The long bitter civil war between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Sri Lanka appears to be over.

The Tigers (the LTTE) were defeated and their leader killed.

But how is the peace process going? Is there any reconciliation between Tamils and the majority Sinhalese? Has normal life returned to areas once controlled by the LTTE?

In the closing days of the war some three hundred thousand civilians fled into refugee camps. Most have not yet returned to their homes. To find out why Robin White asked Namini Wijedasa of the Sri Lankan Sunday Times.

Young Nigerian girls are being lured into slavery and prostitution in Europe by traffickers who are enlisting the help of witch doctors and voodoo priests.

So says a British charity, the Helen Bamber Foundation, which is helping victims to escape and build a new life.

The trafficking of girls from several west African countries has been going on for years. But the involvement of juju and voodoo appears to be a new element.

Robin White spoke to Lucy Kralj of the Helen Bamber Foundation about their campaig, and asked her first exactly how the traffickers worked.

A Commonwealth group is recommending that culture is made a higher priority. Robin White reports on a recent meeting of the group in London and finds out about their campaign.

He speaks to representives from Belize, Uganda, Bangladesh, Fiji and the UK.

The Pakistan army has been mounting a massive offensive against Taliban militants in the Swat valley.

The Taliban have for many years been entrenched in the 'tribal areas' bordering Afghanistan. But in recent times they've increased their influence in many areas, threatening the government's grip on power and annoying the Americans.

In the spring of this year, the government attempted to reduce disaffection by agreeing to the imposition of Sharia law in some areas.

Far from improving security, this only allowed the Taliban to tighten their grip, and the agreement broke down after only a few weeks.

The government has now chosen the military option. Several million civilians have been forced to flee for their lives.

But can the army win? Robin White has been talking to Dr Farzana Shaikh, author of the book Making Sense of Pakistan.

He began by asking why the Taliban has been successful in Pakistan.