by Jill Drew, Washington Post, USA - Tibetans, traditionally nomadic herders and farmers, are increasingly being lured into a commercial world, a place where Chinese and English language skills are prerequisites for success and ethnic identity is something to be marketed to tourists.
by Nomi Prins, Mother Jones, USA - Forget subprime. The next price bubble to watch is food speculation.
by Frida Ghitis, World Politics Review, USA - After months of arduous diplomatic efforts by Egyptian officials, and years of rocket attacks, armed incursions and escalating threats, an agreement has been reached between the Islamist rulers of Gaza, Hamas, and the Israeli government.
by Erin Weir, World Bridge, Chad - This Friday, June 20, is World Refugee Day. It is a day to recognize the struggle of some 12 million refugees worldwide who have been forced out of their homes and homelands by fear, conflict, and persecution.
by Emma Thomasson, Reuters, The Hague - Mexico asked the World Court on Thursday to take urgent steps to stop imminent U.S. executions of five Mexicans on death row who were denied their rights to consular assistance.
by Karim Velasco, RH Reality Check, Peru - A new report assessing poverty reduction in Peru analyzes socioeconomic status through many lenses -- except gender.
by Mona Alami, Inter Press Service, Lebanon - Prejudiced reporting is not uncommon anywhere, but in Lebanon the level of news distortion has taken on a new dimension as a result of assassinations, physical threats, political pressure, biased reporting, lack of professionalism, rampant corruption and self-censorship.
by Geraldine Desqueyroux-Quidu, France 24, France - Faced with a lack of health professionals, France is looking abroad for doctors. Yet, the new recruits have a hard time with integration and are demonstrating against what they say are unfair salary levels.
by Ana Carrigan, Open Democracy, UK - The struggle of Colombia's Farc guerrillas has lasted more than four decades. But the pressures the movement is now facing - symbolised by the death of its legendary co-founder Manuel Marulanda - present the Farc with a historic choice, says Ana Carrigan.
by Zubeida Mustafa, Dawn, Pakistan - Ours is a country that is the proud owner of locally manufactured nuclear bombs, but we are required to import our paper pins from China.
by Nora Boustany, Washington Post, USA - At the age of 6, Betty Makoni could already count change. She roamed the alleys after dark, a basket on her head, selling tomatoes and candles near Zimbabwe's capital.
by Reem Leila, Al-Ahram Weekly, Cairo - The recent violence at Abu Fana Monastery in the governorate of Minya and robberies at a jewelery shop in Cairo's Zeitoun district, in which four Coptic shop workers were killed, have led to fears of growing sectarian clashes.
by Vijaysree Venkatraman, The Hindu, India - Cleverly designed, locally made mobility devices can help people with disabilities get around and do more — not become charity cases
by Amy Goodman, Al Jazeera Magazine, USA - "We started the Millennium with the war on terror, and all our resources are concentrating on terrorism."
by Niluksi Koswanage, Reuters, Malaysia - A leader of Malaysia's Islamist party, which made surprising gains in March elections, wants its secular allies to apply strict sharia law, which include amputations and stonings for Muslims.
by Felicity Lawrence, The Guardian, UK - Huge areas of the Amazon rainforest are being cut down to satisfy global demand for soya. But how did this crop and a handful of others come to dominate our diet so completely?
by Jane Elliott, BBC News, UK - When plastic surgeon Waseem Saeed came across a little girl who had lost her leg in the recent Chinese earthquake, he expected a child terrified of doctors and in great pain. But this little girl was sitting in bed reading a book and appeared to be in no pain.
