Stories about Economics & Business from February, 2012
Russia: Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Quintessential ‘New Russian’
Billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev serves as an example of the quintessential 'New Russian' through his controversial activities during the Yeltsin era, his modern business practices, and his extravagant international spending - he has just purchased the most expensive New York City apartment to date.
Malaysia: Petition Against Sarawak Dams
An online petition urges the Malaysian government to review its plan to build twelve “highly destructive” hydroelectric dams in Sarawak that will displace tens of thousands of people and flood large tracts of tropical rainforest.
Singapore Budget 2012
Leong Sze Hian analyzes the Singapore budget presentation for the year 2012. He concludes: “Need to cut rhetoric, and do something, anything, if the government wants to regain some credibility.”
China: New Monetization Model for Sina Weibo
Jin Ge from China Bubble Watch introduces a new monetization model for Sina Weibo.
Morocco: Historic Telecom Operator Blocks Skype
“What a dreadful news today!” laments the blog Moroccan Geeks [fr], which reports that the Moroccan historic operator Maroc Telecom is now officially blocking all VoIP services, including Skype. The news sparked a heated debate on social media. Many netizens speculate the move is meant to bolster Maroc Telecom‘s paying...
Sri Lanka: Price Hike and Police Brutality in Enforcing Public Order
Sri Lanka is currently facing a turbulent economy with price hike and imposition of surcharges, which are provoking widespread protests. The police and the military are taking brutal measures on protesters and a number of people have been killed in the past few months.
Cambodia: Support Network for Young Entrepreneurs
A group of young business minded Cambodians have set up the SmallWorld website which serves as an education, networking, and small business resource and support center for students and budding entrepreneurs.
Madagascar : Why Malagasies Cannot Use Paypal
The Malagasy blogger Sam bemoans on Reflexium the absence of an electronic payment system in Madagascar [fr]: ” It is ludicrous that Malagasy people can open accounts on Paypal but cannot withdraw money from their accounts or credit it. Madagascar launched a few initiatives to have Paypal services in the country. Yet, the...
Sao Tome and Principe: Series on Education, Genre, Arts & Culture in Video
Brazilian journalist Dani Moura, from Jornal Futura, published on her Youtube channel a series of short pieces on Sao Tome and Principe: she reported on education and children feeding in schools, on capoeira for social inclusion, and women entrepreneurship. She also interviewed the artists Kwame Sousa and Tomé Coelho [all...
Uruguay: Ice Cream Parlor's Lacking Twitter Strategy
In the blog El Cielo es Verde [es], Fernando Bernini critiques the Twitter strategy of La Cigale (@HeladosLaCigale), a well-know Uruguayan ice cream parlor.
India: A Platform For Women Entrepreneurs
Shital Shah reports that Google has recently launched a portal aimed at giving women entrepreneurs of India the tools to increase their online presence.
Nepal: Major Constraints Faced by Firms Operating in Nepal
Shortfall on energy and political instability are two major constrains faced by manufactures and businesses operating in Nepal. Chandan Sapkota has the detailed statistics.
Poland: Gossip Portal Accuses Mainstream Media of ACTA Ignorance
A Polish gossip portal's take on the massive anti-ACTA protests has highlighted issues that are truly relevant for today's young people. Katarzyna Odrozek reports on the avalanche of reactions from netizens and the mainstream media that this unlikely source of serious reporting has created.
Antigua, Guadeloupe: From the Common Past
For the past decade, the tight historical and geographical bonds between the West Indian islands of Antigua and Guadeloupe have been analyzed by historians. A recent conference entitled “Antigua: From the Amerindians to an Independant Nation” [Fr] was organized in Guadeloupe by the group Yo Té Pou Nou Sé. Bloggers...
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Culture?
“What it has become and where it is going?”: The TnT River looks at the history – and the future – of Trinidad Carnival.
Hungary: Another Environmental Catastrophe in the Making
In October 2010, a toxic spill from a red sludge reservoir in Kolontár caused the greatest environmental disaster in Hungary's recent history. Atlatszo.hu and Greenpeace are now drawing attention to another hazardous waste reservoir, in the town of Almásfüzitő, which is "leaking like a sponge" and is already causing grave environmental and health damage.
China: Online Protest Against the Bear Bile Business
Since early 2011, Gui Zhentang, China's largest bear bile medicine producer, has been trying to apply for stock market launch on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Last year, the application was turned down as a result of netizens' protests. Oiwan Lam updates the issue.
Curacao: Elvio Carmela Dies Amidst Pension Reform Struggles
TRIUNFO DI SABLIKA pays tribute to the late Elvio Carmela, “a man who stood up for the unemployed, the welfare recipients and kept defending the rights of senior citizens as president of the pensioners association.”
Jamaica: Engaging on Twitter
“Twitter is a very interesting space once you engage”: Grasshopper Eyes The Potomac finds himself empowered by the microblogging service.
Egypt: The Army and the Economy
Egyptian Vlogger Aalam Wassef reacts to the Egyptian security forces intentional aiming at activist Salma Said with a video mentioning a list of foreign companies dealing with the Egyptian army.
Sri Lanka: Social Media Success Stories
Amitha Amarasinghe discusses the use of social media by the corporates in Sri Lanka and ponders whether there are any social media success stories in Sri Lanka.
