Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News from EconoTimes

Become a contributor

Bookmark Econotimes

Sun, Dec 28, 2025 09:44 AM All times are UTC

Follow Series

©Econometrics LLC . All Rights Reserved.

Mills Soko

Associate Professor, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town

Mills Soko earned his undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1992. Soon thereafter he worked for a year as a research assistant with UCT’s Equal Opportunities Research Project. From 1994 to 1995 he was employed by the Institute for Democracy in South Africa as a researcher on parliamentary affairs, monitoring and preparing reports on the work of parliamentary committees in South Africa’s first democratic national legislature.

In 1996, he joined the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – the upper house of the South African Parliament – as a researcher to the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Public Enterprises. During this period he completed a Master’s degree in International Studies through the University of Stellenbosch. This was followed by his appointment as Head of Policy and Legislative Research in the NCOP, where he oversaw and coordinated the work of committee researchers.

Subsequently he resumed his academic studies and obtained a Master’s degree in International Political Economy from the University of Warwick. In 2004, he completed a doctoral thesis on the political economy of trade policy reform in post-apartheid South Africa at the same university.

The World Bank needs deep reforms to reflect a changing world order

Feb 08, 2019 12:00 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The sudden resignation of World Bank President Jim Yong Kim has rekindled debate about leadership succession and the mission of the international financial institution. US president Donald Trump has nominated his...

Book on Steinhoff's demise shows danger of 'big men' business leaders

Nov 14, 2018 11:55 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

The collapse of Steinhoff International, the multi-billion dollar global business group, has been rightly described as the biggest corporate scandal in South African history. The companys history, and its subsequent...

Development in Africa is on a firm footing – here's how to take it to the next level

Dec 22, 2016 05:07 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The end of 2016 provides an opportunity to take stock of Africas recent economic performance and future prospects. Its been a tumultuous year for some African countries largely due to a commodities crisis and a global...

Economy

Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Volatility

Russian stocks finished Saturdays trading session slightly lower overall, with the MOEX Russia Index closing flat at 0.00% in Moscow. Market performance was mixed, as gains in select heavyweight stocks were offset by...

China Industrial Profits Slump Signals Need for More Economic Stimulus

Profits at Chinas industrial firms fell sharply in November, marking the fastest year-on-year decline in more than a year and underscoring the fragile state of the countrys economic recovery. According to data released by...

Japan to Audit Brazil’s Beef System, Paving Way for Market Access

Japan is set to conduct a comprehensive audit of Brazils beef sanitary system in March 2026, marking a significant step toward the possible opening of Japans lucrative beef market to Brazilian beef exports. The...

Wall Street Ends Post-Christmas Session Flat as Investors Eye Santa Claus Rally

Wall Street finished a light-volume, post-Christmas trading session nearly unchanged on Friday, as investors found little fresh news to drive strong market conviction. After a solid five-session rally, all three major U.S....

Argentina Congress Approves 2026 Budget Under Milei, Marking First Legislative Passage Since 2023

Argentinas Congress has approved the countrys 2026 national budget, marking the first budget bill passed by legislators since President Javier Milei assumed office in late 2023. The budget was approved on Friday by a vote...

Politics

Zelenskiy and Trump Meet in Florida as Ukraine Peace Talks Face Major Hurdles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday in a high-stakes effort to advance a U.S.-brokered plan to end the war in Ukraine. The talks come amid intensified...

Kosovo Heads to Early Parliamentary Election Amid Prolonged Political Deadlock

Kosovo is set to hold a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday as Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his nationalist Vetevendosje party attempt to secure a governing majority and resolve a year-long political stalemate that...

Myanmar Election 2025 Faces Global Scrutiny Amid Civil War and Political Repression

Voters in Myanmar began casting ballots in a highly controversial general election on Sunday, marking the first nationwide polls since the military coup that overthrew the elected civilian government in 2021. The election,...

Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications

Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro underwent a phrenic nerve block procedure on Saturday as doctors worked to treat persistent hiccups that developed following recent surgery, according to statements from his wife,...

Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Saturday that Canada will provide an additional $2.5 billion in economic aid to Ukraine, reinforcing the countrys ongoing support amid the prolonged conflict with Russia....

Science

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Technology

China Proposes Stricter Rules for AI Services Offering Emotional Interaction

Chinas top internet regulator has released draft regulations aimed at tightening oversight of artificial intelligence services that simulate human personalities and engage users emotionally, signaling a stronger push to...

Nvidia and Groq Strike Strategic AI Inference Licensing Deal

Reports earlier this week suggested that Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) had agreed to acquire AI chip startup Groq in a $20 billion all-cash transaction. However, updated details clarify that the arrangement is not a traditional...

TSMC Honors Japanese Chip Equipment Makers With 2025 Supplier Awards

Several leading Japanese semiconductor equipment manufacturers have been recognized with 2025 Supplier Awards from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), highlighting their growing importance in the global chip...

Nvidia to Acquire Groq in $20 Billion Deal to Boost AI Chip Dominance

NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) has reportedly agreed to acquire Groq, a fast-growing designer of high-performance artificial intelligence accelerator chips, in a $20 billion all-cash transaction, according to a CNBC report. The...

Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Federal Judge in First Amendment Ruling

A federal judge in Texas has blocked the enforcement of a new state law that would have required app stores and developers to verify users ages, marking a significant legal win for major technology companies and digital...