Latest Insights
Mosul Dam recapture reveals poor Iraqi infrastructure
The recapture of the Mosul Dam from the Islamic State (IS) by Iraqi and Kurdish forces underscores the instability of Iraq’s infrastructure. Without continued US military support, IS is sure
Afghanistan’s unresolved election hurts economy
Afghanistan’s disputed presidential election results have once again provoked fears about the future of the country following NATO’s withdrawal. Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ashraf Gani Akhmadzai,
Kazakh currency devaluation triggers fuel shortage
The devaluation in February of Kazakhstan’s currency, the tenge, could have far-reaching effects on the availability of fuel in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. On February 11, 2014, the National Bank of
China’s corruption crackdown leads to Zhou’s arrest
In his fight against corruption, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to target both “tigers and flies.” But his next target appears to be a tiger, as Zhou Yongkang, one of the
Islamic finance expands with British sukuk
The British government recently issued its first sukuk, a financial certificate compliant with Islamic law. As Islamic finance becomes more mainstream, other European governments could follow suit. This summer, the British
Samsung’s predicament puts South Korea at economic crossroad
With his hospitalization, the family of Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, risks losing management of the company. The South Korea’s National Assembly will soon face a crossroads on Chae-bols, South
5 takeaways from Modi’s Red Fort speech
On his first Independence Day speech as India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi acknowledged India’s existing social and economic problems and proposed new policies. Here are 5 aspects of Modi’s Red Fort speech
How Iran benefits from a ‘New Cold War’
With a ‘New Cold War’ between the U.S. and Russia seemingly in its early stages, Iran has much to gain from the conflict by playing both sides. Remember when Iran
Abenomics has a silver lining
Japanese GDP took another tumble in the second quarter, but Abenomics has not been for naught. Although Japanese GDP actually fell by less than analyst expectations in the second quarter,
Is China’s economy too big to transform?
China’s growing debt-to-GDP ratio raises concerns for investors. Investment in traditional pollution-heavy and overcapacity-ridden industries is strong, despite many policy tools that help finance more lucrative sectors. Inertia has been haunting China ever
