American and Chinese negotiators are making a final push for a deal to end the trade war with barely a week to go before a March 2 deadline. One of the big sticking points concerns a lack of trust, writes Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, an economist at the Rochester Institute of Technology. How can the Americans believe Chinese trade promises when China has a history of not living up to them? There’s a solution, Batabyal argues, but President Trump probably won’t like it.
The race is on to find a new head of the World Bank ahead of the departure of Jim Yong Kim next month following his recent shock resignation. US President Donald Trump has signaled his determination to continue in the tradition of having an American lead the bank, with his recent nomination of US Treasury Undersecretary David Malpass. John Stremlau sets out why the appointment should be opposed, pointing out that thwarting the US’s ambitions might not be as long a shot as some people think.
Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has taken over the chairmanship of the African Union, a decision that’s caused consternation among activists who point out that he’s broken several of the organisation’s rules, including running a country that is facing a human rights crisis. Ashwanee Budoo and Frans Viljoen unpack why all al-Sisi’s actions and statements while at the helm must be properly scrutinised.
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The U.S. and China have ‘trust’ issues.
Reuters/Kevin Lamarque
Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology
China has reneged on past promises it has made to the US. With the deadline for a deal fast approaching, the solution may lie in learning from a global organization the president hates: the WTO.
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The race is on to find a new head of the World Bank following Jim Yong Kim’s resignation.
EPA-EFE/Made Nagi
John J Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand
The power dynamics in the World Bank have changed dramatically.
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Egyptian President and newly-elected AU Chairperson Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
EPA-EFE/STR
Ashwanee Budoo, University of Pretoria; Frans Viljoen, University of Pretoria
Having Egypt at the helm of the African Union might not bode well for human rights on the continent.
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Business + Economy
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Oihab Allal-Chérif, Neoma Business School
The shifting market for air travel has forced Airbus to abandon the production of one of the most impressive aircraft of all time, the super-jumbo A380. Was it folly, bad luck or both?
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Seán Mfundza Muller, University of Johannesburg
South Africa's finance minister delivered a budget that tried to balance serving the public interest, while maintaining the stability of public finances.
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Education
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Ke Yu, University of Johannesburg
Children need more than school resources and qualified teachers to attain academic success.
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Dr Peter Mose, Rhodes University
Research shows that mother tongue teaching is the most ideal tool for early child education.
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En français
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Jean-Noël Kapferer, INSEEC Business School
Ayant figé sa propre image depuis des années, nous nous étions habitués à la permanence de Karl Lagerfeld, préalable à son immortalité.
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Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, Université Paris Nanterre – Université Paris Lumières
Si tous les présidents américains depuis Bill Clinton, dans les années 90, ont parlé de la question des immigrés illégaux, aucun n'a à ce point dramatisé la situation.
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