The World Today

They were quick to dismiss the possibility that British fighter jets could regularly find a friendly runway on French aircraft carriers, or visa versa, but the two tradional rivals are determined to cooperate on defence. And cooperate they must, because the cuts continue.

For almost a decade, since September 11 2001, people in the west especially have thought more about threats. Is it safe to travel on public transport, to go to a particular country? But dealing with such threats may not make us more secure. Instead, those who defend us need to focus on risks, especially risks which might appear in the future.

How did Barack Obama, a new United States President of such extraordinary presence and promise, fall so quickly from grace? Why have his considerable achievements - financial stabilisation and economic stimulus, health, education, and financial regulatory reform - not paid political dividends for him and his party?

Asian and European leaders are about to get face-to-face with United States’ President Barack Obama. In Europe’s case, the summit has been a long time coming. The president’s thoughts are elsewhere, in Afghanistan, on climate change and the Middle East.

The threat from Al Qaeda in Yemen has forced itself onto the international agenda this year. But for Yeminis themselves there is a greater and more immediate threat: the lack of food. Despite the increased global interest, little has so far been done to meet these needs.