US on the verge of lifting crude export ban
Dec 16, 2015 08:06 am UTC| Commentary Politics
United states is the on the verge of lifting a four decade old crude oil export ban this year as lawmakers in congress reached a deal last night in a closed door meeting. Democrats have agreed to support the lift, tabled...
Dec 14, 2015 23:48 pm UTC| Commentary Politics
The news flow in Brazil continues to worsen. November inflation surprised to the upside, mainly because of food prices. On the political front, the impeachment process has slowed down, with the Supreme Court deciding to...
The rhetorical brilliance of Trump the demagogue
Dec 14, 2015 18:07 pm UTC| Politics
Donald Trumps December 7 Statement on Preventing Muslim Immigration has attracted worldwide disdain. Nearly 500,000 Britons have signed a petition asking their government to prevent Trump from entering their country. In...
Why the actions of South Africa's president have rendered him a lame duck
Dec 14, 2015 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
Mayhem is the only word that can describe President Jacob Zumas shock reversal of the appointment of almost-minister of finance Desmond van Rooyen. Markets welcomed the move to a well-known and trusted Pravin Gordhan, the...
Zuma's about-turn shows power of the South African media, and the markets
Dec 14, 2015 10:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
South Africa has had three finance ministers in the space of four days. First President Jacob Zuma replaced his trusted and competent finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with David van Rooyen, a malleable backbencher with a...
Dec 14, 2015 08:57 am UTC| Commentary Politics
Anyone who has been following updates on South Africa, will grossly agree that president Jacob Zuma has learned his lessons. On Wednesday, South African president replaced, long standing finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene,...
Why South Africa should gird itself for tumultuous times
Dec 11, 2015 17:24 pm UTC| Politics
President Zumas latest cabinet reshuffle in the Ministry of Finance is arguably the most controversial of all his executive decisions. It is the seventh cabinet reshuffle since he became President in 2009 and the third...