In The News

As Latin American Economic Growth Slows, Regional Economies Are at a Crossroads

Mimi Whitefield June 20, 2014
Latin America had a long spell of economic growth, 5.9 percent, and a so-called “golden decade” due to bubbles, loose credit and a commodity boom that peaked in 2010. Latin American growth was analyzed at the University of Miami Latin America Symposium, covered by Mimi Whitefield for the Miami Herald. Since 2010, the region’s growth has tapered. Governments now face challenges to maintain...

Russia's Putin Dominates G7 Summit in Absentia

The Associated Press June 16, 2014
The absence of the Russian President Vladimir Putin dominated the G7 summit. Leaders of seven economies snubbed Putin and issued a joint statement, urging the Kremlin to recognize the presidential elections recently held in Ukraine, withdraw troops from the borders Russia shares with Ukraine and stop the flow of weapons and militants. The G7 pointed out more sanctions were possible for Russia....

Will the European Union Crack?

Nayan Chanda June 16, 2014
Stagnation, unemployment, pessimism in democracies can motivate voters to endorse change. In India, voters embraced the growth policies of Narendra Modi while in European Parliament elections, extremists who oppose immigration and integration made gains. The similarities end there, suggests Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal in his column for Businessworld, and the trends in Europe expose “the...

Colombia Polls Give President Santos “Mandate for Peace”

June 16, 2014
Reelected for a second term Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos claims to have a mandate for wrapping up a peace process with FARC after five deades of war. Santos’ opponent Oscar Ivan Zuluaga criticized methods of peace negotiations and failure to levy sanctions against rebel groups. The opponent promised stricter conditions on the peace talks, threatening to break them off unless the rebels...

Tiananmen: Vietnam's Newspapers Criticize Crackdown

Nga Pham June 13, 2014
Vietnam news media shocked readers by covering the anniversary of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and deploring the harsh crackdown on protesters. In the past, Vietnamese news media avoided such topics. Like China, Vietnam is a communist government. This year’s coverage reflected recent tense relations between China and Vietnam. The two nations are engaged in bitter quarrel over islands...

Obama’s Disciplined Leadership Is Right for Today

Fareed Zakaria June 13, 2014
US opposition parties often blast the president for “weakness” in foreign policy. No understanding of faraway places, complex history or intricate relationships is required. In a stable period, diplomacy is more essential than a fast finger on the trigger. “In this context, what is needed from Washington is not a heroic exertion of American military power but rather a sustained effort to engage...

Beijing Tells G7 Nations to Stay Out of Disputes

Teddy Ng and Agence France-Presse June 9, 2014
Beijing vowed to answer provocations against its territorial sovereignty after the G7 leaders stated concerns over the maritime tensions between China and its Asian-Pacific neighbors. China has long insisted that territorial disputes must be settled by negotiations between China and the states directly affected. G7 leaders, including US and Japan, have suggested that countries involved in...