Faisal Al Yafai

Salva Kiir could soon be the president of southern Sudan, a role for which he has long been fighting, first as a soldier and rebel leader, then as Omar al Bashir's second in command.

On the edge of the Indian Ocean, I am cold and cannot sleep well. I wake suddenly, hearing noises of indeterminate animals outside my room. When I sleep, I dream of water, of waves rushing over me, sweeping me away, sweeping everything away.

There were some wonderful high points, individual moments of happiness that became collective. These were real reasons to be cheerful.

China's influence on Africa continues to expand but this year the nation's diplomatic stances have betrayed worrying signs of volatility.

Recent instances of civil unrest are being mirrored online, chiefly by a faceless collective of free-speech activists targeting large corporations. But little in the way of policing exists to protect ordinary people from such attacks.

Feature A visit to the Ethiopian capital reveals unexpected links with the Arabian peninsula.

By attempting to ban the veil, liberal Western European nations are reducing Muslim communities and the role of women in Islam to little more than cultural caricatures, says Faisal Al Yafai

A revelation that the US asked its diplomats to gather intelligence is clearly in the public interest. Suggestions that millions of dollars are simply being flown out of Afghanistan are equally important.

It remains to be seen if the Myanmar military junta will now work with Aung San Suu Kyi, or confine her once again when world attention wanes.

India might want to reconsider how badly it wants a permanent seat on a restructured Security Council, and all the accountability it entails.

Action against writers Rohinton Mistry and Ahrundhati Roy highlight India's attempts to control how it is seen.

The star of the Kill Bill films eludes Hollywood typecasting, but there's one role she loves: motherhood.

The US seems to be losing its way in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Tehran, with strong links to both its neighbours, has been more than happy to step into the vacuum.

There is an economic necessity to new people arriving that mainstream politicians are not willing to openly admit. Modern Europe is built on immigration.