Christian Science Monitor

Setting students up to succeed? Why Michigan is ditching first-semester grades.

The University of Michigan says its change will help more students acclimate to the demands of college. Some critics…

Cyberattacks on water facilities test US defenses, reveal gaps

A spate of cyberattacks on water utilities across the United States last month were resolved quickly. Yet the…

Prediction markets at odds with US mood on gambling

More states are challenging companies that claim predicting a future event is not luck, even as more Americans find…

As the UN picks its 10th chief, a woman may finally break the glass ceiling

In the United Nations’ 80 years, it has been led by nine secretaries-general, none of them women. But as the U.N.…

From mahjong clubs to ‘Chinamaxxing,’ why Chinese culture seems to be everywhere

From playing mahjong to sipping warm water, Americans are embracing Chinese culture with an enthusiasm not seen since…

The audacious plot to blow up the Nord Stream pipelines

Shadowy figures, deep-sea sabotage, and geopolitical skulduggery come together in a fascinating exposé by a Wall Street…

Threading history’s strands together

‘Big, beautiful bill’ was top GOP achievement. Now it’s campaign fodder for Democrats.

The Republicans’ signature 2025 legislation was expected to be a key campaign advantage, but public opinion and outcry…

Why Trump ordered the Pentagon to slash joint exercises with South Korea

President Donald Trump’s announcement that he is scaling back U.S. participation in long-standing, joint military…

Afghans cling to education for girls

After five years of harsh restrictions by the Taliban regime, fathers, mothers, and daughters across Afghanistan hold…

Trump now says he will halt Iran strikes, having reached outline to end war

President Donald Trump says he'll hold off on strikes he had threatened on against Iran, claiming allies reached the…

Trump threatens additional Iran strikes as tensions lead to more warnings

The U.S. issued new security alerts for Americans in the Middle East as tensions rose over Iran threats and Israeli…

Beyond Lincoln, the cheesy ‘horseshoe’ sandwich is Springfield’s pride and joy

More than 30 restaurants in the capital city of Illinois serve the “horseshoe” sandwich, a concoction of meat and…

End of temporary status for Haitians in US sets off scramble for options

The loss of temporary status for some 350,000 Haitian and Syrian immigrants has families weighing other options, which…

Uruguay offers a cooperative answer to the global housing shortage

As affordability and housing crises grow worldwide, Uruguay's decades-old cooperative housing model is gaining new…

A rollback of rights, or an imperfect step forward? India amends transgender rights act.

India has changed the process for how individuals identify their gender, sparking protests and court challenges. The…

US military is taking drone lessons from wars in Ukraine, Middle East

A look at the evolving capabilities of drones and how the U.S. military is copying tactics from wars in Ukraine and…

AI’s boost to enterprise, innovation, and jobs

An upsurge in business startups in the U.S. – assisted by affordable artificial intelligence – points to opportunities…

Boldly going in different directions? US and Russia diverge on joint space plans.

U.S.-Russia space cooperation, a success story of the Cold War, could be under threat if a new agreement can't be…

Recess for office workers: Why not?

Reporting on public lands and common ground

Reporting about public lands reveals longstanding debates – but also common ground.

War and peace: Ukraine’s ambassador in Washington joins our table

Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna met reporters at a Monitor Breakfast, in the wake of a Trump-Zelenskyy White…

A change of the lineup: How the new women’s pro baseball league works

Female athletes can play pro ball in the U.S. for the first time since 1954. The inaugural season of the Women’s…

Rock singer and naturalist: How Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg straddles two careers

Shearwater’s Jonathan Meiburg, out with an album called “The New World,” is also a naturalist and explorer whose next…

In Modi’s India, many felt dissent didn’t matter. Then came the ‘cockroaches.’

The success of India’s “Cockroach” protests reveals cracks in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strongman politics.

Kyiv’s ambassador on how Ukraine revived vital ties with US

Outgoing Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna met with reporters for a Monitor Breakfast to discuss the war,…

A green thumb for community renewal

For reducing loneliness and political polarization, nothing quite beats community gardens. Their rise has built…

For the US and Iran, war aims have changed beyond recognition

The original aims of the U.S.-Iran war are over. Now, it's Iran war 2.0.

Rwandan cooperative allows women to stitch together a livelihood

An all-female Rwandan cooperative has given 21 women economic independence and helped them recover from the lingering…

Seeking to double its budget, Space Force readies for next frontier of warfare

Created in 2019, this U.S. military service is already on the front lines of the next generation of battle. A bigger…

Around the world, looking for a new model of trust

In our magazine this week, we explore the ideals of trust and equality in governance, from Tokyo to Caracas, Venezuela.

Democrats’ surging left wing faces a test in Michigan: Older Black voters

Tuesday’s primary for Michigan’s open Senate seat is serving as a proxy battle over the Democratic Party’s future. How…

Parents in prison: New ways to sustain family bonds

The increasing incarceration of women – often for minor, nonviolent offenses – carries a high human cost. There is a…

After a brief pause, the Iran war might be expanding

Once again, the United States and Iran are exchanging direct fire in the Middle East, raising the stakes for the region.

‘A more perfect union’: How some use faith to prompt reflection on America’s ideals

A group of pastors in Colorado brings together people to discuss the role of faith in America’s founding as a way to…

Bringing religion to bear on public policy debates

Mike Pence’s “What Conservatives Believe” and Raphael Warnock’s “The Crooked Places Made Straight” draw on their…