Friday March 14, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Shi ite Muslims reemerge in Iraq following fall of Saddam Hussein

Khadaimya Mosque, the first day of the Ashura. Shia people traditional ceremonies have been banned in Iraq since 1970.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Thursday April 8, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraqi resistance to US Military Presence

Members of the resistance attacking a convoy of oil and other materials on the Highway to Jordan, near the Abu Ghraib prison.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Monday April 5, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq

Supporters of Muqtada al Sadr resist US Forces

Muqtada Al-Sadr supporters making a confrontation against Americans troops in Sadr city, where the shia supporters wanted to take control of the police stations in the city. Only in the late evening did American troops again regain control of the city by using the heavy Abhrams tanks.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Saturday July 17, 2004, Baghdad, Iraq

Former Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi

Ahmed Chalabi at his home in Baghdad. Chalabi was removed from power by Iraqi and coalition authorities for alleged links to Iran's intelligence service.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Monday March 1, 2004, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Poverty in Saudi Arabia

The area of Halat Al Abeed is one of the poorest of the city. Many people living in this area were slaves until 1970. While Saudi Arabia had a period of overall wealth during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the economy is currently on a downturn. Some feel that all outside the immediate royal family will be poor within the next 25 years.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Monday March 1, 2004, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Poverty in Saudi Arabia

Al l-Shumsi aera; poor Saudi people live here. While Saudi Arabia had a period of overall wealth during the late 1980s and early 1990s, the economy is currently on a downturn. Some feel that all outside the immediate royal family will be poor within the next 25 years.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

March 2004, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Modern Technology in Saudi Arabia

Mobile telephone and car, the new life of bedouins. Conservative elements in Saudi Arabia resist change and evolutions; an uprising in 1929 (the Battle of Al-Sabla) was inspired partially by opposition to the introduction of the conventional telephone.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Friday January 9, 2004, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Poverty and wealth in Saudi Arabia

With a labor force far better trained in theology than engineering, Saudi Arabia teems with unemployed young people who still expect oil money to keep their standard of living comfortable. But now one of the recent visibible effects of the difficult economic situation on the country is experiencing is the presence of beggars (including women), not omly at major crossroads but even in the poorer areas.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Tuesday October 21, 2003, Vatican City, Vatican City State

Appointment of Thirty New Cardinals

The Consistory in Saint Peter Square. The proclamation of 30 new cardinals; the 31st is "in pectore". New Cardinals receiving the greeting from the other Cardinals.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Sunday October 19, 2003, Rome, Vatican City State

Mother Teresa is Beatified

Pope John Paul II with all the Cardinals and Bishops in Saint Peter's Square for the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Thursday July 10, 2003, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The Women of Saudi Arabia

The new corniche in Jeddah, the most popular area of the city, around 5:00 pm. People go to the waterside to feel the cool breeze. Women still dress following the Koranic rules. Women still wear traditional head and face coverings in Saudi Arabia, and television does not broadcast any images of women. Many such restrictions were imposed by religious leaders after the Saudi Government gave them control over educational, judicial and cultural affairs. To avoid the heavy socializing restrictions, a group of girls accompanies a girl friend to a romantic meeting.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Sunday July 6, 2003, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Women of Saudi Arabia

Women shopping at the Kingdom Tower Mall. Single men during the day are not allowed except if they are with their families. Women still wear traditional head and face coverings in Saudi Arabia, and television does not broadcast any images of women. Many such restrictions were imposed by religious leaders after the Saudi Government gave them control over educational, judicial and cultural affairs.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Sunday July 6, 2003, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Women of Saudi Arabia

Two young ladies at the Kingdom Tower Mall. For women who can not go out without their families visiting the shopping center is the only opportunity for independent outings. Women still wear traditional head and face coverings in Saudi Arabia, and television does not broadcast any images of women. Many such restrictions were imposed by religious leaders after the Saudi Government gave them control over educational, judicial and cultural affairs.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Saturday July 5, 2003, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Modern Technology in Saudi Arabia

Man speaks on cell phone, with a view from one of the three restaurants on top of the Al faisalia Tower. Conservative elements in Saudi Arabia resist change and evolutions; an uprising in 1929 (the Battle of Al-Sabla) was inspired partially by opposition to the introduction of the conventional telephone.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Saturday July 5, 2003, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

The Women of Saudi Arabia

Shopping at the Kingdom Tower Mall. Women still wear traditional head and face coverings in Saudi Arabia, and television does not broadcast any images of women. Many such restrictions were imposed by religious leaders after the Saudi Government gave them control over educational, judicial and cultural affairs.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Friday April 11, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

American Military Personnel in Iraq

US Marines detain a looter. They arrested and are treating him as a P.O.W. because he was handling a AK-47. US soldiers have been protecting property and arresting gunmen who have been looting individual citizens and government buildings.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Friday April 11, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Daily Life in Iraq Before and After the fall of Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein's Al Salam palace after it had been bombed by American forces.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Wednesday April 9, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

American Military Personnel in Iraq

US Marines in Al Fardus square, where a large statue of Saddam Hussein is about to be toppled.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Wednesday April 9, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

American Military Personnel in Iraq

6:55 pm: After the fall of Baghdad, Iraqi civilians and US Marines pull down a Saddam Hussein statue in Al Fardus square. One of the biggest statues of Saddam Hussein in the city is being removed.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Sunday April 6, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraqi resistance to US Military Presence

Member of the Ba'ath party militia on the site where an American tank was destroied by Iraqi army two days before in the Al-Dhora bridge area.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Tuesday April 1, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraq is bombed during Shock and Awe campaign by American Forces

The sunset of Baghdad during the war, filled with American Jets and smoke from burned oil.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Thursday March 27, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraq is bombed during Shock and Awe campaign by American Forces

Bomb crater in a residential neighbohood in Baghdad.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Wednesday March 26, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraq is bombed during Shock and Awe campaign by American Forces

A house in a residential neighborhood of Baghdad, which according to Iraqi authorities was hit by an American bomb.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Wednesday March 26, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraqis wounded in American attacks

A crowd gathers at the scene of a double rocket blast in a busy Al-Shaab street in the north of Baghdad, which killed more than 15 people.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Saturday March 15, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Iraqi resistance to US Military Presence

Pedestrians walk past a painting of Saddam Hussein. Al Mansour, the Ba'ath party is organising a demostration against the war that it will be imminent. Al Mansour is populated by many high level Iraqis.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Thursday January 23, 2003, Baghdad, Iraq

Women in Iraq

A young woman smoking a narghilä (water pipe) at the Al Finjan restaurant.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

May 2002, Gaza, Israel

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades training in Gaza

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades secretly training in the closed outskirts of Gaza city, during the night. They are patrolling the roads around Gaza to prevent an Israeli Defense Forces attack. They are considered to have carried out numerous attacks against military targets and civilians in Israel and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S. State Department designated Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades as a foreign terrorist organization.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Friday August 7, 1998, Nairobi, Kenya

al Qaeda bombs US Embassy in Kenya

US embassies in the east African cities of Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam are hit by near-simultaneous bomb attacks which kill 224 people, almost all of them Africans, and injure over 5,000. The toll in Nairobi is 213 dead and over 5,000 injured; in Dar-es-Salaam 11 dead and over 70 injured. Of the total dead, 12 are US nationals. al Qaeda claimed resposibility for these attacks.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Myanmar

Thailand Burma border...refugees

Myanmar July 25 2001 Shan State Army training camp. This camp, is located in the burmese territory, to get there after crossing illigaly the Thai-Burma border it will need ten hours walking in the jungle. The commander, col Yawd Serk was a member of Kun-Za oppium lord army and now is fighting against the Rangoon Junta for the independence of the Shan people.

Credit: Franco Pagetti / Polaris

Franco Pagetti