China has jumped past the U.S. in terms of total Internet users. In March 2008, China had more than 230 million people online according to the Beijing based research firm BDA China; that’s only 17% of the population and its growing at about 50% a year. The U.S. by comparison had 216 million users at …
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Category:9 Regions
What peace process in the middle east?
How can anyone be deluded about the unwillingness to compromise in the Middle East. The Annapolis meeting of last year has proven to be worthless (as expected). Poisoning water (of soldiers as well as civilians) is tantamount to chemical warfare and unethical. The bombing raids just exacerbate the problem. Israels belligerents need to grow up …
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Art illuminates diplomacy in N.Korea
As usual, it has been art that shows the way social and cultural dynamics must evolve. The New York Philharmonic Orchestra has performed a concert in North Korea, playing western and Korean pieces. It was an un-political event, but will most certainly enlighten hearts and minds in North Korea.
Amnesty reports decline in Russian liberty
Amnesty International released Freedom Limited, a report detailing declining freedom of speech in Putin’s Russia. Unsurprising, but sad news. A backlash is inevitable, but probably later rather than sooner. Intelligent systems naturally tend to open systems; Russia’s wealth is fuelling its intellectual capacities which will demand openness in governance. BBC report
Greenspan negative on US economy, again.
Alan Greenspan has warned that US economic growth has stalled and a quick recovery is not likely. It is easier for him to make public statements like this now that his job performance does not depend on America’s economic confidence.
US employment down – a serious sign of slowdown
US employers cut 17,000 jobs from their payrolls in January, US Labor Department figures showed. Economists had been expecting a rise of 80,000. If this figure proves to be in line with actual events (after adjustments), it shows severe declines in economic activity in the US. There has been modest wage inflation over the past …
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The world likes China
Link to original article here. How the World Sees China by Andrew Kohut, President, Pew Research Center December 11, 2007 The rise of anti-Americanism in recent years has given China a decided image advantage over the United States. Considerably more people around the world have an unfavorable view of the America than think poorly of …
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IBM report explores sustainable economic development in Africa
The Global Innovation Outlook 3.0 report explores sustainable economic development in Africa. GIO is sponsored by IBM. It attempts to synthesise a consensus from more than 150 business, government, academic and NGO leaders across nine deep dive sessions. Read the summary here or download the report here (3.8mb pdf).
Will US vindication of Iran promote softer diplomacy?
The US National Intelligence Directorate issued a report today stating that Iran has not pursued nuclear weapons development since 2003. This is in stark contrast to the US’s aggressive words in international circles and the snubbing of Iran’s President on a recent visit to the US. The IAEA continuing to analyse the nature of Iran’s …
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Middle east peace: after Annapolis
This report and linked reports by the BBC analyse the problems and opportunity for peace in the Middle East which the Bush administration has sponsored. Unfortunately there remain fundamental differences which will impede progress, including the exclusion of important stakeholders in the process (such as Hamas) and the favourable bias that many feel the US …
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