· September, 2008

Stories about Economics & Business from September, 2008

China: One Trillion US Bonds and Debt Scandal

  27 September 2008

According to a New York Times report in early September, the Chinese Central Bank has invested over USD $1 trillion on U.S. Treasury bills, bonds and debt securities. Among the one trillion dollar bill, $376.3 billion have been put into the mortgage backed securities of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,...

Russophone Bloggers Discuss the U.S. Presidential Candidates

  27 September 2008

Last week, Israel-based LJ user avva asked his Russophone readers - some of whom are eligible to vote in the upcoming U.S. election - whether they supported Barack Obama or John McCain, and for what reasons. The post generated over 300 comments from bloggers based in the United States, Israel, Canada and Russia. Below are some of the responses.

Nepal: The money question

  26 September 2008

Blogger Dai comments on the news that 8 Nepali ministers including the Prime Minister are on foreign tour: “It would be great, if they could donate their allowances to the flood victims of Eastern Nepal.”

Taiwan: The Return of Local Cinema

  26 September 2008

This summer, Taiwanese cinema is not only celebrating a comeback, but is also shining like the sun. No matter how strongly the typhoon hits Taiwan, movie theaters are witnessing hundreds, if not thousands, of people waiting in line just for the new film, “Cape No.7“. The movie became a blockbuster...

Africa: How to invest in Africa

  26 September 2008

Dani writes about an investment initiative for Africa, MyC4.com: “This is a web-based platform that allows you to look up a list of African entrepreneurs who need funding for their projects (described briefly on the site) and to offer them loans. You bid a certain interest rate, which is accepted...

Azerbaijan: Urban Development Blog

  26 September 2008

Social Science in the Caucasus comments on a new blog established to monitor urban development in Baku by two German researchers. The blog includes commentary and photography and is at http://urbanchange.wenedeux.com.

Japan: Views on Wall Street Crisis

  26 September 2008

The ongoing collapse, bail-out and buy-out of Wall Street investment banks, threatening a U.S. and possibly worldwide recession, has triggered no lack of debates in Japanese blogs on the country's strong financial connection with its overseas ally.

Ripples of the China Milk Scandal in Africa

  26 September 2008

In China, an estimated 13,000 children have fallen ill since the tainted milk scandal broke. Chinese influence has grown in Africa in recent years, as have imports of all kinds products, from running shoes to instant noodles. Bloggers as far afield as Congo and Senegal, concerned about the safety of Chinese products in their countries, are closely following the story.

Japan: Google or Galapagos?

  25 September 2008

Blogger and economist Nobuo Ikeda [池田信夫] remarks in an article [ja] that whereas U.S. papers are making their sites more Google-friendly, articles on Japanese news sites do not even have permalinks. His comparison of the isolation of the Japanese web to Galapagos sparks a response from Fukuyuki Murakami [村上福之] at...

Jamaica, Senegal: Wife Beater

  25 September 2008

“The worse it gets for Bara, the worse it gets for his wife”: Jamaican diaspora blogger Stet tells the story of a wife beater in Senegal.

Bermuda, U.S.A.: Political Dilemma

  25 September 2008

Bermuda has got some unwanted attention with the Obama camp's latest campaign ad, which accuses McCain of being on the side of tax-dodging Bermuda-based US companies – Breezeblog says the whole thing “underlines the dilemma many Bermudians feel: as much as they wish to finally see a black US president,...

India: Saying goodbye to TATA

  24 September 2008

DCBA comments on the issue of TATA being forced out of West Bengal in India: “This critical issue can only be solved by politicians with a commitment to India’s development and not by opportunist politicians who are just raising slogans to score quick cheap points.“

Madagascar: All along the street

  24 September 2008

Dago Tiako describes street activities in Madagascar: “Suddenly, you notice lots of people making a circle. You think there must be an accident. You come nearer to se what’s going on. In the middle of the circle, there is a man almost nude (he is wearing only a little pair...

Madagascar: All along the street

  24 September 2008

Dago Tiako describes street activities in Madagascar: “Suddenly, you notice lots of people making a circle. You think there must be an accident. You come nearer to se what’s going on. In the middle of the circle, there is a man almost nude (he is wearing only a little pair...

Barbados: Food Security

  24 September 2008

“Government needs to put together a strategic plan to respond to short, medium and long-term demands of the agricultural industry”: Barbados Underground is concerned about food security.

Japan: The true revolution of Google Street View

  24 September 2008

Blogger id:bohemian_style reflects on the launch of Google Street View in Japan [ja], noting that the way the service is viewed differs depending on where people are living: in modern urban areas, people's sense of privacy tends to be limited their immediate living space, which ends at the entrance to...

India: The road ahead for West Bengal

  23 September 2008

Sunday Posts discusses the politics behind resisting the establishment of Tata Motor's factory in Singur and the State Government's failure to resolve the problem. The blog also discusses the impacts it will have on the West Bengal state.