In The News

“Hidden” Debt and Trouble for Global Economy: CNBC

Yen Nee Lee July 31, 2019
Investors are alert to any signs of a global recession and decline in economic growth. A research and analytics unit under S&P Global suggests that companies that have skipped the crediting rating process in taking on debt could be signaling signs of troubles. Credit ratings provide an independent assessment on the ability to repay debt, and low interest rates and attempts by central banks to...

Imran in Washington: Times of India

Nayan Chanda July 31, 2019
President Donald Trump, long opposed to US involvement in lengthy military campaigns, counts on Pakistan to help “extricate” his country from the war in Afghanistan. Nayan Chanda identifies a pattern in Trump’s approach on foreign challenges like North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. “Following the ‘threaten then flatter’ playbook Trump suspended $1.3 billion of annual aid to Pakistan before...

Africa’s Broadcasting Revolution: African Business

David Thomas July 30, 2019
Africa’s young audiences are embracing tried-and-true formulas for television programming from elsewhere in the world – “homegrown, home-produced content telling stories about themselves – it’s the same the world over,” as suggested by an executive of TVC Communications, as reported by David Thomas for African Business Magazine. Popular shows include Wake Up Nigeria and The Bachelor in South...

China, Hong Kong Protests: South China Morning Post

Tammy Tam July 29, 2019
China’s state media have called for forceful action to stop protests in Hong Kong, and a government spokesman called eight weekends of protests that have disrupted the city "evil and criminal acts committed by the radical elements." Even so, the Chinese government is showing no sign of moving quickly despite escalating tensions and a "'let it be’ sentiment reflects the...

UK-US Trade Deal Not Easy: JD Supra

Sophie Berner-Eyde July 29, 2019
US President Donald Trump has suggested that he and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have plans for a “very substantial” trade deal. The UK cannot negotiate a trade deal until after it leaves the European Union, scheduled for October 31. “UK-U.S. preliminary talks on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) spanning the last two years, however, have failed to show any meaningful progress and are...

WTO Developing Economy Designation: Financial Times

James Politi July 28, 2019
Donald Trump wants the United States to lead in all trade matters and he is criticizing the World Trade Organization for allowing too many nations claim developing-economy status that provides special treatment. These benefits include “procedural advantages in disputes, softer tariff cuts, the ability to maintain export subsidies and weaker commitments in negotiations”. Trump specifically noted...

Russia and US Election Systems: New York Times

David E. Sanger and Catie Edmondson July 27, 2019
The US Senate Intelligence Committee has issued a heavily redacted report describing Russian intrusion into US election systems in all states. Richard Burr, the Republican committee chairman, said the US had been “blindsided,” with only a handful of federal and state officials detecting the intrusion. Hackers could have deleted or changed voter data, though there is no evidence that happened. “...