Economy

No. 8: Howard Lutnick: US Secretary of Commerce, and Trump’s tariff dealmaker-in-chief

A longtime Wall Street executive who co-chaired the Trump-Vance transition, Lutnick entered office as an outspoken advocate of the president’s tariff agenda.

Howard Lutnick
The Israeli and Chinese flags fly beside the portrait of Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on May 8, 2013.

Mao Zedong, Israel and the road not taken - 50 years after leader’s death

ON THE front line of the cyber war, Israel has become one of the world’s most targeted countries for cyberattacks, with state-backed hackers increasingly using AI to probe government networks, companies, and critical infrastructure.

Israel ranks third worldwide in AI commercialization as economy grows 3.2% ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Chairman of the Israel Basketball Association, Amos Frishman.

Basketball association to return half a million shekels to clubs


Third consecutive cut: Bank of Israel lowers interest rates to 3.25%, following economic review

The Bank of Israel's Monetary Committee lowered the interest rate on Tuesday. The rate was previously lowered in July, when the BoI decided to cut the rate from 3.75% to 3.5%.

Bank of Israel Governor Professor Amir Yaron speaks at the Knesset; illustrative.

Iran's Central Bank chief says regime has enough foreign currency despite US sanctions, blockade

The central bank was ready to inject up to $2 billion into the foreign exchange market to calm recent volatility, while the Iranian rials plunged to a record low in August.

An Aqeeq (agate) ring is pictured next to Iraqi dinar and US dollar banknotes are laid out on a table as members of the Shia Muslim community arrive at a centre in Iraq's southern city of Basra accepting charity donations to aid people affected by the ongoing war in Iran and Lebanon.

Ukraine, a living laboratory for modern warfare, is shaping the global economy, security - opinion

The protracted conflict has shattered Europe’s longstanding assumption that economic interdependence could serve as a substitute for military deterrence.

Firefighters work at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 29, 2026.

Syria’s credit card comeback, Damascus International Fair mark return to global economy

Syria can now process credit card payments again, symbolizing Syria's re-entry into the international system after years of isolation.

Artists perform on stage during the opening ceremony of the Damascus International Fair in Damascus, Syria, August 26, 2026.

Iceland votes on whether to start EU membership talks, results too close to call

Iceland first applied to join the EU in 2009, amid a financial crisis that hit the country's small, exposed economy especially hard, and talks ended under a Eurosceptic government in 2013.

An Icelandic flag flies outside Reykjavik City Hall in Reykjavik, Iceland, on August 27, 2026, two days ahead of a national referendum on whether Iceland should resume European Union accession negotiations.

Insurance companies' profits surged this quarter to NIS 2.85 Billion

Phoenix and Menora Mivtachim led a 20% Q2 profit surge to NIS 2.85B across Israel's top insurers, prompting raised business targets and major dividend payouts.

A record-breaking quarter for insurance: Profits soar to NIS 2.85 billion as market leaders double down on ambitious target growth.

Strategy or physical withdrawal: What does Washington’s shift from airstrikes to sanctions signify?

Despite the apparent success of the US’s blockade and sanctions campaign, Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed that they would not falter in maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump reacts as he speaks to the media with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent behind him, on the day of a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026.

Treasury Secretary Bessent says US entering 'endgame' with Iran, will sever economic lifelines

"Any remaining tie to Tehran will hasten the economic ostracism of countries and entities, whether that tie be purposefully constructed or wilfully ignored."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, US, August 20, 2026.

Iranian worker’s suicide attempt exposes Islamic regime's economic crisis, expert says

A 35-year-old man, one of 20 employees laid off because of wartime conditions, attempted to take his life in Mahshahr after the Labor Department failed to respond to his requests.

An Iranian woman shops in a local market in Tehran, Iran, April 28, 2026

Lebanese economic recovery in 2025 will be undone by 2026 conflict, World Bank report shows

The report, titled “A Conflict-Torn Economy,” estimated that Lebanon’s real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 4.2% in 2025, marking its strongest growth since 2019.

Women and children gather beside tents at a displacement camp in Zaituna Bay in central Beirut, Lebanon, May 16, 2026.