A pitiful exercise in Euro-minimalism

By lasering in on the lowest common denominator in this way, leaders of the big member-states are united in their unwillingness to be overshadowed by figures of calibre and clout

• Insight: US underwhelmed by top EU appointments
• Van Rompuy leaves hole in Belgian politics

The Gaul of it

Sometimes football unites us in a common humanity, and sometimes it helps people of different nationalities remember their differences

• Call to tackle spiralling football wages
• Brazil to host 2014 World Cup

Deficit attention

The political class on both sides of the Atlantic must come to terms with the fact that success over the next decade will be defined by saving money, not spending it

Karzai now needs to move to deeds

Afghanistan is still largely a feudal society hostile to any form of central government. One facet of feudalism, however, is that it implies a two-way contract

Anti-anti-dumping

European Union trade officials have rejected a plan to extend the ‘anti-dumping’ duties levied on shoe imports from China and Vietnam. The episode points up the opaque and arbitrary nature of EU trade laws

Diversity on boards

Progress towards a better gender balance on FTSE 100 boards has, disappointingly, stalled over the past year. In spite of this setback, a better balance can be achieved

Brown’s own goal

Much of the government’s legislative programme confuses passing laws with bringing about real improvements in a way that is damaging and divisive

A lawless apparat

Russia would benefit from the discipline of joining the WTO, but there are grounds to doubt to what degree the organisation could restrain the country

US fiscal fightback

Balls’ bid to evade the axe must fail

Lagarde en garde

Mideast brinksmen

Copenhagen is only the beginning

US fumbling for a new China tone

Gain the advantage

EU top job search is too narrow

Oracle v Brussels

Mr Obama goes to visit his creditors