In The News

China’s Workers Risk Limbs in Export Drive

Joseph Kahn April 7, 2003
In recent years, China has become the “world’s factory” for labor-intensive goods. However, the factories producing these goods often lack safe machinery or appropriate oversight. As a result, accidents that result in a lost limb or a life have increased, especially among the migrant laborers who work at these factories. Even though statutory laws are in place governing safety and compensation...

And Now, the Battle for the Mother of all Contracts

James Buchan April 6, 2003
The US has already offered contracts to American companies to rebuild Iraq even before the war has been won. And despite calls for more international involvement, it seems that the US ultimately intends to employ only American companies – the House of Representatives has already voted not to let any money for reconstruction go to companies from the countries that opposed the war. Yet, Iraq...

Chinese Tourists Touch Down in Germany

Hugh Williamson April 6, 2003
Until recently, the Chinese middle class was able to visit only a few countries due to strict travel regulations by the Chinese State. A recent bilateral agreement between China and Germany that gave Germany the "approved destination status" has implications for tourism industries in both countries. This is the first such agreement between China and a European Union State. The...

A War Against Eurocrats

Ranvir Nayar April 3, 2003
This article from Outlook India suggests that one of the Bush administration’s objectives in the war on Iraq may be to maintain the dominance of the US dollar in the global economy. The Euro in recent years has been an attractive alternative to the US dollar for many countries around the world, including oil producing countries in the Middle East. Gaining control over Iraq’s oil fields would...

Terrifying for Asia, Worrying for the World

April 3, 2003
With the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), all fingers are pointing to China. World Health Organization Officials believe the disease spread more quickly because of China’s reluctance to admit that the disease originated in its Guangzhou region. The outbreak went undetected by international health organizations and spread through doctors and businessmen traveling in Southeast...

Malaysia Headed for US Deep Freezer?

Eddie Toh March 31, 2003
Despite a period of cooperation immediately following the Sept. 11 attacks on the US, in recent weeks Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir has been one of US Pres. George Bush's harshest critics over the war on Iraq. But official criticism should not deter American investors from Malaysia, says this article in Singapore's Business Times. Rather, says author Eddie Toh, Washington and...

SARS Virus Begins to Take Toll on Global Economy

Jacqueline Thorpe March 31, 2003
Fears over the war in Iraq, aftereffects of September 11th, 2001 and high rates of unemployment in the US have already taken their toll on the global economy. Making matters worse, the recent outbreak of the SARS virus, an acute respiratory illness, is hitting hard at an already struggling travel industry. SARS has kept people at home in the worst-affected Asian countries. In Hong Kong, for...