Drawing on discussions at this week's Oxford Analytica Morning Conferences and coverage in the Daily Brief, Graham Hutchings, Editor of the Oxford Analytica Daily Brief, and David Taylor discuss events in Iraq and Lebanon and examine their implications for regional stability.

Dr. Alex Pravda then dissects the war of words between Russia and Poland, and the prospect of medium-term friction between the EU and Russia.

Finally, Dr. Laurence Whitehead looks at the outlook for Mexico ahead of the inauguration on December 1 of President Felipe Calderon and the challenge posed by the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Will a similar situation unfold in Ecuador and Venezuela should presidential elections in these countries produce a narrow or contested outcome?