by Iman Kurdi, Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates - Can Muslim and Western values stand side by side, or more to the point, can Islam — or Muslims — live peacefully within Western cultures?

by Naomi Chazan, Jerusalem Post, Israel - The status of Israeli-Palestinian relations depends more on the fate of health reform in the United States than on any other factor - or so conventional wisdom here has it. This approach suits the present Netanyahu government's strategy well: It allows for ongoing diversions in the hope of delaying - and perhaps ultimately obviating - any serious movement on a viable political settlement. But it completely disregards the changing international climate in general and the new currents emanating from Europe in particular.

by Janine Thomas, Times Online, UK - Doesn’t the job require testosterone, aggression and macho behaviour? “I think there is a change in the generation of people flying now,” she said. “Aggression is certainly not a character trait I would look for in a pilot or navigator. I think being competitive (— mostly with yourself — ) and always aiming high is important, but so is being level-headed and ready to deal with, and adapt to, any situation as it arises.”