Middle East

Ulta Beauty is investing $400 million in a 27,000-square-foot flagship store in New York City's Times Square to compete with Sephora and test the retail flagship model. The store aims to showcase upscale house brands, enhance experiential retail, and serve as a testing ground for new products and marketing. Ulta, which expanded to Mexico and the Middle East, seeks to differentiate itself in a competitive beauty market dominated by Sephora.

Gas prices are rising again due to renewed U.S.-Iran tensions in the Middle East. A June ceasefire had previously caused prices to drop, but conflicts have resumed, driving fuel costs upward.

Trump's vision for a 'new Middle East' is collapsing, with insiders exposing an embarrassing truth about his proposed Gaza peace army. The initiative, central to his Middle East strategy, faces significant setbacks.

Trump's proposed 'new Middle East' vision is collapsing, with insiders exposing an embarrassing truth about his Gaza peace army initiative. The article highlights the failure of Trump's plan to establish peace in the region.

Global oil and fuel markets are unprepared for a resumption of US-Iran conflict, with Western crude stockpiles near historic lows and rising oil prices. Analysts warn of potential shortages in diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel due to damaged Middle East refineries and reduced Russian refining capacity.

The U.S. and Iran have intensified their exchanges of fire across the Middle East, with recent attacks threatening a ceasefire deal. Thursday's attacks were reported to be larger in scale, raising concerns about the stability of the truce.

The United States launched airstrikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to target Gulf countries, threatening an interim ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Middle East war. The reciprocal attacks have repeatedly endangered the proposed agreement.

Cryptocurrency markets have shown resilience despite renewed tensions in the Middle East. The article highlights that crypto remains stable amid regional conflicts.

India's wartime purchasing activities have resulted in a surplus of cooking gas. Over 90% of India's LPG imports typically originate from the Middle East.

The article references a video event titled 'Horizons Middle East & Africa' scheduled for July 9, 2026. No additional details about the event's content or participants are provided in the text.

Shares in Asia are mostly lower, and oil prices have risen as Iran and the U.S. escalate conflict in the Middle East with fresh attacks.

Experts warn that recent airstrikes in the Middle East may lead to higher gas prices. In Minnesota, gas prices have already increased slightly, with AAA noting that geopolitical events often cause price jumps. Analysts attribute potential long-term price increases to supply disruptions and market anticipation of future conflicts.

The Nigerian Federal Government has introduced a renewed strategy to combat irregular migration and human trafficking networks. The initiative addresses rising economic hardship and the use of digital platforms by traffickers, which are increasing the risk of exploitation for Nigerian women and young people in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

Oil prices increased due to U.S. military strikes on Iran, leading to concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East. The rise in oil prices reflects worries over regional instability impacting global supply chains.

A Boeing 737 went missing after departing the Middle East on Tuesday, prompting ongoing search and rescue operations. The aircraft vanished over Pakistan, and its final audio has been released.

The IMF warns that the war in the Middle East is increasing global inflation. The IMF now projects headline inflation to reach 4.7% this year, up from 4.1% in 2025, with AI investment helping to mitigate the impact.

The IMF reduced its 2026 global growth projection, citing uncertainty and risks from renewed fighting in the Middle East. Petya Koeva Brooks, an IMF deputy director, highlighted the impact of recent developments on the economic outlook.

The IMF warns that renewed Middle East conflict risks global economic growth and inflation, citing potential commodity price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and financial instability. The U.S. ceasefire with Iran is under threat after military strikes, with President Donald Trump declaring the peace process 'over'.

President Trump stated that the ceasefire with Iran is 'over' following recent strikes. The announcement came after an escalation of fighting in the Middle East.

Jet2 reports a 7.1% increase in summer holiday bookings compared to last year, with a 1.2 percentage point rise in average load factor. The company attributes the recovery to customer confidence amid a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.

US President Donald Trump announced his willingness to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets, a move that faces potential resistance in Congress. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned this action could 'destroy' the Middle East power balance.

The article references a video event titled 'Horizons Middle East & Africa' scheduled for July 8, 2026. No further details about the event's content or participants are provided.

Private placements in the Middle East have surged amid volatility linked to the Iran war. Abu Dhabi is highlighted in the context of this financial activity.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten emphasized the importance of showing Iran that breaches of the Middle East truce are unacceptable. He also called for maximum diplomatic pressure to ensure continued talks and a solution.

Tehran has targeted Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes, escalating regional tensions. The conflict raises risks of an interim agreement to halt fighting breaking down, potentially sparking a wider Middle East conflict.

Hong Kong stocks rebounded as concerns over lock-up expiries eased, with the Hang Seng Index rising 2.4% and the Hang Seng Tech Index surging 4.3% amid strong tech sector performance. The rebound occurred despite renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, indicating improved market sentiment.

Hong Kong stocks rebounded as concerns over lock-up expiries eased, with the Hang Seng Index rising 2.4% and technology shares driving broader gains despite Middle East tensions. The Hang Seng Tech Index surged 4.3%.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for stating that Israel privileges Jewish citizens over others. Netanyahu argued that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, with 20% of its citizens being Muslim.

The 'Horizons Middle East & Africa' edition is dated July 7, 2026, and focuses on regional topics.

The article discusses how modern conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East highlight the growing importance of digital infrastructure as part of the battlespace. It emphasizes that data centers and cloud regions, now critical to military and economic power, face vulnerabilities from long-range weapons, drones, and cyberattacks, necessitating a shift in strategic depth from geographical to digital resilience.

The Global Finals of the HSBC/HKU Business Case Challenge, organized by HSBC and The Hongkong Bank Foundation, featured 24 four-member university undergraduate teams from 20 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East tackling real-time business problems. In its 19th year, the competition tests students' financial literacy and teamwork in a simulated executive environment.

China is increasing its oil purchases from the Middle East amid falling prices. Saudi Arabia has reduced its export pricing to Asia to a 6-year low.

President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa during the NATO summit in Turkey. The discussions come amid ongoing Russian advances in Ukraine and Trump's public focus on Syria's role in the Middle East.

Nato’s 32 member states will meet in Turkey for a summit focused on Ukraine and Middle East peace efforts, with Indo-Pacific issues receiving less attention. Analysts suggest conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, along with U.S. pressure on European allies to increase defense spending, may limit discussion on Nato-Indo-Pacific cooperation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized the international community's failure to prevent Israeli attacks in the Middle East, blaming the inaction for regional instability. He emphasized the need for stronger Islamic unity and cooperation among Muslim nations during a ceremony commemorating the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Erdogan warns against efforts to undermine the US-Iran deal, emphasizing the need for regional support in Middle East peace efforts. He criticizes Israel for attempting to derail the agreement and condemns Israeli military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

China plans to export marine cable detection robots to regions including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The technology aims to strengthen China's position in the marine equipment sector, as reported by the Science and Technology Daily.

The article discusses Washington's strategic shift away from Europe and the Middle East, raising questions about NATO's future direction. It highlights that one country may hold the key to addressing NATO's next steps in this changing geopolitical landscape.

The UK government has axed the SHEFE program, a £45m initiative aimed at keeping 1 million girls in school across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, which was launched two years ago by the outgoing Conservative government. The program's tender has been withdrawn by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The Gaza war triggered years of Middle East conflict, leading to a US-Israeli war with Iran. As peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran proceed, Gaza's plight is largely ignored, with a Palestinian resident stating the world has forgotten Gaza's tragedy.