Noorzia Atmar, former member of Afganistan's parliament, had to flee when threatened by reprisals from her family and her ex-husband's family.

Sahar Gul, tortured by her in-laws, faces the danger of a law that would ban women from testifying when they accuse their relatives or in-laws of torturing them.

I wish we could do something to protect Afghan women, but supporting Karzai's government isn't doing it. There isn't enough will in Afghan society to do this.

The only idea that occurs to me is to arm Afghan women and help them form refugee camps where they can defend themselves. That plan might be inadequate for various reasons, but it illustrates the though of new thinking that we have to try.

The UK, Poland and a few other governments that are evidently for shale have blocked EU-wide fracking regulations.

How oil heated up the factional and interethnic rivalry in South Sudan to the point of warfare.

President Hollande refused to answer questions about a sex scandal in his private life, insisting that it is a private matter.

I agree. Furthermore, I think scandals about the "other lover" are to be blamed on the misguided demand for monogamy, which is tantamount to demanding "perfection or nothing".

Rima Najdi walked around Beirut in an unrealistic suicide bomber costume to encourage people to think.