The year 2008 began with Russia continuing its upward trajectory. Oil prices were high, foreign policy unaccommodating, and a critical political transition passed without incident. But after years of walking tall, Russia now appears to be falling hard under the weight of the global economic crisis.
After five years of fighting and with Iraqi authority now at unprecedented levels since the launch of the U.S.-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, the level of violence appears to have finally eased to the point that citizens can again plan for the future.
Turkmenistan has redenominated its national currency, the manat, cutting off three zeroes while also removing the image of its autocratic former leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, from all coins and all but one banknote. The government says the procedure will strengthen the manat and promote foreign investment. Some Turkmen, however, are anxious about the move, saying any currency change will create more uncertainties in markets and could drive prices up.
As part of our look back at 2008, we asked broadcasters, editors, and correspondents representing the 20 countries and 28 languages in which RFE/RL broadcasts to vote on what they thought were the top news events of the year. With a few exceptions, their choices reflect challenges that will only get tougher in 2009.
With an eye to his country's fresh EU Presidency, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexandr Vondra talks about Czech priorities, the Klaus factor, and energy security.
In 2009, the EU Presidency passes from one of the bloc's founding members, France, to one of its newest, the Czech Republic. But one of the country's leaders, President Vaclav Klaus, is already grabbing much of the spotlight for views that are decidedly critical of Brussels.
Pakistan had been an important element in the war on terrorism before 2008, but with militant attacks across South Asia being linked to Pakistan by its neighbors and Afghanistan's deteriorating security situation, the country has emerged as a new focal point.
Past and present are deeply intertwined in the Balkans. But in 2008, the region appeared to look in a new direction -- the future. With independence in Kosovo and the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, the region seemed ready to shrug off the weight of history. But is it?
The U.S. Justice Department is alleging that a 36-story skyscraper in Manhattan is secretly co-owned by an Iranian bank with ties to the government in Tehran. Prosecutors are seeking to seize the property and freeze millions of dollars in assets they say belong to the bank.
2008 was a year of war, increasing diplomatic activity, and a resurgent Russia in the restive South Caucasus. Two of the regions' "frozen conflicts" heated up and one showed signs of thawing as the uneasy post-Soviet status quo came unraveled.
From Iraq to India, thousands of Christians around the world are struggling to celebrate Christ’s birth while under extreme pressure, including civil war, political repression, exile, and sectarian strife.
2008 was the year the financial crisis would go truly global, knocking the economies of the United States, Europe, and Japan into their first simultaneous recession since World War II.
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