Carla Robbins of The New York Times and James Rubin of Columbia University discuss Hamid Karzai's second term and the worsening security situation in Afghanistan. They also examine the fallout from a landmark case in Italy involving the alleged CIA abduction and "rendition" of a Muslim cleric.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has decided not to seek re-election. Israeli Minister Yuli Edelstein discusses the prospects of peace in the Middle East and why Israel won't agree to a settlement freeze. Al Jazeera English's John Terrett reports on the challenges and reasons behind Abbas' decision.

This week, a Taliban sympathizer gunned down five British troops in Afghanistan. Daljit Dhaliwal speaks with Gideon Lichfield, deputy editor of The Economist online in New York, about British public sentiment and the reaction of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The Pakistani military has been aggressively going after militant groups -- after seemingly incessant terrorist attacks in many parts of the country. But we don't hear much about the toll on average Pakistanis and how they cope with the menace of militant attacks. Daljit Dhaliwal talks about everyday life in Lahore with Saeed Shafqat.

Anti-government protesters have clashed with security forces, resulting in widespread chaos throughout the Iranian capital city. Al Jazeera English reports from Tehran, and Geneive Abdo of The Century Foundation discusses the day's protests.