Business | GlobalPost

The political hydraulics of OPEC

Tom HundleyApril 13, 2010 06:15Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — OPEC is a maddeningly opaque outfit; its public pronouncements frequently seem carefully crafted to conceal its private calculations. The 12-member cartel controls about one-third of the world’s daily oil supply — not quite enough to give it absolute control over the price per barrel, but enough to allow it to consistently manipulate the price to its advantage.

Video: Special to GlobalPost — Rupert Murdoch

Marvin KalbApril 9, 2010 19:13Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

Thailand protests: Who’s in control of Bangkok?

Patrick WinnApril 9, 2010 08:48Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

BANGKOK, Thailand — For nearly a month, Thai protesters sworn to topple the government have occupied parts of Bangkok with indomitable swagger. Among their recent conquests: crashing through parliament gates and yanking guns from security forces,smearing the premier’s front gate with human blood, backing down troops ordered to defend a relay station broadcasting their anti-government satellite TV network.

Is the iPad a killer app?

Thomas MuchaApril 9, 2010 07:21

The media coverage this week has been breathless: "Four suicide attempts in a month at Foxconn, the makers of the iPad," screamed the headline of a Telegraph article. "Is Pressure at iPad Maker Foxconn Behind Four Recent Suicide Tries?" wondered Fast Company.

World Economic Forum comes to Colombia

John OtisApril 8, 2010 18:01

CARTAGENA, Colombia — Bono once called the World Economic Forum in Davos a gathering of “fat cats in the snow.” But for the past three days, the fat cats have opted for palm trees and Caribbean breezes. The forum held its Latin America regional meeting in the gorgeous colonial port city of Cartagena. In a way, it was a coming out party for Colombia, which thanks to improved security is now deemed safe enough to host the Davos crowd.

The yuan diaries, cont.

Thomas MuchaApril 8, 2010 11:56

The ongoing political and economic kerfuffle over the value of the Chinese yuan has apparently taken an intriguing and important turn. According to the New York Times, the Chinese government will soon allow its currency to appreciate slightly, and vary more on a daily basis. That would make plenty of people in the Obama administration happy, particularly globe-trotting Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who is in Hong Kong and Beijing today meeting with senior Chinese leaders.

Rwanda Inc is booming

Jon RosenApril 9, 2010 06:46Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

KIGALI, Rwanda — Young, business-savvy and geeky as Silicon Valley’s finest, Viateur Mugenzi is a one-man incarnation of the new-look Rwanda. A telecom administrator by day, the boyish 32-year-old is a partner in three start-up companies by night, including a venture that uses open-source technology to translate software into Kinyarwanda — the principal language of Rwanda’s rural population.

On Location: Puerto Dexthi, Mexico

Ioan Grillo and John DickieApril 9, 2010 06:38Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

India smoking: A ban in Mumbai sticks.

Hanna IngberApril 12, 2010 06:20Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

MUMBAI, India — The comedian wraps up his act, and announces a seven-minute intermission. Audience members rise and file towards the door. Seven minutes – exactly enough time to get in a smoke. A group of friends forms a circle on the street. All light up. Such a scene is common in cities like New York, San Francisco and London. But this is India. It’s Mumbai, to be precise, a city not exactly known for its cleanliness and public hygiene.

Zloty economics: Crisis? What crisis?

Jan CienskiApril 7, 2010 06:23Updated May 30, 2010 13:28

WARSAW, Poland — Maria Bninska is breathing a sigh of relief as Poland’s zloty continues its upward climb against leading foreign currencies after coming perilously close to collapsing a little more than a year ago. The reason is that, like thousands of other Poles, Bninska holds a mortgage denominated in Swiss francs.