International
Headlines
Sea change: ‘Amazon and Alibaba are creating the biggest revolution in shipping for 60 years,’ logistics expert tells international conference
Global e-commerce is leading the biggest shake up in international shipping since containerization, ParcelHero’s David Jinks will tell a major world maritime conference in London. Shipping lines will be forced to either integrate with Amazon and Alibaba or be submerged by the digital revolution. ‘A change in global supply chains even greater than...
Private education is stepping in where the state leaves off
DOGS AND emaciated cows pick their way through the rubbish dump that marks the visitor’s arrival in Sangam Vihar, an “unauthorised colony” amidst the sprawl of south Delhi. It sprang up without planning permission and now houses 1.5m people. The government offers very little in the way of services. Water arrives in trucks run by gangs whose members...
A look inside a Pakistani madrassa
AFTER HIS victory in the battle of Badr in 624, the Prophet released the prisoners he had taken, on condition that they teach others to read. That, says Muhammed Asghar Saqib, principal of the Jamia Ghousia Rizvia madrassa attached to the mosque in Lahore’s main market, is a measure of Islam’s respect for education. But, he goes on, “there is...
Private education is booming in new markets and new forms
HOUSED in a jumble of ancient buildings in the shadow of Westminster Abbey, Westminster School has been educating boys since it was founded in 1560 by Queen Elizabeth I to provide lessons for 40 poor scholars. It has evolved since then—its 750 pupils now include some girls, and with fees of £39,252 a year for boarders and £27,174 for day pupils,...
Online tutoring works better than some might expect
AMANDA SPIKES, aged 27, sits in her tiny bedroom in Brooklyn, New York, talking through her headset to eight-year-old Joey in Hebei province, northern China. On the wall behind her are felt hangings that read “Team Amanda” and “VIPKid”, the company for which she works. On the screen are images of her, Joey and some teaching materials. “Happy...
Finance
Blockbuster Battle Between Steven Spielberg and Netflix Fizzles
LOS ANGELES — It has the makings of a great screenplay: As the future of an entire industry hangs in the balance, the ultimate establishment figure — a genius in his fourth decade of domination — goes to battle with a menacing interloper.That hyperbolic story line has enveloped Steven Spielberg since early last month, when reports surfaced that...
Blamed for Wildfires, PG&E Seeks Higher Electricity Rates
Pacific Gas & Electric has been blamed for starting some of California’s most devastating wildfires. Now it is asking state officials for permission to raise electricity rates to pay for safety improvements and to offset the financial risk of more wildfires.PG&E, working its way through its second bankruptcy in two decades, isn’t alone in...
Excerpts of Stephen Moore’s Writing: Bashing Women, Gay Rights and More
Stephen Moore is a conservative commentator best known for opining on economic issues. But the longtime columnist, who is in line to be nominated to the Federal Reserve Board by President Trump, has also written on a range of social topics during his career, including women’s rights, gender equity and marriage.While many of these pieces were written...
Stocks Just Hit a Record. Thank the Fed.
Stocks Just Hit a Record. Thank the Fed.The bull market lives, thanks to the Federal Reserve’s new, more relaxed approach to interest rates.By Matt PhillipsApril 23, 2019The economy is softening, profit growth is slowing, and a trade war between the United States and China is grinding on. Stock investors don’t mind.The S&P 500 rose to a record...
Stephen Moore’s Paper Trail: Bashing Women, Gay Rights and More
Stephen Moore is a conservative commentator best known for opining on economic issues. But the longtime columnist, who is in line to be nominated to the Federal Reserve Board by President Trump, has also written on a range of social topics during his career, including women’s rights, gender equity and marriage.While many of these pieces were written...
Legal
South Africa Publishes More About Money Laundering Vulnerabilities
As noted in a prior blog post, South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (“FIC”) periodically releases financial crime typologies and case studies. Recently it published information about typologies in two different lines of business: (1) casinos and the gambling industry, and (2) the property sector, discussed in this post. The Property Sector...
“Cum-Ex” Tax Scandal Arrives in Strasbourg and Ensnares International Law Firm
It is said that the history of tax avoidance is as long as the history of tax. One of the latest tax avoidance strategies, which has seemingly crossed the line to illegal tax evasion, is that of “Cum-Ex” share trading, sometimes referred to as “dividend stripping.” For the past few years, German authorities have led...… Continue ReadingRead...
Travelers Beware – Compelled to Open Your Phone?
Recent rulings conflict on whether police can force individuals to unlock their smartphones. The result depends upon where you are located, with differing rulings from Massachusetts and California. Further, there is an international dimension, illustrated by a recent decision from Israel. In short, as described below, the traveler must beware. The United...
New OFAC CAPTA List Targets Foreign Banks
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) recently announced the creation of a new list of sanctioned parties specific to foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”). The Correspondent Account of Payable-Through Account Sanctions (the “CAPTA List”) identifies FFIs that are prohibited or severely restricted from opening or maintaining a U.S....
United Arab Emirates Removed From Tax Havens List
The European Union recently removed the United Arab Emirates from the list of Uncooperative Tax Havens. The UAE achieved this goal after enhancing the substance and transparency of its taxation procedures. Tax analysts believe this action will make the UAE an even more attractive destination for foreign investment in future. Background of Tax Avoidance...
Deals
EMEA Deal Drivers in 2018
This exclusive and comprehensive report presents an in-depth review of all M&A activities across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EMEA), with analyses of specific geographical regions and market sectors. It also identifies key trends set to develop over the course of 2019. The report key highlights include: 2018 saw uneven progress for M&A,...
Intralinks® Deal Flow Predictor for Q2 2019
The number of announced M&A deals in Europe, the Middle East & Africa is forecast to fall by around 1 percent year-over-year during the first six months of 2019, with the Real Estate, Energy & Power and Materials sectors in Southern Europe and the Middle predicted to lead growth, according to the latest issue of the Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor. Along...
Harris Williams advises NSC Minerals Ltd. on its sale to Kissner Group Holdings LP
Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces that it advised NSC Minerals Ltd. (NSC), a portfolio company of Altas Partners (Altas), on its sale to Kissner Group Holdings LP (Kissner). The transaction was led by Tim Webb, Ty Denoncourt and Peter Grace of the Harris Williams’ Industrials Group and Joe Conner...
How company bosses need to protect themselves from increasingly ‘creative’ legal action
Company bosses and directors are being targeted increasingly with ‘creative’ legal action over investment deals that have gone wrong. It is clear that management teams and non-executive directors are now operating in a rapidly developing and fraught environment. Claims from investors and lenders are being pursued more aggressively outside...
Zephyr Global M&A Review, 2018
Global M&A value up year-on-yearValue increases in all regions except Asia-Pacific and MENA, boosted by sizeable deals in Western Europe and North AmericaPE/VC value also up, driven by investment in Western Europe The aggregate value of global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) increased in 2018, according to M&A information collected by Bureau van Dijk,...
Acq Lite
At World’s Biggest Dog Show, Pups That Give New life to Disabled Owners
EDITOR’S NOTE: This news is courtesy of iCopyright, so GNN has no control over the ads. Please remember we do not endorse the advertisements. The post At World’s Biggest Dog Show, Pups That Give New life to Disabled Owners appeared first on Good News Network. Read More
Stranger Sets Off Incredible Chain of Good Deeds That Saved 6 Lives
Six lives were saved at a hospital this week, and it is all thanks to one woman's decision to “be selfless for a day”. The post Stranger Sets Off Incredible Chain of Good Deeds That Saved 6 Lives appeared first on Good News Network. Read More
10 Things I Wish I Would Have Told My Kids
Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to your current experience—both the internal and external—without judgment. Practicing mindfulness allows us to make wiser choices and pursue healthier and more beneficial avenues in life. Had I learned them earlier in life, I would have taught my kids the valuable life lessons that I’ve gleaned from...
DIY or Die: How an Industrious Outback Nurse Diagnosed His Own Heart Attack and Stayed Alive
The nurse was stationed at his medical outpost 100 miles away from the nearest hospital when he realized that he was about to have a heart attack. The post DIY or Die: How an Industrious Outback Nurse Diagnosed His Own Heart Attack and Stayed Alive appeared first on Good News Network. Read More
Daily Dose of Cute: Dachshund Shows Off Skills by Maneuvering Maze of Plastic Water Bottles
If you’re mourning the end of the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, you might like these games of skill involving a long-haired Dachshund. Takao showed off his thinking abilities earlier this week when he successfully maneuvered a maze of plastic water bottles that was erected by his owner. In the videos posted to his Instagram page, the...