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Lust for power, hunger for freedom, and controlling earthly appetites: tales of human desires and failings from around the world. Pascale Harter introduces global insights and analysis from:

- Charles Haviland, on the inside story of Sri Lanka’s presidential election. Mahinda Rajapaksa once seemed certain to be re-elected – but now the talk is of defections, threats and betrayal.
- Vishala Sri Pathma, hearing Lithuanian hopes and harmonies at a choir practice in Vilnius
- James Jeffrey in Addis Ababa, whose appetite for understanding reaches as far as the rigorous fasting calendar of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith
- Juliet Rix, who sees in Valletta’s changing skyline a reflection of how Maltese society is transforming itself
- and Jonathan Izard, on a whole month’s worth of strange encounters during a coast-to-coast road trip across the USA, from New York to San Francisco

Photo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to supporters at an election rally at the former rebel capital of Kilinochchi, on September 14, 2013. (Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)