by Kate Sheppard, Grist, USA - John McCain's surprise pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate has a lot of environmentalists in the state worried about the influence she might have on the presidential candidate's environmental policy.

by Mona Eltahawy, Middle East Online, UK - It is time for the Olympics Executive Board to insist Saudi Arabia abides by the IOC charter, which bans discrimination of any kind.

by Heidi Kingstone, Independent Online, South Africa - The Congo is now the stage for what some have described as the largest humanitarian disaster in the world.

by Sekina Joseph, UPI Asia Online, Malaysia - Our world is choked with ethnocentric arrogance and economic blindness. What we need is more dialogue and openness toward other ways of life.

by Mona Eltahawy, Middle East Online, UK - The disturbing trend in the never-ending duel of “Islam v. West”: women as the soft targets of both radical Muslims and secular governments, argues Mona Eltahawy.

by Mona Eltahawy, Middle East Online, UK - Does Sri Lanka have bread? Is there fruit in Egypt? Is Barack Obama a radical Muslim? ‘Inquiring’ Americans want to know these things. Sheesh, says Mona Eltahawy.

by Stephanie Hanson, Garowe Online, Somalia - As global demand for energy continues to rise, major players like the United States, European Union (EU), and Japan are facing a new competitor in the race to secure long-term energy supplies: China.

by Sudha Ramachandran, Asia Times, Hong Kong - India's frontier with China is bristling with tension. Barely two weeks after the two countries reaffirmed commitment to existing mechanisms for dispute settlement, and agreed to maintain peace and tranquility along their border, a major Chinese incursion has taken place into India's Sikkim state.

by Elitsa Vucheva, EU Observer, Turkey - Both the EU and human rights groups on Wednesday (26 June) criticised EU candidate country Turkey for the rising number of reports of torture and maltreatment.