This book is a collection of texts published over the last four years on Afghanistan, China, the USA, Europe, Iraq, UNO and East Timor, as well as on key issues: ties between Europe and Africa, the Guantánamo prison, the Middle East, women and politics, the nuclear threat, global security, terrorism and countless other topics closely followed by the Author whilst working for the European Parliament.In her intense activity as Member of the European Parliament, she doesn’t confine herself to the corridors of Brussels and Strasbourg. She doesn’t just say things off the top of her head; she actually gets onto the field: she is constantly on the go, travelling from continent to continent, through countries marked by war, hunger, underdevelopment and oppression.Twenty-eight years of diplomatic experience, including four as Portuguese Ambassador in Jakarta, provide the author with a personal view on the major international debates, never overlooking Portugal’s position in them.

Angola is going through a decisive moment after the designation of a new president of the Republic. Is João Lourenço a leader who can cope with the challenges of Angola or is he another caretaker of the Angolan "capture of the State" by the private interests of an egotistical oligarchy?

Governments, rulers, opposition, social plagues, the great 21th century debates, lobbies and national and international figures are openly and accurately approached in more than 500 pages of journalistic reviews. More than 50,000 words, written and signed with regularity, over four years from December 2003 to October 2007.