Around the 1960s the U.S. Army coined the name soft skills to refer to abilities other than those involved in working with machines. Military instructors realized the need for other abilities in the profesional development of its technicians and engineers.

The latest issue of the magazine La revista de Occidente includes the translation of an article by Peter Galison entitled “The journalist, the scientist and objectivity.” It describes the ease with which images are manipulated in today´s world. This has caused publications such as Science magazine to create protocols to prevent the presentation of manipulated illustrations. The perversion of information also reaches the world of journalism, where false rumors are propagated with a singular force.

The tale of the U.S. economy since the election of Donald Trump is one of great expectations but little growth.

In a report entitled The Future of Football, Futurizon predicts that in the future, sports events will be broadcast using tiny drones capable of hovering a few inches above the playing field, swirling around spectators or chasing the ball in the air. Except for referees, players and coaches, ordinary spectators have always enjoyed these events from architectural points of view:  the stands or the sides of the pitch. And, even if we don’t realize it yet, narratives have also depended on these points of view. What would happen if the perspective changed? Would it be possible to televise a match exactly as the referee sees it? Would that be of any interest at all? Or telling what an embedded drone observes?

We tend to configure our computers, our Smartphones, our social media and even our television. Digital adjustment allows us to adapt our devices and programs to our needs. But can we also configure ourselves?

The last global financial crisis demonstrated that the resolution of failing banks is a key component of financial regulation. With the goal of lowering the cost of banking crises and avoiding publicly funded bailouts, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) established a new framework for the resolution of financial institutions involving two types of strategies: Single Point of Entry (SPE) (applicable to groups with a centralized model) and Multiple Point of Entry (MPE) (applicable to groups with a decentralized model). Given its management model, MPE would be the most appropriate strategy for the BBVA Group.

After the Senate’s passage of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), Puerto Rico’s debt saga will enter a new chapter: closure. The bill will be signed by President Obama after receiving bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. Collective action from House leaders Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi and the White House at the outset has allowed for a timely and smooth passage, avoiding complications from missed payments due on July 1.

Fed members just can’t seem to make up their mind these days. One minute they are shouting out encouraging signals about the U.S. economy, and the next it is all gloom and doom. In the end, we are left with a mixed signal as to what is really going on, with the impression that Fed members themselves don’t really have any idea on how to proceed in such an uncertain economic environment.

Peru has played – and still does – a key role in BBVA’s projection and consolidation in South America. In 1995 the institution (still BBV back then) took its first step in its expansion in the region buying Banco Continental. Since then, year after year, Peru has emerged as a solid country with an increasing appeal for international investors.

Falling oil prices are pushing Colombia into a new reality. It is a reality that implies cuts in private and public spending and therefore also in short and medium term growth. This new reality can be seen through two different perspectives: the pessimistic view that relives the glory days of the past with oil prices around $100 per barrel and the optimistic view that shows us the opportunity to strengthen, find and build sources of growth for the near future. As I tend to be more of an optimist, I think that we stand before an opportunity.

Energy plays a crucial role in a country’s social and economic development. As a country gains wealth, its economy requires more energy. Energy is needed for the industrial sector, fuel for vehicles, temperature regulation of buildings and homes and the increasing demand for power for electronic equipment and appliances.

After the words of Mario Draghi at the January meeting, leaving the door open to expand the measures of the European Central Bank this month, these are BBVA Research forecasts for the meeting tomorrow.