Free Republic

The results of the 2007 edition of IMD’s World Competitiveness Yearbook highlight a big shake-up in economic and business power. Emerging nations are quickly catching up in competitiveness. New companies and new brands are appearing all over the world. They now contest the long-standing competitive supremacy of industrialized nations. “This could lead to an increase in protectionist measures in Europe and the US”, says Professor Stéphane Garelli, Director of IMD’s World Competitiveness Center. Of the 55 economies ranked by IMD, the US still ranks No. 1 in 2007, closely followed by Singapore and Hong Kong. However, 40 economies are now...

Qatar pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance Saturday to help Americans recover from Hurricane Katrina, heading a list of more than a dozen countries joining an outpouring of support. They added to the more than 50 countries who had made pledges by the end of the day Friday. ``In these difficult circumstances, the people and the government of the state of Qatar would like to assure the people of the United States of its support and desire to assist the people in the affected area along the United States Gulf Coast,'' said a statement from the oil-rich Persian Gulf state's...

In an accelerating drive, more than 50 countries have pledged money or other assistance to help Americans recover from Hurricane Katrina. Cuba and Venezuela have offered to help despite differences with Washington. Oil giant Saudi Arabia and small countries like Sri Lanka and Dominica are among the nations making pledges. "I hope that will remind Americans that we are all part of the same community," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday as offers kept pouring in. None has been turned down, Rice said at a news conference, disputing a report from Moscow that a Russian offer had been rejected....

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: The President and First Lady attended St. John's Chruch in Washington this morning. The nation's governors are in Washington this week for their winter National Governors' Association meeting, and the President and First Lady are hosting a formal dinner tonight in the White House for them. I waited as long as poosible hoping some photos of the dinner would appear on Yahoo. But it's after 5:30pm Pacific, and none have appeared yet. So thise Dose is going up without them. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger waved the green flag to start the NASCAR Nextel Cup race...

PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: On Wednesday, the President hosted the bipartisan Congressional leadership at the White House. It was an opportunity to talk about a range of issues, including the President's upcoming trip to Europe. The President and First Lady, who are spending a quiet day in the White House today, will leave Washington Sunday enroute to their first stop in Brussels, Belgium. The President will hold summit talks with leaders of NATO and the European Union, and will meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Russian President Vladimir Putin among...