Bangladesh: Low Dependency on Agricultural Products Prompts Food Security Fears

In the last four decades Bangladesh saw a tremendous rise in the industry and service sectors which prompted the decrease of dependency on agricultural Produces. The decrease in employment in agriculture sector and the increase in number of landless people due to use of agricultural land for other purposes have made a large number of population vulnerable to food insecurity.

Cartoon: Economic Crisis and the Nazis in Greece

Singapore Tightens Rules on Casinos

Singapore is revising its casino rules to discourage low-income groups and the jobless from gambling. After weeks of consultation, the government has filed the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill which would empower authorities to restrict the entry of ‘financially vulnerable’ individuals in casino gaming centers.

China: National Security Threat or Trade Protectionism?

Last week on 8 October 2012, the U.S. House Intelligence Committee released an investigative report accusing two major Chinese telecommunications companies, Huawei and ZTE of posing threat to U.S national security.

Slovakia: Music Copyright Agency Vs. School Drama Club

The Slovak Performing and Mechanical Rights Society imposes a €975 fine on a high school drama club for a fundraiser ball, which included a raffle and featured songs authored and performed by the club members - but had not been properly registered with the music copyright agency. Tibor Blazko reports.

Yemen: Total's Unfair Gas Prices

Yemen's economy has been struggling for years, resulting in high levels of poverty and alarming rates of malnutrition. Yet, the corruption cases exposing the former regime's mismanagement and embezzlement of Yemen's wealth have been emerging as the main reason for the state the country is in. The latest corruption case...

Saint Lucia: Bananas as a Renewable Energy Source?

A 2011 blogpost on the use of bananas in the creation of biofuel has inspired Dane Gibson to ask some questions about the renewable energy sector in the small Caribbean country of Saint Lucia.

Controversy over Nobel Peace Prize to European Union

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union (EU) has sparked a lively debate in the media and on social networks in Europe and the rest of the world.

Jamaica: Who's a Minority?

The sad irony of race in Jamaica is that numerical minorities tend to hog the majority of social space in so many arenas. Carolyn Cooper deals with the response to her column dealing with the projection of a multiracial Jamaica.

Zambia: YouTube Documentary on Negative Impact of Copper Mining

A documentary titled “Zambia: Good Copper, Bad Copper” about Zambian copper mining and its negative impact on society has emerged on YouTube and has so far attracted over 6,000 hits. After watching the documentary, one YouTube user wrote, "Cry our beloved country. Why should we remain poor when a coveted product is plenty and mined at the expense of the locals' health."

Global Community: “We Should Not Pay”

On October 13, the initiative #globalnoise, supported by different activist movements, called for a global "pots and pans" protest. The website #globalnoise coordinated the initiatives of movements and individuals.

China: Drinking Deer Blood

Some Chinese believe that drinking deer blood can prolong life. ChinaSMACK translated a local report about the cruel business deer farm in China. [Warning: graphic]

Japan: “Global Noise” Against the IMF

In Japan, a series of actions to protest against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings are being called for by Global Noise Tokyo and @OccupyTokyoJp on October 13, 2012. More about Global Noise around the world can be found here.

São Tomé & Príncipe: Deforestation Threatens Biodiversity

São Tomé and Príncipe, like other islands in the Gulf of Guinea, is one of the countries on the West African coast that stands out when the issue at hand is biodiversity. However, large areas of its unique forests are disappearing to make way for monocultures for the production of biofuel.

Dominican Republic: A Fiscal Apocalypse?

Proposed fiscal reforms by the Dominican government are causing negative reactions across all sectors of society. Various organizations are demanding transparency in the use of state resources, as well as the implementation of measures to avoid and punish corruption.

Saint Lucia's New Value Added Tax Jumps at Citizens

Beginning October 1, 2012 the government of Saint Lucia imposed a Value Added Tax (VAT) on good and services. In doing so, Saint Lucia became the last member of the Caribbean Community to adopt VAT. In the months and weeks leading up to the deadline, various stakeholders expressed doubts about the country's readiness.

Slovakia: Comparing the Income of Roma and Non-Roma Neighbors

Tibor Blazko translates netizens' comments on some of the issues brought up in a recent World Bank report: unemployment, safety nets and the gap in income between Roma and non-Roma families in Slovakia.

France, World Bank to Help African Nations Negotiate Mining Contracts

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Franc Zone monetary cooperation agreements, the president of Côte d'Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara, and the French Minister of Finance, Pierre Moscovici, have published a joint text advocating the establishment of an initiative to end "the excessive exploitation of Africa’s reserves". African bloggers have been giving their opinions on this development.

Côte d'Ivoire: Employees of Health Institutions Strike after Four Months without Pay

S.B comments on the start of health workers’ indefinite strike in Abidjan. On Connection Ivorienne, he states [fr] that: From the total no-fees for healthcare initiated by the state of Côte d'Ivoire after the end of the post-electoral crisis to free selected healthcare services, employees of certain health institutions have yet...

France, Africa: Black Fashion Week Marred by Visa Problems

Two renowned African fashion designers and several models have been denied entry to France for Black Fashion Week October 2012. This event was created by Senegalese fashion designer Adama Paris to show the world the diversity and influence of African creativity on contemporary fashion and has been held in Dakar, Senegal for the past ten years. The first show outside Dakar took place in Prague in November 2011, since then, it has travelled from place to place. The designers made public statements on their struggle to obtain short stay visas.

Barbados: Is Austerity The Way To Go?

So, we must ask again: Who is Fooling Whom? If government cuts back on health and education services there will be massive job losses. Sounds as if the BLP are suddenly embracing the astringencies of the IMF. Look how times have changed! At Barbados Underground, Stephen Williams is skeptical of the economic...