Latest Insights
Syrian refugees pressure Lebanon’s fragile economy
Syrian refugees are spilling over into Lebanon, with over a million people having fled to the neighbouring country. A significant number anywhere, its impact is especially strong in tiny Lebanon, causing
India’s domestic whiskey industry difficult to tap
India remains the world’s largest consumer of whiskey, an industry worth about $10 billion. Foreign whiskey brands, however, have struggled to capture the market due to a complicated federal tax structure, high import duties and
Austria-Russia gas deal exposes EU disunity over Ukraine
A recent gas deal between Austrian energy company OMV and Russian gas exporter Gazprom exposes fractures within the European Union bloc over responses to the Ukraine crisis and threatens the
Post-election, Modi faces Pakistan trade question
Guest analyst Dr. Kiran Hassan discusses how India’s general election comes at a pivotal time in South Asia. As the largest democracy voted, many wondered what Narendra Modi’s foreign policy
Haiti and Dominican Republic struggle to cooperate
Haiti and the Dominican Republic have been working to repair bilateral relations in the wake of the Dominican Republic’s new citizenship law. As Haiti deals with its own political paralysis,
Anti-China riots most damaging to Vietnam’s economy
Anti-Chinese sentiment is reaching fever pitch in Vietnam. At least twenty have been killed and hundreds injured as Beijing evacuated some 3,000 workers from the country. This marks a sharp
Thailand sits at edge of political storm
With Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s ousting at the hands of the Thai Supreme Court on May 7th, Thailand’s political paralysis is set to restart. The anti-government Yellow Shirts have welcomed the
Why a GOP takeover of the US Senate will not cause political deadlock
Republican control of the Senate, which would make Senator Mitch McConnell the new Majority Leader, may have practical policy impacts, some of which will be of great interest to global investors.
Erdogan undermines Turkish Central Bank’s autonomy
On 30 April, the Governor of Turkey’s Central Bank, Erdem Basci, announced an interest rate cut in the near future, but specified neither number nor schedule. The announcement came a week after reaffirming the Bank’s
Despite repercussions, Boko Haram threat will persist
Rooted in poor governance, rampant unemployment and transnational links, Boko Haram may pay for its latest senseless act of predation. But its prospects, unfortunately, are bright. Boko Haram is known for
