In The News

China Halts New Policy on Tech for Banks

Paul Mozur and Jane Perlez April 20, 2015
China plans revisions on a policy that required foreign technology firms selling equipment to Chinese banks to turn over source code and other business secrets. The United States has accused hackers sponsored by the Chinese military of hacking corporate and government websites. China worries about surveillance installed with any US-made equipment. US officials anticipate the Chinese to encourage...

Russia’s Turbulence Could Drive Sustainable Development

Anastasia Okorochkova April 14, 2015
Falling oil prices and western sanctions have led to hard economic times for Russians. But lingering economic crisis can also allow a country new opportunity to regroup and reform, innovating and transforming the economy. Paradoxically, the long-running crisis could drive Russia to end its reliance on export of fossil fuels and embrace sustainability. “To do so, Russia must mobilize its...

Creative Self-Disruption

Mohamed A. El-Erian April 9, 2015
New businesses emerge and expand, disrupting established businesses with unprecedented speed: “companies like Airbnb, Amazon, Apple, and Uber exemplify a different kind of transformation: agile players invade other, seemingly unrelated industries and brilliantly exploit huge but previously unseen opportunities,” writes economist Mohamed A. El-Erian for Project Syndicate. “Central to these...

Mozambique Will Be Stripped of Its Forests “in Just a Few Years”

Andrea Dijkstra April 8, 2015
Exportation of exotic hardwood timber from Mozambique to China is rapidly eliminating Mozambique’s forests. Chinese businesses have adopted the practice of lending money for equipment like chainsaws to individual villagers in poor rural areas of Mozambique. These Mozambicans, who are often former farmers, subsequently participate in logging to pay off their debts and support their families. The...

Making of a New World Order

Nayan Chanda April 3, 2015
Many US allies including South Korea, Australia and the United Kingdom, signed up for founders’ memberships of the new China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. “Leaders in Washington were stunned that their transatlantic ‘cousins’ did not even consult them before rushing to sign up with AIIB,” writes Nayan Chanda, YaleGlobal editor, in his column for Businessworld. “Ever since China...

China Evacuates Citizens From Yemen

James T. Areddy April 1, 2015
With civil war expanding in Yemen, China quickly evacuated 600 people, most by a navy frigate. A few Chinese chose to remain in Yemen and China diverted missile frigates and a helicopter-equipped supply ship engaged in anti-piracy patrols along the African coast to the area, reports the Ministry of Defense. In a separate military matter, China reported that its air force completed its first drill...

How to Know if the Iran Deal Is a Good Deal

Joe Cirincione March 31, 2015
An agreement on containing Iran’s nuclear program should include three elements, explains Joe Cirincione, president of Ploughshares Fund: allow a civilian nuclear program but block all pathways to a bomb, organize thorough inspections and provide rapid response on punishments for cheating. IAEA officials have suggested that new inspection procedures could detect cheating in a matter of days. The...