The World Today World Economy: Ugly Things Can Happen The world economy is slowing down. Growth has declined most notably in the US, after almost a decade of strong and uninterrupted expansion. In Europe too, some weakness can be discerned, especially in Germany. The Japanese economy is performing much as it has been for the past decade – poised delicately between stagnation and decline. So, are we heading for recession or financial crisis and how prepared are we?
The World Today UN Peacekeepers and HIV/AIDS: Testing Times Soldiers are a key risk group in the spread of HIV and AIDS. The disease is a threat to individuals and a strategic issue for their commanders. UN peacekeepers are also coming under scrutiny, raising important questions of health and rights.
The World Today Eritrea and Ethiopia: Uneasy Peace It was an old style conflict of large armies in trench warfare on the African continent. Two nations which had long been friends were pitted against each other. Now peace prevails, but is it peace imposed by western states following their own interests, or a genuine attempt to bring peoples together?
The World Today Italy: Tycoon's Revenge Despite conflicts of interest and corruption charges, Silvio Berlusconi seems likely to become Prime Minister of Italy again. Since he last held that post the economy has improved so much that Rome is now at home in the Eurozone. But equally important, wholesale political reform has fallen victim to a fractured party system.
The World Today World Trade and Animal Disease: Virulent Virus Global trade has increased the risk of animal illness spreading rapidly round the world. As foot-and-mouth disease affects exports and imports in countries without infection, there are calls for radical change in farming methods.
The World Today Small States: Power in Numbers The United Nations Security Council is generally thought of as the battleground of major global players – vetoes to hand. But this year states from the opposite end of the power spectrum have a unique opportunity to influence events.
The World Today East Timor: A Nation Waits Until recently it had been assumed that Xanana Gusmão would become President of East Timor after the UN shepherded it to independence. His resignation – ahead of elections in August – over how a new constitution is being drawn up, has intensified concern that the transition may be neither smooth nor timely.