Kuwaiti banks are generally performing well, but their long-term prospects are largely dependent on the May elections bringing political stability to the country. Writer Stephen Timewell

The governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait discusses the impact political instability is having on the country and the effect he hopes the new Financial Stability Law will have. Writer Stephen Timewell

Leading Qatari banks have recorded strong results over the past two quarters and figureheads within the sector are quietly confident that profitability will be maintained, or indeed increased, in the year ahead. Writer Stephen Timewell

David Thompson - Barbados' prime minister

Unimpressed by the lack of representation for the world's smaller nations at the G-20 summit in London in April, Barbados' prime minister David Thompson took it upon himself to visit the city and tell the world of the plight of his country and others in the Caribbean. Writer Hugh O' Shaughnessy

Although Thailand has managed to avoid much of the turmoil embroiling Western banks, the government is taking preventative action to ensure that its export and loan markets are not damaged by the slump in global demand. Writer Simon Montlake in Bangkok

As Ireland reels from its banking woes, a fierce debate is under way as to whether the government's 'bad bank' solution will be enough to open a route to recovery or whether widespread bank nationalisation is a more realistic option. Writer Philippa Maister

Merrill Lynch's orchestration of the EDF purchase of British Energy was one of the most complex and drawn-out deals of its kind ever undertaken. Writer Edward Russell-Walling