Monthly Archives: January 2015

Thailand models Asian Tigers with Special Economic Zones

January 21, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific.

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Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at a conference in Bangkok on December 20, 2014. P KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images

To boost the ailing economy, the military-led government seeks greater FDI, exports.

Ecotourism helps boost India’s tigers up 30%

January 20, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific.

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A Royal Bengal Tiger pauses in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India, December 21, 2014. STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images

Tiger tourism provides much-needed local jobs and revenues, giving conservation a sustainable economic base.

Geology — not democracy — ends oil exploration off Canaries

January 16, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Africa, Europe.

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A volunteer protests Repsol's oil exploration off the Canary Islands, December 13, 2014. DESIREE MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images

Canary islanders are relieved as controversial oil exploration ends following economically unviable results.

Closer ties between U.S. and Cuba as Venezuela declines

January 15, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Americas, U.S..

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Cuban President Raúl Castro at the National Assembly in Havana, December 20, 2014. Sven Creutzmann/Mambo Photo/Getty Images

“Extraordinary opportunities” await American businesses under new U.S.-Cuba measures; Cuba-Venezuela alliance weakens.

Russian economic crisis repels Belarus, Kazakhstan

January 14, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific, Europe.

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Presidents Lukashenko of Belarus, Putin of Russia, and Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan at a summit in Moscow, December 23, 2014. Sasha Mordovets/Getty Images

While Russia falls back on its ample reserves, neighboring Belarus and Kazakhstan seek to end overreliance on Moscow.

Small steps towards India’s unrealistic solar power goals

January 14, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific.

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Solar panels stand at the Welspun Energy Ltd. solar power plant in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, India. Feb. 26, 2014. Bloomberg via Getty Images

India auctioning 300 megawatts of solar power projects on its military land is one small, slow step towards its unrealistic goal of adding 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2022.

Protectionism, geopolitics trump cost in Australia-Japan submarines deal

January 13, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific.

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Australian Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Grigg briefs the media, south of Perth. March 30, 2014. AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Japan’s proposal last week for submarines to be be built jointly in Australia was received positively. Pacific geopolitics and safeguarding domestic jobs are larger concerns than cost for Australia.

Mexico to import oil from U.S. for the first time

January 12, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Americas, Global Economy.

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Pemex CEO Emilio Lozoya Austin at a conference in London, October 30, 2014. Anthony Harvey/Getty Images for NYT

Mexico is seeking to import light crude oil form the U.S. for the first time in its history. The steep fall in prices outweighs swallowing some pride.

Brazilian VW autoworkers strike continues, protesting layoffs

January 12, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Americas.

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Brazilian Volkswagen workers march during their indefinite strike in Sao Bernardo do Campo. January 7, 2015. NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

Brazilian autoworkers at a VW plant near Sao Paolo continued an indefinite strike, protesting the recent cut of 800 jobs.

New Sri Lankan president to shake up foreign economic ties

January 9, 2024 by Michael Lerner in Asia-Pacific.

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Sri Lanka's new President, Maithripala Sirisena in Colombo, January 9, 2015. Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images

President Sirisena promises to rebalance foreign economic ties away from dependence on China to equal relations with China, India, Pakistan, and Japan.

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