Headlines

Free trade isn’t coming back and here’s why

There was a time not so many years ago when Washington believed in free trade and raced to sign free trade agreements. Exporting sectors like agriculture were among the beneficiaries. They’d love to go back to those days. Don’t hold your breath. Over the years, support for free

Asia

The hidden amnesty in Indonesia’s cut-rate Patriot Bonds

Indonesia’s new sovereign investment vehicle, BPI Danantara, has officially launched the Patriot Bond, targeting an extraordinary 50 trillion rupiah (US$2.8 billion) in fundraising. The special debt instrument consists of two tranches worth 25 trillion rupiah each: Series A

Asia

China’s bear hug won’t save Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing

When Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Myanmar coup-maker Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to Beijing on June 15 with full state-visit honors — Huawei phone gift included — the choreography was meant to read as consolidation. Five days later, when UN Special Envoy Julie

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