Stories about Economics & Business from January, 2020
Waterfront communities displaced by forced evictions in Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos' waterfront communities are seen as a public health and safety threat, but to residents who struggle to afford to live on the mainland, they are the only option.
The Wuhan coronavirus is also an economic plague for China
When an epidemic coincides with the spending spree that traditionally accompanies the Chinese New Year festivities, a country's economic health also comes under strain.
Africa's creative industries get a half-billion-dollar boost by big banks
“Because of underinvestment in the creative and cultural industries, Africa is largely absent in the global market of ideas, values and aesthetics," said Benedict Oramah, president of Afreximbank.
Nigeria’s border closure puts a dent in intra-regional trade optimism
Closing Nigeria's land borders to solve the recurrence of smuggling will have a negative economic effect on Nigeria and puts a damper on Africa's much-anticipated intra-regional trade investment agreement.
Red palm fruit flourishes in Côte d'Ivoire, despite national shortage
In the sprawling markets of Côte d'Ivoire, red palm oil is sold in open-air stands in recycled plastic bottles by women. The original red palm tree originates in West Africa.
Can El Salvador's hosting of a surfing Olympic qualifier alter the country's violent image?
While some Salvadorans are celebrating the opportunity to host a major championship, others claim that there are bigger priorities than the country's image abroad.
Nigeria: A failed state — reality or perception?
In addition to threats from Boko Haram, abductions and kidnapping in Nigeria have also become the norm.
Restoration of Trinidad and Tobago's heritage buildings stirs debate
The restoration of heritage buildings in Trinidad and Tobago has sparked a national conversation on whether this is the best use of public funds.
This community library is changing the chaos narrative in Haiti's Cité Soleil
The epitome of the ills that have plagued Haiti for decades, Cité Soleil wants to use its library project as a channel for the larger discourse around national reconstruction.
Victory for labor rights in Cambodia as largest casino workers’ strike ends in peace
Despite the success of the strike, workers could face sanctions for breaching the court order which declared the protest as illegal.
Thai journalist convicted over a 2017 Twitter post about a labor conflict
"There is a high level of self-censorship in Thailand… When you forbid freedom of expression… you forbid an open society."
Philippine art town unites against mining extension
Citing grave damages to their environment after five decades of gravel extraction, the people of Angono town are petitioning against the extension of mining in their area.
Carlos Ghosn's great escape embarrasses Japanese government
The Japanese government has been embarrassed as details of Ghosn's escape expose systemic shortcomings in the country's police and prosecution services, the judicial system, passport security and more.
Deadline looms for biometric SIM card registration in Tanzania
The biometric SIM card registration process means Tanzania joins a growing list of African nations gripped by the biometric data and digital identification revolution in Africa.
Six years after deadly crackdown of garment strike in Cambodia, families say no hope for justice
"Justice seems as far away as the horizon, or like searching for a needle in the bottom of the sea. We have not yet seen the light of justice."
What is at stake in Taiwan's January 2020 presidential elections?
The large questions of what should be Taiwan's political, social, economic, environmental, cultural model continue to dominate the political debate, and naturally surge at times of elections.
