Middle East & Africa

Namibia

A new old man

A new president may, at least to begin with, be just a cover for the old one

Iran

The nuclear squeeze

But who is squeezing whom?

Côte d'Ivoire and France

A bloody mess

What next in a former French colony ravaged once again by war?

The opposition in Israel

Might Ehud Barak come back?

A new opposition leader might shake things up

Palestine and Israel

After one old man has gone

Hope for fresh diplomacy and the struggle for succession go hand in hand

Iraq

The battle for Fallujah now—and for hearts and minds later

Will the political cost of smashing the rebel stronghold of Fallujah be worthwhile?

Sudan

An agreement, sort of

Despite a parley between rebels and government, the brutality goes on

Iraq

The election season begins

Amid the bombs, Iraq (or parts of it) has begun to grope towards an election

Osama bin Laden

His latest appeal

Is the latest video performance likely to help or hinder recruitment for terror?

Iran

The nuclear debate

With George Bush still in power, the Iranians are still in a nuclear bind

Botswana

Africa's prize democracy

Why is an arid, landlocked country in southern Africa such a success?

Israel and Palestine

A new beginning? Well, maybe

With Yasser Arafat in hospital abroad and George Bush back in the White House, Israelis and Palestinians see both opportunity and danger