Looming over everything is the impending demographic crisis of Western Europe's social insurance state as its population ages.

In this sense, the looming prospect of a full blown Italian debt crisis could prove beneficial by focusing European minds.

Twenty years ago, in the weeks that preceded Iraq s invasion of Kuwait, many observers saw signs of a looming crisis.

It is almost an optical illusion looming on Japan s horizon, and on Europe s and on America s, is a pensions crisis.

Indeed, the converging effects of population growth, climate change, and energy depletion are setting the stage for a looming triple crisis.

The Looming Lost Decade

They tell us that the recent financial crisis pales in comparison to the looming ecological credit crunch, which could presage a large scale ecosystem collapse.

Meanwhile, with investment in Gazprom s core activity production steadily declining, a crisis is looming, one that requires the stewardship and steady hand of the EU.

The protest was organised to to draw attention to a looming humanitarian crisis in the Nuba mountains areas, on the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

Many see currency wars looming.

The Looming Death of Homo Economicus

The looming known unknowns are plentiful.

BEIJING Today s financial crisis and looming global recession are challenging China s export driven economic model as never before in the 30 years since Deng Xiaoping opened the economy.

PARIS With the deepening of the economic crisis and the prospect of another recession looming large on the horizon, growing social inequality has become an increasingly urgent issue.

A major slowdown seems to be looming.

And Europe would avert the looming depression.

It worked then, but it cannot work now, in large part because it contributed to the new, looming crisis in financial markets brought on by countries soaring public debt burdens.

It is less able, however, to withstand looming budget cuts.

Given America s looming departure, such a solution is becoming increasingly urgent.

But China s looming slowdown is likely to be both manageable and welcome.

Wherever you turn, somebody is being blamed for Copenhagen s apparent looming failure.

BERKELEY The blogosphere is abuzz with reports of the dollar s looming demise.

Twenty years ago, in the weeks that preceded Iraq s invasion of Kuwait, many observers saw signs of a looming crisis. But Arab and Western players somehow managed to convince themselves that things would not get out of hand.

That inattention will end soon a decision about the province s fate is looming.

Bearing in mind the 2003 appeal for emergency assistance for Ethiopia, launched on 6 December 2002 by the United Nations and the Government of Ethiopia, to respond to the looming famine situation and to prevent the imminent humanitarian crisis,

This reflects not only worries about energy and shared security concerns, but also the need to head off any looming crisis in the Middle East that could plunge large parts of the world into turmoil, if not armed conflict.

Most importantly, the war on terror has diverted attention from other urgent tasks that require American leadership, such as finishing the job that we correctly began in Afghanistan, addressing the looming global energy crisis, and dealing with nuclear proliferation.

PARIS With the deepening of the economic crisis and the prospect of another recession looming large on the horizon, growing social inequality has become an increasingly urgent issue. How does one reinforce a sense of solidarity and responsibility within a country?

Meanwhile, we drift downstream seemingly oblivious to the looming peril of the rapids ahead.

With a looming election in Germany, few wish to undermine Chancellor Angela Merkel s likely victory.

But Europe can take other steps to redress or adapt to the looming demographic imbalance.

So far, investors have been complacent about the risks posed by the looming budget fight.

Take Iraq, where the looming Shia crescent is often blamed for much of the chaos.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the political polarization in Washington is distressing, with another debt ceiling debacle looming.

Given the scale of the looming catastrophe, the world cannot afford to leave things as they are.

What accounts for this apparent indifference also evident among European politicians to the looming political risks in Britain?

CHICAGO The biggest financial nightmare looming over the world economy is the insolvency of a large international bank.

With negotiations over Iran s nuclear program looming once again, understanding Iran s new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is critically important.

A moment of truth is looming for both sides of this co dependent, and ultimately dysfunctional, economic relationship.

This mix of excitement and anxiety is, in fact, a sign of the looming crossroads that faces investors.

This is how Anna describes the life of the village with World War II looming on the horizon

With the specter of strategic disequilibrium looming large in Asia, investments to help build geopolitical stability have become imperative.

But, while Cameron should know from grim experience what is looming, it seems that he has abandoned rational considerations.

STOCKHOLM The looming global recession has brought government intervention to save failing companies to the forefront of economic policy.

Surely a French president, eager for global success with a domestic election looming, will not pass up his chance?