January 2011 edition of canadian economic observer

Almost half 47 per cent expect that their family will spend less on such purchases in the upcoming year. The bad news is that debt has been fueling our economy — two-thirds of it based on consumer spending. And we have no idea what that will mean as the economy continues to struggle. Canadians have lost confidence that the national economy or their personal financial situation will improve any time soon, according to a report released this week by RBC.

Just under one-third 32 per cent of Canadians indicate they feel positive about the outlook for the domestic economy over the next year, down from 43 per cent in January and nearly half the number who said so in January Only 36 per cent say they believe their own financial situation will improve, compared to 38 per cent in and 45 per cent in Consumers are, however, taking action about the state of their personal finances.

Dutch Princess Margret marries Pieter van Vollenhoven. French fashion designer Coco Chanel dies in Paris at age China ends seven months of martial law in Beijing.

Russian troops kill the rebels and some of the hostages. Time-Warner decided to spin off AOL in Bush and his national security team receive a top-secret Pentagon briefing on military challenges around the world. Climate change means more manmade snow and more athlete accidents. Sopheng Cheang. Hero Cambodian rat dies peacefully after life of sniffing out deadly land mines. Tax the real estate speculators — and make it hurt.

Max Fawcett. Meilin Ma. But for Asian businesses, racism is a second devastating pandemic. Features Volkmar Richter.

Movies: Women as spies, computer time travel, and a gripping Canadian thriller. Supriya Dwivedi. Marc Fawcett-Atkinson. Columnists Max.

Canada's leading commentator from the heart of oil country. Canada's favourite Ontario commentator. Canada's hottest climate commentator. But on a balmy November afternoon, thousands of visitors gathered along the banks of the Tigris for the eighth edition of a book festival. Organisers of the "I am an Iraqi, I read" event were distributing 30, books for free, from fiction to philosophy and foreign languages.

A singer accompanied by traditional instruments performed local folk music as the fashionably dressed youth, couples with small children and senior citizens enjoyed the event. Individuals and foreign institutes have largely driven Baghdad's cultural rebirth in the oil-rich country.

Last month however, the city hosted the second edition of an international theatre festival, organised by the culture ministry. Troupes hailing from Egypt, Tunisia, Germany and Italy performed for free, and Iraqis too had a chance to shine.