Ann Talbot considers how pressure from the US, which considers Zimbabwe a threat to the economic stability of the continent, may make pliant African leaders turn on Robert Mugabe’s regime. She also highlights how any further sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe will only deepen its people’s misery and enhance the likelihood of military intervention as the situation spirals out of control.

Whilst the poor of the world’s developing nations starve and struggle over soaring food prices, Andy Rowell describes how the rich world is now squabbling over the huge subsidies it gives its producers to produce more biofuels instead of food.