Via The Financial Times, a report that Russia and Cuba have signed contracts that ”set the bases” for Russian oil company Zarubezhneft to search for oil in Cuba’s part of the Gulf of Mexico. As the article notes: “…In its online edition, Communist Party newspaper Granma said four oil-related contracts had been signed during a […]
Read more »Via Advertising Age (subscription required), a detailed look at how internationally-minded Chinese companies are trying to build brands and retail operations overseas, such as Li Ning (who hopes its Italian sportswear brand will appeal to hip teens), Chery, Haier, and Lenovo. As the article notes: “…The global recession has turned cash-hungry western companies into takeover […]
Read more »Courtesy of Foreign Policy, their annual Failed States Index which looks at the world’s most fragile countries suffering from virulent economic crisis, countless natural disasters, and government collapse. As the article notes: “…Yemen may not yet be front-page news, but it’s being watched intently these days in capitals worldwide. A perfect storm of state failure […]
Read more »Via Energy Daily, a report on the impact that the continuing political turmoil sweeping Iran will have upon its pressing need to develop its natural gas sector, which is widely perceived as the country’s answer to its worsening economic problems. As the article notes: “…Iran, whose oil is declining and whose energy industry is so […]
Read more »Via Stratfor (subscription required), a detailed analysis of Indonesia’s transition from being a major oil exporter to leaving the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to seeing its natural gas prospects expand. As the article notes, the question now is whether the government — which received a strong mandate in recent elections — will be able […]
Read more »Via Terra Daily, a report that foreign investment soared in Myanmar in 2008, despite ongoing international sanctions. As the article notes: “…foreign investment n Myanmar increased more than fivefold to reach almost one billion dollars last year, as neighboring China pumped money into its mining sector, official statistics showed Friday. Total foreign investment in the […]
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