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Its all falling apart for Israeli President Moshe Katsav who has been %3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6054138.stm">accused of rape and wire-tapping. The police have recommended he be charged over the allegations and he didn't attend the Israeli parliament (Knesset) today after some deputies threatened to walk out if he did. He denies any wrongdoing. There has been a series of scandals hitting Israeli politicians - so what do ordinary Israeli voters think of the latest news?

A %3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6054470.stm">powerful bomb has exploded in Northern Sri Lanka, the latest in the violence which has seen 2000 people so far this year. Peace talks are to be held in Switzerland between the government and the rebel Tamil Tigers, but is there any real hope of them succeeding? What do you think both sides need to do to achieve peace? Do you think either side even want a lasting solution?

Madonna is still making headlines, her Malawian adoption is not quite going as planned as charities in Malawi are challenging its legality. Where most people need to spend a year in Malawi in order to be eligible to adopt, Madonna has spent just two weeks. At any rate she has arrived in the UK empty handed. They aren't the only ones though, apparently an increasing number of developing countries believe %3Ca%20href="https://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1922854,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1">Britain is an unsuitable home for their orphans. But is it? Why do people go abroad to adopt? Have you been adopted and taken out of your country of birth - how did it affect your sense of identity? This last questions is particularly interesting since many stories lately have been rows over identity (religious, national etc) - so what happens to a child who is whisked away to a foreign country? Get in touch and don't forget to leave your number (we won't publish this!)

A %3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6054208.stm">new book by a former US official says President Bush's top political advisers privately ridiculed evangelical leaders, while publicly embracing them. Perhaps this doesn't surprise many people, we are talking about politicians after all, but does it surprise Evangelical christians in the US?

%3Ca%20href="https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-ecuador16oct16,1,6596441.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=1&cset=true">South American elections continue - the latest is in Ecuador, where banana billionaire Alvaro Noboa edged left-wing economist Rafael Correa in the first round Sunday, setting up a runoff between two candidates who are bitter rivals and polar opposites. The results are partial so far, but its another Right v Left battle, where 'Left' means being allied to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

What to do with North Korea? %3Ca%20href="https://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Govt-mulls-N-Korea-blockade-involvement/2006/10/16/1160850853353.html">Australia plans to ban all NK ships from its ports. But will %3Ca%20href="https://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=2&no=323228&rel_no=1">sanctions do the trick?

To continue a theme running for the last few weeks, there are a few more 'muslim' stories in the news:

Lecturers and university staff across Britain are to be %3Ca%20href="https://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,1923325,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1">asked to spy on "Asian-looking" and Muslim students they suspect of involvement in Islamic extremism and supporting terrorist violence. They will be told to inform on students to special branch because the government believes campuses have become "fertile recruiting grounds" for extremists. So have universities allowed too much freedom of thought? Is famous student radicalism getting a bit too radical? Or is this an overreaction to what is simply youthful experimentation with new ideas that are quickly discarded?

And a ban on muslim headscarves are the subject of a ban in Tunisia rather than the UK:
%3Ca%20href="%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6053380.stm?lsm">Islamic headscarves are banned in schools and government offices "The Tunisian authorities have launched a campaign against the Islamic veil worn by some women to cover their hair.

As the 'veil' debate continues in Britain...
%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bradford/6050392.stm">Veil teacher 'should be sacked'
A Muslim teaching assistant suspended for refusing to remove her veil in class should be sacked, a local government minister has said.

But its not only muslim religious symbols that are causing a stir - %3Ca%20href="https://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1922900,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1">British Airways is facing legal action and calls for a boycott by Christians after it ruled an employee could not display a crucifix the size of a five pence piece on her necklace. Nadia Eweida said she had just undergone training on respecting and understanding other people's beliefs with BA when she was asked to remove the crucifix.

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%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6054236.stm?lsm">Madonna Malawi adoption 'illegal'
A group of Malawian charities says pop star Madonna's bid to adopt a boy is illegal and will seek a court injunction halting the adoption.

%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6044698.stm?lsm">Waste bins 'an ID theft goldmine'
Householders are still throwing out too many documents that help criminals steal their identity a survey suggests.

%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6053992.stm?lsm">Kelly urges response to extremism
The battle against extremism in the UK should be fought by all communities - not just Muslims - Ruth Kelly will tell a meeting of local authority officials

%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6052800.stm?lsm">Beijing stamps out poor English
China has launched a fresh drive to clamp down on bad English in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6054186.stm?lsm">Australia to ban N Korean ships
Australia is to ban North Korean ships from entering its ports in response to its claimed nuclear bomb test, the foreign minister has announced.

%3Ca%20href="https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6054138.stm?lsm">Katsav avoids parliament opening
Israel's President Moshe Katsav has decided not to attend the opening of parliament, according to media reports.