In The News

Islamic Finance Confronts Pandemic: Global Finance

Chloe Domat May 24, 2020
The Islamic finance industry, operating in about 80 nations, has a large market share in microfinance, small enterprises and retail lending. The Covid-19 pandemic will hit the industry hard with governments closing stores and ordering social-distancing, along with many borrowers seeking forbearance, restructuring or new loans. Governments hurried to assist corporations, with less support for low-...

US to Withdraw From Open Skies Treaty: NYT

David E. Sanger May 23, 2020
US President Donald Trump will inform Russia that the United States will begin a six-month clock to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty – “negotiated three decades ago to allow nations to fly over each other’s territory with elaborate sensor equipment to assure that they are not preparing for military action,” reports David Sanger for the New York Times. Sanger expresses concern that the next...

National Security Legislation for Hong Kong: SCMP

Gary Cheung May 22, 2020
China is moving on a national security resolution for Hong Kong, relying on the National People’s Congress rather than waiting for the territory’s Legislative Council to shape its own rules. The resolution would “ban all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government and external interference in Hong Kong’s affairs” and “target terrorist acts in Hong Kong,” reports Gary Cheung for...

COVID-19 – Ordeal for Globalization: Jakarta Post

Darmansjah Djumala May 21, 2020
Analysts debate globalization’s role in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, whether in spreading the disease or helping move needed services and goods. Writing for the Jakarta Post, Darmansjah Djumala categorizes globalization as both “process” and “order” – the first through technological advancements in transportation and communications and the second as a system of regulation and rule of law. The...

Cyclone Amphan and Deadly Havoc: BBC

May 21, 2020
A violent cyclone with wind gusts up to 185 kilometers per hour struck Bangladesh and India, with governments evacuating millions from the coasts. Meteorological departments forecast heavy rainfall, flooding and mudslides. “The cyclone comes as tens of thousands of migrant workers continue to flee cities for their villages during India's lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus,” notes the...

Threat to US Dollar’s Global Dominance: Bloomberg

Joe Weisenthal May 20, 2020
Before Covid-19 emerged, the US dollar’s fundamentals were strong, but imbalanced: The dollar’s share of global transactions grew as the country’s share of worldwide gross domestic product declined. Some analysts suggest that US policymakers abuse the dollar’s dominance with overspending and massive debt. Relying on the dollar may have become habit for some countries, explains Joe Weisenthal for...

Covid-19 Data Suppression? Florida Today

Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon May 20, 2020
Any attempt to suppress reports of Covid-19 cases by jurisdictions hoping to protect their tourism industry is a nightmare for the world. Data transparency is key in containing the pandemic, especially as nations strive to reopen their economies. Florida removed control of a public dashboard on Covid19 data from the geographic information system manager who developed the website for the Florida...