WTO Conference: Deadlock on deals raises questions on world body's efficacy
After the failure of this ministerial conference, questions are being asked if WTO’s existence is in danger
How Indian growth story is under attack from the West
The factually incorrect article by ‘The Economist’ and India's low ranking in the World Happiness Index shows the West's discomfort with the way India has been rising over the past one decade because of a Bharat-centric model
Lok Sabha Polls: BJP is on alliance building spree, sign of nervousness or stepping up for Mission 400?
BJP's alliance making spree is being seen as a sign of nervousness by some analysts, hinting that the Narendra Modi-led party is aware of the risk of a repeat of a 2004 like situation
Is Egypt ready for its next energy crisis?
Egypt’s special talent is in announcing bold megaprojects with the nation-building potential of the Suez canal, El Dabaa nuclear plant, or its new capital city outside Cairo, and then frittering the opportunity away amid counterproductive regulations, corruption and cash shortages. Paradoxically, what Egypt and the planet might need this time around is a bit less ambition
M&A is back. Expect losers to outnumber winners
Many publicly traded companies are now sitting on sizeable cash reserves and borrowing costs appear to be stable. Buyout funds, too, are awash with cash and itching to deploy it. The worry must be that financial firepower, frustration and a fear of missing out make for ill-disciplined acquisitions. Recent history backs the idea that buyers struggle to make megadeals pay
Britain is a big tent, not a narrow tabernacle
With the ascension of Zambian-born Vaughan Gething as Welsh Labour leader and first minister-elect, all senior elected offices in the British Isles are held by ethnic minorities. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak is, by ethnic origin, Hindu- Punjabi; Scotland’s first minister, Humza Yousaf, is first-generation Pakistani-Punjabi; and the mayor of the global city-state that is London, Sadiq Khan, is of Pakistani heritage
No, Reddit is not a meme stock
Early involvement by loyal users does not guarantee a large pool of engaged retail investors
Apple Antitrust Suit: The US shouldn’t force the company to make a worse iPhone
Apple uses its maniacal control over the user experience on the iPhone to make it a vastly superior smartphone that is more attractive to consumers. But in doing so, it shuts out competitors in a manner that has anticompetitive side effects because of the iPhone’s scale. Attempts to remedy this situation could be painful, unpopular and have a high chance of failure
Israel-Hamas: Listen to the Global South on Gaza
The Global South — a collection of postcolonial and developing countries that by some estimates represent 88% of the world’s population— has taken on the cause of Gaza so passionately. The Global South is stepping up as the world’s conscience on Gaza. Their views are reflective of a far wider swathe of public opinion than ever before — and they need to be heard
Why a consumer sentiment survey is a pointer to the urgency of regulating AI in India
Indians are taking to AI like a fish to water or will when it becomes mainstream, shows a survey. As countries race to regulate AI, with the EU taking the lead, we should not be left behind
IPL 2024: Juniors will add to India’s quality quotient in year of T20 World Cup
Every IPL has produced surprises. New players have emerged with batting cameos or impactful bowling spells. And this IPL offers the perfect launching pad for young cricketers to vie for a spot on India’s T20 World Cup team and end India’s 13-year-long spell of ICC trophy heartbreaks
The Red Sea crisis will hurt the global economy if it continues much longer
World trade is adjusting to the Red Sea crisis by taking other even if longer routes. While business continues, there’s a cost both in terms of profits foregone as costs increase and higher transit times
China is now busy navigating headwinds from the Ukraine conflict
The war initially helped China by increasing Russia’s trade dependency on Beijing and diverting the West’s attention. But the economic slowdown, Western sanctions on Chinese entities for supporting Russia’s war effort, and the US gaze on growing North Korea-Russia ties, is prompting China to sing a different tune now
As AI aims to enhance intelligence, have we fully understood human cognition?
AI-based systems excel in speed, accuracy, and logical consistency, yet they lack the intuitive, emotional, and culturally sensitive faculties inherent to human cognition — qualities that are indispensable for effective performance
What Japan’s move away from sub-zero rates means for Indian investors
Japan’s experience shows why yield spreads matter much more than absolute rates or their direction, for the economy and investors too
The anatomy of inflation
Based on the current trend, the core CPI is likely to remain below 3.5 percent in FY25. Following the past trend, the headline CPI will likely converge to the core inflation over medium term
Will the February export optimism continue?
India needs to focus on MSME items and explore new markets to increase its share in global trade, which remains wobbly
Chart of the Day: Is GDP data understating consumption growth?
HSBC analysts argue that consumer imports have risen to higher than pre-pandemic levels, personal services and non-housing retail loans have surged. Simply put, Indians are demanding more goods that are being imported and also services and are willing to borrow to fulfil this demand.
Kejriwal’s Arrest: Will AAP survive its biggest crisis or disintegrate?
AAP is planning to turn the arrest into a big spectacle to gain voter sympathy. In the past, Kejriwal has fought back when the chips were down. But behind bars, there is a limit to how much he can shepherd the AAP, which he has controlled with a firm grip for the past 12 years
An award row shakes up a venerable Carnatic music institution
The Music Academy’s conferment of the Sangita Kalanidhi title on TM Krishna and the divide among the Carnatic music fraternity has spread like wildfire on social media and even stoked political reactions. For Music Academy, an institution whose famed annual Conference held every December in Chennai was long treated as a great mark of recognition in Carnatic music, the boycotts – by an array of distinguished Carnatic musicians – suggest a rocky road ahead
America's waning naval dominance and China’s surge is a worry
The US Navy had nearly 7,000 ships in 1945. It stood at 529 vessels at Cold War’s end. Today, the navy has just 292 ships. Freedom of navigation, with all the global blessings it has bestowed, has never sustained itself. The way things are going, America and allies may not be able to sustain it much longer either
Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Fed’s last-mile quandary is no worry for markets
In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: India's rising inequality not a political handicap, gold to glitter more in 2024, thermal plant incentives a boon for NTPC, BJP can overtake TMC in Bengal, and more
Nike needs a comeback. Adidas just wrote the playbook
Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden offers a model for Nike’s tentative turnaround efforts: His decisions around emerging trends seem more akin to a fashion retailer’s instinct for best-sellers. Nike shifted from being organised around sports categories such as running or swimming to traditional departments such as women’s, men’s and children’s. It sharpened its focus on its digital business, selling directly to consumers. But by becoming a tech-and-luxury company, it dulled its product edge
Gaza's famine warnings will test humanity — and Netanyahu
It’s up to Netanyahu to prove the IPC’s famine predictions wrong. Israel may not be a member of the International Criminal Court, but if he fails to act and the worst happens, that won’t stop its prosecutors from pursuing a well-deserved case a against him
Lok Sabha Polls: Why BJP has a chance to overtake TMC in Bengal
There is anger against the corruption by lower level TMC functionaries. In a Lok Sabha election, BJP – as the preeminent national party – is the natural beneficiary as had happened in 2019, unlike in an assembly poll where voters tend to favour a “Bengali” party
