Latest news with #Koopman
Qatar Tribune
24-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
US 'secret sauce' at risk: tariffs, threaten economic edge
Agencies The American economy has outperformed others by relying on a sort of secret, magic 'sauce', but Washington's tariff and immigration policies are threatening to shift the outlook, according to leading US scholars attending the 'Summer Davos' in China. At the gathering, formally known as the World Economic Forum's 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, they collectively took stock of the US economy and debated whether it would be China or the US that most advances the frontier of tech and innovation. In one discussion on Tuesday, panellists such as former World Trade Organization chief economist Robert Koopman and Harvard professor of government Graham Allison took a look back at the US from where they sat in Tianjin, and they discussed the outlook for potential developments in the face of Washington's policy changes. Explaining that America's special concoction has several important ingredients, experts speculated that the US might be ditching key components, and that China may be advancing more quickly. 'Sectors have been able to get the capital and the workers they need, and it drives productivity growth in the US. You add immigration to that … It creates a nice magic sauce,' Koopman said. That sauce also includes higher education, according to Paul Gruenwald, chief economist at S&P Global Ratings. 'We're getting talent from all over the world in our top universities,' Gruenwald said. 'They start new businesses, they create value for the US.'However, he explained, 'if you start to damage that linkage between the education, finance and tech sectors, there are negative consequences'. 'If that secret sauce for medium-term growth is gone, then you would have to be marked down there,' he said. Harvard's Allison, meanwhile, said China also has all the right ingredients. 'They have a lot of risk,' he said. 'But I think they have all the ingredients to continue along the path that they're on, growing. It's generally twice the rate of the US, so that path looks likely to continue.' Koopman also praised China's advancements in tech. 'The US economy is one of those economies that really pushes the frontier out. If you look at China's model now, it is really focused on innovation and pushing out that frontier, too. I think that's a very good model.' Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the US economy has fared better than most other economies. But panel members also voiced concerns about the damage that US President Donald Trump's policies could do. 'As we watch what's now happening, while I look for the American team to do as well as possible, the current performance of the US economy, in my view, is poor and getting poorer,' Allison worry over a slowing US economy is also borne out in the World Bank's latest growth forecast published this month, with the US economy expected to expand by a mere 1.4 per cent in 2025 compared with last year's 2.8 per cent clip. China is forecast to grow 4.5 per cent this year. The global economy and trade outlook has been further complicated by Trump's erratic tariffs, coupled with simmering regional tensions such as the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict that the US is now involved in. Koopman said Trump's pursuit of tariffs and other unilateral policies will not only make the US isolated, they will increasingly push other countries closer to China. 'I suspect that many of those countries would say, 'we have challenges with China, but China is more predictable than the US', so there's this uncertainty aspect,' he said. 'You'd rather deal with the devil you know than the devil you have no idea what they're gonna do.' Some analysts also warn that Trump's immigration policies and disputes with top American universities could do more harm than tariffs. 'If I were running the rivalry against the US, and you tell me, 'I have a great plan; we can undermine this source of American strength', I would say that's fantastic. It would be a brilliant strategic coup,' Allison said. 'Unfortunately, [that's what] Trump, at least in some of his impulses, is doing to ourselves. 'I still hope this is going to get sorted out … there's already some substantial damage.'
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Stabbing suspect denied bail as Mossel Bay court hears of family trauma
The 27-year-old man accused of murdering Barbarians rugby player Leroy Koopman was denied bail this morning. According to Mossel Bay Advertiser, Na'min October, accused of stabbing Koopman (34) to death with a sharp object, appeared in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court today, when bail judgment was delivered. October faces a charge of murder. During proceedings, the court heard that Koopman and October were not only neighbours but also once friends. The stabbing took place in the early hours of June 16, in front of Koopman's grandparents' house in Adriaans Avenue, KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay. October lived across the street from the family. The court heard that an argument is believed to have taken place between the rugby player and October's older brother before Koopman was attacked. The argument had taken place outside the two homes. It is alleged October intervened to defend his brother by commanding his dog to attack Koopman, who then reportedly kicked the animal. It is reported that October's brother was back inside his home at that stage. After seeing the kicking of the dog, October went inside his home and grabbed a knife before returning to Koopman and allegedly stabbing him in the chest. The court was told that if October were to be granted bail, it would be traumatising for Koopman's widow Janine, the couple's two daughters, Jaylin (7) and Leora (2), and Koopman's son Zayan (13), if October were to return to his home and the Koopman family were to see him every day. The court was told that Janine and her children were significant factors that led to the decision to deny October bail, as well as the manner in which the incident took place and the fact that Koopman's death has shocked the community. The case was postponed to July 28 for further investigation. October remains in police custody until his next appearance. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Edenvale boxers shine and stumble at Emperors Palace fight night
It was a boxing bonanza as fighters from Edenvale recently stepped into the ring at Emperors Palace. Three local fighters competed in The Coronation Box and Dine Tournament, held at the Centre Court on May 31, delivering a night filled with both triumph and heartbreak. Headlining the event was Primrose resident Shervantaigh Koopman, who trains out of the Edenvale-based Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy. ALSO READ: Boxing SA under fire as retired boxers seek missing millions Koopman, who entered the ring with a 15-fight unbeaten streak, had his world title hopes dashed after a tough loss to Portugal's Uisma 'Monster' Lima, the defending IBO Super Welterweight champion. Lima, born in Angola, came out aggressively in the opening round. It took Koopman several rounds to adjust to the champion's unrelenting pressure. Though Koopman appeared to be gaining ground in the third and fourth rounds, Lima's intensity didn't wane. By the fifth round, the crowd began to understand why the Monster had defeated his previous three unbeaten opponents. The decisive moment came in the ninth round when Lima landed a vicious left hook that sent Koopman to the canvas. ALSO READ: Local boxers give fans a thrill in tournament Though he bravely got back to his feet, another punishing left prompted Koopman's corner to throw in the towel—ending his unbeaten streak at 15 fights. Despite the setback, Koopman and his team are expected to regroup, re-strategize, and return stronger in the near future. Kuse overcomes early knockdown to secure victory In the undercard event, South African and ABU Strawweight champion Siyakholwa 'One Way' Kuse, also from the Brian Mitchell Boxing Academy, faced the experienced Samuel Salva of the Philippines in an international minimumweight bout. Salva shocked the crowd by dropping Kuse in the first round with a furious opening attack. ALSO READ: Edenvale boxers take to the ring However, Kuse beat the count and used his full skillset to weather the storm. As the rounds progressed, he found his rhythm and steadily turned the tide. By the later rounds, Kuse was in full control. In the ninth, he returned the favor by sending Salva to the canvas. Although Salva beat the count and completed all 10 rounds, Kuse had done enough to earn a unanimous decision victory, with the judges scoring the bout 97–91, 95–94, and 97–92. In the opening bout of the evening, fellow Edenvale fighter Tyla Promnick remained unbeaten after dominating debutant Zanele Masilela of eMalahleni in a strawweight contest. Promnick, trained by Alan Toweel at the Alan Toweel Boxing Gym in Linden, dropped Masilela three times in the opening round. She continued the onslaught in the second, forcing Masilela's corner to throw in the towel just 57 seconds into the round, giving Promnick a TKO victory in the fight, which was scheduled for four rounds. Promnick now boasts an impressive record of 3–0. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Local boxer targets IBO Super Welterweight title
Primrose's Shervantaigh 'Silent Killer' Koopman faced his toughest challenge to date when he took on Portugal's Uisma Lima for the latter's IBO Super Welterweight title. Lima and Koopman met at Emperors Palace on May 27 for a pre-fight press conference, preparing to face off in the headline bout of the Coronation Box and Dine Tournament at the Palace of Dreams' Centre Court on May 31. ALSO READ: Germiston fighter wins gold in kickboxing tournament The 'Silent Killer' was a fan favourite at the East Rand resort and casino, where he had won various titles, including the WBA Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight and IBO Inter-Continental Junior Middleweight titles. All eyes were on Koopman, who came into the battle undefeated at 16-0. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hear from experts on Trump, future of democracy at Calvin panel
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Calvin University is hosting a panel with several political experts 'as questions mount about the future of American democracy,' the school says. The panel, titled ',' is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Meeter Center Lecture Hall. The event is open to the public. The panel includes an international relations expert, a constitutional law expert, a federal and state relations expert and political parties expert Professor Emeritus of Politics Doug Koopman, Ph.D. 'We think that covers the range of issues that are in front of people today as they try to make sense of the news,' Koopman told News 8. Stocks quake after Trump threatens to escalate trade war He said his department organized the event after hearing questions and concerns from students and the broader community. Koopman, an expert on political parties and Congress, noted that Trump is 'challenging some long-standing assumptions about the American's role in the world.' Trump, Netanyahu nix White House press conference 'He's really challenging everything all of the time. We've had these challenges before, we've had presidents come in who try to reorder some major pieces,' Koopman said. 'We're likely to go through it well, but there will be a lot of tension and adjustment for some time.' He added that the panel will also aim to provide historical context. 'We're pretty resilient, we've gotten through a lot of difficulties before,' he said. For the full conversation with Professor Emeritus of Politics Doug Koopman, watch the video in the player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
