Staving off food riots means governments must end their love of peasant agriculture, accept GM and stop growing bio-fuels.

Russian federal government finances have never looked healthier, but rising inflation, growing regional divides and the fallout from the conflict in Georgia mean finance minister Alexei Kudrin still has his work cut out.

Everywhere we look, one of our most vital resources is allowed to go to waste – and governments’ misguided environmental policies are not helping. By Peter Brabeck-Letmathe.

Better disclosure, improved corporate governance and further progress in devising sharia-compliant derivatives are among the crucial requirements. By Shamshad Akhtar.

UNCTAD secretary-general Supachai Panitchpakdi speaks to Lara Williams about strengthening the organisation’s role in making developing countries part of the world economy.

Financial centres around the world should tackle regulation in harmony to reflect the fact that markets across the globe are interconnected and current problems are global phenomena, writes Angela Knight.

The IIF is preparing a report recommending that the financial industry increases transparency and improves risk and liquidity management to ride out the credit crunch, writes Rick Waugh.

The EU needs to step up co-operation on financial supervision? That is what is required to prevent crises and maintain the soundness of financial institutions and markets, says Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa.

Banks must resist calls for quick change to tackle the subprime crisis. But they must also not retreat into their shells. Concerted action and a willingness to continue to take risks is the way forward, says John Varley.

Basel II does not need to be overhauled – it is adaptable to rapid financial innovation and moreover, is designed to help steer banks through extreme market conditions, says Nout Wellink.