Tawakkol Karman: Nobody’s Pawn

The lady speaks her mind and would appreciate an opportunity to do so without getting harassed – or silenced – in the process. Tawakkol Karman, who shared the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize with two Liberian peace activists, is one of

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Playing with Fire: Greek Tragedy Reaches Climax

As the Greek tragedy nears its climax – now scheduled for next Thursday – European stock and bond markets took a hit with investors scurrying for safety and protagonists hurling verbal abuse across the stage. In Athens, Prime-Minister Alexis Tsipras

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Principles for Responsible Investment: Fiduciary Duty – Coming of Age

Unfortunately, fiduciary duty can be a contested term when it comes to investments, with different legal interpretations in countries around the world.  Fiduciary obligations exist to ensure that those who manage other people’s money act responsibly and in the interests

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Quantitative Easing: Another Shot for the Caffeine Junkie

Early in March, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced its intention to flood the market with about €1.1 trillion in quantitative easing (QE) monies over the course of 18 months by buying debt instruments – mostly government bonds – on

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Jeremy Howard: Make Way for the Smart Machine

Uber cabbies may have built their careers on modern technology, their job prospect is none too bright all the same. While old-school drivers wielding clubs pose the immediate threat to life, limb, and headlight; it is the robots who will

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IFC: The Art and Science of Benefits Sharing

Non-renewable natural resource projects – that is oil, gas, and minerals – are usually seen as part of a nation’s wealth. Accordingly, their use for the long-term sustainable development of a country is a prime objective of any legitimate government.

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Luisa Nenci, CEO of SustainValues: A Capital Market Union or a Sustainable Financial Market?

In his political guidelines for the next European Commission, President Jean-Claude Juncker pushed for the establishment of a capital market union. Such a union should develop and integrate capital markets in order to cut the cost of raising capital. This

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Natalia Vodianova: Rags to Riches Russian Style

Her face has graced the cover of all the major magazines, from Cosmopolitan to Marie Claire to Vogue in its many incarnations. Natalia Vodianova is one of the world’s top-earning models and the protagonist of a rags to riches fairy

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A Memorable Faux Pas: Warren Buffett Gets His Facts Wrong

Billionaire investor guru Warren Buffett has come to the defence of the American Dream – the promise of intergenerational upward social mobility enabled by a society that values hard work and knows few, if any, barriers. Usually quite sensible, spirited,

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Stealth at the Helm: The Manifest Destiny of Angela Merkel

As the Greek debt crisis inches to its climax, the euro’s guardians soften their tone of voice; not quite so sure any longer that contagion – and financial Armageddon – may yet be avoided. Over the past few weeks, the

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