Bond yields likely to rise significantly this year in CEE economies except Romania, says ERSTE Group

Apr 17, 2017 04:42 am UTC| Commentary Economy Insights & Views

Bond yields are expected to rise significantly this year in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, except that in Romania, which continues fiscal expansion. Further positive rating actions expected in Croatia,...

When it comes to euthanasia, not all slippery slope arguments are 'bullshit'

Apr 17, 2017 02:20 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

The Twittersphere went into meltdown on Monday night after a spat on ABCs QA between bioethics professor Margaret Somerville and 81-year-old audience member Patricia Fellows. Somerville defended, at some length, her...

Global Geopolitics Series

Venezuela has lost its democratic facade

Apr 17, 2017 02:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Although the Venezuelan government has become increasingly authoritarian since the early 2000s, last week was the first time it openly attacked democracy. On March 29, the Venezuelan Supreme Court, controlled by the...

Global Geopolitics Series

Syria is a mess, but the solution is complicated too

Apr 17, 2017 01:58 am UTC| Insights & Views

A week has passed since US President Donald Trump rained 59 Cruiser missiles down on Al Shayrat airfield north of Damascus, in retaliation for the Syrian regimes use of chemical weapons against its own citizens. But we are...

In planned EPA cuts, US to lose vital connection to at-risk communities

Apr 17, 2017 01:53 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Recent headlines point to a relentless undoing of policy and process within the Environmental Protection Agency. The Trump budget calls for slashing the EPA budget by an estimated 31 percent. Staff would be reduced by...

What can the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals do for cities?

Apr 17, 2017 01:31 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

Our cities are increasingly beset by a lack of affordable housing, inequality, lagging infrastructure the list goes on. To the rescue, we now have the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But...

Erdoğan declares victory in his pursuit of one-man rule

Apr 17, 2017 01:29 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

After a long and contentious referendum campaign, Turkey has voted to endorse a package of constitutional changes that will turn the countrys long-established parliamentary system into a presidential one. With more than...