In The News

US Presidential Campaigns and the World – Part II

Alan Bisbort October 20, 2004
Environmentalists all over the world may be aghast at the US lack of concern about global warming, but the American electorate has been left blissfully undisturbed. This year's presidential candidates have been almost entirely silent when it comes to the environment, a politically divisive issue that – contrary to public belief in the United States – remains globally relevant. According to...

Strike Threatens Nigeria's Oil Production

Rory Carroll October 14, 2004
Oil production is at the center of current political controversy in Nigeria: The government has become rich from oil sales, while the majority of the population remains destitute. Trade unions imposed an oil workers' strike over the past three days, demanding that the government maintain domestic oil subsidies. Though oil production has continued during the strike, the major oil workers...

Fifty Dollar Oil

September 29, 2004
Forecast violence in the Niger Delta recently startled an already jumpy oil market. The double-punch of this insurgency and other negative news has brought the cost of oil in the United States close to US$50 per barrel, the highest price recorded to date. Why the extraordinary spike? Oil traders may be partially to blame. Opec nations, who import in foreign currency, may have difficulty...

Anchor the Black Sea Region to the West

Ronald D. Asmus September 8, 2004
Recent violence in the Black Sea region has highlighted the urgency of the area's political instability. Geographically situated at the intersection of Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East, this region is invaluable to the West, both economically and politically. For this reason, argues policy expert Ronald D. Asmus, both NATO and the EU must reach out to Black Sea countries, bolstering...

Kabul Needs Good Neighbours

Stanley A. Weiss September 7, 2004
Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election has many observers discussing the country's future. The author of this Asian Age op-ed piece asserts that Afghan success and regional stability hinge on "neighborly" support. In addition to security concerns, nearby nations also share economic interests in Afghan development. As potential host to gas pipelines and emerging cross-...

Tour Operators Expect Bumper Sales

Vince Chong September 2, 2004
After the Asian financial crisis, 9/11, and SARS, Singapore's tourism decreased dramatically, with sales touching the bottom in 2003. This year, however, industry players are seeing a significant recovery. Authorities believe that sales could return to pre-SARS levels this year, and pre-9/11 levels next year. Some insiders attribute this improvement partly to a drop in major airlines'...

Week in Economics: Sign of Slowdown

Anna Fifield August 27, 2004
A Financial Times weekly roundup of economic news demonstrates a projected slowdown in the world economy. In China, dependence on agricultural imports has raised concerns about food security, and the IMF is projecting a significant reduction in the country's economic growth rate. Despite a continued increase in Japanese exports, meanwhile, domestic investment and consumer spending in...