One week after the tragedy in Boston and several days after the manhunt that resulted in the capture of Dzhokar Tsarnaev and the death of his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, questions have turned to motive and due process. Americans are mystified: what would inspire two young men who went to school in the United States and were part of the community to commit such heinous acts? And what legal rights should Tsarnaev have?

Pakistan has set 23 world records in the past year alone as part of an effort to boost national pride in a country associated with militancy and religious strife. 

Protests sparked by an American-made video mocking the Prophet Mohammad are expected to intensify across Pakistan. Ansar Abbasi, Pakistani journalist, explains why this video has angered so many Pakistanis. Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic studies at American University and Pakistan’s former ambassador to the United Kingdom, describes the impact this could have on U.S.-Pakistan relations.

Libyan Ambassador Christopher Stevens died in an attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi, Libya after protests broke out there and in Cairo. Three other American diplomatic staff members were also killed. President Obama strongly condemned the attack earlier this morning.

After months of on and off negotiations, the U.S. and Afghanistan have announced a strategic partnership agreement that ensures an American presence in Afghanistan until at least 2024 – a full decade after U.S. combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from the country in 2014. But the agreement, whose text was not released, does not include many specifics at all. We're joined by Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University.

Despite an apology from President Obama, protests and violence following the destruction of several Korans and other religious artifacts by U.S. troops have continued in Afghanistan and Pakistan. 30 people have been killed thus far, including four U.S. troops. As one of the most offensive possible acts, the unrest over this burning shows no signs of stopping.

Last night, during the holy month of Ramadan, Libyan rebel forces flooded into the capital of Tripoli, battling with Col. Moammar Gadhafi loyalists and capturing two of Gadhafi's sons. Civilians were celebrating in the streets over what may be the end of Gadhafi's 42 years in power of Libya. Fighting during the holy month is considered particularly offensive. Are there exceptions for revolutions such as this one?

Today is the fifth day of Ramadan — the holiest month on the Islamic calendar during which, typically, life in the Middle East slows down. Businesses close early, and families and communities gather every night to break their fast. But this year has been strikingly different. The Syrian government has used the holy month to intensify its violent crackdown on protesters, with tanks entering the town Hama every day since the weekend. Meanwhile in Egypt, hundreds of armed troops stormed Cairo’s Tahrir Square earlier in the week, beating protesters with electric batons.

It’s been fifteen days since the protests in Egypt began and even longer since voices of dissent erupted in Tunisia. Across the Arab world, there have been unrelenting calls for democratic reform. However, some claim that Islam and democracy are too incompatible to function together. Can an Islamic state embrace democracy?

The Pentagon will release its highly awaited review of U.S. policy in Afghanistan today. Early leaks from the report indicate that some progress has been made in President Obama's stated goal of defeating al-Qaida in Afghanistan. But The Washington Post reports a high-level U.S. official says Pakistan is failing to pursue insurgents who cross the border into Afghanistan and then retreat into Pakistani territory. We talk to Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, the former Pakistani ambassador to the U.K., for more on the story.