Opinion

  Republican and Democratic leaders in the U.S. Congress seem willing to let the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal languish, and if anything’s certain about President-elect Donald Trump, he won’t push for it once in office. But even if the U.S. isn’t smart enough to share in the benefits, the pact is worth saving. The 11 other signatories should implement it ...

  More than a fortnight ago Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that country’s 500- and 1000-rupee notes were no longer legal tender. The decision was taken purportedly to curb black money menace. Initially, this was hailed by some as a masterstroke against endemic corruption. But, signs are emerging that it may hit the economy hard. Also, there are murmurs ...

  The European Union is going through painful contortions to put off keeping its promises of visa-free travel to neighboring countries. The promises were made in rosier, pre-Brexit, pre-Trump times. Now they’re a liability. One of the main reasons poorer countries in Europe want a closer relationship with the EU is for the opportunity of borderless travel. It’s a coveted ...

  Nov. 25 marked Black Friday, which once was considered the beginning of the holiday shopping season, though the start these days is even earlier thanks to endless hype by the retailing industry. News reports today are filled with tales of increased traffic, decreased spending, tremendous discounting. As was widely reported, sales fell because of deep price cuts, even as ...

  When my colleague Lawrence Lessig argued at Medium that members of the Electoral College should break faith and vote for Hillary Clinton instead of Donald Trump, I chalked it up to the brilliantly contrarian Larry being brilliant and contrarian—even if wrong. But when, over the holiday weekend, the Washington Post published his op-ed making the same argument, it made ...

  For a man who had been reported dead so many times before, and whose vision of the world had shrunk long ago to the size of a t-shirt, Fidel Castro triggered a remarkable commotion when he died this weekend at age 90. Nowhere were the paeans more heartfelt than in Latin America. “A great one has died,” wrote Ecuador’s ...

  The holidays and year-end tax considerations make this the season of giving. And there are indications Americans will be more generous than ever. In 2015, Americans donated a record $373.25 billion in charitable contributions, up a little more than 4 percent from the year before, according to Giving USA, the most reliable chronicler of philanthropy. More than seven in ...

Africa and the world cannot afford a failing economy in the continent’s most populous nation. Yet that is exactly what Nigeria might be getting: Its economy is on track to shrink by 1.7 percent this year, the official unemployment rate has more than doubled over the last two years, and inflation is at an 11-year high. Nigeria’s Horrors and Hopes ...

  Preparing a future generation that is well-equipped to face fresh challenges while building up on a diversified economy is the best way to bring about sustainable development in the country. The UAE’s boost to the knowledge-based economy stems from the fact that to ensure diversification of economy, the country’s educational set-up has to be strengthened. The Ministry of Education ...

  Openly expressing admiration in France for former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is a bit like asking for ketchup with your entrecote. Or it was. Francois Fillon, an avowed Thatcherite, is the new front-runner in France’s 2017 presidential election. He came from far behind to win France’s Republican nomination for the presidency, taking 67 percent of votes in Sunday’s ...