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
BAGHDAD: Nearly 500 U.S. Army combat engineers who specialize in clearing roads of explosives started shifting to southern Afghanistan."We are probably going to be the beginning of the influx you are going to see to Afghanistan," Lt. Col. Kevin Landers, commander of the Fort Carson, Colo.-based 4th Engineer Battalion, said as crews packed crates and cleaned vehicles for the flight to Kandahar.Obama has ordered 17,000 more U.S. soldiers and Marines to Afghanistan to bolster the 38,000 American troops already battling the resurgent Taliban."We are going to take this footprint out of Iraq," said Landers, whose battalion received word of its reassignment last month just after taking command of clearing roads in Baghdad of bombs and debris.
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