Уровень политической нестабильности и уличного насилия в Сирии остается высоким. Беседуя недавно в Москве со специалистами по Ближневосточному региону, я услышала, что их оценки перспектив Башара Асада весьма разнятся. Между тем в самой Сирии разгневанные кремлевской поддержкой Асада люди жгли на улицах российские флаги.

В Москве сейчас так же невыносимо жарко, как было тогда в Грозном. Кажется, еще немного и расплавятся мозги.

The year 2010 is already well under way.  Spring is not far off, but the centre of Grozny is still bathed in the New Year illuminations.  It's about 9 in the evening and a friend from "Memorial" and I, both here for work, are walking along the main street, which is today called Putin Prospect.  Multi-coloured fairy lights twinkle and shop windows blaze.

They had been beaten, whipped, shocked with electric batons and even raped. Food was scarce and forced labor common. Cambodians who have spent time in the country's drug detention centers described these outrageous abuses and horrible conditions, and more.

Two weeks ago, the FBI released annual crime statistics showing that reported rapes were at a 20-year low.

In 1991, her stepfather watched helplessly as 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard was abducted while walking to her school bus stop near their home in Northern California. It was every parent's worst nightmare.

One got a glorious homecoming. The other was left to rot. Bill Frelick on the paradoxes of justice, Libya-style - and the perils of pretending Gaddafi has changed his stripes.