Yeah, obviously you're not going to have a lot of capital flows to Mars because it's not possible to get transfer any goods there, but also I just think if you were a a European banker, wouldn't you be at least a little worried about uh the possibility that your phone might contain some texts critical of Donald Trump. I agree. In in the medium to long term, there's no doubt the effect will be be very very bad.You know, if the links all break down, the system doesn't work. This is the canonical description o ...

Singapore is in the midst of a scam demic. The city state of 6 million people saw a 70% rise in the value of money lost to online scams by its citizens up to 1.1% billion Singapore dollars. Now, Singaporeans have been seen as especially vulnerable to certain types of fraud, things like job fraud or uh or romance scams.A lot of these are being operated out of scam factories across Southeast Asia, many of which are populated by people who themselves are victims of human trafficking. Now, a lot of the people i ...

US Economic & Political Shifts - The US administration has undermined trust by abandoning trade agreements and rule of law, leading to erratic and unpredictable governance [7][8] - The abandonment of the "most favored nation" principle in international trade signals a disregard for past agreements [9][10] - The US is behaving like an arbitrary despot, undermining the ability of businesses and individuals to plan [14][16] - The US is becoming increasingly unreliable compared to other economic superpowers like the EU and China [35][37] Trade & Tariffs - The US has blown up the international trading system, exemplified by doubling the tariff on steel from 25% to 50% [29] - The invocation of the national security clause (Section 232) to justify tariffs is seen as a veneer of legality [30] - Unpredictable tariff rates create uncertainty for businesses, potentially leading to investment paralysis [31][32] Corruption & Influence - The US is perceived to have abandoned anti-corruption efforts, setting a bad example for other governments [40][41] - The presidency appears to be "for sale," potentially altering the nature of successful business leadership [44] - Bribing people in power may become a way to get business in America, disadvantaging countries with rule of law [45] Financial System Risks - Suggestions of converting American debt into ultra-long-term debt (century bonds) are viewed as a potential default [47][48] - The reliability of US debt is being questioned, potentially leading to a world system without a safe asset [53] Assault on Science & Universities - There is a systematic attack on the American scientific system and universities, including foreign students and faculty [59][60] - Restrictions on foreign students and faculty are damaging collaboration between universities and business [62][63] - Hostility to independent thought and science is undermining the factors that made the US successful [66][67]

The oil giant is once again at the centre of government plans for economic growth and job creation. But Petrobras has a chequered past, including damaging corruption scandals and debt. Critics say it should stick to high-value oil production rather than expanding into refining and shipbuilding #petrobras #brazil #oil #brazilpolitics #brazileconomy #brazilsociety #oilproduction #corruption #companies #scandal 00:00 - Introduction 00:54 - How important is Petrobras? 01:41 - Petrobras and the Brazilian economy ...

Cold War Strategy & Geopolitics - The book is a biography of Zbigniew Brzezinski, offering insights into American foreign policy during the Cold War, particularly through the lens of Brzezinski's rivalry with Kissinger [1][3][9] - Brzezinski viewed the Soviet Union as a non-permanent entity due to its internal nationalities and reverse natural selection, contrasting with Kissinger's view of the Soviet Union as a permanent feature of the landscape [15][16][13] - Brzezinski predicted the Soviet Union's demise and the rise of an "alliance of the aggrieved," comprising countries like Russia, China, and Iran, due to America's hubristic triumphalism after the Cold War [33][36] - Brzezinski advocated for the normalization of relations with China, believing that China, unlike the Soviet Union, was not inherently fragile and would remain a significant geopolitical unit [37][40] Brzezinski's Influence & Legacy - Brzezinski's family provided access to his diaries, offering a first-hand account of historical events and his thinking [5] - Brzezinski's approach to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan involved stoking Soviet paranoia and providing covert support to the Mujahideen, contributing to the Soviets' "Vietnam" [60][63] - Brzezinski's biggest mistake was his advice to Carter on Iran, including supporting the Shah and urging a rescue mission, reflecting a lack of understanding of Iranian dynamics [44][47] Modern Geopolitical Implications - The author suggests that Brzezinski would likely advise against a US-Russia alliance to counter China, instead favoring leveraging Russian paranoia about China to create distance between the two powers [65][68] - The author contrasts the strategic thinking of figures like Brzezinski and Kissinger with the perceived lack of expertise and strategic depth in contemporary politics [28][29] - The author highlights the shift from a bipartisan consensus on foreign policy during the Cold War to a more fragmented landscape with differing views on the nature and source of threats [30][31]

Market Trends & Funding Strategies - Multinational companies are increasingly borrowing in RMB (remmbb) to seek cheaper funding and hedge against US-China relations [1][2] - Total RMB borrowing by overseas companies (Panda bond issuance) reached a record high of almost 200 billion RMB (remmbb) in 2024 [1] - Panda bond issuance in Q1 2024 exceeded 40 billion RMB (remmbb), marking the second-highest quarter on record [1] Strategic Shift & Regulatory Impact - Global companies are shifting their strategy to raise debt locally for their Chinese subsidiaries [2] - Chinese authorities are now allowing companies to transfer funds raised from Panda bonds outside of mainland China [2] - This "in China for China" strategy helps companies reduce transaction costs and hedge against potential financial restrictions due to US-China tensions [2] Panda Bond Issuers - International organizations and foreign governments, such as Hungary, have also issued panda bonds [3]

The European Union is making a new push for deeper, more integrated capital markets in an effort to reduce a competitiveness gap visa v the United States and boost its own growth. Given the lack of dynamism in the economy, the issue has shut up the top of the political agenda. For many in the business and political elite, the leakage of EU listings to the US, it's not just a missed opportunity, but a structural threat.To fix that, earlier this year, the European Commission presented the Savings and Investme ...

[Music] Japan is having fewer babies than ever [Music] before. Meanwhile, the number of very elderly people is at a record high. This year brings the country to a tipping point known as the 2025 problem with Japan's huge postwar baby boom generation now all in their mid to late 70s.When it comes to living with a shrinking and aging population, the data clearly shows that Japan is ahead of other countries, but also that its path isn't unique, and neither are the potential solutions. So, the rest of the world ...

Japanese anime has shifted over the years from something niche to a global phenomenon. One of Japan's most potent vectors of soft power. Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Pokémon, Akira, and a galaxy of others have become touchstones of culture for 800 million fans worldwide, including sports stars, musicians, and even politicians.International studios and investors have seen the appeal of its extensive back catalog of characters and plot lines, at least to superhero franchises have founded. The global mark for anime ...

The FT does this kind of lighthearted thing every year where we have a stock picking competition and in my list of shorts I put Micro Strategy and I got annihilated and what I want to do is understand what it is that I'm missing here. Okay. Um what are people missing about Bitcoin and what are they missing about strategy.This is Michael Sailor. His company, Strategy, owns more Bitcoin than any other on the planet. Right now, that's about $50 billion worth.And in the crypto world, that makes him kind of a bi ...