The vice tightens for the Irish

The plan is to bring the deficit to 3 per cent of output by 2014 with a front-loaded €15bn savings package; but cuts of this magnitude could throw Ireland back into recession

• Eurozone borrowing costs hit record
• Berlin rejects rescue fund increase

The joy of travel

A smarter approach to anti-terrorism would shift to better intelligence-gathering and pre-clearing of passengers. But these innovations require a public that does not insist on new theatrics whenever a terrorist atrocity occurs

• Airport scanners and patdowns split travellers
• TSA to review airport security protocol

Control orders

The coalition and country must decide the price they are willing to pay for security – in both pounds and curtailed freedoms. Neither boosting surveillance budgets nor infringing liberties is a cheap option

Stopping a rogue state

It is now time for Beijing to ally itself more directly with Washington, for example on the need for a plan to deal with Pyongyang’s nuclear capability in the event of the regime’s collapse

Bonus for bankers

Pay disclosure should be international, not unilateral. Sadly, an such a solution to this conundrum seems far off

The new Nato pact

Internal politicking must not derail promising agreements. The detente benefits both sides

Europe has not yet rescued Ireland

Decisions taken in the next week or two will make the difference between the rescue’s failure and a chance of success

Pelosi and the risk of polarisation

To be sure, the Republicans will need to be checked – but this can best be done by bending just a little

Time to rethink a mad-cap policy

Yakuza crackdown signals change

Intelligence tests

European unity under strain

Search and replace

The uneven impact of increasing prices

New model army

Anatomy of Haiti

Nato and the case for defence

Europe heads back into the storm