Reports
Opinion: Venezuela’s endless endgame
Bankrupt and in an economic freefall, Venezuela has become the scene of a humanitarian drama. The opposition is finally unified and appears close to being able to push the die-hard Chavista regime out. Much of the outside world, including Latin America, Europe and the United States, is eager to help, ...
Are we heading toward trade wars?
Sluggish international trade in recent years has given reasons to worry about globalization. The value of trade involving the G20 group of countries leveled off in 2010 and has been in decline since mid-2014. Many blame Donald Trump and the new vogue for protectionism, but that is an oversimplification.
South Sudan heads from bad to worse
Political conflict, ethnic violence and man-made famine have turned South Sudan into Africa’s worst disaster since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The crisis shows the limits of humanitarian aid and will have devastating long-term effects. It also poses a test for the international community, which must decide whether to intervene ...
Syria’s future: the losers and winners
For all the confusion about Syria’s civil war, there’s no doubt about the big loser – the Syrian people. But nearly every regional power that has intervened to advance its own interests has also paid a heavy price, as has the European Union, a not-so-innocent bystander. For now, the most ...
Exchange rates: a race to the bottom
Trying to predict how exchange rates will evolve during the rest of the year is a futile exercise. For different reasons, the world’s major central banks are all doing their best to weaken their own currencies. Summary <i>In the United States, the Federal Reserve is having second thoughts about resetting ...
New opportunity to get Turkey right emerges
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is back in the driver’s seat after his ruling party scored a decisive win in the November snap elections. While Mr Erdogan has never been a favourite of Western decision makers and opinion shapers, his renewed mandate makes him a useful partner in efforts to ...
Migrations of the third millennium, part 3: Failed states multiply as West shuns ‘duty to intervene’
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the international scene has rarely been so troubled, in so many different areas, and for such a variety of reasons. From Afghanistan to Central Africa, it seems that half the world is covered by hot spots. Unless the international community decides to embrace ...
