The Ukraine – what ethnic origins live where, speak what language and practice what religion and other news and views for Sunday 2 March

2014-03-02_ukraine
  • From the CIA World Factbook - Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census) Languages: Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other (includes small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities) 9% Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox – Kyiv Patriarchate 50.4%, Ukrainian Orthodox – Moscow Patriarchate 26.1%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 8%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 7.2%, Roman Catholic 2.2%, Protestant 2.2%, Jewish 0.6%, other 3.2% (2006 est.)
  • Ukraine: What emergency measures and what long-term changes are needed? - “Ukraine’s ‘February Revolution’ is threatened by the nation’s dire economic straits. The column discusses short- and long-term changes that are necessary to get the nation through this crisis and back on the track to stability.”
  • Haven’t I Seen You Before? Why News Reports Quote The Same People
  • Well-funded program tries new approach to tackle overfishing in developing world
  • Debt-for-equity swaps offer Greece a better way – “Greece needs debt reduction. This column argues that instead of offering another lengthening of maturities and reduction in interest rates, Eurozone leaders should seize the occasion and implement debt-for-equity swaps that would encourage foreign investment, speed privatisation and jumpstart the Greek economy.”
  • The unpredictability of revolution – “Three years after the start of the Arab Spring, Egypt’s capital city is feeling the impact of the revolution in some surprising ways. At the chaotic height of Egypt’s revolution against the brilliantined autocrat Hosni Mubarak, every single member of the uniformed security forces suddenly disappeared from the streets. It felt like the last word in disorder – a police state without actual policemen. They are long since back of course, not bringing order exactly, but presiding pompously over a reduced level of chaos.”
  • Abenomics struggles to deliver Japan public works boom – “When Tokyo asked for bidders to build what is expected to be the world’s largest fish market on the city’s vacant eastern edge there were no takers… Many firms are choosing to walk away from government projects rather than invest more in equipment or hire workers – fixed costs that would be hard to shed in the next downturn. In the midst of a building boom, Japan’s construction companies, who stand to benefit most directly from Abe’s policies, are acting as though the good times will not last.”
  • Three Accidental Coal Fires That Have Been Burning For Weeks, Months, And Decades
2014-03-02_dogtalk

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