The wicked weaponization of Ukrainian refugees

Since the Russian invasion in February, about 8 million Ukrainians have fled the country. After eight months of fighting – and with no end to the war in sight – the prospect that many refugees may never return will exacerbate an ongoing population decline in Ukraine. The mass exodus will make it harder for the […]Continue Reading

Prosecutors blame renovation firm for India bridge collapse

The 230m-long structure, a major tourist attraction in the area, was only reopened last Wednesday after nearly seven months of renovations that are said to have cost 20 million rupees (US$240,000). Authorities in the western state of Gujarat say the proper safety certificates were not obtained before visitors were allowedContinue Reading

China vows commitment to growth as pressure on economy mounts

OPEN-DOOR POLICY Yi Gang, governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), said China will continue to deregulate its markets. “Reform and open-door policy will continue,” Yi said. Apparently seeking to ease worries over the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and a property market crisis, Yi said “the Chinese economy hasContinue Reading

China-Russia axis solidifying against the West

As the tragic bloodletting in Ukraine continues to unfold with new intensity, the world awaits the upcoming winter with a new sense of dread and foreboding. On the other side of Eurasia, China has sought to portray itself as an island of stability amidst a turbulent sea.  While an encouraging statement was made recently by a rather […]Continue Reading

Hoarding billionaires stunting global growth

US income inequality grew in 2021 for the first time in a decade, according to data the Census Bureau released in September 2022. That might sound surprising, since the most accurate measure of the poverty rate declined during the same time span. But for development experts like me, this apparent contradiction makes perfect sense. That’s […]Continue Reading