Analysis


An all-weather budget
The government has once again demonstrated its ability to deal positively with the global economic crisis, which has impacted the economies of many countries. Although the Sultanate will be affected by the crisis, the anticipated effects will be limited in scope. Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of Financial Affairs and Energy...

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‘Where is my family?’
THE scene inside ‘Palestine Square’, where shrapnel rained down on dozens of shoppers who dared leave their homes in
Gaza City yesterday, was one of utter bedlam. "Where is Nadia, my daughter, where is she?" screamed one frantic shopper,
who turned out to be luckier than most. Nadia was hiding in a clothing store, safe but scared.

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Second Ghana power change in 10 years
GHANA is consolidating its democratic credentials as, for the second time in a decade, one elected leader prepares to hand over power to the opposition following a peaceful presidential poll. Opposition candidate John Atta-Mills on Saturday narrowly won the presidential race, with less than half a percentage point between him and the ruling party's aspirant Nana Akufo-Addo.

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Germany’s day of decision making
TODAY German Chancellor Angela Merkel will receive a festive children's choir raising money for charity. They are not the only ones wanting cash in Berlin — and others are singing a lot less sweetly. The concert comes on the same day as what could be a heated government meeting to discuss spending measures aimed at averting the worst recession to hit Germany...

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Failing revolution?
IN January 2005, Viktor Yushchenko pledged to take Ukraine towards EU membership, as he was sworn in as president after ousting pro-Russian leaders from power. But four years on, the hopes of the ‘Orange Revolution’ are just a memory with the country in a grave economic crisis, riven by political and linguistic division and now deprived of Russian gas deliveries...

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Five years on, no end seen to Thai insurgency
THAILAND'S new premier has vowed to tackle a separatist insurgency raging in the south, but the region yesterday marks five years of bloodshed with little end in sight to the daily violence. Thai political turmoil has left the army with free rein in the south, prompting widespread human rights violations, activists say, while rebels are turning to increasingly sophisticated technology..

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Tiger trouble in Lanka
Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist conflict far from over: analysts SRI Lankans celebrated the fall of the Tamil Tigers' de facto capital with street parties, but military observers say bloodier battles may still lie ahead as the rebels take refuge in the jungles. The guerrillas, fighting for an independent homeland for Tamils, suffered a massive blow on Friday when they lost Kilinochchi,...

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