Australia must tighten rules governing the behavior of its companies, especially mining firms, toward indigenous people at home and abroad, a United Nations human rights body said on Friday. The 18-member committee of independent experts on racism also told Australia to do more to integrate recent immigrants from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and other Muslim countries and tackle racism against indigenous people in Australia.

At the headquarters of U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, some young civilians are pushing back at extremist messages that permeate Internet forums. This Digital Engagement Team’s members, who are fluent in Arabic, Farsi, and Urdu, comb through online postings in their respective languages looking for incendiary or inaccurate commentary about U.S. military operations or related activity.

“This cultural activity is only one part of Keren Hayesod’s activities to increase cultural ties between Russia and Israel, and create an interface of cooperation on social issues which don’t always find expression in normal diplomatic ties,” said Director-General of Keren Hayesod Greg Masel.

Most Arab columnists agree with the argument that the anti-mosque movement will badly harm Arab and Muslim views of the United States, contra Rashed, but there isn't as much active discussion of it in the forums as you'd expect. That isn't a reason to relax, though.

Across the world, the bruising struggle over an Islamic center near ground zero has elicited some unexpected reactions....For many in Europe...America’s fight over Park51 seems small fry...But others, especially in countries with nothing similar to the constitutional separation of church and state, find it puzzling that there is any controversy at all.

On August 12--the day before President Obama first weighed in on the "Ground Zero mosque" debate, setting off a fresh wave of media coverage--the Daily Beast quietly reported that the lower-east-side Islamic community center will house the country's first LEED-certified mosque. With their intention to seek LEED certification, Park 51's planners join a growing cadre of religious leaders and communities dedicated to creating green spaces of worship, education, and leisure.

As the contradictions of Asia’s water challenges have been laid bare this summer—with millions affected by flooding while others are hit by droughts—one thing has been made clearer: the coming water crisis could exacerbate already simmering domestic and regional tensions.

Why did the world, particularly U.S. individual donors, give so much for Haiti but show so little concern for Pakistan? The two most common answers are the poor economy and donor fatigue. While they are certainly playing a role, these two factors provide an incomplete picture.