"Belmokhtar likely wants to show he is still engaged in active operations and he is not moving away from the fighting - especially at a time when other Jihadists are in active combat against French troops in Mali, " he said.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

It has been especially active in environmental cases, where lawyers are fighting a rearguard action on behalf of communities affected by environmental degradation, and in property-law disputes, where the vast expansion of home-ownership has caused many conflicts between the new owners and property developers or the state.

ECONOMIST: The other Moore's law | The

Ecuador countered by releasing what purports to be Reyes's diary, which implicates disgraced former aides of Mr Correa in accepting FARC money but not the president himself. (Colombia reckons the document is fabricated.) Until it gets active co-operation from all its neighbours in fighting the FARC and other drug traffickers, Colombia will conclude that it must rely on American support.

ECONOMIST: Colombia and its neighbours

The program has taken an innovative approach to fighting breast cancer by selecting breast cancer survivors as active participants on voting panels, which decide what studies are funded and the general direction of the program.

CNN: A call to arms in the fight against breast cancer

"Everything we already know about fighting off chronic disease, like getting sufficient sleep, staying active throughout life, and having a healthy diet" may stave off premature aging of the immune system, too, Epel said.

FORBES: Stress Can Shrink Your Brain

While fighting skill was critical in the arena, the spectators played an active role and could vote thumbs up or thumbs down whether a gladiator lived or died.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Fighting might be postponed if Mr Hussein made a convincing last-minute decision to offer the inspectors the active co-operation he has so far withheld.

ECONOMIST: America and Iraq