1Earlier this week both the United Kingdom and United States withdrew personnel from nineteen embassies across the Middle East and North Africa in response to intelligence that Al Qaeda was planning a terrorist attack. The attack was particularly imminent in Yemen. Studio interview with an expert in security studies. Is this an over-reaction from the United States after the death of one of its Ambassadors in Benghazi, or a serious threat from Al Qaeda?

2Iran's newly elected President Hassan Rouhani has pulled off a masterstroke in gathering together a Cabinet that pleases both reformists and conservatives. The majority of his Cabinet have been chosen on the basis of their experience and education, instead of their political views.

3Former United States Presidential candidate John McCain and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham made a trip to Cairo this week in order to encourage a truce in Egypt's volatile political situation. However, the Republican Senators made the trip at the request of United States President Barack Obama but they were not speaking to the Administration.

4A masked cartoon superhero called "The Burka Avenger" is capturing children's imaginations in Pakistan with her mission to protect education for girls.

5Asylum seekers and the state of the Australian economy are shaping up to be the dominant issues facing the party leaders as they campaign four weeks out from the Australian general election.

6United States President Barack Obama is putting America's relationship with Russia on hold, and has likened Russian President Vladimir Putin to 'a bored schoolboy slouching at the back of the class'.

7A look at some of the international headlines from around the world in the past week.