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Viewpoints: Experts comment on EU's Nobel award The 2012 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the European Union for its work in promoting peace and stability in Europe. The award recognised the success of Franco-German reconciliation, the EU's eastward enlargement and peace efforts in the Balkans. Here several experts on European affairs give their opinions on the award, which comes at a time of tension amid the eurozone debt crisis. Continue reading the main story “ The EU needs to get back to its core business - trade and promoting reconciliation” Heather Grabbe, Open Society Institute, Brussels This is a big confidence boost for the EU at a moment when confidence is at a very low ebb because of the euro crisis. It's an important reminder that European integration is a peace project. In the Balkans reconciliation is all under the EU's auspices - were it not for the EU they wouldn't be where they are today. The EU is the only b...

Viewpoint: More women needed in technology By Belinda Parmar Author of Little Miss Geek Lost in stereotypes in this image from her book, Belinda Parmar wants a change in attitude towards women in technology Walk into most tech companies and you'll be greeted by the same picture - a room made up entirely of men. You can practically smell the testosterone. Continue reading the main story The technology industry is still struggling to shake off the image of the male, pizza-guzzling, antisocial nerd - a perception that initiatives like this month's Ada Lovelace day - which celebrates the role of women in technology - and Lady Geek's "Little Miss Geek" campaign, are striving to change. There is no doubt that tech is overwhelmingly male. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the US economy, they hold less than 25% of jobs in the science and technology sector, according to a ...

By Frances Harrison BBC News The Sri Lankan civil war - which claimed 100,000 lives - ended in 2009 when government forces finally crushed a near-40-year-long insurgency by the Tamil Tiger rebel group. The final months were especially brutal and survivors will not easily forget what happened to them. It was not hard to spot her. The house on the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland, was full of plump Sri Lankan Tamils, joking loudly and overloading the table with dishes of steaming biryani for Sunday lunch. In the corner, reluctant to come forward, stood a skeletal gaunt-faced woman with dark circles under her eyes, a tell-tale sign of sleepless nights. When her brother stood next to her it was impossible to see any family resemblance because she was so physically different after months of starvation and trauma. She looked like the figure in Edvard Munch's famous Scream picture come to life. I call her Sharmila but that is not her ...

Malala Yousafzai: Portrait of the girl blogger Continue reading the main story Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai first came to public attention in 2009 when she wrote a BBC diary about life under the Taliban . Now recovering from surgery after being shot by the militants, the campaigner for girls' rights is in the spotlight again. Malala was 11-years-old when she began writing a diary for BBC Urdu. Her blogs described life under Taliban rule from her home town of Mingora, in the northwest region of Pakistan she affectionately calls "My Swat". I am afraid - 3 January 2009 "I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taliban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. I was afraid going to school because the Taliban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools. Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Talib...

Viewpoint: Could Kenya host the Olympics in 2024? Could a Kenyan athlete ever win Olympic gold on home soil? Continue reading the main story No African nation has yet hosted an Olympic Games wants to be the first. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently vowed the country would bid to host the Games in 2024, but sports writer Chris Tsuma says the attempt is destined to fail. Kenya, it seems, has dreams of an Olympian nature. In 2004, Kenya's Sports Minister Ochilo Ayacko made a bold statement: He said the country would bid to host the Olympics. Mr Ayacko was chief guest at the official opening of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) headquarters in Nairobi. He startled those in attendance - which included International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge - by declaring Kenya would bid for either the 2016 or 2020 Games. Continue reading the main story It is eight years on. Rio de Janeiro is preparing to orga...

Satyamev Jayate : Child Sexual Abuse - 13th May 2012 Break The Silence - As many as 53 per cent, or one in every two children, are victims of child sexual abuse, which often happens at the hands of a trusted person, within the home. Parents must be vigilant and sensitive to their children's signals; and a robust and specific law against child sexual abuse is needed.

Satyamev Jayate : Female Foeticide - 6th May 2012