The US leader and Chinese leaders will meet this week – the first humiliated by Iran, the second suppressing any sign of despair among his people.

Forced to disarm after WWII, Japan and Germany are beginning to assume responsibility for preserving the world order.

I hold all the cards, says the US president. But there’s no one to play cards with.

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, dubbed the CRINKs, have been bolstered by their shared determination to challenge the US-led world order.

Both men have looming deadlines – national elections.