Global Observer

Correspondent, Barcelona

Jennifer Riggins has held a number of positions in journalism, community organizing, non-profit fundraising, sales, and teaching English as a foreign language. She holds a degree from William Paterson University. She is based in Spain.

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Jennifer Riggins does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Hong Kong

Vanessa Ko has written for TIME, South China Morning Post and Phnom Penh Post. She holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Hong Kong. She is based in Hong Kong, China.

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Vanessa Ko does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Paris

Bryan Pirolli has worked for Conde Nast and Travel+Leisure and has written for EuroCheapo.com and Concierge.com. He holds a degree from New York University and is currently studying at the Sorbonne. He is based in Paris, France.

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Bryan Pirolli does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what he covers.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Johannesburg

Dave Mayers has written for The New York Times, the Financial Times, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the World Picture Network. He has taught multimedia journalism at Wits University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He holds degrees from St. John's University and Columbia. He is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Dave Mayers does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what he covers.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Mexico City

Lauren Villagran has written for the Associated Press, Dallas Morning News and Christian Science Monitor. She holds a degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

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Lauren Villagran does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Melbourne

Lieu Thi Pham is a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia. She has contributed to The Age, Associated Newspapers, Melbourne University Magazine, the Big Issue, Dazed and Confused, Indesign Group, Time Out, SOMA and Niche Media. She holds degrees from the University of Melbourne and RMIT University.

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Lieu Thi Pham does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Berlin

Shannon N. Smith has written for WNYC's The Takeaway and TheLocal.de. She holds a degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is based in Berlin, Germany.

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Shannon Smith does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Delhi

Betwa Sharma has written for the Christian Science Monitor, Time, Foreign Policy, The New Republic, The Daily Beast, AOL News, GlobalPost, The Huffington Post, Columbia Journalism Review, The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Indian Express and The Tribune.

She previously worked as the United Nations/New York correspondent for the Press Trust of India, the country's largest newswire. She holds degrees from the National Law Institute University in India, Cambridge University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She is based in Delhi, India.

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Betwa Sharma does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what she covers.

She writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

Correspondent, Buenos Aires

Ian Mount is a freelance writer based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has written for the New York Times, New York, Slate, Monocle, the Telegraph (UK) and Food & Wine. He has also produced pieces for public radio shows such as The World and Marketplace, and is the author of The Vineyard at the End of the World: Maverick Winemakers and the Rebirth of Malbec (W.W. Norton, 2012).

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Ian Mount does not have financial holdings that would influence how or what he covers.

He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.