Stories about Economics & Business from May, 2009
Iran: Three publishers were banned
Aknoun, Iran based blogger, writes [fa] that Akhtaran,Ageh and Jamedaran are three Iranian publishers that were banned from participating in Tehran Book Fair. The blogger adds this means that each of these three publishers will lose a significant part of their revenue this year.
Taiwan: Labors protested against unemployment on Labor Day
Chaotang took some photos on Labor Day showing the protest against unemployment. David had an article describing why the labors gathered.
East Timor: From sighs to steps forward with the use of the Internet
Being willing to listen what bloggers are talking about, Global Voices faces big challenges to cover the blogospheres of regions where people are not using citizen media. That is the case of East Timor, where there are many Internet connectivity problems which make blogging very difficult. But what are the challenges that bloggers from East Timor face when uploading content to the Internet? And what are the projects, nonetheless, arising in the Timorese blogosphere?
Central & Eastern Europe: Swine Flu (aka “California 0409”)
Below are some of the Central and Eastern Europe bloggers' reactions to news reports on swine flu and measures taken by some of the governments to keep the disease from spreading to their countries.
China: Not subsidizing Expo 2010
Adam Minter at Shanghai Scrap is having trouble getting answers to why the United States government is having trouble getting its pavilion together for Expo 2010, but he has nonetheless had some success at piecing the back story together.
Jamaica: A Sensible Tax
Jamaica's Yardflex.com is overjoyed that “smokers and drinkers will now have to shoulder the bulk of the taxation measures intended to plug the hole in the government's budget.”
Russia: Microsoft's Investments
Profy reports that “Microsoft is going to invest as much as $300 million to the Russian market within the next 3 years.”
Russia: Car Wash and Christ the Savior's
24-hour car wash in the Christ the Savior Cathedral's compound – at Pictures of Moscow.
Algeria: Countdown to the crackdown
The Maghreb Politics Review reports: “After the recent hostage release by the southern/Saharan wing of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, there has been much political and military movement in Algeria, Mali and the surrounding countries. According to numerous press rumors, a major joint operation in the border areas is about...
Martinique, Guadeloupe: Emancipation Celebrations
The French overseas territories of Martinique and Guadeloupe will soon be commemorating the anniversary of the abolition of slavery, according to Repeating Islands.
Jamaica: IMF
“Prime Minister Golding is putting his loving hand out to the International Monetary Fund for a loan to help Jamaica’s struggling economy,” writes Jamaica Salt, adding: “The last time Jamaica got help from the IMF was not a great thing.” Abeng News Magazine also weighs in, here and here.
China: Response to Yellow Peril talk
The anonymous China News Wrap blogger has translated People's Daily editorial, “Talk of a ‘Yellow Peril’ begins again in the West”.
China: Reading Mao Yushi
Little-known outside of China, Mao Yushi is one of the more prominent individuals associated with Charter 08; for more on what really defines the respected economist, see several valuable translations from Anton Lee Wishik II at Mei-Zhong Guanxi.
Southeast Asia: Twitter reactions on H1N1 virus
In the previous post, I featured the reactions of Southeast Asian bloggers on the H1N1 virus. This time, I will highlight the twitter reactions from twitterers in the region. Twitter posts are alternative sources of information and news updates about the virus scare. They also help us figure out the sentiments and knowledge of ordinary citizens about the H1N1.
Bangladesh: Faces Of Poverty
Ashley Wheaton at The Dhaka Diaries comments about the faces of poverty in Bangladesh: “Poverty can be determined not only by your income but by by your access to services, your ability to make decisions for yourself, your level of security, your place in society… It can be very deceiving...
Bangladesh: Duty On Imported Cars
Kotha-Chhilo criticizes Bangladesh government's customs duty policy on imported second hand cars: “The government increases duty on those cars that the middle class people buy. So, you see! Our government, our elites want to make life of the middle class difficult.”
Barbados: Illegal Immigrants
The Barbados government has offered to regularize the status of existing illegal immigrants – Bajan Dream Diary “wonders how effective this amnesty will be in tackling Barbados’ illegal immigrant problem”; Barbados Underground also has some concerns.
Croatia: “The British Conspiracy”
Croatian Crescent writes about Croatian politicians’ reaction to critical reports on Croatia that appeared in the British media.
Serbia: Smoking Ban
Another belated link to Belgraded.com: a post on “a gruesome threat called the smoking ban.”
China: Shanzhai Adidas trash dumpster
Adam J. Schokora at 56 minus 1 shares a recent photo of a shanzhai Adidas trash dumpster.
French Overseas Departments: Questioning the “Estates General”
Guadeloupean Mycho blogs [Fr] about her doubts concerning the “Estates General of the French Overseas Departments” to re-think the status of its distant departments, while bloggers Anba pyé mango-la and indiscrétions [Fr] also report on developments.
