Kabuki politics

Politically challenged in Japan

What's wrong with this place?

• Japan's manga man

• The Hatoyama dynasty

Worldview

Winning the hearts and minds of Pakistan’s displaced

Opinion: The military must be made to understand the importance of protecting non-combatants.

• The thrice rejected Dick Cheney

• North Korea's cries for attention

• Of borders and other divisions

Black gold

Nigeria's oil curse

The story in photos behind the fight for Nigeria's oil wealth.

• Do you know where your oil comes from?

• Cambodia's coming oil economy

• Dropping oil prices pinch Venezuela's economy

Immigration in Europe

Italy intercepts aspiring immigrants at sea

Policy draws criticism from Vatican, UNHCR.

• Rocks rain down on squatters in Athens

• A Dutch identity crisis?

• Spain's immigration petri dish

Sri Lankan conflict

Sri Lanka's time of reckoning

Opinion: Watching the celebrations in Colombo, and wondering about the future.

• Opinion: Sri Lanka needs reconciliation

• The Tamil diaspora's responsibility

• In peace, Sri Lankans still disappear

• East offers glimpse of post-war Sri Lanka

Global health

Turning worthy causes into real jobs

Program launches new college graduates into global health careers.

• Europe's growing euthanasia debate

• What to do about swine flu?

• River blindness persists in Africa

In the hot seat

The untouchable Berlusconi

Italy's prime minister survives another corruption accusation — and scandal — with his popularity intact.

• Cowen starts a row over naked portraits

• Gorgeous George

• Kazimierz and his Isabel

On the tube

From the network that brought you MTV: Child marriage

Can a TV sensation in modern India change an ancient tradition?

• Saudi Arabia: Bringing poetry to reality TV

• African TV comedies attract viewers

• Russia sings the Eurovision blues

Real trips

Pedaling the Iron Curtain

The former border zone is now a wildlife preserve with quirky museums and monuments.

• The other face of the Yucatan

• The other side of an Aegean wonderland

• Going downhill fast — and loving it

Making music

Rock and a hard place

Jordanian heavy metal bands find the public ill-informed about their music.

• Malawi's musical elections

• Eurovision, Russia-style

• Audio slideshow: Becoming an accordion king

Artistic expression

The rise of Turkish contemporary art

As the financial crisis further limits their options, buyers are looking to one long-neglected — and surprisingly current — market.

• Slideshow: Bastardilla's Bogota

• A gift of "hope" for Obama

• Is Amman the Mideast artists' mecca?

Wine

Quaffing in the Canary Islands

You have to go to Gran Canaria to taste the wine made there.

• A glass of wine with your samosa?

• In Bordeaux, a glass half empty

• The rise of Argentinian wine