Global markets remain focused on escalating tensions in the Middle East as the US and Iran exchange another round of military strikes. The US military launched a new wave of attacks targeting Iranian positions, while Iran responded with drone strikes aimed at US military positions in Kuwait. Washington says the latest operations are intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while the IRGC claims it struck a US drone operations center at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. The renewed conflict has left energy markets on edge as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz continues.
We also cover Apple’s lawsuit against OpenAI alleging trade secret theft, Nippon Paint’s $8.6 billion bid for Akzo Nobel’s paint business, reports that SoftBank is considering a stake in Seven & i Holdings, and the death of former Qatari ruler Sheikh Hamad, which comes as Senator Lindsey Graham’s political future raises fresh questions over US Senate succession.
In Asia, South Korea’s KOSPI trading was briefly halted after falling 8%, with SK Hynix leading the decline. Elsewhere, venture capital funding across the Middle East and North Africa fell 22% year over year during the first half of 2026, the UAE’s oil production reached a record high in June, and Senegal’s infrastructure plans face setbacks amid a growing debt scandal. Guests Includes John Sfakianakis, Gulf Research Center Chief Economist and Research Head; Praten Jagwani, UTI International Global Head and CEO; Philip Bahoshy, Magnitt Founder & CEO; and Chey Tae-won, SK Group Chairman
Horizons Middle East & Africa is your daily spotlight on one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Live from Dubai, we bring you the latest global markets and analysis, plus news-making interviews, with a special focus on MEA. All that and more, as you head to the office in the Gulf, pause for lunch in Hong Kong, or start your day in London or Johannesburg.
Chapters:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:04:50 – US, Iran Resume Strikes as Hormuz Status Disputed
00:07:58 – John Sfakianakis, Gulf Research Center Chief Economist and Research Head
00:14:18 – Praten Jagwani, UTI International Global Head and CEO
00:28:50 – Philip Bahoshy, Magnitt Founder & CEO Chey
00:34:54 – Tae-won, SK Group Chairman
00:38:54 – Energy Markets on Edge as Hormuz Tensions Intensify
00:43:00 – Debt Scandal Derails Senegal’s infrastructure Dream
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