"Bush Shoe" In demand

Ramazan Baydan, the owner of Baydan Shoe Company in Istanbul is a happy man. His shoe business has seen many orders come in from all around the world after Muntazer-Al-Zaidi an Iraqi Journalist attempted to hit Bush with the shoe made at the Baydan Shoe Company.




Reports are that Baydan has already got an order for 300,00 pairs of “Bush Shoe” and he has recruited 100 people to meet the growing demand. Around 120,000 pairs have been ordered from Iraq, while a US company has requested 18,000 pairs. A British firm has offered to provide a distribution network to the Baydan Shoe Company. Shoe Federations in Syria and Iran have shown support for Zaidi by offering him and his family lifetime supply of shoes.

Baydan is planning to change the name of the shoe from “Model 271” to “Bush Shoe” or “Bye-Bye Bush Shoe”. "We've been selling these shoes for years but, thanks to Bush, orders are flying in like crazy. We've even hired an agency to look at television advertising," he was quoted by the British newspaper as saying.

Highest Paid Presidents / PM's around the World

The Economic recession has hit one and all, salary cuts and pink slips have taken their toll on the common man. Presidents, Prime Ministers are no exception. Most of the heads have cut down on their salaries or are planning to do so in the near future. Lets take a look at what the heads of top nations are earning.

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore
(Country GDP: $235.6 billion - 2008)

Politicians in Singapore are amongst the most highly paid government officials in the world. Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore earns five times more than the American President. Lee Hsien Loong takes an annual salary of $2.46 million.

Barack Obama, USA
(Country GDP: $13.81 trillion - 2007)

Second on the list is the President of the biggest economy of the world with a GDP of $13.81 trillion (2007). President Elect, Barack Obama will be getting an annual salary of $400,000 when he joins office next year.

Kevin Rudd, Australia
(Country GDP: $773 billion - 2007)

Third on the list is the Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd with an annual salary of $330,300.

Angela Merkel, Germany
(Country GDP: $2.585 trillion - 2006)

The first lady chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel receives an annual salary of € 242,000 (€ 22000 bonus included) ~ $ 307,340.

Nicolas Sarkozy, France
(Country GDP: $1.871 trillion - 2006)

The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy gets an annual salary of € 240,000 ~ $ 304,800. This is after he doubled his salary earlier this year.

Stephen Harper, Canada
(Country GDP: $1.274 trillion - 2007)

Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of the seventh largest economy of the world, Canada recieves an annual salary of $280,000.

Gordon Brown, UK
(Country GDP: $2.772 trillion - 2007)

Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the second biggest economy in Europe and fifth largest in the world receives an annual salary of € 187611 ~ $238,266.

Vladimir Putin, Russia

(Country GDP: $2.076 trillion -2007)

The Russian Prime Minister recieve an annual salary of $81,190, which is significantly less than his counterparts.

The graph below shows a comparison between GDP and Salaries of heads of Top Nations.