There is no mystery about the resurgence of al-Qaida in Iraq, an alarming development that stems from a severe and deepening political crisis, sectarian polarisation and geostrategic rivalries.
The situation also remains severe in Zimbabwe, deepening the vulnerability of the country's children and women.
"The rate at which unemployment figures have risen in the past 24 months alone is an indication that the crisis is deepening, with severe personal costs as a consequence, and possible unrest and extremism as a risk.
Among the challenges that HBOS faces, the British government on Wednesday reported the biggest monthly leap in unemployment in 16 years, and the head of the Financial Services Authority, Hector Sants, warned that consumers in Britain faced "potentially severe implications" from the deepening credit crisis, which "presents a credit management challenge for financial firms".
The disease, combined with food and nutrition insecurity can lead to severe malnutrition and deepened poverty, and food insecurity may drive people to livelihood strategies that increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS.
The cardinal's deepening involvement is a severe blow to the Vatican and the pope as they try to convince the world that the scandal has ebbed with a supposedly full and forthright accounting.
Malawi ranked as one of the world's poorest countries and had experienced a deepening political crisis underscored by severe economic setbacks, including chronic fuel shortages and rising food prices.
Their talks come after the UK's terror threat level was raised to "severe" from "substantial" in response to the deepening conflict in Iraq and Syria.
George Osborne was coming under intense pressure from business, the City and the opposition on Wednesday to rethink his hardline austerity approach after news of a deepening double-dip recession dealt a severe blow to the government's deficit reduction strategy.
Urgent infrastructure needs are placing a severe drag on the prospects of rural America and deepening the rural-urban divide.
