The Middle East and North Africa or MENA region, sitting on 66% and 46%, respectively, of the world’s collective crude oil and natural gas reserves, during 2008 again outpaced global expansion for the ninth year in a row, with real GDP growth of 6.3%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Inflated energy prices, buoyant domestic demand and fiscal stimuli measures underpinned this expansion within both oil and non-oil economies. Consequently, real GDP per capita (the indicator of living standards) is predicted to surge by 5% in 2008, up from 3% earlier this decade. The region, however, faces two-fold challenges of preventing contagion from the global market meltdown and over the medium-term, consolidating on hard-won macroeconomic gains of recent years. More...

The Al Qaeda leader has been in the US crosshairs several times, but always survived. Now the Americans seem to be going after him again. By ED BLANCHE More...

The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) held its annual Courage in Journalism Awards towards the end of 2008 – an event that recognises women around the world who report under dangerous or difficult circumstances. One of the four recipients of this year’s award was Farida Nekzad, an Afghan journalist. Nekzad is currently the managing editor and deputy director of Pajhwok Afghan News and vice president of the South Asia Media commission. More...