Straight Talk with Bernie Lo

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• Can Shinzo Abe Revitalize the Economy? 

  

  PK Basu, MD & Head of Asia Research & Economics, Maybank Kim Eng and Ed Rogers, CEO & CIO, Rogers Investment Advisors discuss whether Abe-san can efficiently weaken the yen and fight deflation.

• Rocket Launch Further Isolates Pyongyang 

  

  Tony Michell, Korea Associates Business Consultancy, Managing Director questions what the North Korean leadership wishes to achieve with the rocket launch.

• Reviving Japan's Economy 

  

  Mark Hibbs, MD & Portfolio Manager, Gen2 Partners & David Cook, Associate Professor of Economics, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology discuss the Japanese economy's road to revival as the country approaches an election due on December 16. Cook explains why it is the inefficiency of Japan's business sector, not monetary policy, that is plaguing Japan. Hibbs says that potential leader Shinzo Abe gives some hope to market participants who may be pessimistic about the current governor's policy implementations.

• Super Storm Sandy's Aftermath  

  

  Jim Thompson, Chairman, Crown Worldwide discusses super storm Sandy's impact on the U.S. economy. He further talks about its impact on the political climate leading up to the country's presidential elections.

• Obama Versus Romney - Race to the Finish 

  

  Sara Jordan, Assistant Professor, University of Hong Kong and David Smith, Lecturer, University of Sydney discuss the presidential candidates' positions as they approach the November elections. Smith says that Obama is the current favorite while Jordan she says that polls are irrelevant indicators at this point of the campaign. They explain why.

• Obama Versus Romney - Round 2  

  

  Mark Michelson, Senior Counselor, APCO Worldwide and Alejandro Reyes, Senior Advisor, U.S.-Asia Institute discuss the game changers of Obama and Romney's second debate as the president makes his strong comeback.

• The U.S. Case Against Huawei 

  

  Jake Saunders, VP for Forecasting, ABI Research and Steve Vickers, CEO, Steve Vickers & Associates discuss the U.S. lawmakers' case against Huawei and ZTE. Saunders says that there hasn't been substance behind the accusations. Vickers agrees, saying that the U.S. report was not the best book to get the full document.

• Obama Versus Romney - Round 1 

  

  Michael Degolyer, Professor of Government and International Relations, Hong Kong Baptist University & Terrill Frantz, Assistant Professor, Faculty of HSBC Business School, Peking University discuss the major sticking points gathered from the first round of the U.S. Presidential Debate.

• China's Labor Woes 

  

  Kirk Yang, Head of Asia Tech Hardware Research, Barclays and Geoffrey Crothall, Spokesman, China Labour Bulletin discuss China's role as a world manufacturing hub in view of the mass labor unrest in the country's major supplier to Apple, Foxconn.

• China, Japan Should Jointly Explore Disputed Islands: Kevin Rudd

  

  Australia's former prime minister and longtime China watcher Kevin Rudd told CNBC that China and Japan can solve their dispute over the East China Sea islands by jointly exploring and sharing resources around these islands.

• China-Japan Dispute 

  

  Phillip Chan, Director, Shenyin Wanguo Securities and Nicholas Smith, Director and Strategist, CLSA discuss the economic and trade impacts of China and Japan's dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

• Keeping Home Prices Under Control 

  

  Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala Chairman & CEO, Ayala Corporation discusses the health of Philippines' housing sector, providing perspective in context of the country's economy. He is optimistic based on current developments in this sector.

• Nigeria 'Too Big and Too Strong' to Fall Into Territorial Control Traps 

  

  Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Finance Minister of Nigeria and Coordinating Minister for Economy debunks claims of how China might be exploiting Africa in certain unsavory regimes.

• President Obama's Shot at a Second Term 

  

  Alvin Wilkinson, Founder and Principal Portfolio Manager, Surveyor Management & Alvin Liew, Senior Economist, UOB discuss President Obama's likelihood of winning a second term at the upcoming elections. Wilkinson is concerned that Obama won't be able to pass resolutions amid a Republican House, while Liew thinks there isn't a one-size-fit-all solution to the fiscal problems in the U.S.

• A Polar Adventure in Hong Kong 

  

  Penguins are some of the newest inhabitants of Hong Kong's Ocean Park as part of the marine park's efforts in scaling up the world ranks of theme parks. Tom Mehrmann, CEO, Ocean Park discusses the details of this multi-million dollar revamp.

• Obama versus Romney  

  

  Ross Feingold, Chair, Republicans Abroad, Asia and Dae Levine, Chair, Democrats Abroad, Australia debate about the issues facing Obama and Romney as they approach the upcoming November elections. Feingold affirmed popular response which claimed Romney's speech in the Republican National Convention last week a homerun. Levine, while acknowledging that response, argued otherwise. She further cites various misrepresentations in Romney and running partner Paul Ryan's speeches.

• Politics & Policy in China  

  

  A Chinese court hands a suspended death sentence to Gu Kailai, wife of former fast-rising political star Bo Xilai. Dane Chamorro, Director, Global Risk Analysis, Asia Pacific, Control Risks and Colin Chapman, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Stratfor discuss the economic and political facets of this case.

• Taking On Big Tobacco  

  

  Rob Moodie, Professor of Public Health, University of Melbourne explains why he thinks that Australia's new anti-smoking law banning logos on cigarette packs is a good thing.

• Julia Gillard's Likeability Questioned 

  

  Mark Rolfe, Lecturer - School of Social Sciences and International Studies University of New South Wales and Peter Chen, Lecturer - Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney explain why they don't think that Julia Gillard will survive a re-election. They further discuss reasons why their respective candidates of choice are likely to win the next election.