Opinion

  One of the most common debates I hear about India is whether British colonialism has been good or bad for the country’s economic prospects. Defenders of British rule often cite the construction of the railroads, or the spread of the English language, but as time passes the evidence mounts that India would have been much better off on its …

  Another one bites the dust. German-listed Dialog Semiconductor Plc lost one-third of its market value at one point after analysts at Bankhaus Lampe KG claimed there was “strong evidence” that Apple Inc. was working on making its own power management chips for the iPhone. Dialog replied that it knew of “no business reason” for the share price movement. But …

  A pro-Brexit argument that always makes me giggle a little is that leaving the European Union will allow the UK to become the new Singapore. That’s right — the land of hope and glory, home to the world’s fifth-largest economy, wants to emulate its steamy little former colony, population 5.4 million. When you look at the per-capita income data, …

  “War is the health of the state. It automatically sets in motion throughout society those irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate cooperation with the government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals, which lack the larger herd sense.” — Randolph Bourne (1886-1918) One hundred years ago, two events three days apart set the 20th century’s trajectory. On …

  Twin suicide bombings struck two Coptic churches in the northern cities of Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt killing 44 people during Palm Sunday services. Hours later IS group claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Mar Girgis church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta and St. Mark’s cathedral in Alexandria. At least 27 people were reported killed in …

  Xiang Junbo, the man on whose watch China’s insurance industry flourished, is now himself under investigation. As Bloomberg News reported over the weekend, China’s anti-graft agency is probing the nation’s top insurance official as the government steps up a bid to rein in financial risks. But with so many firms still hungry for returns and diversification, that shouldn’t slow …

  The race is on. As Britain and the European Union begin to negotiate the terms of Brexit, Europe’s financial centers are jostling to lure banks, insurers and asset managers away from the City of London. When providers of goods and services compete for business it’s almost always good for their customers, and this new post-Brexit rivalry needn’t be any …

  Is China finally making headway in its battle against currency outflows? On the surface, yes: People’s Bank of China foreign exchange reserves are effectively unchanged since December at $3 trillion, and data for February released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed a significant narrowing of net outflows of capital based on international bank settlements and sales. That’s …

  With a bankruptcy filing looming, the Westinghouse Electric Co. nuclear business delivered one last stinging blow to Japanese parent Toshiba Corp.’s balance sheet in February: a 712.5 billion yen ($6.4 billion) goodwill writedown. But Toshiba probably won’t be the last big company to rue overpaying for assets. The global M&A boom has left a giant footprint on corporate balance …

  The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is due to come into effect on May 25, 2018, meaning Middle East organizations that handle the personal data of EU residents will have to be compliant. IT teams in the region have more than a year to audit their systems, check existing customer data, and ensure that processes are in …