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Jill Dougherty is adjunct professor at Georgetown University and a former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN) Some of the most dramatic -- and diplomatically delicate -- moments in United States-Russia relations are linked to prisoner exchanges. Jill Dougherty February 10, 1962: In a Cold War, Hollywood-style trade on the Glienicke Bridge between Berlin and Potsdam, two men -- an American and a Soviet -- walked in opposite directions across what would decades later be known as the "Bridge of Spies." They were Francis Gary Powers, the American pilot of a spy plane shot down over the USSR, and Soviet KGB colonel Rudolph Abel, who had served five years in the US on espionage charges. More than half a century later, Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer, certainly knows the value of prisoner swaps. In April, his administration freed former US Marine … [Read more...] about Opinion: Putin’s prisoner swap calculus

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Apple treads a fine line in China. It’s share of the world’s largest smartphone market has dropped to 10% as it has lost ground to local rivals , it has been forced by the U.S. trade war into exploring options for shifting manufacturing away from its primary base, and when an iOS hack was traced to China’s suppression of its Uighur minority, Apple infamously neglected to reference China in its statements, choosing instead to attack Google for inaccuracies in its reporting. This game of geopolitical Twister was evident again in recent days, after Apple faced heavy criticism for blocking HKMap Live , an iPhone app designed to help Hong Kong’s citizens track the locations of protests and police activity, with the intent, so said its developer, of helping people avoid trouble spots and stay safe. The reason for the rejection was that the app “facilitates, enables, and encourages an activity that is not legal,” … [Read more...] about Apple Prompts Furious Backlash After Failing To Get It Right In China—Again

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for India for the current financial year by 80 basis points to 7.4 percent. A similar downgrade has been made to the growth forecast for FY24, which now stands at 6.1 percent as against 6.9 percent earlier. "For India, the revision reflects mainly less favourable external conditions and more rapid policy tightening," the IMF said on July 26 in an update to its World Economic Outlook report. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February disrupted supplies of crucial commodities, pushing up prices globally. Consequently, key central banks in the developed world, such as the US Federal Reserve, have begun tightening their monetary policies in earnest to cut down multi-decade high inflation . This has exerted further pressure on the Indian rupee, which has hurtled to multiple record lows in recent weeks and last week breached the 80-per-dollar mark for the first time . Close … [Read more...] about IMF cuts India’s FY23 growth forecast by 80 bps to 7.4%

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Gallery: The 93 Global Billionaires In Oil And Energy, 2016 87 images View gallery The incredibly powerful combination of fracking and horizontal drilling has sent U.S. natural gas supplies through the roof and prices through the floor. With marketed production increasing about 35% since 2008 to ~78 Bcf/d, prices have plummeted over 60% to around $3 per MMBtu. Check this U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) graphic to see just how historically low our gas prices really are, here . Last year brought the lowest gas prices we have seen since 1999 - and prices will remain low for as far as our modelers forecast. EIA just projected here that U.S. gas production will increase 1-2% per year in the coming decades, surging to 85 Bcf/d in 2020 and onto more than 100 Bcf/d by 2035 and even more in the subsequent years. This unstoppable rise in U.S. gas production stems mostly from an … [Read more...] about Why U.S. Natural Gas Prices Will Remain Low

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Your first solo trip may seem daunting as you’re responsible for the entire planning process and getting around. At the same time, it can also be enriching and liberating to navigate independently and do as you please. These tips can help make it easier to enjoy your travels while staying safe when traveling alone. Research The Destination It’s best to plan your tentative activities, accommodations and transportation plans ahead of schedule. Tracking the latest travel restrictions can prevent travel mishaps too. As you plan your trip, read visitor reviews and search for potential red flags and risk factors. Visiting highly-rated establishments can increase your safety. Booking in advance can also prevent travel surprises. Advance reservations can also potentially help secure a lower price. Don’t Rush Your Trip Booking a flight with a tight connection window or not allowing enough time at one destination … [Read more...] about 7 Tips For Your First Solo Trip

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Apple has found itself in a PR nightmare in recent days, with the tech giant’s troubled relationship with China thrust into an unwelcoming media spotlight. What began as a little trouble in big China—the withdrawal of an app that let Hong Kong’s citizens track protest trouble spots, has become a fiery geopolitical debate over Apple’s loyalties and whether it puts profits before politics, reality before reputation. This started with an app—but it has now pushed Apple’s track record of acquiescence to Beijing into the media. It has also exposed a leaning towards continuing self-censorship on Apple’s part that has even embroiled the company’s new flagship TV streaming service. Never before has Apple’s China problem presented such a challenge to the wider business, with such potential for lasting reputational damage. The game of yoyo HKMap Live played with Apple’s App Store is well documented. The app crowdsources Hong Kong … [Read more...] about Apple’s China Nightmare Just Got Even Worse