· December, 2012

Stories about Economics & Business from December, 2012

Thailand's ‘Skype Doctors’

  31 December 2012

“Virtual ER”, launched in 2011, serves as a direct means of communication between BNH Hospital's Emergency Room and patients via Skype…Patients or helpers can speak to and see the nurses in the ER from wherever they are with simple tools including internet connection, a computer, a tablet PC or a...

South Africa: Local Device for Selling Prepaid Mobile Services

  29 December 2012

Zafir Khan shows how cloud computing is enabling entrepreneurship in Africa: “Nomanini, a startup based in South Africa, built a device that enables local entrepreneurs like Vuyile to sell prepaid mobile services in their communities. The Lula (which means “easy” in colloquial Zulu), is a portable voucher sales terminal that...

What Lies Ahead for China in 2013?

  28 December 2012

As the end of 2012 draws near, CHINA DIGITAL TIMES has summarized the changes and challenges facing China in 2013 based on different media reports and predictions.

International Fast Food Chains Involved in China's Chicken Scandal

  28 December 2012

A number of international fast-food chains are involved in the latest food safety scandal to hit China. Nationalistic voices are reacting by calling for foreign brands to be kicked out of China, while some believe that the government is to blame for the lack of food safety control.

Africa's Tainted Global Media Coverage

  27 December 2012

The #Kony2012 campaign contained quite a few over-simplifications about Africa. African media itself is not immune from this sort of criticism either. Here is a summary of the gems, errors and other inaccuracies in media coverage of Africa.

Do Egyptians Really Want IMF Money?

  25 December 2012

Soon after the beginning of the Egyptian revolution, negotiations over a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the Egyptian government began. The purpose of negotiations was to secure a loan that supports Egypt’s economy following the concerns over its compromising state. While presumed to boost economy and encourage foreign investment, the IMF loan was met with criticism and protest.

Kenyans Wake Up to ATM Fraud Scare on Christmas

  25 December 2012

Kenyans woke up on Christmas day to fraudulent bank activity alerts alleging that there were "unusual withdrawals" from Standard Chartered, Kenya Commercial Bank and Stanbic accounts. However, some Kenyans were skeptical about the authenticity of these claims. So far there has been no official communication from bank officials about the alerts.

Philippines: Summary of Data Privacy Act

  23 December 2012

Data subject has the right to know if their personal information is being processed. The person can demand information such as the source of info, how their personal information is being used, and copy of their information. Janette Toral provides the salient features of the Philippines’ Data Privacy Act of...

Transparency in Extractive Mega Projects in Mozambique

  21 December 2012

Mozambique's richness in natural resources has placed the country at the centre of large international investment in the African continent. While the economy is growing at 7% per year, the opportunities for social development are few. An "Open Terrace" in November, in Cabo Delgado, brought citizens together to debate the lack of transparency in the mega projects.

Caribbean: What Happened in 2012 (Part 2)

  20 December 2012

The first part of this post observed that in the Caribbean blogosphere, the year was punctuated by hunger strikes - the first in Cuba and the second in Trinidad and Tobago. Part 2 of the regional blogosphere's 2012 summary recalls other issues that got Caribbean netizens talking - from the Olympics to the need for greater political transparency…

Israel Media Ratings War Spills into Conflict Coverage

  19 December 2012

The financial troubles of Israeli news media is affecting the diversity and independence of reporters, who are less willing to challenge the wishes of editors or managers who answer to the tycoons who own the media outlets. Increasingly, citizen journalist and bloggers fill in the void of Israeli mainstream media coverage.

Cambodia Bans Internet Cafes Near Schools

  19 December 2012

Internet cafes are now banned within 500 meters of schools or educational buildings. Internet cafes are also prohibited from welcoming anyone under the age of 18, because the "internet poses numerous dangers such as terrorism, economic crimes & distribution of pornography."

Catalonia: Independence from Spain to Do What?

  17 December 2012

It appears that Catalonia is now set to hold a referendum on its ties to the rest of Spain. Could an independent Catalonia lead to the break-up of the establishment dynamics that have dominated Spain since the late-1970s? The optimists believe so.

Indonesia Tops List in Cyber Threats

  14 December 2012

An Indonesian user has nearly a one-in-four chance of encountering an attempt to infect their machine each quarter. Much of the threat is due to widespread Trojan horses, software applications infected with malware The eWeek magazine has published the 2013 report of Sophos on global security cyber threats. Indonesia is...