The Observer panel: The economic climate is concentrating our minds on our obligations to others – and whether it is positive to owe money or favours

The Observer panel: Thirty eight US billionaires have pledged to give at least half their wealth to charity

The Observer panel: The lower house of France's parliament voted 335 to 1 for a ban on veils covering the face

The Observer panel: Award for actions representing 'founding principles' of the US to be presented in September

The Observer panel: Nurse Shirley Chaplin lost her legal battle for the right to wear crucifix at work

The Observer panel: As cabin crew prepared to strike, other British Airways workers faced a dilemma

The Observer panel: For some, tomorrow's event is a necessity; for others, it is an anachronism

The Observer panel: Wayne Bridge is refusing to play football for England after John Terry dallied with his ex

In sentencing Shamso Miah for assault last month, Cherie Booth was lenient because she said he was 'religious'

Faced with yet another opportunity to depose Gordon Brown, the foreign secretary is reported to have 'bottled it' yet again

The Observer panel: Last week's new year's list featured the usual suspects and a few surprises, though no politicians

The Observer panel: Despite snow and ice causing transport chaos, millions of us fought our way across Britain in order to indulge ourselves

The Observer panel: Tiger Woods's father was a serial cheat, according to the golfer's first girlfriend, Dina Parr

The Observer panel: Peter Mandelson has been socialising with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi at a shooting party hosted by Lord Rothschild

Julian Clary and Peter Tatchell are part of a campaign for a naturists' area at the men's bathing pond on Hampstead Heath, London

The panel: Science Museum visitors have voted the X-ray as the most important modern discovery ahead of penicillin and the DNA double helix