The “brain drain” that has afflicted developing countries for decades is now going into reverse. But success requires more than plugging a leak; economic development requires countries to make active efforts to attract talent

MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

JUN 8, 2014

The Brain Regain

DUBAI – In 1968, while studying at the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom, I needed to visit a hospital. There I met a doctor who, to my surprise, spoke fluent Arabic. I learned that he was new to the UK, so I asked if he intended to stay long or return home. He replied with an Arabic saying that translates as: “My home is where I can eat.” Read more of this post

Chinese Shoppers Change Hong Kong Border Area; Vast numbers of mainland Chinese traders and shoppers are pumping money into Hong Kong, leading to rapid development of the territory’s border area

Chinese Shoppers Change Hong Kong Border Area

JUNE 10, 2014

By CHRIS HORTON

HONG KONG — Smoking a cigarette outside a mall in the border town of Sheung Shui, a man who gave his name only as Chen stands next to a wheeled cart filled with purchases. He is visiting from the Chinese city of Shantou, 177 miles away, a trip he makes several times a year.

“When I come to Hong Kong, it’s mainly to buy medicine — maybe some food products, too,” said Mr. Chen, who declined to provide his full name because of a crackdown on illegal exporting. “There are more brands available here, many of which you can’t find back home. On the mainland, there is also a lot of counterfeiting.” Read more of this post

Hong Kong Regulators Tense About China Loans

Hong Kong Regulators Tense About China Loans

By KEITH BRADSHER

JUNE 10, 2014 5:44 PM Comment

Updated, 8:25 p.m. | A surge in business loans to the slowing mainland Chinese economy has prompted Hong Kong regulators to impose strict financial rules four years before they are required under new global standards.

The move is aimed at discouraging banks in Hong Kong from raising money by relying too heavily on short-term funds that can evaporate during periods of tumult. But big global banks have been resisting, over fears that the rules will cut into their profit by driving up loan costs. Read more of this post

Joko Plans to Abolish National Exam for Younger Students; “It’s better to look stupid but be smart, rather than to look intellectual but be stupid. It’s better to listen to people’s opinion rather than act like a know-it-all.”

Joko Plans to Abolish National Exam for Younger Students

By SP/Arnold Sianturi on 11:52 pm Jun 10, 2014

1.  Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) presidential hopeful Joko Widodo on Tuesday said that he would eliminate Indonesia’s national exam for elementary and junior high school students if elected.

“It’s better if there’s no national exam for students in elementary school and junior high school,” Joko said at a teachers’ workshop in North Sumatra. “It’s better to look stupid but be smart, rather than to look intellectual but be stupid. It’s better to listen to people’s opinion rather than act like a know-it-all.”

The teachers said “Amen.”

He was referring to controversy surrounding the exam: critics have argued that the test is so difficult that it encourages rote learning and memorization aimed at achieving a high exam score rather than depth or subtly of comprehension.

Education Minister Muhammad Nuh last year said that he would eliminate the elementary school exam in 2014, which he did. But the government replaced it with a new, similar test, 75 percent of which was written by local education agencies and 25 percent of which was written by the central government.

Indonesian Election Fever Grips the Nation After Presidential TV Debate

Election Fever Grips the Nation After TV Debate

By Dessy Sagita on 11:11 pm Jun 10, 2014

Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, second to left, greets his opponent Joko Widodo, center, next to vice presidential candidates Hatta Rajasa, left, and Jusuf Kalla, right, before their presidential debate in Jakarta on June 9, 2014. (Reuters Photo/Supri)

1.  Election fever has gripped the nation after the first TV debate between Governor Joko Widodo and former general Prabowo Subianto, flanked by their respective running mates, Jusuf Kalla and Hatta Rajasa, engrossed viewers on Monday night.

Read more of this post