Miles Caston explores an alternative 'Gap Year' idea for those wanting to differ from the norm. WWOOF lets you contribute to a local community abroad and help the environment through maintaining sustainable ways of living
Uri Avnery reveals that in Israel senior military officers and intelligence chiefs are speaking out against President Binyamin Netanyahu's calls for war with Iran. However, Netanyahu ignores their warnings and carries on regardless
You always know when a high-ranking US politician is in India. Much of the media turns sycophant. It happened when Obama visited in 2010, and it occurred again as Hillary Clinton recently touched down in Kolkata but despite the media spin, India is not engaged in any form of bilateralism with the US, says Colin Todhunter.
Lord Freud, Welfare Reform Minister, recently said: "We always push for the strongest possible punishment for benefit thieves who are stealing money from the people who need it the most".If David Freud did not exist it would be necessary for a left-wing writer to invent him, writes Felix McHugh.
The London Progressive Journal gives its take on current events in the latest editorial
Israel is currently experiencing the kind of turmoil that may or may not affect its political hierarchy following the next general election. However, there is little reason to believe that any major transformations in the Israeli political landscape could be of benefit to Palestinians, says Ramzy Baroud.
David Eade reports from Paris on the outcome of the French Presidential elections
Extending transparency laws to the private sector would make the likes of News International think twice before misbehaving, writes George Monbiot.
Sadly, the resounding feature of the 2012 local elections is one of a weak democracy. It's true that of the 32 per cent of people who decided to vote, more voted Labour than any other party. But the dominant characteristic of 2012 is that almost seven in every 10 people decided that the election wasn't worth the walk to the polling station writes Alfie Stirling.
Recently returned from a study tour of Cuba, Dr Tomasz Pierscionek recounts his meeting with Jesus Montera, an international relations officer of the CTC