Japan - indirectly unequal

As the foreign media speculate - a bit over enthusiastically it sometimes seems - over the social problems caused in Japan by an aging population and young people being a bit slack, the government has realised getting women into the workforce may be the least worst alternative on offer.

While concern over 'NEETs' show the work ethic that has driven the economy is something people fret about, more from the New York Times..., the lowly position of women in the work place is something that laws can effect and is more acceptable than alternatives like increased immigration. As a recent Opinion piece noted, an office where 70% ofwomen leave when they have a baby can't be a very comfortable place to work for the men either more from the Asahi Shimbun...

Read more here...

EU - circle of friends

Trying to join the EU can be an expensive business, as the Ukraine is finding out. Russian gas monopoly, Gazprom, is asking for a three fold price hike which some see as designed to influence elections in the spring.

As the EU becomes more reliant on Russian gas supplies this sort of economic issue becomes more political more from the EU Observer...

Read more here...

S.Korea - softly softly

How to help the people of a truculent authoritarian government ?. Through aid and trade, or through tough talking ?. S.Korea has been on the receiving end of some criticism for it's policy of constructive engagement.

It's clear to some observers that the policy of using economic links alone, without challenging the North's human rights record publicly, is a betrayal of those oppressed by the regime. It's not so clear to the South Korean government which sees it's policy as the only practical one more from the Joong Ang Daily...

Read more here...

Kazakhstan - no surprise result

After 15 years in power President Nursultan Nazarbaev, 65, has won another 7 years in office in Kazakhstan. The observers from the OSCE are convinced the elections were not fair while Russian CIS monitors felt they were. Will he now go on and on ?.

One key problem with Post Soviet 'managed democracy' is that it has a hard time arranging a change of leaders, even if it avoids a colour revolution more from EurasiaNet...

Read more here...

Russia - NGO control

Russian Intelligence Chiefs have been speaking about the new laws, currently under review, to monitor and license the activities of NGO's. A haven for foreign agents, apparently.

Politically active organisations receiving funds from abroad will be the target of the new laws which could see Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch closing their offices more from the BBC...

Read more here...

Greece - entangled interests

Greece has seen recent corruption scandals in both the Church and the Judiciary - now it's the governments turn.

Members of the ruling New Democracy party are apparently busy consulting their lawyers in case the ex-head of the PPC power utility starts to name names more from the Kathimerini Daily...

Read more here...

EU - enlargement blues

Recent polls suggest more EU citizens would support Russia and Ukraine as members ahead of Turkey but overall enthusiasm for enlargement, even among new members, is fading. France and Germany are particularly jaded it seems, although significant minorities nevertheless gave support to Turkey and even, 31 %, to Morocco more from the EU Observer...

Read more here...

US - Race on the border

The Orange County elections for a House of Representatives seat would usually be a rather dull contest among Republicans but one issue is giving many such contests extra spice - illegal immigration.

While many in the business community know agriculture and construction depend on a steady flow of Mexican labour it is still a hot button issue for those on the Right who worry about being 'flooded' by foreigners more from the LA Times...

Read more here...

Mongolia - King Coal

Mongolia may be remote but it does now happen to be right next door to an increasingly energy hungry China. For a country with large reserves of coal, copper, gold and oil that could mean future prosperity as, for example, China depends on coal for nearly two thirds of it's power.

As new deals are made to increase supply, more from the BBC.., you have to hope China is not exporting it's safety standards or environmental techniques still more from the BBC...

With local authorities willing to turn a blind eye to profitable but unsafe mines in China will Mongolia's mines be any different ?. Some labour organisations are already worried by the extent of unofficial mining in Mongolia where a series of severe winters have driven many, traditionally nomadic, herders to look for other work to survive more from the International Labour Organisation

Read more here...

Kazakhstan - surprise election

Kazakhstan - largest and wealthiest of the Central Asian Republics - is soon to hold what may be it's first unrigged Presidential election. A risky move ? Apparently not, as observers give the challanger no chance, despite promises of social justice in country where many live near the poverty line more from EurasiaNet...

Read more here...