Giving ministers the power to hire and fire top officials leaves them with no excuse for poor work or corruption. What constitutes an acceptable professional relationship between politicians in their capacity as Cabinet ministers and permanent officials working for them? Should the minister have the right to handpick ministry officials he or she feels comfortable working with? These are the questions that need to be asked every time a senior government official cries foul for being replaced and reassigned by a minister.

REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Southern crisis: is there a way out?

The southern crisis has already reached the point of no return, but it is still imperative that Thailand and Malaysia sit down and reach an understanding. Otherwise the situation will unravel further and have negative consequences for the region and beyond. It is not too late for the countries to work together. Former foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan has already broken the ice with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Burqa remains an item of contention in post-Taleban Kabul

“I hate the burqa!” proclaimed Katreen Weda, editor-in-chief of the Daily Cheragh newspaper in Kabul. At the tender age of 30, Weda is Afghanistan’s first and only female newspaper boss. “I do not wear it, and I hate it.”