MATTHEW STAFFORD
Matthew Stafford is a former business journalist at The Millennial Source.
His areas of focus have included US-China relations, tech giants and the startup scene.
Originally from Sunderland, UK, Matthew graduated from Cambridge University.
Wildberries, “Russia’s Amazon,” goes head to head with the e-commerce giant in Europe
Founded in 2004 by former teacher Tatyana Bakalchuk, Wildberries has since leapfrogged larger, better-financed competitors to become one of the...
Uber drivers declared “workers” in the UK. What does this mean for the “gig economy?”
The ruling could be transformative for Uber’s business not just in the UK, but worldwide.
Janet Yellen calls for “big” stimulus under Biden administration as US recovery slows
The unprecedented public health crisis remains deeply entwined with a difficult economic climate, underscoring the significant challenges that await the...
What is Biden’s plan to vaccinate America?
President-elect Joe Biden has outlined a plan to accelerate the delivery of vaccines to Americans, calling the rollout overseen by...
Telegram and Signal user numbers soar after WhatsApp rules change
The new policy changes will primarily benefit companies and businesses, which will now be allowed to use WhatsApp’s metadata to...
What direction will US-China relations take under President Biden?
Under the Biden administration, a different strategy will likely be sought to counter those issues in US-China trade highlighted during...
US housing market faces unaffordability crisis after coronavirus
Though mortgage rates have been driven low, affordability has not followed and prices have surged over the last year as...
After chaos at US Capitol, President Trump is frozen out of social media
The growing conflict between Trump and social media platforms came to a head after the disturbing events of January 6.
If Section 230 is repealed, the internet would change forever
The Trump administration has gone to significant lengths in its attempt to secure Section 230’s repeal, in a campaign fueled...
China’s scrutiny of tech companies fuels crackdown fears
Chinese tech companies such as Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. are closing out the year under significantly...
How will the Biden administration handle Australia-China tensions?
China’s economic and diplomatic conflict with Australia will play a central role in dictating how the new US president navigates...
How has US-China trade evolved under President Trump?
As President Donald Trump’s term now comes to an end, the future of US-China relations will likely remain volatile under...
Are “vaccination passports” the future of international travel?
The rollout of effective vaccinations promises relief to certain industries that have been relentlessly battered by the pandemic.
SoftBank CEO wants his company to go private. Insiders aren’t so sure
Son is reportedly looking to continue selling assets in order to fund a buyback of shares held in the company,...
Did concerns over the US debt lead to a smaller stimulus package?
The US$900 billion bipartisan bill is on the lower end of what has been more than half a year's worth...
Switzerland and Vietnam declared “currency manipulators” by the US
The designation adds yet another foreign policy conundrum for the incoming Biden administration to ponder, alongside the overarching and dominating...
Vaccine developer AstraZeneca acquires Alexion in a controversial move
Investors are uncertain about the acquisition’s merits, due to Alexion’s huge price tag and its relatively meager contribution to AstraZeneca’s...
What does Biden’s economic team say about his priorities?
The team will be tasked with fulfilling the Biden-Harris pledge to “build back better” following the coronavirus pandemic.
After a difficult 2020, where is Huawei now?
Now, after a long year of uncertainty and instability for Huawei, it appears the company’s woes are still not at...
Facebook’s antitrust lawsuits, explained
There is growing support for antitrust action against big tech, with scrutiny set to continue even after the end of...
Trump’s lame-duck presidency sees sanctions of Chinese companies continue
Trump is using the eleventh-hour of his presidency to ratchet up pressure against Chinese corporations before the Biden administration can...
Tsinghua Unigroup’s default illustrates the risks of China’s bond market
China’s government is increasingly willing to allow companies, even state-linked companies, to fail if they take on too much debt.
Salesforce acquires Slack for US$27.7 billion in record year for remote working
Officially founded in 2013, Slack boasts around 12 million daily active users, with the work communication and services platform having...
What would Janet Yellen mean for US relations with China?
Though Yellen’s personal views on China are well documented, she will have to face growing bipartisan distaste for China.
Why is the Chinese government cracking down on fintech?
The Chinese government is seeking to rein in the fintech industry, which for years has been under-regulated when compared with...
Ex-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s arrests deemed “extrajudicial abuse” by UN human rights panel
Japan’s justice system is renowned for its 99% conviction rate, which is largely based on suspects confessing their guilt during...
Should Americans be paid to stay home as COVID cases rise?
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has argued that the US government needs to “pay people to stay home.”
What could President Biden do about student loan debt?
Supporters of canceling student loan debt argue that it inhibits economic growth and contributes to prevailing racial economic inequalities.
Despite the coronavirus downturn, hotel chain Marriott makes big profits
With an unprecedented downturn in international travel, hotels, restaurants and leisure centers have all suffered from the massive drop-off in...
Everything you need to know about the largest trading bloc in the world
The 15 countries forming the new “Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership” (RCEP) represent the world’s largest free-trade bloc and a sign...
Why did Pfizer’s CEO sell stocks after positive vaccine news?
The sale was structured and timed so that it could not be labeled as “insider trading,” but some were more...
China’s vaccine diplomacy, explained
In a worldwide charm offensive, China has attempted to offer its own vaccines to the world.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, explained
Though Pfizer’s trial results are undoubtedly good news, it will not bring the coronavirus pandemic to a sudden halt. People...
What does California’s Prop 22 mean for the gig economy?
Prop 22’s victory could have significant implications for the gig economy across the US. However, the challenges “gig” companies face,...
Everything you need to know about Ant Group’s failed IPO
The upending of Ant’s IPO comes as Chinese financial authorities had recently revealed new proposals to regulate the growing fintech...
President Trump’s deal-making record, explained
President Trump has hailed his record in office as a break from past “deals” that he claims have hurt American...
The effect of Trump’s economic policies on his base, explained
President Trump’s first term economic agenda has been dominated by a trade war with China, massive tax cuts and, now,...
Biden’s tax policy, explained
Former Vice President Joe Biden has stated that his administration, if elected, would reverse Trump-era tax cuts, raising taxes on...
Will both Biden and Trump increase US debt?
Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump are both signaling a continued expansion of the US debt, which...
What would Biden’s and Trump’s policies mean for unemployment?
With a new stimulus unlikely until after November’s presidential election, addressing US unemployment could be left to whoever occupies the...
What would Kamala Harris mean for the US economy?
Harris’ economic priorities appear mostly in-line with those put forward by Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.
Joe Biden’s green policy explained
Against President Trump’s denial of the threat that climate change poses, Biden’s plan appears transformational.
Will there be a second stimulus? Trump sends mixed messages
The announcement sent markets into a frenzy, with observers noting that the president had done little to revive his floundering...
Will workers return to the office or is “work from home” here to stay?
Should companies remain adamant about returning to the office, it is unlikely that the office itself will return to its...
The US effort to cut off China’s access to semiconductor technology, explained
The latest round of sanctions appears targeted to undermine China’s efforts to become self-reliant in semiconductor technology and maintain America’s...
Microsoft’s US$7.5 billion deal for ZeniMax could be a game-changer for next-generation consoles
The ZeniMax purchase is Microsoft’s attempt to change the rules for the upcoming battle of next-generation gaming consoles.
App store monopoly wars extend to India with Paytm’s Play Store removal
Paytm Payments Bank Pvt. Ltd. the Indian digital payment service, was briefly pulled from Google’s Play Store in September, as...
Social media companies tighten security with the US presidential election looming
Twitter recently announced new security measures ahead of the election in the United States this November. The announcement follows a...
Why do people want to “Defund the BBC?”
Calls to “defund the BBC,” the United Kingdom’s public service broadcaster, have escalated throughout 2020 as organizers of a social...
The “FinCEN Files,” the world’s latest banking corruption scandal, explained
A recent BuzzFeed News report, in cooperation with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and more than 100 news organizations...
Alibaba preparing US$3 billion investment in ride-hailing startup Grab
Chinese giant Alibaba Group Holding Limited is reportedly in talks to invest a US$3 billion sum in premier South East-Asian...
As Huawei struggles, rivals pull ahead
2020 has not been kind to Huawei. The Chinese telecoms and 5G giant has faced targeted sanctions and restrictions, both...
China challenges US supremacy in space
China’s government announced through the state-operated Xinhua News Agency on September 6 that it had completed the successful launch and...
The pandemic and shifting public opinion may signal the end of oil
Despite recent international oil finds and impetus from an oil-friendly President Donald Trump, oil, which has been drilled for continuously...
TikTok’s uncertain future is good for Snapchat
The increasing uncertainty over TikTok’s future may be coming as a benefit to other social media rivals, with Snapchat posting...
Is Amazon guilty of union-busting?
A recent job listing posted and then swiftly removed by Amazon has once again brought the issue of the e-commerce...
Will international airlines ever fully recover?
Flights and passenger numbers plummeted from February and March of this year as governments around the world adopted drastic measures...
Palantir – the “black sheep” of Silicon Valley
The secretive data analytics company Palantir announced this week that it would begin preparations for its Initial Public Offering, with...
Why are Uber and Lyft at war with California?
The shutdown of the ride-hailing apps Uber Technologies, Inc. and Lyft, Inc. in the state of California was narrowly avoided...
Epic Games goes to war with Apple
Apple Inc. has come under increasing fire in the last few months over the policies of its iOS App Store,...
