The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
After Informal 'Coffees,' Minister Sikorski Comes To Breakfast
Radoslaw “Radek” Sikorski and the Monitor go back several years. As a prominent Polish politician with ties to Washington, he would appear at informal “coffees” I hosted with reporters to discuss European affairs – a topic that took on added urgency
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
Ukraine’s BFF in Europe
If there is such a thing as the heart of Europe, it would be the Czech Republic. The nation of only 10.5 million people in central Europe has shown once again why it is the most generous and unfailing supporter of Ukraine. In recent weeks, Czech dipl
The Christian Science Monitor3 min read
What My Adopted Sons From Russia And Ukraine Taught Me About Trust
I am the father of two adopted sons, from Russia and Ukraine. They’re grown now, but I still find myself looking at these young men with the same wonder I harbored when they were little boys, about to accompany me to a new country, a place brimming w
The Christian Science Monitor3 min readPolitical Ideologies
Russia’s Presidential Election Begins Today. Here Are 3 Reasons Putin Will Win.
Barring the unforeseen, Vladimir Putin is certain to win Russia’s presidential election, which ends March 17. Given the lack of real competition, it’s become common to dismiss the whole process as a meaningless charade. Yet the Kremlin takes it very
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
Elizabeth Barrett’s Poetic Love Story Stirs The Novel ‘The Swan’s Nest’
Sinking into “The Swan’s Nest” is like being cocooned in a down comforter.  Laura McNeal’s deeply researched historical novel is an ode to the great love between two 19th-century English Romantic poets, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning.
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
Brazil’s Lula Is Losing His War Against Illegal Miners In The Amazon
The small plane hovers low above the scrappy forest canopy, with rivers below colored a murky yellow due to mining waste. On the ground, deep in the Amazon rainforest, an armed Brazilian government agent watches as a dredge used to illegally mine gol
The Christian Science Monitor2 min read
Hoops Of Joy In March Madness
In just a single weekend last March, the city of Albany, New York, received a sudden revenue bump large enough to cover nearly half of its annual budget for public works. Other  small cities saw similar bursts in receipts. The reason: college basketb
The Christian Science Monitor3 min read
Which Country Trusts Institutions The Most? You’d Be Surprised.
Trust has always made the world go round. Perceptions of honesty and reliability underpin how countries interact, how we choose our leaders, and where we get information about the world. And all these factors deeply influence how we feel about the fu
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
Why Some Top Colleges Are Requiring The SAT Again
Pandemic-era response to disruptions in college admissions is coming to an end at some of the most highly selective colleges in the United States. Standardized testing largely became optional for admittance for first-year students in fall 2021. It re
The Christian Science Monitor6 min readWorld
‘Hamas Gambled With Our Lives’: Gazans Are Now Daring To Speak Out
Across the Gaza Strip – from markets to evacuee camps to social media channels – Palestinian frustration and anger with Hamas is on the rise. Complaints began with Hamas’ apparent disregard for Gaza civilians who faced the brunt of Israel’s punishing
The Christian Science Monitor5 min read
Spring ‘Breakup’: What’s Behind The US Beach Town Crackdown
A year after Miami police lost control of spring break crowds on the city’s Ocean Drive, the annual fun-in-the-sun rite of college students has darkened into a new focus on law and order that stretches far beyond Magic City. Miami’s advertisement-led
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
Drawing Lines Of Peace In Gaza
Facing an American demand to “put civilians first” even as it rids Gaza of Hamas fighters, Israel announced Wednesday that it would follow that core principle of the rules of war in a particularly difficult choice. Palestinian civilians in Rafah – pe
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
At Work And Play, Women Forge Independence From Men – From India To Brazil
Parking reform is beginning to transform American cities and deliver to residents the benefits of less car dependency. At all levels, governments are examining both street parking and the mandates attached to development of new buildings, as well as
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
Mother Of James Foley Embodies Grace In New Book ‘American Mother’
Diane Foley remembers the moment she got the call: Would you like to sit down with one of the men involved in your son’s death? “I knew I wanted to meet him,” she says in a video call. “I had no doubt. I knew Jim would not have wanted me to be afraid
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readInternational Relations
Biden Wants Mideast Peace More Than Israelis Or Palestinians. That Could Backfire.
Joe Biden has a huge Mideast decision to make. And it goes beyond the increasingly urgent tasks of securing a hostage deal between Hamas and Israel, a cease-fire in Gaza, and relief from the humanitarian crisis engulfing its civilian population.  At
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readInternational Relations
Resetting Haiti Through Trust
When a government collapses, the immediate challenge is how to protect innocent civilians. They need security, leadership, and aid. In Haiti, the Caribbean island nation descending into gang chaos, the people are grasping for more than protection. Th
The Christian Science Monitor1 min read
Welcome To Luna Luna, The Carnival That Time Forgot
Whimsy is everywhere at the art carnival Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy. Don’t try to hop on the carousel, though. That’s designed by Keith Haring, one of the 20th century’s most celebrated artists. The fact that so many works at Luna Luna, which runs
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readCrime & Violence
The Quiet Work Of Trauma Recovery
Chances are, most readers will not have heard of trauma recovery centers before encountering this week’s cover story.  Allen Arthur, the story’s author, has been writing about criminal and restorative justice programs for years. But it wasn’t until r
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readWorld
How Russian Elections Became A Futile Exercise For Putin’s Opposition
Last November, Yekaterina Duntsova announced that she would run for Russia’s presidency as a peace candidate. A month later, the small-town journalist, mother, and former municipal deputy was barred from the ballot by the electoral commission. Undete
The Christian Science Monitor5 min readAmerican Government
Congress Takes A Hard Swing At TikTok
GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher, a former Marine Corps intelligence officer, has been trying for years to curb TikTok’s influence in the United States. Not just because he – a father of two young daughters – is worried about its influence on teens. But also
The Christian Science Monitor5 min readFinance & Money Management
Millennials Tiptoe Toward Better Chance For Homeownership
Michael Alas is thinking about buying his first home. It depends, in part, on whether he lands a job that he’s interviewed for. It would mean more money and a move – from rural Mississippi where he works as a college recruiter to the state capital, J
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
District Of Columbia Scrambles As Pandemic Comeback Proves Elusive
Residents of the nation’s capital have been hearing a drumbeat of difficult news – not just about congressional gridlock but about their own neighborhoods. Two of the city’s signature sports franchises, the Capitals in hockey and the Wizards in baske
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
In Senegal, Domestic Violence Survivors Craft Hope In Silver
Growing up in Senegal, it never crossed Ndeymour’s mind that she could become a silversmith. From what she had seen, soldering and shaping silver was hard, dirty work, and it was done exclusively by men.  Then, two years ago, she felt obliged to do s
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
Where The Ribbit Meets The Road: My Adventures In Frog Shuttling
It’s winter, it’s dark, it’s raining, and the temperature is stuck in the mid-40s. And that means that the good citizens of the Harborton Frog Shuttle are ready to roll. Our shuttle has been helping amphibians cross the road for 10 years now, one plu
The Christian Science Monitor4 min read
As Hunger Grips Gaza, Law And Order Crumbles
As more Palestinians in Gaza edge toward starvation, law and order is breaking down across the besieged strip. Armed gangs are taking over the streets of Gaza City, fistfights and stabbings are commonplace in long queues for food, and the occasional
The Christian Science Monitor3 min readInternational Relations
Poland To US: Help Ukraine Now Or Pay The Price Later
If the United States does not provide more military aid to Ukraine, it could end up paying in other ways – including, eventually, by having to deploy more troops in Europe. That’s the view of Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking to rep
The Christian Science Monitor2 min read
When Schools Tap Parental Love
The pandemic’s lingering impact on K-12 education – notably, a record absenteeism among students – has forced American educators to look hard at how they can better engage with parents. Nationwide gaps in student learning, one result of Zoom-only cla
The Christian Science Monitor4 min readCrime & Violence
How Mistrust Explains All Those Frustrating Things About US Politics
If you don’t think trust is important, take a look at Sicily. Yes, the birthplace of the Mafia. Shocking as it may seem, the Mafia was not created at the behest of Oscar-hungry Hollywood directors. It emerged because of a complete lack of trust. Igno
The Christian Science Monitor14 min readCrime & Violence
How People Like Brenda Glass Help Violent Crime Survivors Rebuild
Brenda Glass and Kevin talk at a large folding table in a mostly unadorned cafeteria. In her late 60s, Ms. Glass looks at him with a motherly mix of pride and concern. Kevin, despite being in his late 30s, seems like a kid on his best behavior – poli
The Christian Science Monitor2 min readWorld
A Season Of Peace In A Time Of War
Negotiators meeting in Cairo last week had hoped to secure a cease-fire in Gaza before Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that started Sunday evening. Elsewhere, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made a similar appeal for Sudan, a predomi
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