🌎 US visa bonds hit $15K

This week reveals two forces reshaping our world: the West tightening borders while the Global South builds new trade corridors and infrastructure alliances without permission.

From India's historic EU partnership to Ghana forcing creditors to accept reality, we're watching power shift in real time—even as visa restrictions try to freeze human capital in place. The mainstream press is covering the spectacle; we're tracking the structure.

Let's get you smart.

Warm wishes,

Deepa

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Xi Purges Top General in Inner Circle: China has launched a corruption investigation into General Zhang Youxia, a Politburo member and the second-in-command of the Central Military Commission, marking a significant expansion of President Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign into his own inner circle. Why it matters: The purge guts the PLA's high command and suggests Xi is not contemplating a major military escalation against Taiwan in the near term. (More)

US 'Armada' Arrives in Middle East as Iran Tensions Boil: The US has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East and announced multi-day military exercises, escalating a tense standoff with Iran. The bottom line: Iran's regional allies have warned of "total war" if Iran is attacked, while Tehran has vowed to defend its sovereignty, leading several airlines to suspend flights in the region due to the prospect of escalation. (More)

India and EU Finalize Landmark Free-Trade Agreement: The European Union and India have finalized a free-trade agreement, creating the world's largest trade pact by population and linking nearly two billion consumers. The deal is set to eliminate or reduce tariffs on over 90% of EU goods, including a gradual drop for European cars from 110% to 10%. Why it matters: The agreement signals a broader push by global middle powers to build trade alliances and reduce economic reliance on a more protectionist United States. (More)

Ghana Debt Deal Sets New Precedent for African Lenders: Ghana's restructuring of a $750 million loan with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has received backing from the Paris Club of official creditors, a source confirmed. This endorsement implies Afreximbank accepted a loss on the loan, a move that challenges its long-held "preferred creditor status." Why it matters: The decision could set a significant precedent for other African nations undergoing debt restructuring, potentially forcing regional lenders to accept losses, impacting their credit ratings and future lending costs. (More)

Micron Commits $24 Billion to Singapore Chip Plant: US memory chipmaker Micron Technology plans to invest $24 billion over the next decade to build an advanced chip manufacturing plant in Singapore, creating 1,600 jobs and solidifying the nation's role in global NAND flash memory production. (More)

Ghana Secures $1 Billion for AI & Innovation Hub: Ghana has partnered with the UAE for a $1 billion investment to establish a major AI and innovation hub in Ningo-Prampram, featuring a Tier IV hyperscale data center and an AI Compute Hub, aiming to create thousands of jobs and attract global tech companies. (More)

NVIDIA Accelerates AI Data Center Development in Latin America: NVIDIA's Latin America head, Marcio Aguiar, highlighted the region's critical need for AI infrastructure, confirming the company is actively involved in 16 data center projects across Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and El Salvador to boost AI compute power. (More)

Libya Secures Over $20 Billion in Energy Partnerships: Libya has finalized strategic agreements exceeding $20 billion with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips, aiming to boost oil production by approximately 850,000 barrels per day and attract further international investment. (More)

Egypt Rises to Top 10 Global FDI Destinations: Egypt has dramatically improved its global ranking for foreign direct investment, climbing from 32nd to 9th in 2024 with hundreds of billions of dollars in inflows, driven by major projects like Ras El Hekma. (More)

Vietnam Targets 10% GDP Growth in New Plan: Vietnam's 14th Party Congress has set a goal to achieve an average annual GDP growth rate of 10% or more for the 2026-2030 period, aiming to become a high-income, developed country by 2045. The plan, presented by General Secretary Tô Lâm, identifies science, technology, and digital transformation as the central drivers of development. (More)

🇧🇩 Global Visa Restrictions Mount for Bangladeshis: Bangladeshis face a widespread tightening of visa regimes, including a US immigrant visa suspension, new US B-1/B-2 visa bonds up to $15,000, and increased rejections from countries like Singapore, Thailand, and Australia. India has also suspended tourist visas, complicating travel to Europe. Why it matters: These escalating restrictions severely limit opportunities for Bangladeshis globally, with 54.8% of Bangladeshi immigrant families in the US receiving government benefits cited as a factor for US restrictions. (More)

🇳🇬 New US Visa Bond Requirement for Nigerian Travelers: Nigerian B-1 and B-2 visa applicants may now be required to post a refundable bond of $5,000 to $15,000, determined by a US consular officer, to ensure compliance with visa terms. This policy applies to 38 countries, including Nigeria, and aims to reduce overstays. (More)

Texas Freezes New H-1B Visa Petitions: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed all state agencies and public universities to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions until May 31, 2027, citing concerns over program abuse and prioritizing jobs for Texans. Why it matters: This decision significantly curtails professional opportunities for foreign workers, particularly in the technology and defense sectors within a major US state. (More)

Guyana Seeks Bids for 165MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project: The Government of Guyana has issued an expression of interest for Indian firms to bid on the 165MW Amaila Falls Hydropower project, which can be structured under various arrangements, with a prequalification deadline of February 17, 2026. (More)

Belize Launches Prequalification for 80 MW Solar PV Projects: Belize Electricity Limited, in partnership with the Government of Belize and IFC, has launched a Request for Prequalification for private sector developers to design, finance, construct, own, operate, and maintain up to 80 MW of utility-scale solar photovoltaic projects across Belize under an Independent Power Producer model. (More)

Ethiopia Seeks Vendors for Financial Transaction Data Exchange Platform: The National Bank of Ethiopia has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest to identify qualified vendors for the design, development, and implementation of a Financial Transaction Data Exchange Platform with integrated anomaly detection and analytics, intended as a full production, on-premise deployment. (More)

📚 Mind The Gap by Ratna Damayanti Taha: Debut novel by Singaporean writer Ratna Damayanti Taha just won the prestigious Epigram Books Fiction Prize. It's a compelling coming-of-age story soon to be published across six ASEAN countries. (More)

📺 Para Perasuk: The Indonesian film making waves at Sundance 2026, earning a standing ovation. Director Wregas Bhanuteja masterfully explores communal experiences of trance, offering a fresh take on local folklore. (Watch Trailer)

🎧 Mutamba by Tiken Jah Fakoly ft. DeCastro: DeCastro Ivorian titan Tiken Jah Fakoly remains African reggae’s sharpest conscience. On this track, he turns a headline into a freedom cry, boldly drawing a parallel between jailed Congolese ex-minister Constant Mutamba and the legendary Patrice Lumumba. It’s a provocative history lesson riding a heavy groove—classic Fakoly. (Listen on Spotify)

🇨🇴 In Colombia, a court ruling condemned a paramilitary leader for using sexual violence as a deliberate strategy of war against the indigenous Wayúu people, revealing how the destruction of women's bodies and culture was used to control territory. (More)

🇧🇩 An investigation in Bangladesh reveals how political actors are flooding social media with AI-generated deepfakes and cheapfakes to attack opponents and spread disinformation ahead of elections, offering a playbook for how new technology is being weaponized to sway public opinion. (More)

🇳🇬 Long before many famed empires, the sophisticated Nok civilization flourished in what is now Nigeria, mastering iron smelting and creating iconic terracotta art, yet today its legacy is largely neglected at home while its artifacts are prized in foreign museums. (More)