"The problems and the risks have not gone away," he said in an interview with the Associated Press. "The world economy may still confront a collapse if very negative constellations occur." Markets started strongly this year, with many stock indexes near multi-year highs, and the euro currency union no longer seems in danger of breaking apart. The world's central banks have flooded financial systems with new money.

But unemployment remains high in many developed economies and the public's faith in business and government leaders is falling.

According to a new analysis by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), it can be expected that the "resignation" of the seriously ill Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez will provoke serious upheavals - not only in Venezuela. Cuba also could be seriously affected, due to its dependence upon Caracas. Without Chávez, Alba, the international alliance that is resisting US-American and European hegemony on the continent, would be lacking a leadership capable of achieving its objectives, says the SWP.

The think tank sees herein a window of opportunity for Berlin. It can be expected that in the coming reshuffle, Brazil will be able to reinforce its standing in South America. In Berlin, this is seen as advantageous, because Brazil is one of Germany's most important Latin American allies. In addition, writes the SWP, this opens up new opportunities for Berlin in the "promotion of democracy" and political "counseling" in Latin America.

We all watch with disbelief as China and Japan rattle sabres over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, so like the seemingly minor events that drew Europe's alliance systems into conflict from 1911 onwards. Both graduated to fighter jets last week: Japan sending in F-15s; China deploying J-10s, and mobilising the East China Sea fleet for live ammo drills.

China's purpose is clear. It is testing the US security umbrella, and Washington's willingness to risk conflict to back Asian allies. There is a minority in Beijing who think America is a busted flush, a mistake made repeatedly by different powers over the last hundred years. The possibility that the world's three largest economies could come to blows - as feared by US defense secretary Leon Panetta - is a sobering thought.

Against this, Japan's economic policy revolution seems tame. Yet forces are being unleashed that could have powerful effects through the world's asset markets and trading system. Premier Shinzo Abe has vowed an all-out assault on deflation, going for broke on multiple fronts with fiscal, monetary, and exchange stimulus.

In a major speech expected this week, Mr Cameron is expected to stress that he would prefer Britain stays in the EU but will raise the prospect of the country exiting without significant changes. "The pound ended up with a safe-haven status last year given Europe's problems were bigger than the UK's," said Shahab Jalinoos, an analyst at UBS, one of three largest currency trading banks in the world. "What's different this year, is that just as Europe's political risk is starting to fade, the UK's is rising."

Second, they pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which allows them, under the definitions for domestic terrorism set forth by the Patriot Act, to detain someone without trial and forever if they appear to be subverting the newly established status quo.

Third, they declare all federal property, or property being used for political events where Secret Service protection is present, as “events of national significance” through the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act. Undesirable demonstrators operating counter to the official narrative in these areas are herded into court approved free speech zones.

Finally, once the new laws are in place, the government security apparatus begins the re-education of its minions by labeling as “terrorists” anyone who dares speak out or disagrees with their new policy initiatives. After many years of a slow but steady erosion of our right to speak freely, to assemble peaceably, to bear arms, to be safe and secure in our persons, and to be given due process in a court of law, we begin to see the sinister end game emerge.

Our entire system of government, the one established by our Founding Fathers, is being systematically dismantled.

Willie Cochran (20th), a former police officer, has suggested that global positioning system chips be embedded in new guns, and retrofitted on existing firearms, so they could be located if they go missing. “Just like if your car gets stolen, OnStar can tell you where your car is. If your gun gets stolen, and you report it, we should be able to find that gun,” he said.

As for the privacy of gun owners who could be tracked with the GPS chips in their guns, Cochran said, “safety is … a much more important issue than is privacy.”

“It is extremely important that we look past this privacy issue, at this point, and understand how important it is for us to address the issue of safety,” he added.

We export more than £200 billion worth of goods and services to the EU. Contrary to the scaremongering, it would not evaporate overnight if we exited, but the barriers of duties and other restrictive practices would eventually take their toll on UK trade.

But, although leaving would be difficult, I reject the argument that says the benefits of a single market require us to stay in at any cost. Particularly if that cost is an ever more powerful EU. What business wants is very simple: a single market, not a federal Europe. Britain joined the EU to participate in a common market and help shape its rules. We did not sign up to the inexorable march to a federal Europe.

Those Europhiles who argue that we must either accept a federal Europe or lose our place in the EU unwittingly act as recruiting sergeants for their opponents who say we should leave. Before adopting either extreme, we should at least try to negotiate a middle way – an EU that the majority of us would be happy and proud to be a part of. The message is clear: single market yes, federal Europe no.

In extracts released in advance, Mr Cameron said he wanted to set out a "positive vision" for the future of the EU in which Britain would play a part. Meanwhile, President Obama said he wanted a "strong" UK in a "strong" EU. Extracts from Mr Cameron's speech released on Thursday night reveal he had intended to set out a "positive vision for the future of the European Union. A future in which Britain wants, and should want, to play a committed and active part".

He planned to stress the EU's structures were undergoing "fundamental change", adding: "There is a gap between the EU and its citizens which has grown dramatically in recent years and which represents a lack of democratic accountability and consent that is - yes - felt particularly acutely in Britain."

"If we don't address these challenges, the danger is that Europe will fail and the British people will drift towards the exit," he was to say."I do not want that to happen. I want the European Union to be a success and I want a relationship between Britain and the EU that keeps us in it." According to Mr Cameron, the austerity measures taken to deal with the crisis in the eurozone have given added urgency to the issue of the EU's democratic legitimacy.