The World Today

Iran’s decision to ‘halt’ its nuclear weapons programme five years ago carries important lessons about how a permanent suspension of such activities might be achieved

Including aviation emissions in the European Union’s much-feted Emissions Trading Scheme could be a step in the right direction, but the terms are just not tough enough.

Kenya’s post election crisis has highlighted the serious risks of mobilising political support on ethnic lines. Mediation efforts may now provide the impetus to find a better way of managing democratic competition than the country’s familiar brand of ethnically divisive patronage politics. But more is at stake, African leaders will be judged on their commitment to be their brother’s keeper in times of crisis.

The contested election result in Kenya and its violent aftermath are focussing new attention on voting in Zimbabwe, scheduled for the end of March. Polling takes place against a backdrop of a long-running and worsening economic crisis, political uncertainty and the likelihood of increasing political and criminal violence.

Is the credit crunch coming to Europe? Since the United States mortgage crisis broke last August, financial markets have been torn between hopes of de-coupling, the theory that Europe can escape the US mess largely unscathed, and fears of re-coupling, the notion that Europe will have to follow America all the way down, even if it may take Europe a little longer to realise its fate.

Obstacles to Kosovo independence have fallen one by one. There are certain to be economic opportunities for the new country, but many challenges too. The new Russia and its eastern European friends will make sure life is as difficult as possible for all concerned.