For all the gloom with which 2010 ended, the new decade has begun with a glorious example of the indefatigable courage of the human spirit. What lies ahead will not be easy.

Not surprisingly, the atmosphere at this year s World Economic Forum was grim.

That would cast at least one ray of light on the gloom that envelops Japan today.

Russia s record is equally bleak on other items on the summit s agenda.

But there are two pieces of good news that break through the gloom.

Indeed, the record of Internet companies in authoritarian countries is both consistent and grim.

This controversy has threatened to cast a pall over a much heralded summit between two of the world s great democracies.

For all the gloom with which 2010 ended, the new decade has begun with a glorious example of the indefatigable courage of the human spirit. What lies ahead will not be easy.

But the superb sunshine in Davos these days cannot avoid the shadows of the financial crisis that have enveloped the world, casting an atmosphere of gloom and doom on this year s meeting.

What makes this desolate economic landscape even gloomier is the striking inability of European leaders to explain what has happened and is happening to their citizens.

High unemployment rates even for the more qualified young people demonstrate the great difficulties facing their integration into the workforce and, as a result, the depression and lack of well being among youth.

NEW DELHI India s sliding economy has inspired gloom and doom far and wide, but increasingly bearish sentiment is misplaced.

Although President George W. Bush says he believes in markets, in this case he has called for voluntary action. But it makes far more sense to use the force of markets the power of incentives than to rely on goodwill, especially when it comes to oil companies that regard their sole objective as maximizing profits, regardless of the cost to others.

Where not long ago sunshine and solidarity were the order of the day, depression and confrontation are now the rule.

Of course, there is some truth in this characterization of America (and quite a lot in that of Bush), but the picture is not uniformly bleak.

NEW HAVEN China s recent leadership transition was widely depicted as a triumph for conservative hard liners and a setback for the cause of reform a characterization that has deepened the gloominess that pervades Western perceptions of China.

Ultimately, the spiritual gloom and existential dread that we have come to associate with Eastern Europe are merely an extension of our own.

He is rich but he is not happy.

There are exceptions, though.

Austen continued to work in spite of her illness.

It is difficult to answer these questions with much conviction while we are still in the midst of the crisis. Indeed, every passing day now seems to bring worse news even weekends no longer provide respite from the steady stream of gloom!

This was despite the fact that during World War I the forts had proved ineffective despite strong support from artillery and infantry.

But progress is nonetheless being made.

It has remained at peace, despite regional wars.

Nevertheless, he is telling the truth.

However, the celebrations were peaceful and joyful.

The people are beautiful and loving despite all the regrets.

In short, 2006 will be marked by mounting uncertainty about prospects for global economic growth, even as the distribution of the fruits of that growth remain dismally predictable.

Perhaps because they are older and more cynical, European societies seem to bask in a collective moroseness, from which they have difficulty emerging.

At a time when Europeans are full of self doubt, though perhaps not as morose as the French, this praise from thoughtful Asians is more than welcome.

If Europe doesn t find a way to reactivate the continent s economy soon, it will be doomed to years of gloom and endless mutual recrimination about who sabotaged the European project.

PARIS The newspaper commentaries that I write often have a dark perspective. Sadly, this one will be no different.

Although five is a good number, of course.

For all her wealth, she does not look happy.

But, however appealing this logic may be, it is wrong.

That said, we are not doomed to succeed.

The problem is real, though exaggerated.

Although there was calm, the village had not yet surrendered.

Don't click the video below if you have a weak heart )

That's what I finally realized, although it was deadly dark.

Despite this they are not officially called soldiers.

It proved a commercial hit despite being a shoestring budget.

Our work is a message to show that we insist on living our lives, although it seems impossible, and despite the restricted potential for growth we need to show to the world our talents to help us grow instead of being defeated.

Nim, though, lives on an island in the South Pacific.

It is not clear as to the cause of this dispute, though some attribute it to the builder insisting on cash payment (though this has yet to be verified).