Interview
Shock and war: Myanmar junta exploits quake
- The UN $8 million aid appeal faces significant hurdles in delivering resources to those in need due to challenges in bypassing the Myanmar regime.
- The earthquake death toll, currently at 1,700, is projected to rise substantially higher than reported figures owing to an active communications blackout.
- Resistance forces in Myanmar are expected to suffer severe setbacks as they rely on local communities struggling with basic survival needs.
- The Myanmar junta is not anticipated to face an existential threat to its power from the earthquake and is instead expected to exploit the crisis to consolidate its grip.
- Humanitarian aid within Myanmar is expected to be selectively directed only to areas loyal to the regime as a tactic for political control.
- The Trump administration plans to eliminate government-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
- Federal-funded broadcasters are expected to be effectively stifled in practice despite the administration's stated legal limitations on elimination.
- These broadcasters are expected to be dismantled rapidly, a move intended to keep opponents off balance and preempt anticipated lawsuits.
- Some broadcasters hope to sustain minimal production output long enough for lawsuits to reverse or partially reverse the funding cuts.
- Radio Free Europe may potentially secure funding from European sources due to the historical dependence of European nations on its broadcasts.
- The 2025 Economist Glass Ceiling Index is expected to indicate that most countries are improving, though year-to-year progress remains slow.
- American women are anticipated to be significantly more likely to exit the workforce to care for children given the absence of federally mandated parental leave and high childcare costs.
- The proportion of company board seats held by women is projected to continue an upward trajectory, having increased from 21% in 2016 to 33% currently.
- The gender pay gap across the OECD group is expected to remain fixed at 11% despite initiatives such as pay gap disclosure laws.