By Masha Lipman

Vladimir Putin has every reason to regard his meeting with the U.S. president at Kennebunkport as a victory. He hasn’t budged one inch on any of the contentious issues of U.S.-Russian relations, such as Kosovo independence or U.S. missile defense plans in Central Europe. He wouldn’t put up with any criticism of Russian domestic affairs, and in recent months he has sounded fairly tough on U.S. policies -- yet, George W. Bush honored him with an invitation to spend time at his family home.

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By Mark Weisbrot

A May 22 news report in The Washington Post summed up Colombia's ever-widening scandal: "Top paramilitary commanders have in recent days confirmed what human rights groups and others have long alleged: some of Colombia's most influential political, military and business figures helped build a powerful anti-guerrilla movement that operated with impunity, killed civilians and shipped cocaine to U.S. cities."

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By Wang Feng

I awoke this morning to the headline in the Chinese newspapers: “China bans diethylene glycol in toothpaste.” My first reaction: Finally, the bureaucrats have given in to international pressure. It seems China can use all the international humiliation it can get.

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By M.J. Akbar

After yesterday’s voting, Pratibha Patil looks set to become India’s first woman president. She has reached this constitutional office by accident rather than design. Ms. Patil’s was the last name on a long list, and was chosen at a meeting of the Indian National Congress-led governing alliance after it had become embarrassing for members of the alliance to say "no" to the Congress party any further.

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