Iran, which fears IS, continues to shore up Mr Assad.
But that infuriates downstream Uzbekistan, which fears losing water supplies.
Small wonder, too, that the government, which fears anything that might provoke unrest, fears inflation.
The main foot-dragger will be Malaysia, which fears for its Proton.But the westerners are undaunted.
It is an anxious time in which fears of further terrorist attacks may loom even larger.
It is banned by South Korea, which fears its use as a propaganda tool.
The proposals will outrage the Opposition, which fears they are designed to sabotage a future Labour government.
The warm relationship between Pakistan and China worries India, which fears being encircled by China and its allies.
The Alliance of Small Island States, which fears the impact of rising sea levels, welcomed Ikea's planned investments.
Is it harder to write an optimistic story than one in which fears and worries are the real point?
That worries the government, which fears that environmental activism could become the foundation for more general political opposition.
