An uncertain start
Democracy has made a rather uncertain comeback in Pakistan. And, the execution of Mir Aimal Kasi in Virginia has opened up a can of worms over his illegal extradition from Pakistan. Iffat Malik reports from Islamabad

Readdressing refugees
French police have ended the occupation of a Calais church by asylum-seekers, drawing attention to the reasons why increasing numbers of refugees want to claim asylum in Britain. David Tresilian reports from Paris

The 'green room' syndrome
It was business as usual at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial meeting in Sydney, writes Faiza Rady

Recurring nightmare
Hunger stalks Ethiopia again bringing to mind the devastating 1984 famine, writes Gamal Nkrumah

Life after 1441
With the United States seemingly determined to turn the UN into a rubber-stamp global body, and the Arab League obviously befuddled. Does either organisation have a future? Hassan Nafaa ponders the question

Connecting the dots
In the wake of last month's terrorist attack in Bali, are links to Al-Qa'eda being uncovered -- or contrived? Nyier Abdou finds Indonesia stuck between a rock and a hard place

America's welcoming promise
Life just grew more complicated for visitors from Arab and Muslim countries landing on American shores, writes Negar Azimi

Al-Qa'eda's spectre
Tony Blair is taking the threat of Al-Qa'eda attacks on Britain seriously, writes James Corbett in London

The big bad wolf
Osama Bin Laden's latest threat against America and its allies has renewed debate over the Bush administration's priorities. Khaled Dawoud reports from Washington

The voice of reason

On the sidelines of the launch of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) in Kuala Lumpur, Gamal Essam El-Din spoke with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed in his office in Putrajaya (south of Kuala Lumpur).