In The News

Apple Lets Down Its Asia Users

Vanson Soo February 5, 2015
Apple’s Asian fans may soon rethink their commitment to iPhones and iPads. “Apple Inc. has caved in to Chinese demands for security inspections of its China-made devices including iPhones, iPads and Mac computers,” reports security consultant Vanson Soo for Asia Sentinel. “If only Apple users managed to chuck away their cult mentality and come to their senses about their privacy and security...

China Further Tightens Grip on the Internet

Andrew Jacobs January 30, 2015
An open internet nurtures innovation as well as dissidence, yet regulations fail to discern between the two. Chinese attempt to block sites that allow privacy and select sharing could backfire, actually instigating more protests by frustrating China’s most productive users. “By interfering with Astrill and several other popular virtual private networks, or V.P.N.s, the government has complicated...

Chinese Stocks Plummet 8 Percent

Scott Cendrowski January 19, 2015
Chinese regulators suspended three large brokerage firms from extending margin accounts – essentially loans – for new clients for three months, and that led the Shanghai market index to plummet by more than 7 percent, the biggest drop in six years, reports Fortune. “The regulator also punished nine different brokerages for allowing unqualified traders to open leveraged accounts, Xinhua reported,...

A Shield That’s Not Required

Nayan Chanda January 15, 2015
Attempts to protect home markets signal a lack of confidence in the business community. A decision by the Modi administration in India “to oblige ministries to procure only locally-built electronic products not only marks a protectionist turn but also undermines the government’s avowed goal of fighting corruption and increasing transparency,” writes Nayan Chanda, editor in chief of YaleGlobal,...

China to Hong Kong: You Can Vote, We Select the Candidates

George Chen September 11, 2014
After Beijing’s promise of universal suffrage for the 2017 election, Hong Kong, which was handed over to China by the British colonial ruler in 1997, had anticipated more democracy. But China dashed such hopes by announcing plans to pre-approve candidates for the election of a chief executive, explains George Chen, financial editor for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and a 2014 Yale...

Obama's Legal Rationale for ISIS Strikes

Spencer Ackerman September 11, 2014
With a new Iraqi government in place, urging the United States to intervene against the Islamic State, and wide public support at home, US President Barack Obama announced plans to wage air strikes into Syrian territory against the terrorist group. He will not wait for congressional approval other than the $500 million in funding, instead rely on the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force “...

Argentina Default Flashes Warning to Emerging Markets

Will Hickey September 9, 2014
Argentina, among the world’s top 25 economies, is trying to seek relief with bondholders and avoid being locked out of international credit markets. A US judge has sided with a minority of bondholders led by a US billionaire, blocking payments to the 90 percent who agreed to restructuring. For now, despite the judge’s ruling that all or none of the bondholders be paid, Argentina explores debt...