· June, 2007

Stories about Economics & Business from June, 2007

Kuwait: Give Women More Rights

As usual, this week's Kuwait round up by Abdullatif Al Omar addresses a number of issues including the disappearance of people in summer, Kuwait's unwritten traffic code, the attack of a Kuwaiti diplomat in Iran and the plight of mothers who cannot be considered as legal guardians for their children - simply because they are women.

China: Nailhouse 2: Residents fight back

  23 June 2007

Unlike the Chongqing Nailhouse which was demolished earlier this year, some residents of an entire nailbuilding in eastern China came to an impasse with police this past week; blogger photos and accounts from the scene suggest they won't be leaving without a fight.

Oman: Blogging Back on Track

Are Omani bloggers are dying breed? What kind of service do you expect when you buy an expensive washing machine? And have you heard the latest song written after the deadly tropical cyclone Gonu hit Omani shores? These are just some of the topics discussed in Riyadh Al Balushi's latest coverage of Omani blogs.

Japan: Reactions to the Nova Suspension

  23 June 2007

Nova, the largest English language school operator in Japan and well-known for its fuzzy pink mascot, is in dire straights, having been ordered last week to suspend part of its operations for six months after it was found to have deceived its students and violated consumer protection laws. Bloggers in Japan offer their reactions.

U.S. Concerned About Armenia’s Ties With Iran

“Iran is planning massive investments into the economies of Georgia and Armenia. We’re talkingof 1 billion dollars for Tbilissi and a analogous offer to Yerevan. For your consideration: the total amount of Russian investments in Georgia in 2006 did not exceed 30 million dollars, as to Armenia, after arrangements made...

D.R. Congo: Who profits from underdevelopment?

  22 June 2007

“A half-century of mistakes and political instability has pulled the rug out from under one of the potentially richest countries on the planet,” Du Cabiau à Kinshasa writes of D.R. Congo. Du Cabiau à Kinshasa blames 30 years of Mobutu and those who benefit from underdevelopment (Fr), namely state monopolies...

Bahrain: Are Taxes Un-Islamic?

Money matters feature high in the posts of Bahraini bloggers this week, writes Ayesha Saldanha. Other issues being tackled include: Are taxes un-Islamic? Is culture and art appreciated in Bahrain? And how hot does it really get in the Middle East in Summer?

Romania: Economic Relations With Neighbors

Romerican writes about the prospects of Romania's economic relations with its neighbors: “Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine all represent logical markets for exporting Romanian-made products and Romanian-performed services sold under Romanian brands of Romanian-owned companies. There’s a ready audience right across the border just ripe for the taking. Do it.”

Hong Kong: Internet Marketing

  22 June 2007

Sidekick writes about the effect of internet marketing in promoting a TV serie “Heart of Greed”, however much of the youtube video clips have been taken down because of the complaints made by the TV company: If so, then it would seem that TVB still does not get Internet marketing...

Japan: Cellphone recycling bins

  22 June 2007

Edo from Pink Tentacle blogs about cell phone companies’ plan to equip convenience stores with cellphone recycling bins, making it easier for people to recycle their unwanted handsets.

South Korea: Inequality, Empolyment Outlook

  22 June 2007

Jamie from Two Koreas blogs about the increase in income gap in South Korea and two stories about Chaebol's labour management, including companies strategies for intervening in a union election and Samsung's labour training for mass game.

Eastern & Central Europe: U.S. States’ GDPs

U.S. states have been renamed for countries with similar GDPs and the new map has been posted at Strange Maps: Russia is New Jersey, Ukraine is Idaho, Belarus is Alaska, Poland is Missouri, Czech Republic is Nebraska, Hungary is New Mexico, Romania is Delaware, Croatia is South Dakota.

Iran:”Go kill yourself”

Arosak Kooki writes [Fa]that a worker in Rasht committed suicide.He did not get paid for several months and he could not survive anymore.When he asked his boss for his money,the factory owner told him “go kill yourself”, I have no money!The blogger says that in Islamic Republic in the name...

Proud Myanmarese without Electricity?

  21 June 2007

\Steve Evergreen wonders why most part of Burma doesn't get a regular supply of electricity while billions of dollars are made from gas sales. “Forget about small towns in Burma. Even in large cities like Yangon and Mandalay, electricity supply is very irregular.”