Thursday, October 29, 2009 HELSINKI: Finland takes the lead in this year’s ranking of the world’s most prosperous countries announced by the UK-based economic think-tank the Legatum Institute on 27 October. Finland’s position, up from third place in 2008, is due to a variety of factors that include monetary wealth and economic development as well as the level of democratic governance, public health and quality of life. The top three includes two other small liberal democracies, Switzerland and Sweden.According to the Institute’s report, Finland in terms of economic fundamentals, promotion of entrepreneurship and democratic institutions barely makes the top ten. It is in terms of security, education and governance that Finland is superior.As expected, the top 20 is dominated by European countries and North America, with the United States ranking 9th overall. The lowest rungs of the list are heavy with African countries. Afflicted by hyperinflation and nearly 80 per cent unemployment, Zimbabwe has the lowest scores on almost every indicator.The list holds some surprises, too. Despite giant leaps in economic development, China lags behind in the prosperity index, in 75th place. Both China and fellow giant Russia were far below average in overall prosperity, with dismal scores in democratic institutions, personal freedom and safety and security for both countries. The most prosperous countries, according to the Legatum ranking, are not necessarily those with the highest GDP but those that also have happy, healthy and free citizens.The Legatum Institute Prosperity Index was first launched in 2007, and this year included 104 countries.The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index, published on Tuesday ranked 104 countries that are home to 90% of the world's population."The index is based on a definition of prosperity that combines economic growth with the level of personal freedoms and democracy in a country as well as measures of happiness and quality of life."Finland came out on top this year, up two spots from last year. The nordic country is the ideal place for anyone who values freedom of expression, health, wealth, and prosperity. The Nordic countries held four of the top five slots, with Switzerland holding the second slot. The United States fell this year from the sixth spot to the ninth spot.Top 10 1-Finland2-Switzerland3-Sweden4-Denmark5-Norway6-Australia7-Canada8-Netherlands9-United States 10-New Zealand Bottom 1094-Iran 95-Kenya96-Algeria97-Tanzania98-Nigeria99-Pakistan100-Cameroon101-Central African Republic102-Yemen103-Sudan104-Zimbabwe
Friday, August 14, 2009 MUMBAI: A 26-year-old woman died Thursday of H1N1 swine flu in the southern city of Bangalore, raising India's death toll from the virus to 20, authorities said.The death was the first reported in India's information technology capital, the Press Trust of India reported.Meanwhile in Pune, the worst-affected in India, two more victims of the virus died Thursday, raising the death toll in that western city near Mumbai to 12, the report said. The victims were an 11-month-old boy and a 75-year-old old woman.US media reported movie halls, schools and colleges were ordered closed Thursday for three days to a week in Mumbai, the commercial and financial capital of the country, as fear of the pandemic spread.Prajakata Lavangare, a spokeswoman for the government of Maharashtra state of which Mumbai is the capital, said similar orders were issued in Pune, which is also located in the state.The woman who died in Bangalore was identified only as Roopa, a teacher in...
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