Stories about Economics & Business from December, 2013
Russia's Year of Pogroms

2013 has been a particularly virulent year for race violence in Russia. The most recent incident, which took place this past weekend in the city of Arzamas was no different.
Citizens Complain Against Bad Roads in Brunei
Teah criticized the slow action of the Brunei government in fixing bad roads and how road repairs are usually done when foreign dignitaries are visiting the country To fix an...
Another Rural Japanese Elementary School Disappears Due to Declining Birthrate
Every year, about 500 public schools in Japan are closing due to shortage of children as the cost of education becomes unbearable for rural communities.
Uruguayan Trade Union Federation Backs Launch of Worker-run Airline
PIT-CNT, Uruguay's national trade union centre, has offered financial guarantees for the launch of the worker-run airline, Alas Uruguay.
Spanish Television Show Does Not Represent Reality of Expats in Santiago
Madrid native David Sigüenza [es] watched a recent episode [es] of Spanish program “Madrileños por el Mundo,” focusing on Chilean capital Santiago, “hoping to see a representation of the reality...
‘Australia Spied on Timor Leste to Gain Commercial Advantage’
Australia it seems likes to spy on its friends and neighbors. After Indonesia, it is East Timor's turn in criticizing Australia for allegedly spying on its leaders.
Chinese Web Giants Alibaba, Baidu Launch Online Investment Funds for the Everyman
China's Internet powerhouses have successfully entered the online finance and investment business scene, challenging state-owned banks' monopoly.
Russian State News Agency Gets a Loyalist Upgrade

One of Russia's best known news agencies, RIA Novosti, won't survive the winter. Employees of the state-owned international news agency awoke to discover a new presidential order "liquidating" their organization.
Reasons Behind Ukraine's Protests Run Deeper than “Pro-EU” or “Anti-Russian”
What most media and people following the recent developments in Ukraine know as “pro-EU” or “anti-Russian” protests after the Ukrainian government backed out of a historical agreement with the European...
4 Stories from Volunteers in Typhoon-Hit Philippines That Will Move You To Tears
Uncollected dead bodies, survivors waiting for aid, streets full of debris. These are some of the scenes witnessed by relief volunteers in typhoon-hit provinces in the Philippines
Lonely Chinese Men Are Looking to Vietnam for Love
Vietnam, where Chinese bachelors can find "true love", or more specifically, where they can "search for brides who won't demand apartments or private vehicles as a precondition for marriage."
5 Energy Treasures in Africa You Haven't Heard About
Most African countries still suffer frequent power outages which inhibit economic growth. They are not, however, lacking in resources. This post outlines some of those least known in Africa.
“The Outside World Frightens Putin”: Russians Talk Ukraine

"Is there a Twitter plugin that can be used to cut out all the political commentators who, sitting in cozy Moscow cafes, discuss the fate of Ukraine?"
Follow the Money, South Korean Politicians Got Money from Construction Companies
Newtapa [ko] (Korea Center for Investigative Journalism) published a web feature [ko] which displays list of politicians’ names who received political donations from construction companies involved in the statewide construction project ‘Four...
French Strategical Report to Counter China's Economic Influence in Africa
Top Francophone economists & diplomats (namely H El-Karoui from Morocco, T Thiam from Côte d'Ivoire, L Zinsou from Benin, J-M Severino and H Vedrine from France) submitted a joint report [fr] that outlines...
“I Am a German Street Vendor in Dakar”
Being a street vendor is not an easy job, especially in Senegal. Yet this is the choice that Sebastian Prothmann, a native of Germany, made after he arrived in Dakar,...
Jamaicans Boycott Trinidadian Products After Deportation Fiasco
Just over week ago, thirteen Jamaican citizens were refused entry to Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidadian export sector may already be feeling the backlash as Jamaicans respond with a boycott.