How big really is the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran? And what will it mean? Good explanatory piece from The Economist.

Marseille may well become the first western European city with a majority of its residents from Muslim backgrounds. National Geographic portrays the city as a lens through which immigration and integration challenges can be observed. At one point, the author of this recommended article, writes: “The question is whether Marseille is really an example of cosmopolitan harmony — or a society on the brink of unrest. The uncomfortable answer is that it’s both.”

Here’s a thesis to think about: “We have decided to sacrifice the Greek people to the market in the hope that our sacrifice will appease the gods of speculation”.

It took months of killing and terrorising civilians for the UN to reach a non-binding resolution on Syria. And while people in Europe are protesting for a free internet (some might say: for free downloads), people in the Middle East are risking their lives for free speech. BBC-correspondent Paul Wood reports from inside Homs, a haunting piece. And don’t tell me you’ve already heard enough of Syria.

The NY Times’ Anthony Shadid, an exceptional reporter from the Middle East, has died in Syria yesterday. A few excerpts as a gateway to his work.