News & Values
Behind every news event are the values that drive people and nations. See how they offer a deeper, clearer understanding of the latest stories, or sort through all our stories by the different values beneath them.
LATEST STORIES
CompassionWhy Iraq gives Syria a handBy welcoming Syria’s new leader – a former Al Qaeda terrorist – Iraq shows a generosity born of its own violent past to lift a neighbor emerging from conflict.
PeaceIraqis hope for an era of peace. Their neighbors hold the key.Iraqi territory has often been a proxy field for others’ battles. But as Turkey talks with the Kurds, and the U.S. engages Iran, Iraqi leaders and citizens are daring to look to an era of progress and stability.
SafetyRemember the opioid crisis? 46 states recorded a decline in overdose deaths.After years of epidemic, the good news on overdose deaths is both pronounced and widespread. Not only did 46 states report a decline, the total number of deaths dropped by more than 27,000 in one year.
BALANCE
Podcast: Why We Wrote This ‘Severance’: Our writer probes a way-out series about work with meaningBy now you probably either are all in on the Apple TV+ series that feels like “Black Mirror” meets “Office Space,” or have walled it off. On the eve of the Season 2 finale of “Severance,” we had a no-spoilers chat with our senior culture writer about why, for some, the dark show resonates.
After ‘Severance,’ will we ever see work-life balance the same way?Is “Severance,” about workplace drudgery, the greatest exploration of work-life imbalance ever filmed?
Why Florida and almost half of US states are enshrining a right to hunt and fishShowing a shift in conservation values, Florida voters recently approved a right-to-hunt amendment on the same ballot where marijuana rights failed.
The Monitor's ViewHailing the innocent in SyriaAs political prisoners are freed and low-level soldiers forgiven, the new leaders have started a long process of reconciliation, driven by a balance between justice and mercy.
The Monitor's ViewOne gavel, two hands in MinnesotaWith an even split of representatives in the state’s House, the two parties are preparing for sharing power. Many American voters may wish for such moderation over polarization.
The Monitor's ViewA guardrail holdsAmid the whirl of Cabinet nominations, senators affirm the civic virtues of wisdom and temperance that bolster American democracy.
COMMUNITY
The Monitor's ViewHow social trust propels Ivory CoastBetter cohesion among a diverse population has helped Ivory Coast become a model in economic progress. Now it may do the same in politics if a new generation takes over.
Offering hope and community, soccer helps Somalis heal from warIn Somalia, amputee soccer is giving young people with disabilities a new lease on life.
Sudan’s community kitchens shut down amid attacks and aid cutsSudan’s emergency response rooms are a vital lifeline to communities devastated by the country’s civil war. Now, USAID cuts threaten their future.
After Gaza protests, more colleges try out an old-fashioned ideal: CivilityEveryone has read about the protests and encampments on campuses in response to the war in Gaza. What hasn’t gotten headlines are the more than 100 universities that have launched civility initiatives in their wake.
The Monitor's ViewWhat Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ missesThe popular show about a boy’s troubled life comes as teens on a TikTok forum discover the joys of books, bookstores, and a safe space to gather.
PJs, dogs, and babies: Learning to find comfort in our bomb shelterIn this “Letter from a bomb shelter” (really just a dusty storage space under a Tel Aviv apartment building), correspondent Dina Kraft tells of a community that has formed over the course of the Israel-Hamas war, and of the young lives growing with it.
COMPASSION
- The Monitor's ViewWhy Iraq gives Syria a handBy welcoming Syria’s new leader – a former Al Qaeda terrorist – Iraq shows a generosity born of its own violent past to lift a neighbor emerging from conflict.
The Monitor's ViewNeighborly care for absentee studentsNew York City will enlist parents in a community to contact other parents whose kids often skip school and then link them to services. The premise: Parents really do love their children.
The Monitor's ViewMexico leans into an essential truthFor the mothers wanting details of missing loved ones, a president’s nod to their cause helps a nation seeking answers to ending cartel violence.
After LA fires, the Oscars decreed the show must go on. Here’s why.How do you calibrate an Oscars ceremony after a natural disaster? Other award shows are balancing the glitz with compassion – which is resonating at a time when Los Angeles is rebuilding.
Difference Maker‘Paw partners’ across the US step in to aid overwhelmed animal sheltersShelters are struggling to care for vulnerable animals. A constellation of animal welfare groups is supplementing their work.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Reporting on animals, learning about love: One reporter’s journeyResearch suggests that animals possess richer inner lives than many people might care to consider. Might that inform how our relationship will evolve? A Monitor writer went deep, and then joined our podcast to talk about how she approached her reporting, and about what she came away with.
COOPERATION
The Monitor's ViewSafety at the top of the worldAs many nations compete for a stronger presence in a warming Arctic, Western allies stick with cooperation on security.
‘A chance to build’: How Syrian civil society is making the country workAcross Syria, as the interim government struggles to provide both security and services, local civil society groups are helping to fill the voids. But is there a part for them to play in politics, and in helping to shape the country’s future?
What role for Kurds in the ‘new’ Syria? They’re getting mixed messages.Bringing the U.S.-allied Kurdish militia under the umbrella of Syria’s army sends an important message about national cohesion amid heightened concerns over minority rights.
More than a rift: Trump aides cast doubt on shared values with EuropeFor almost eight decades, the transatlantic alliance created mutual prosperity and brought peace to a war-prone Europe. But U.S. questioning of shared values is seen as a watershed.
Trump, Musk want to curb FEMA. Its North Carolina response says volumes.President Trump derided FEMA as politicized and inadequate. North Carolina is a reality check for needed reforms.
How Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza has united an outraged Arab worldWhatever becomes of President Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and resettle the Palestinians there, the Arab world is not on board. Many consider the plan a form of what the U.N. terms “ethnic cleansing.” Some say it could lead to war.
COURAGE
Rebels with a robot: ‘Rule Breakers’ celebrates Afghan girls who dared to dreamA celebration of the bravery and ingenuity of the Afghan girls robotics team contrasts with the reality of Afghanistan’s women under Taliban repression.
Facing relentless Russia, Ukraine confronts shortages of men and moraleAs the Russia-Ukraine war grinds toward its third anniversary, Ukrainian morale is low amid shortages of military support from European allies and America under Donald Trump.
Ukraine’s Pokrovsk was about to fall to Russia 2 months ago. It’s hanging on.The story of the grinding Russian-Ukrainian land battle is one of an imbalance of forces and supplies, mostly in Russia’s favor. Yet Ukraine finds ways to defy the odds, at least for a while.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Fluency, curiosity, and a bike: Letting Taiwan tell its own storyThe story of China and Taiwan is often framed in terms of what China might do next. Our reporter went to Taiwan to report a deep story on Taiwanese perceptions of their collective identity and aims. She joined our podcast to talk about it.
Georgia unveiled a statue of John Lewis. It stands on symbolic ground.A statue of civil rights icon John Lewis now stands in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia, on the site of a former Confederate monument.
A different gold medal – for gentile diplomats who quietly saved JewsA bill in Congress, already passed by the House, would honor 60 diplomats who helped Jews secure safe passage out of Nazi-controlled countries.
CREATIVITY
- Podcast: Why We Wrote This ‘Severance’: Our writer probes a way-out series about work with meaning
By now you probably either are all in on the Apple TV+ series that feels like “Black Mirror” meets “Office Space,” or have walled it off. On the eve of the Season 2 finale of “Severance,” we had a no-spoilers chat with our senior culture writer about why, for some, the dark show resonates.
Idina Menzel’s new Broadway show has a towering co-star: Stella the treeWhen Idina Menzel is in a musical, she is one of the most talked-about stars onstage. In her latest, “Redwood,” Stella, a massive tree, is vying for top billing.
As the Oscars near, there’s still time to see these best performancesOur film critic loves a great performance. His top acting picks for 2024 include stars who are up for Academy Awards – and those who he argues should be.
A documentarian’s take on the magic of moviegoing (audio)Community movie houses have proved surprisingly resilient and adaptive despite challenges. Avid patrons play a starring role. Anne Continelli, a Massachusetts-based filmmaker, is working on a documentary about communities saving their cinemas.
Difference MakerLaughter, with no strings attached: Ukrainian puppeteers bring joy amid warFrom a basement space in Kharkiv, a puppet theater troupe allows the show to go on even if air raid sirens blare.
The Monitor's ViewThe drivers of AI’s futureHanging over a global summit on artificial intelligence was a reminder from Chinese company DeepSeek of the qualities that inspire AI researchers.
DIGNITY
The Monitor's ViewRallies for innocence in GazaThe largest protests against Hamas since the start of the war put a spotlight on the use of civilians as human shields to maximize killings by Israel.
The Monitor's ViewThe art of freedom in IranA U.N. report on atrocities after the 2022 protests comes as Iran’s ruling clerics finally realize that the people, especially women, still find ways to express dignity and equality.
Cover StoryIn Kansas, the Shawnee vie for control of their historyA controversy in Kansas illustrates the dark history of U.S. Indian boarding schools. Can Indigenous peoples like the Shawnee control their story?
FocusFor LGBTQ+ elders, a search for safe housingAffordable housing is an issue for many older Americans. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are searching for solutions that allow them to live both safely and with dignity.
The Monitor's ViewWhen dignity, not labels, defines a peopleIraq’s first census in decades did not reduce citizens to stereotypes of sect or ethnicity. All the better to avoid wars driven by identity politics.
The Monitor's ViewFlipping the script on Trump’s deportationsGuatemala’s plan to welcome deportees as assets because of skills acquired in the United States may help alter narratives about migration.
EQUALITY
The Monitor's ViewLebanon digs deep for its identityTorn by war and a once-dominant Hezbollah militia, the country looks to shared culture and other bonding ways to heal sectarian divides.
The Monitor's ViewBangladesh’s revolution fixes on equalityA drive for fairness in hiring led students to overthrow a ruler. Now a new student-led party anchors itself in such values.
How Jackie Robinson’s legacy survived attempts to erase itOn opening day for Major League Baseball, our columnist looks at another side of Jackie Robinson’s legacy: statesman and writer.
The Monitor's ViewSyria reweaves its identityCivic groups like the White Helmets are using acts of equality and kindness to overcome ethnic and religious tensions built up during a half-century of dictatorship
The Monitor's ViewArmenia redefines peace as withinA draft peace agreement with longtime foe Azerbaijan comes alongside a campaign for Armenians to reflect on an identity higher than ethnicity.
A civil rights activist on what ‘Eyes on the Prize III’ means at this moment“Eyes on the Prize” was a landmark documentary about the Civil Rights Movement. Dream Defenders’ Phillip Agnew, who is part of a new six-part series, talks about what the documentary means at this time of political upheaval.
FAIRNESS
The Istanbul mayor’s arrest, and rise of a ‘new model’ of Turkish autocracyTurkey’s next presidential election is in 2028, so why would the mayor of Istanbul, a Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rival, be arrested now? One reason: The autocratic Mr. Erdoğan fears a loosening hold on voters.
Why Europe is still embracing DEIEuropean businesses lag behind the United States in employee diversity, equity, and inclusion, but there are no signs they are following Donald Trump’s policy.
Ahead of Tanzania’s election, Maasai fight to stay putWhen Tanzania’s government asked the Maasai to cast their ballots in the November election hundreds of miles from home, many rose up in protest.
Apology but no cash payments: California reparations for slavery start incrementallyA $12 million legislative package of reparations for slavery’s effects is an incremental first step by California, and considered a national model.
Special treatment? How judges are handling Trump ahead of election.Prosecuting a former and would-be leader may be the ultimate stress test of a nation’s justice system. Donald Trump’s criminal cases are all delayed.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Immigration stories are American stories. How one writer learned to tell them.Our Denver-based Mountain West writer covers such regional issues as water and wolves. She also has built a fast-growing body of work around immigrants and refugees. She joined our podcast to talk about reporting a sprawling story with completeness and compassion.
FORGIVENESS
The Monitor's ViewSyria’s path to innocenceThe Arab country’s new leaders join citizens and civil society organizations in establishing justice on a basis of forgiveness.
The Monitor's ViewThanksgiving as forgivingAn official apology to Native Americans – and a response of forgiveness – can help create the possibility of a mutual feeling of justice.
The Monitor's ViewLook who seeks Ethiopia’s postwar healingLocal communities start the process of justice and reconciliation two years after one of Africa’s worst wars.
This artist turned a forgiveness journey into a film – with the help of Steven SpielbergAs his new movie debuts, artist Titus Kaphar reflects on what it takes to arrive at forgiveness – and to share it with the world.
The Monitor's ViewHistoric grievances, new friendsFrance and Madagascar collaborate to heal colonial-era wounds through contrition and forgiveness.
The Monitor's ViewMercy’s role against human smugglingWhen a criminal transporter of migrants confesses and asks for forgiveness, it opens a new solution for global migration.
FREEDOM
The Monitor's ViewThe art of emancipation in ParisAn exhibit at the Centre Pompidou displays the creativity of Black artists from Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States, who flocked to the French capital after 1945 for mental liberation from stereotypes.
Focus250 years of Revolution: What has ‘the shot heard round the world’ wrought?On April 19, Massachusetts will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. We asked reenactors, historians, and museum directors what lessons Americans can take from the founders.
Syria’s new flag is everywhere: ‘Everyone wants to touch freedom’Syrians rally around their old/new flag, a symbol of pride, hope, and freedom that rode into Damascus with the rebels who overthrew the Assad regime. It adorns everything.
The Monitor's ViewA tale of freedom: India’s drop in povertyExtreme poverty is now below 1%, a remarkable feat in the world’s most populous nation, achieved by tapping people’s potential.
In Turkey, authoritarian president faces burgeoning protestsA new wave of popular protest is gathering strength in Turkey, where President Erdoğan is showing increasing signs of authoritarianism. But past demonstrations have not made him back down.
For Syria’s religious minorities, new freedoms, yet lingering insecurityIt has been a pressing question regarding Syria’s new rulers. How would the Islamist group treat religious freedom in a diverse country? For Syria’s religious minorities, the answer has been encouraging, but incomplete.
GENEROSITY
The Monitor's ViewWhy the seismic giving to Myanmar?A country hit by a massive quake finds itself the recipient of a global competition to deliver aid in natural disasters. Generosity, even with selfish motives, can trigger generosity.
The Monitor's ViewPolitics of love in Turkey’s protestsDespite his arrest, the leading opposition figure urges peaceful action and the embrace of opponents in the face of rising autocracy.
The Monitor's ViewA refresh for foreign aidCuts in foreign aid by Europe and the U.S. are forcing recipient nations to question a dependency mentality and discover local solutions.
Difference MakerEx-NFL star trades the gridiron to grow food for those in needJason Brown turned down a golden opportunity as a professional football player so that he could start a family farm and give away most of its harvest.
The Monitor's ViewLA’s postfire community spiritOther places hit by wildfires advise Los Angeles to rebuild public spaces that capture the generosity and bonds felt among neighbors.
LA fires claimed places of worship, but congregations still are helping othersThe LA fires burned synagogues, churches, and mosques. But their congregations are still there, and are working to help others.
GRATITUDE
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Feast mode: Our food writer serves up a complicated holiday’s history and hitsThere are the skirmishes over fresh cranberries or canned, turkey or tofu. There may be conflicting opinions about aspects of the first-Thanksgiving story or the latest political news. But from food culture’s evolution to shifting family dynamics, it all works best when gratitude gets its seat at the table.
The Monitor's ViewThe delights of US democracyLocal celebrations of the election process help remind Americans of democracy’s resiliency while boosting their well-being.
As summer wanes, I'm chasing flickers of nostalgia by the campfireI yearned for my childhood summers by the lake. With my son, I have a chance to revisit that enchantment.
He sought asylum. She was seeking to help. Friday, he graduated from law school.At a time of increasing news avoidance by people who feel depressed by conflicts and calamities, news engagement can have the potential to do something very different: inspire and transform lives.
Kharkiv hails Biden’s OK to strike inside Russia: ‘We’ve been waiting’Throughout the war in Ukraine, a recurring theme has been Kyiv’s gratitude for U.S. military aid tinged with impatience over its timeliness. President Biden’s decision to allow some use of U.S. weapons against targets in Russia fits the pattern.
The Monitor's ViewGratitude as a global change agentUkraine’s leader has learned that being grateful for foreign aid helps bring more aid. On other global issues, appreciation of progress has opened windows.
HONESTY
The Monitor's ViewA new global center for clean governmentOnce a leader in tackling bribery and other corruption worldwide, the U.S. may be ceding that role to Europe.
The Monitor's ViewSunlight on hidden feesU.S. states are driving a robust legal trend toward transparency in pricing, measuring the value of goods and services in honesty and respect for consumers.
Difference MakerIn Malawi, sex and mental health can be taboo topics. Not on this radio show.Farm Radio Trust harnesses the power of radio to help the young people of Malawi share their experiences on difficult subjects.
Cover StoryMoody chickens? Playful bumblebees? Science decodes the rich inner lives of animals.New science shows that farm animals and other creatures exhibit signs of conscious experience. How should this make us see them – and ourselves?
The Monitor's ViewThe light in CubaAn acute electricity crisis in the island nation may be stirring accountability and transparency.
The Monitor's ViewWinning elections with voices of truthOne of Europe’s smaller nations finds it can counter a Russian-led "firehose of falsehoods."
HOPE
- Iraqis hope for an era of peace. Their neighbors hold the key.Iraqi territory has often been a proxy field for others’ battles. But as Turkey talks with the Kurds, and the U.S. engages Iran, Iraqi leaders and citizens are daring to look to an era of progress and stability.
Why a $4 bicycle repair signals hope for Syria’s postwar economyAfter over a decade of civil war, and several months since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, small investments by Syrian families signal hope for the economy’s future.- Syria’s new flag is everywhere: ‘Everyone wants to touch freedom’Syrians rally around their old/new flag, a symbol of pride, hope, and freedom that rode into Damascus with the rebels who overthrew the Assad regime. It adorns everything.
In post-Assad Syria, a Ramadan embrace of freedom and solidarityAcross Syria, the reunification of families and communities that had been displaced by conflict has enhanced the spirituality and generosity of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Difference MakerIn wartime Yemen, volunteer teachers are bridging a learning gapHundreds of university graduates are stepping up to teach children whose formal schooling has been interrupted by a brutal civil conflict.
Africans are taking a shine to basketball. That’s good for the NBA.The NBA is taking a bet on Africa. And Africans are taking a bet on an unfamiliar sport.
HUMILITY
The Monitor's ViewBigger machine, bigger thinkingA European plan to build the world’s largest particle accelerator has sparked questions about humility and the frontiers of thinking in physics.
The Monitor's ViewA humble heart in the Dodgers dynastyMookie Betts shows courage and unselfishness in switching to one of baseball’s most difficult field positions.
The Monitor's ViewGermany jumps mental hurdlesNew leaders plan to break taboos on military spending and fiscal restraint. One reason that made this possible: the country’s hard work for postwar reconciliation.
The Monitor's ViewA defeat for terrorism in the MideastThe founder of a Kurdish armed insurgency calls for his fighters to disarm and dissolve, reflecting a trend against terrorism in the Mideast and for democracy.
The Monitor's ViewGaza’s destiny, chosen by its peopleAs big powers plot the territory’s future, a survey in Gaza points to possible religious dialogue.
The Monitor's ViewVotes for humble governingA year of global elections has reflected a desire among voters around the world for leaders who listen.
INNOVATION
Volcanic CO2 threatens these villagers. High-tech sensors are keeping them safe.CO2 levels spiked in La Palma, Spain, after the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption. But a novel network of CO2 detectors is helping keep locals safe today.
The cure for congested cities? Kenya is building new ones.Many African satellite city projects have aimed too high, and failed to launch. But one such project in Kenya, Tatu City, is bucking the odds.
Difference MakerA tech-savvy farmer is getting young Nigerians excited about agricultureThe work of the Soilless Farm Lab is especially important in Nigeria, as urbanization has reduced the amount of arable land.
Cover StoryCan giving cash, no strings attached, help end poverty? In Malawi, they’re finding out.In Malawi, one aid group seeks to upend ideas about international assistance by giving individuals a one-time cash payment, without conditions.
How bitcoin drives cheap green energy production in KenyaBitcoin struggles to keep its carbon footprint low. African renewable energy companies struggle to stay afloat. One company has an idea to fix both.
Difference MakerWhat gives him hope for rebuilding Gaza? Dialogue and science.The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, headed by Tareq Abu Hamed, is leveraging science to aid the Gaza Strip.
INTEGRITY
The Monitor's ViewWhy Iran and US need OmanThe wisdom of Oman as a patient, listening go-between will be essential for negotiating a new deal over Iran’s nuclear program and its proxy militias.
Who is Mark Carney? Maybe just who Canada wants to face off against Trump.A few months ago, Mark Carney was unknown in Canada. Now he’s prime minister and favored in upcoming elections – thanks to the Trump administration.
The Monitor's ViewWhen nations live by integrityA global body that sets norms for honesty and transparency in trade and finance has lately helped nations curb “dirty money” and boost their economies.
The Monitor's ViewWhy this basketball star shines onFor Diana Taurasi, her incredible success on the court came from an attitude of calm confidence and a love of others, helping draw new fans to women’s basketball.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Trump and the law: A justice reporter talks about the busiest beat in newsNever in American history has an American president had his claims of executive powers so regularly tested by the courts. For a reporter, that means staying clear of loaded language, keeping the work clinical and fair, and remembering to breathe.
The Monitor's ViewDigital scouts for honest governanceA bright spot in anti-corruption efforts lies in giving citizens online access to government actions, relying on their desire for trusted leaders.
JOY
Valerie June’s new music embraces joy and the healing power of soulful musicWith the arrival of Valerie June’s latest album comes a chance for the singer to reflect on her artistic journey – and how music fuels her, and the world.
The Monitor's ViewFrom Russia, with joyBreaking one of hockey’s biggest records – all-time goals scored – took more than talent for Alexander Ovechkin. He also exudes humility and a love of the game.- In post-Assad Syria, a Ramadan embrace of freedom and solidarityAcross Syria, the reunification of families and communities that had been displaced by conflict has enhanced the spirituality and generosity of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Monitor's ViewSports as sprouts amid strifeFor residents of Gaza and women in Afghanistan, a revival of athletics lays the seeds for joy as a people.
Say cheese! Wallace and Gromit return in ‘Vengeance Most Fowl.’“Vengeance Most Fowl” encapsulates everything that makes “Wallace & Gromit” movies such a joy for children and adults.
How a California neighborhood’s holiday lights bring a community togetherHomeowner light displays draw California crowds – and create Christmas traditions that brighten dark December nights.
JUSTICE
- In Turkey, authoritarian president faces burgeoning protestsA new wave of popular protest is gathering strength in Turkey, where President Erdoğan is showing increasing signs of authoritarianism. But past demonstrations have not made him back down.
The ExplainerSo, how do you know if a country is in a constitutional crisis?The U.S. Constitution divides power among three branches – executive, congressional, and judicial. Presidents have sometimes tried to claim more power, as President Trump is doing now. But when does it become a crisis?
The Monitor's ViewA burst of justice in the PhilippinesA country still scoring low in rule of law marks another success by handing over a former president to an international court for alleged crimes against humanity.
Mexico faces US gunmakers in Supreme Court, saying they fuel cartel crimeDo U.S. arms manufacturers bear responsibility for the guns fueling cartel violence in Mexico? Mexico is arguing that case before the Supreme Court.
Why rich oil reserves are a mixed blessing for UgandansA controversial oil pipeline project in Uganda and Tanzania has displaced tens of thousands, generating an outcry from residents and activists.- Podcast: Why We Wrote This Trump and the law: A justice reporter talks about the busiest beat in news
Never in American history has an American president had his claims of executive powers so regularly tested by the courts. For a reporter, that means staying clear of loaded language, keeping the work clinical and fair, and remembering to breathe.
PEACE
- Iraqis hope for an era of peace. Their neighbors hold the key.Iraqi territory has often been a proxy field for others’ battles. But as Turkey talks with the Kurds, and the U.S. engages Iran, Iraqi leaders and citizens are daring to look to an era of progress and stability.
Arab world unites on Gaza. Can it get US, Israel, and Hamas on board?From the outset, the Trump plan for rebuilding Gaza faced fierce resistance over the relocation of its Palestinian residents. A plan that now has broad Arab world backing avoids that, and goes further, setting its sights on regional peace. Still, it faces hurdles.
Amid Gaza ceasefire’s uncertainty, Palestinians focus on survivalThe first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire allowed Palestinians to return to communities in Gaza’s devastated north. But as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives, the peace framework is shaking.
The Monitor's ViewDrawing peace in SudanAmid an ongoing civil war, education for displaced children shows how societies in conflict preserve normalcy through dignity.
The Monitor's ViewWit and light win the day against ChinaIn its showdown over offshore territory, the Philippines deploys transparency and comic books rather than a “prism of fear” to isolate China.
What’s next for the Gaza ceasefire? Netanyahu pressed from all sides.Benjamin Netanyahu is in a bind over Gaza. His hard-right allies want to resume the war. An emotional Israeli public wants more hostages released. The Trump administration wants the ceasefire with Hamas to proceed.
PROSPERITY
Trump and Xi test rival styles of strongman leadership in tariff warThe U.S.-China trade war could be decided by leaders’ differing styles. Mr. Trump acts on impulse, Mr. Xi prefers the pursuit of strategic goals.
Difference MakerPakistani women stitch a new future for themselves while shattering barriersThe Behbud Association teaches women to sew and embroider so that they can lift themselves out of extreme poverty.- Why a $4 bicycle repair signals hope for Syria’s postwar economyAfter over a decade of civil war, and several months since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, small investments by Syrian families signal hope for the economy’s future.
On tariffs, Trump moves forward, and back. What does it herald for trade?President Trump’s on-and-off tariffs could hide a plan to make bilateral trade deficits key to U.S. trade policies.
Israel’s economy, wounded by war, is healing. Why the public remains sour.After 18 months of war, uncertainty is everywhere in Israel. The economy shows signs of recovery, but citizens lack confidence.
The ExplainerThe end of free trade? What history has to say about Trump’s tariffs.An era of free trade ends, as President Donald Trump slaps tariffs on imported goods. What does the varied history of trade policy suggest we should expect?
RESILIENCE
- Trump and Xi test rival styles of strongman leadership in tariff warThe U.S.-China trade war could be decided by leaders’ differing styles. Mr. Trump acts on impulse, Mr. Xi prefers the pursuit of strategic goals.
- Israel’s economy, wounded by war, is healing. Why the public remains sour.After 18 months of war, uncertainty is everywhere in Israel. The economy shows signs of recovery, but citizens lack confidence.
Monhegan Island is a portrait of resilience. Artists have captured it for 2 centuries.Maine’s Monhegan Island is a scant square mile in size. But don’t underestimate it. The island has a thing or two to teach the world about mistletoe – and resilience.
NASA astronauts’ return is near. Their long, unlikely trip puts focus on resilience.An eight-day mission for two astronauts to the International Space Station turned into nine months. NASA crews work to prepare for unforeseen events like this.
From the ashes: After wildfire, can this Olive Avenue family move forward?Wildfire turned vibrant Altadena to rubble. The Monitor is following what comes next on one block. How neighbors rebuild, how communities change, and how resilience appears in the aftermath of disaster. This is the first installment.
The Monitor's ViewThe hard knocks of rocketryA string of failures in space exploration is a lesson in the lessening of limitations.
RESPECT
The Monitor's ViewIn tariff tiffs, the art of compromiseEurope’s calm and measured response to the Trump tariffs takes the long view and relies on patient deliberation.
The Monitor's ViewWhat a Jewish-Muslim bond can doAzerbaijan, a largely Muslim nation that lives in harmony with its Jewish minority, helps mediate between Israel and Turkey over their sparring in Syria.- After Gaza protests, more colleges try out an old-fashioned ideal: CivilityEveryone has read about the protests and encampments on campuses in response to the war in Gaza. What hasn’t gotten headlines are the more than 100 universities that have launched civility initiatives in their wake.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This Better policing, safer protests? Our writer gets up close to a ‘dialogue unit.’How do you police crowds – fans in a stadium, protesters on the street – to the point where you are seen as a facilitator and not as the enemy? From the inside and the outside, our writer learned in an Ohio city. And through conversational deescalation.
FocusAn uncivil union: Can America break its addiction to violent rhetoric?Is it possible to move the balance of discourse – in the halls of power, on social media, and at dinner tables – back toward some semblance of civility and respect?
The Monitor's ViewQatar’s pull with powers and pariahsThe small Gulf nation’s mediating role in the Israel-Hamas agreement earns gratitude from both sides, a reflection of Qatar’s focus on patience and empathy.
RESPONSIBILITY
In Syria’s terrorized Alawite region, competing narratives, mutual suspicionsSyria’s Alawite minority considers March 7 the start of a genocidal campaign. In the eyes of the Sunni majority, it marked operations to quash a coup. Ensuring justice and preventing further killings will be a key test for the new Syria.
In Yemen, activists seek to restore rubble-strewn sanctuary for migrating birdsFor centuries, Yemen’s coastal wetlands played host to each year to flocks of migrating birds. But civil war has left the ecosystem in dire straits.- Podcast: Why We Wrote This Trump and the law: A justice reporter talks about the busiest beat in news
Never in American history has an American president had his claims of executive powers so regularly tested by the courts. For a reporter, that means staying clear of loaded language, keeping the work clinical and fair, and remembering to breathe.
The Monitor's ViewEurope’s moment for self-governanceAmerican pressure and the prospects for talks over Ukraine force the continent to rethink the link between its values and its security.
Cover StoryDeep underground, missileers watch over America’s nuclear weaponsOnly Donald Trump can make the call to launch U.S. nuclear-armed ICBMs. Our reporter visits the subterranean world of the missileers who’d launch them.
Israelis rejoice at hostages’ release, yet worry a sacred vow was brokenAs Israelis celebrate the return of hostages held in Gaza, they are also anguished over the long time it took to bring them home. A nagging question for many is whether a social contract of mutual responsibility has been broken.
SAFETY
- Remember the opioid crisis? 46 states recorded a decline in overdose deaths.After years of epidemic, the good news on overdose deaths is both pronounced and widespread. Not only did 46 states report a decline, the total number of deaths dropped by more than 27,000 in one year.
- Volcanic CO2 threatens these villagers. High-tech sensors are keeping them safe.CO2 levels spiked in La Palma, Spain, after the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption. But a novel network of CO2 detectors is helping keep locals safe today.
Cover StoryConservation saved India’s tigers. Residents say, ‘Protect us, too!’A resurgence of tigers in northern India is a victory for conservationists. But as fatal attacks increase, local residents say, “Protect us, too.”- PJs, dogs, and babies: Learning to find comfort in our bomb shelterIn this “Letter from a bomb shelter” (really just a dusty storage space under a Tel Aviv apartment building), correspondent Dina Kraft tells of a community that has formed over the course of the Israel-Hamas war, and of the young lives growing with it.
- In Syria’s terrorized Alawite region, competing narratives, mutual suspicionsSyria’s Alawite minority considers March 7 the start of a genocidal campaign. In the eyes of the Sunni majority, it marked operations to quash a coup. Ensuring justice and preventing further killings will be a key test for the new Syria.
The Monitor's ViewEurope’s new watchfulnessTo defend the European Union’s values and economy, its leaders are learning from Finland that security must come first.
TRANSFORMATION
Trump reignites South African debate over white farmers: Persecuted or privileged?The Trump administration promises to resettle South Africa’s white Afrikaner community as refugees in the U.S. Many in South Africa wonder why.
Facing internal and external foes, Syria rebuilds and rethinks its armySyria’s new leadership is trying to rebuild its army from the ruins of sectarianism and foreign intervention. The fledgling force has little of material value, but the need for a shift in mindset is most important.
Podcast: Why We Wrote This The Russian dream? Our writer profiles a new kind of North American expat.You’re a Canadian farmer looking for a better life. You’ve decided that moving to another country is the best way to get there. Is Russia your destination? Our Moscow-based writer, also Canadian, went out to the Russian countryside to find out why one family said yes.
Waste not, want not? How Massachusetts became the only state to reduce food waste.Every year, Americans discard 92 billion pounds of food. Massachusetts is on the leading edge of states trying to capture and divert food waste.- ‘A chance to build’: How Syrian civil society is making the country workAcross Syria, as the interim government struggles to provide both security and services, local civil society groups are helping to fill the voids. But is there a part for them to play in politics, and in helping to shape the country’s future?
- What role for Kurds in the ‘new’ Syria? They’re getting mixed messages.Bringing the U.S.-allied Kurdish militia under the umbrella of Syria’s army sends an important message about national cohesion amid heightened concerns over minority rights.
TRUST
The ExplainerEnd of dollar dominance? Trump tariffs are decreasing trust in US currency.The turmoil around President Donald Trump’s tariffs caused investors to flee U.S. Treasury bonds – which didn’t happen even in recent economic crises.
With US on the outs, Europe looks to an old ally for defense: BritainAmid the Trump administration’s disruptive foreign policy, a post-Brexit United Kingdom and Europe are rebuilding bonds, particularly on defense.
Difference MakerA doctor in Panama’s jungle builds trust among Indigenous groupsCésar Gantes’ dedication to slowing HIV in his country’s poorest region has earned him national recognition.
How Israel failed to anticipate Hamas: Intel trusted tech over peopleOn Oct. 7, Hamas forces penetrated a $1.1 billion, high-tech Israeli barrier on the Gaza border. Israel’s army and Shin Bet security force say their intelligence failed by relying on technology at the expense of humans.
The Monitor's ViewListen up, wise up: Forums that inspire trustNew types of civic spaces for civil dialogue, such as citizen assemblies, are showing promise in “bringing to light a truth.”
Germany’s ‘firewall’ against populism has held so far. Sunday will be its biggest test.Germany democracy was built to repel the populism now sweeping the West. That makes its elections Sunday a test of whether this bulwark can hold.
