Fears for Tunisia's secular tradition

Saturday will mark exactly one year since Tunisia’s former President, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, fled to Saudi Arabia. In his absence, the country held its first truly democratic elections. The winners were Islamist party Ennahda, which for some threaten Tunisia's secular tradition. Already, one town in the north is now under the control of a group of Salafists - a sensitive situation, as our reporter David Thomson found out.

FOCUS

By David THOMSON

PAKISTAN

Taliban struggle after leader's death

As the Pakistani army and the US hail the now confirmed death of Baitullah Mehsud, leader of the Pakistani Taliban, the radical Islamic group itself is entering a period of turbulence as it chooses a new leader. Is the battle over for the Taliban?

26/08/2009 - USA

Ted Kennedy: the dream lives on

Edward Kennedy, the "Lion of the Senate", has died at the age of 77 after a battle with cancer. A gifted orator and liberal champion, the brother of JFK and "Bobby" Kennedy was also the last patriarch of the country's most famous political dynasty.

26/08/2009 - INFLUENZA A (H1N1)

Gearing up for the autumn swine flu surge

Two months after the United Nations' health agency warned that Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak had become a pandemic, schools and health authorities across the Northern Hemisphere are rushing to prepare for the new term.

25/08/2009 - FRANCE

Sarkozy meets France's top bankers, again

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has once more met with France's top bankers amid growing public anger over excessive pay. Banks have now agreed to adopt a system of performance-linked pay bonuses, but will it prove effective?

MALAYSIA

Woman sentenced to caning for drinking beer

Our Focus programme looks at the case of Kartika Sari Dewa Shukarn, a Malaysian model who pleaded guilty to drinking beer in public and has been sentenced to caning after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan comes to an end.