actions would show if he is a disciplined reformer or a politically convenient appointment

The UAE today is not a pure petrostate. Thus, while high oil prices will boost the country's oil revenue, they also hurt the global economy that drives the rest of the Emirati portfolio.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Why the United Arab Emirates walked away from Opec

The economic logic of the decision is just as important as the political one

US President Donald Trump has oscillated between declaring total victory and threatening to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Age”.

The art of no deal: Why the US-Iran stalemate may be structural

Both sides say they want an agreement, and neither is creating the conditions for one

IMF’s reports paint a picture of a global economy that was finally finding its footing, only to be knocked back again by the outbreak of war in the Middle East.

The world economy is in the shadow of war, and the warning signs are flashing

Global growth is now projected to slow to 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027

US President Donald Trump says the peace talks' failure stems "99%" from Iran's refusal to commit to a verifiable renunciation of nuclear weapons and enrichment capability.

After Islamabad: Washington’s policy options in the Iran war

With no risk-free path, the question is which combination of pressure and flexibility is most likely to produce a durable outcome

About 45% of Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford petrol in the next few months, up from 30% shortly after Trump won re-election. 
THE BOTTOM LINE

A war the public didn’t ask for

Rising fuel prices in the US cut across party lines in a way that military strategy does not

Every US dollar added to the price of oil is a tax on Iran’s adversaries and, critically, on the Western economies underwriting opposition to Teheran.
THE BOTTOM LINE

Iran and the ‘Strait card’: a risky high-stakes gamble

How the country could turn its control of the Strait of Hormuz into a victory

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stopped short of explicitly naming the US or Israel as aggressors, a telling omission from a country that otherwise speaks with little diplomatic timidity.

Beijing’s calculated silence on the Iran war 

For China, the deeper strategic calculation is not about Iran’s survival, but about the shape of the emerging world order

Pakistan’s emergence as a mediator is not merely opportunistic; it also rests on genuine structural advantages.

Pakistan’s pivotal moment: Peacemaker, partner, or tightrope walker?

It has emerged as a key interlocutor between the US and Iran, but its position is as precarious as it is prestigious

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell intends to remain in his role until his successor is confirmed, but has not indicated whether he plans to remain as a Fed governor.
THINKING ALOUD

The clock is ticking on the Fed’s leadership change

A Senate impasse, criminal probe and unusual political pressure mean the transition may not be clean or quick