[afghanistan] taliban at it again

Have you paused to ask why Afghanistan happens to have flared up again now, straight after Lebanon? All over the world conflicts are breaking out and heroic NATO forces immediately move in to quell the insurgents. In every theatre – Tamil, Taliban, Basque, Hezbollah, soon Kosovo again, it seems to be the season for insurgency. And western forces are currently deployed to lend a helping hand in rooting them out. Quite fortunate that they happen to be right on hand when they’re needed. Report from the front line here.

[usa] how much do you know of your country

All right, America – try these 20 questions. As this is being posted, you’re probably going to bed, so if the answers are given around 2100 Greenwich time today, would that be long enough for you? Here’s the test.

[la france] la mutation des cafés de paris

Le tout temps, les bistrots ont fait l'esprit et la réputation de Paris. Pour le promeneur, ils font partie du décor. Dès lors, la moindre évolution de leur décoration change l'allure des rues. Le vrai, le mesurable ou bien le moins contestable de l'entreprise, c'est l'impulsion donnée à la ville, ou plutôt la visibilité accordée à l'irréductible besoin de sociabilité. Suivez.

[gesundheit] brisante balance zwischen krebs und diabetes

Wenn der Körper die Entstehung von Krebszellen unterdrückt, zahlt er einen hohen Preis: Jene Stoffe, die einen Tumor verhindern, töten die anfälligen Zellen vorsichtshalber. Forscher fanden jetzt heraus, wie ein Zellwächter dabei nicht nur schützt - sondern auch schadet. Die Geschichte ist hier.

[spoiler] answers to village quiz embedded in text

Here are the promised answers, only you'll have to skim through the text to find out.

[parallels] the implosion of labour

"This week we have seen the resurfacing of traditional Labour politics," wrote former foreign minister Denis MacShane. "If this takes root, Labour may - like its Australian counterpart - face years in the wilderness." Do you know what actually did happen in Australia? I have a parent living in Australia, as Spike Milligan did, and word was it was all to do with a man named Mark Latham. This is a short, personal perspective.