I am one of those terrible people who never have enough time, always busy, with too many urgent things to do or meetings to attend. I am constantly zapping and scanning and sniffing around, to get an idea of what is going on in the many fields of science, policy and politics.

Are shared democratic values the most important factors in promoting peace between countries, or common economic interests? New econometric research shows that, in the case of India and Pakistan, trade with other countries increases the chance of peace.

In the complex field of development cooperation, where there are no silver bullets, knowledge is essential. Although NGOs are taking more interest in knowledge management, they have so far failed to recognize that they are part of a knowledge industry, of which the delivery of goods and services is only a part.

Extreme weather events, partly caused by climate change, are already wreaking havoc, especially in the South. Both floods and droughts are expected to become more frequent and more severe. But who will pay for the measures needed to respond to the impacts of climate change?