A rare high level meeting between the United States and Cuba has drawn global attention after John Ratcliffe visited Havana during one of the most severe energy crises in modern Cuban history.

Georgia is once again demonstrating an economic paradox that has become one of the most intriguing stories in the South Caucasus. Against the backdrop of a prolonged political crisis, tensions with the European Union and the United States, street protests, disputes over the ruling party’s course, and a deteriorating international image, the Georgian economy continues to expand at a pace that would seem almost unattainable for many European countries.

Bitcoin has jumped almost 14% since late February 2026, outpacing gold and traditional stocks as investors turn to it as a safe haven amid rising tensions in the Middle East and increasing oil prices.

The global oil market is once again entering a period of sharp turbulence. Geopolitical conflicts, threats to critical energy transport routes, and rising inflation expectations have pushed energy prices upward. At first glance, such developments might seem to benefit oil-exporting countries. After all, higher prices mean higher revenues. Yet the reality of the modern energy economy is far more complex. Extremely high oil prices can be just as problematic for producers as a dramatic collapse in the market.

In Argentina, the words of U.S. President Donald Trump continue to resonate.

Qatar announced plans to invest $7.5 billion in Egypt, according to a joint statement released on Monday following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to the gas-rich Gulf state.

Germany is grappling with a severe economic downturn, as the BDI (German Industry Association) projected on Tuesday that the country’s GDP will shrink by 0.1% in 2025.

By Samir Muradov

News.Az presents an interview with Alan Cafruny, the Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Affairs at Hamilton College.