Stories about Economics & Business from July, 2008
Ukraine: Battles for Dniproenergo
Kremlin, Inc. writes about the battles for Dniproenergo: “Of course, while they may make for interesting reading, such events are not very helpful for Ukraine’s business world…”
Arabeyes: Head Over Heels for Muhannad
A strange phenomenon has gripped the Arab world and Arabs seem to agree on something. It is an infatuation with a Turkish soap opera, dubbed in Arabic, and its stunning star Muhanned (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), whose romantic trysts are beamed on television screens across the region. The obsession of some people with the soap has also prompted the Grand Mufti of the Islamic world, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, from Saudi Arabia, to issue a fatwa (religious edict) banning the drama, saying watching it is Haram (a sin).
Egypt: A Man's Views on Sexual Harassment in Egypt
In a series of posts tackling sexual harassment in Egypt, Marwa Rakha sheds light on a male Egyptian blogger's interpretation of what is really happening on the ground. "The Sex Files," by blogger Wael Nawara presents a rather interesting perspective on sexual harassment in Egypt.
Haiti: Quest for Freedom
The Haitian Blogger publishes an article from the Haiti Action Committee Website that “expresses…the aspirations of many Haitian activists who are endeavoring to see Haiti regain its sovereignty and ability to be a self-sustaining, viable and thriving democracy.”
Tunisia: $107 Billion Telecoms Industry
“Operator-billed service revenues across the Africa & Middle East region are expected to rise to more than $107 billion in 2013,” reports StartUp Arabia.
Morocco: Where's the tuna?
Margot the Marrakesh Mystic explains why Morocco is experiencing a shortage of canned tuna.
Cuba: July 26th
This past weekend, on July 26th, Cuba marked the 55th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago that came to be recognised as the start of the Cuban Revolution. Bloggers react to President Raul Castro's much-anticipated speech at the event.
A Syrian in Dubai
Dispatches from … the pReSeNt, a Syrian blogger living in the UAE, shares tales of living in Dubai.
Saudi Arabia: 5,000 Saudis in Dubai
Saudi Jeans is surprised there are 5,000 Saudis living in nearby Dubai, UAE. Click on the link to read why many people find living in Dubai lucrative.
Bermuda: Business or Pleasure?
The latest statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation prompt 21 Square to ask how much of Bermuda's tourist market “is actually…reliant upon business travelers”, while Vexed Bermoothes adds that the sagging tourism sector is causing an even greater salary gap between hospitality employees and international business workers.
Jamaica, India: Signs of the Times
The recent bombings in India trigger Jamaican blogger Annie Paul‘s memory about “one piece of graffiti by a Muslim group that had struck me with the simple force and stridency of its message.” In examining the many murals around Kingston, she wonders if “the signs are on the walls.”
China: Bring your own wifi routers with you!
Re: exorbitant prices for internet access in Beijing's Olympic Media Village, one writer on Andrew Lih's AndrewLih.com: “I just can’t believe that not only do I have to deal with the Great Firewall of China, but also pay through the nose to use it!”
Zambia: Anti-corruption commission
Zambian Economist comments on the lack of funding of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Zambia: “Yet another example of how poor funding undermines institutional reform”.
China: Olympic Lie
Zhaomu comments on a recent report claiming that Bill Gate will spend 100 millions to rent a high rise courtyard of one year in Beijing in order to have the best view on Olympics. The blogger anticipates more Olympic lies in the coming months.
Russia: Cost of Living in Moscow
Two-Zero writes about the cost of living in Moscow – for expats and for locals.
Ecuador: Guayaquil Celebrates its Past and Present
“Cheers, Guayaquil on your Anniversary!” writes Alex Anazco of Cambiemos Ecuador [es]. He writes about its past, but also about its present, which boasts the best airport in Latin America according to an international business magazine.
Indonesia: Oil company endorses improper use of motorcycles?
My Busy Brain criticizes an oil company for distributing pamphlets which indirectly encouraged improper use of motorcycles in Indonesia
Japan: Toyota's Just-In-Time System and the Akihabara Killings (Part 1)
When Tomohiro Kato killed 7 people and injured many more in Tokyo's Akihabara district last month, the details of his life became the talk of the Japanese blogging world. Among these conversations, the murders sparked a huge number of conversations on the country's temp worker industry, as Kato himself worked as a temp worker at a factory under Toyota. No single blog entry however attracted as much attention as did a post by blogger boiledema, published two days after the incident and bookmarked on Hatena by a staggering 1366 users. In this first part of a two-part series, we translate the first half of boiledema's original blog post.
Saudi Arabia: What is the point of MBC Persia?
MBC is a Saudi-run satellite television company, known across the Arab world for its entertainment channels as well as Al Arabiya news channel. It has just launched a new channel called MBC Persia, on which films are subtitled in Farsi. Saudi blogger Mohammed Abdullah Al Shahri wonders whether this initiative is really what is needed.
Jordan: The Business of Marriage
“Marriage, is just like anything else in this life. It's a partnership that has assets, partners, resources, expenses, rights, obligations, expectations, challenges, competition, ethics, rules, standards, planning, customers and profit. Just like any business out there,” writes Jordanian blogger Qwaider.
Lebanon: “Wild Recycling”
“This little truck passes through my street every morning… It stops at every bin, and 2 young men (almost kids) open all the garbage bags and empty them of their content. They then sort the plastic bottles and the aluminum cans … ” writes Rami Zurayk on how some solid...
