The world economy slows, yet by sustaining steady economic growth the US economy has avoided recession. But the global economy can anticipate sluggish growth due to China-US trade tensions, slow business investment despite downward pressure on interest rates, fears about retirement and social safety nets, and failure to prepare for climate change and transition away
READ MOREDonald Trump pulled the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran’s nuclear program in May 2018, insisting the agreement was not tough enough. He then reinstated sanctions and urged Iranian leaders to renegotiate another deal. But Iran is in no mood to negotiate and takes steps to annoy Trump: detaining cargo
READ MORETo sustain economic growth, central banks in advanced economies have steadily reduced interest rates, encouraging consumers to spend. About 30 percent of the world’s investment-grade securities is in negative rate territory – which means lenders and savers pay others to use their funds. But economies are not so easily moved. “Cheapening money to incentivize economic
READ MOREBusinesses around the world eye the massive Chinese market, and for professional basketball, that market makes up around 10 percent of NBA gross revenue. A tweet sent by the general manager of the Houston Rockets in support of the Hong Kong protests has jeopardized a market worth billions of dollars. The tweet prompted contrasting responses:
READ MOREby Dilip Hiro 10 October 2019 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is aggressive in his pursuit of power. His efforts to gain a global reputation as a reformer for Saudi Arabia and foster good relations with the United States under Donald Trump have done little to mask a series of misadventures that have left him
READ MOREIndia’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pursued an “Act East Policy,” intended to strengthen Indo-Pacific strategic relationships, regional political stability, and economic exchanges with Myanmar and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Stronger ties require stabilizing the region near India’s northeast border with Myanmar. India’s state of Manipur, with about
READ MOREBy revoking a temporary constitutional provision, India has stripped Jammu and Kashmir of statehood and special autonomous status, with an expectation of new investment and development for the Muslim-majority area under dispute. “Article 370 repeal has ratcheted up bilateral tensions in a big way, ensuring that India-Pakistan relations will be on tenterhooks for the foreseeable
READ MOREPopulists claim to represent the fears and desires of ordinary people, and nationalist forces who generally express little interest in global standards or governance are organizing around a shared hostility toward Muslims and other immigrants. Azeem Ibrahim, director of the Displacement and Migration Program at the Center for Global Policy in Washington, DC, and a
READ MOREIndia, like many other nations, faces numerous foreign policy challenges as well as doubts about a dependable partnership with the United States. Under the Trump administration, the United States has targeted numerous countries on trade imbalances and in June announced revocation of India’s special trade status. “Despite negative headlines dominating the Indo-US diplomatic engagements in
READ MOREModi’s Success in India’s Elections: Five Factors | YaleGlobal Online India as an emerging economy struggles with constrained growth and rising unemployment. Yet India’s voters handed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party a decisive victory. Gilles Verniers, assistant professor of Political Science and co-director of the Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka
READ MORETwo Opposing Middle East Alliances for the US | YaleGlobal Online Saudi Arabia and Iran are leading rivals in the Middle East. Religious differences help fuel the rivalry, as Saudi Arabia is primarily Sunni and Iran is Shia, yet oil interests, trade and fears about how democracy could dislodge absolute power matter, too. Alliances in
READ MORENarendra Modi and his supporters took firm command over issues that dominated India’s 2019 election campaign, focusing on Pakistan as major challenge. Yet severe economic problems unaddressed before the election will dog the government. “The diversionary tactics may have been successful, but Modi’s resounding electoral victory now heightens expectations of economic success,” explains journalist Kunal
READ MOREThe United States and the Soviet Union, convinced that their ideologies were incompatible, engaged in a Cold War during the latter part of the 20th century. Some suggest similar hostility emerges between the United States and a fast-rising China. “Chinese leaders repeatedly stress that China remains a powerful supporter of the current order, taking action
READ MOREPakistan received substantial US military and financial aid since 2001, and the Trump administration canceled those payments in 2018, with the president suggesting that the country doesn’t “do anything for us.” Pakistan still has support from China, an ally since 1962, and Saudi Arabia also steps forward to invest. The benefactors have two goals in
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