Stories about Economics & Business from July, 2013
New Sugar Cane Farming Bill in Brazil Threatens Amazon
Brazil has passed a law authorizing the cultivation of sugar cane for the first time in areas of the Amazon forest and surrounding wetlands and savanna, causing concern among environmentalists.
Caribbean: Encouraging Innovators?
How innovative is the Caribbean? Using the criteria of The Global Innovation Index, ICT Pulse takes a look.
Press Freedom Déjà Vu in Trinidad & Tobago
All anyone seemed to be talking about today in Trinidad and Tobago was the walkout at the Guardian newspaper and whether there is more in the mortar than the pestle. Many bloggers are making the point that this isn't the first attempt at silencing journalists in the country.
Impact of Nepali Currency's Depreciation
The Nepali Rupee has recently weakened against the US Dollar. Economic blogger Chandan Sapkota analyses the causes and impacts of the depreciation of the Nepali currency.
Trinidad & Tobago Media Reshuffle Viewed as Threat to Press Freedom
There is controversy brewing in Trinidad and Tobago over freedom of the press following a reassignment of key media personnel (including the Editor-in-Chief) at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper – a move which some are claiming came about because of political pressure.
Fear and Censorship in Russia's Huffington Post
PublicPost, an internet news publication that for a time sought to become the Russian Huffington Post, met its end last month, when it became the latest in a series of innovative online media to be shut down this year.
China: Rural Identity, Urban Heart
Off Beat China translated a photo feature by Sina which gives a snapshot of the life of a few post-90s migrant works in Beijing.
Why Can't Madagascar Settle on an Election Date?
Four years since a military takeover plunged the country into political crisis, Madagascar has pushed presidential elections back again and again. What's the hold up, and who's benefiting from the repeated delays?
Club-Goers Rebel Against Japan's Dance Regulation
Club goers across Japan are rebelling against an antiquated law that requires public venues to acquire a license for dancing or face raids, arrests and closures.
What Should International Development Look Like After 2015?
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals are eight development objectives to be achieved by United Nations member states by 2015. But what happens after 2015?
Japan: Winny Developer Dies at 42
Isamu Kaneko, the Japanese developer of file-sharing software Winny, died due to an undisclosed illness on July 8, 2013 at the age of 42. He was charged in 2006 with “assisting” Winny users to violate copyright, but the case against him was later overturned and his acquittal upheld by the country's Supreme...
INFOGRAPHIC: China's ‘Losers’ to Consumers
ChinaFile has translated the infographic created by Sohu Business [zh] about the lifestyle and consumption habits of China's ordinary citizens, known as “diaosi“, who are poised to become the mainstream consumers in China. It also hints that China’s underdogs may become the country’s mainstream.
Slovenian Start-Ups on Kickstarter
Four Slovenian tech start-up companies have exceeded their initial funding expectations and managed to accumulate a total of some 400,000 U.S. dollars in funding on the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarted over the last year. Slovenia, a Eu country with a large and growing unemployment rate, has a growing ICT industry...
Crooks, Thieves and the Independent Mayors Who Run Russia
The mayor of Yaroslavl will spend the next two months behind bars on extortion charges. A former United Russia member who ran as an opposition-friendly independent, Evgeny Urlashov won the mayor’s seat roughly a year ago in a highly publicized election that seemed to mark a highpoint in the 2011-2012-winter protest movement.
Higher Education's ‘Quality Problem’ in India
Supriyo Chaudhury at Sunday Posts argues that Indian higher education needs foreign investments, not just because of the money, but the imagination and creative proposition that will come with it.
Brazil Stockpiles Arsenal of Non-Lethal Weapons Ahead of World Cup
The Brazilian government has purchased thousands upon thousands of non-lethal weaponry, including tear gas and Taser guns, from arms firm Condor to use as part of its security strategy during the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Brazilian investigative journalism agency Pública reports.
Kenya Bans NGO's Local Complementary Currency, Arrests Project Leaders
Kenyan authorities have shut down a social complementary currency project aimed at reinforcing the local economy in Kenya and arrested six of the project leaders under the pretext of counterfeiting.
Did Obama's African Tour Help or Hurt?
US President Barack Obama has finished his six-day tour of three African countries, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. During his visit, Obama announced a new initiative, “Power Africa”, to double access to electricity in Sub Saharan Africa. The global public opinion about the importance and impact of his tour is sharply divided.
Brazilian Weapons Firm Exports Arms to Turkey and Arab Countries
Brazilian weapons firm Condor has a strong business interest in the Middle East, where its tear gas canisters have recently been used against protesters. Brazilian investigative journalism agency Pública reports.
Russia's #1 Social Network Attacked Abroad
On June 26, 2013 VKontakte co-founder Nikolai Durov reported that Ukrainian authorities have seized the company's Ukrainian servers.