Oman Observer - Analysis

THE Indian government’s first full-year budget since its resounding re-election may signal that increasing populism and ruling coalition infighting will triumph over policies to liberalise the economy and cut record borrowing. This could be the year for India. The world is looking for motors of growth in Asia, the $1.2 trillion Indian economy is recovering faster than expected and

FRENCH parties have started serious campaigning for regional elections in March that the opposition Socialists hope will allow them to land a significant blow on President Nicolas Sarkozy. The Socialists already control 20 of the 22 mainland regions and party leader Martine Aubry is hoping for a clean sweep at the two round elections on March 14 and 21 that will create a platform

VOTERS in Hungary look set to punish the current socialist government in general elections in April with a sharp swing to the right, all the opinion polls show. According to the latest poll by Szonda Ipsos, the conservative opposition party Fidesz is the favourite to win the election on April 11, with a forecast 58 per cent of votes. By contrast, the socialist MSzP looks set to win

SITTING on low benches on the humid streets of the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenyan men sip hot kahawa chungu, or bitter coffee in Swahili, from miniature ceramic cups. The concentrated black coffee — traditionally brewed over a charcoal stove in tall brass kettles reminiscent of the ancient Arabic world — is a speciality of the Kenyan coast that is preserved for men.

Richest man

By Stuart Williams in Moscow
A publicity-shy steel magnate has emerged as Russia’s new richest man, after a year which saw all its top oligarchs defy the financial crisis and increase their fortunes, a report said yesterday. Vladimir Lisin, the low-profile owner of leading steel producer Novolipetsk Steel, saw his fortune rise to $18.8 billion from $7.7 billion in 2009, according to the 2010 rich list of the

Vulnerable side

By Keith Weir in London
PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has bared his soul to Britons in a television interview in which he speaks about the death of his infant daughter and his hopes for his son who suffers from cystic fibrosis. Political commentators said the interview was a significant change of tone for the 58-year-old Brown, often portrayed as buttoned-up and more comfortable reeling off

Debt and cure

By Francesco Fontemaggi in Paris
HIGH public debt levels in many countries are seen as a threat to recovery from the economic crisis, but so is the cure by whatever name: austerity, rigour or just plain budget cuts, analysts say. “The markets are telling governments ‘reduce your deficits as fast as possible’ but economists reply: ‘wait until the recovery is established’,” said Henri Sterdyniak at the French