Hopes & Fears

As we begin a new year hoping it will bring peace and prosperity for everyone, we also reflect on 2007.

The past year witnessed major events that will undoubtedly influence 2008 and beyond.

Many of these issues have made their impact on the lives of Gulf News readers. Locally, people could not stop worrying about the rising rents and spiralling cost of living.

Surprisingly, traffic worries were pushed back, and the talk of the town centred on salaries and the dirham's peg to the dollar.

On the Middle East, our readers carried on with their hopes of stability. In the past few months the security situation in Iraq improved, but readers believe it will be a long time before the war-torn nation can recover fully.

For the other regional hotspot, Palestine, even though the year started with infighting, it is the hope of many that 2008 will bring lasting peace.

Beyond the region, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto highlighted the ongoing clash between conservatives and liberals.

The tragic death of this popular leader will obviously influence Pakistan's politics in 2008.

Few world figures left the arena in 2007 and they were replaced by leaders who will influence global events in 2008.

As President George W. Bush winds down his final year in office, the seemingly fierce US election campaign is going to dominate the news.

But 2007 will be remembered by many as the year when the world gathered in Bali to find ways to curb global warming.

While the majority of Gulf News readers expressed pessimism
in their overall outlook for 2008, they do see a glimmer of hope and would like to see an end to conflicts in the world

Gulf News wishes its readers a happier and more prosperous New Year.