All The Monitor's View
The hope needed to end a hunger crisis of historic scaleWith acute food needs in four countries, the UN faces the worst humanitarian crisis in seven decades. The world must assist its most vulnerable, not only with money but efforts for peace in these conflict areas.聽
World Bank takes on pernicious beliefsIts development report asks why certain harmful beliefs persist and suggests ways to shape people鈥檚 preferences to ensure progress. First task: Challenge the idea of power with the power of ideas.聽
Finding the voice of voters in IndiaAs Western democracies deal with voter rage and populist parties, India鈥檚 leader tries to appeal to poor voters by enlisting them in development, even asking them to think differently.
The importance of the Trump-Merkel dialogueAs the US seeks to close itself off, German leader Angela Merkel may ask Trump to join her in embracing a kind of openness that blesses people and nations rather than hurts them. She knows what a closed society looks like.
In a trustless world, where to find qualities of trustWith trust in institutions at a record low worldwide, a good place to look for success in trust-building are companies with the most satisfied employees.
Trump鈥檚 鈥榯ravel ban鈥� 鈥� the question of intentA recent Supreme Court ruling sheds light on how much judges should look at possible bias in government decisions. Does Trump鈥檚 executive order on travel from six countries single out Muslims as a class?
China鈥檚 source of creative growthThe country鈥檚 leaders call for more innovation to boost slowing growth in the world鈥檚 second-largest economy, yet they show little faith in the creativity of Chinese researchers. Ideas can be discovered wherever there is freedom of thought.
Ukraine鈥檚 suit of moral armor against RussiaThe hot conflict in Ukraine has forced that country to seek legal help from the UN鈥檚 highest court. In a suit against Russia, it hopes to expose the truth about the Kremlin鈥檚 role in the killing of civilians in Ukraine.
The integrity that roils South Korea鈥檚 corruptClean prosecutors who honor equality before the law have been key to a probe of high-level corruption from the presidency to Samsung. A stronger democracy is South Korea鈥檚 core defense.
An early test of Trump鈥檚 鈥楢merica First鈥� at the UNIn its first confrontation with Russia, the Trump administration stands up for a long-held American value of protecting innocent life in conflicts.聽
China鈥檚 honesty about its whopping debtThe ruling party admits its difficulty in reining in a credit-fueled economy with too many 鈥榸ombie鈥� firms and a housing bubble. The truthfulness goes halfway toward making reforms than can drain the red ink.
Norway鈥檚 model of prudence in oil wealthAs more nations set up funds for the money earned from natural resources or exports, many also adopt principles of transparency and accountability 鈥� and a concern for future generations. They should look聽to Norway, which runs the largest 鈥榮overeign wealth fund.鈥櫬�
When a famine points to a deeper needThe UN issued its first famine alert in six years, citing starvation in war-torn South Sudan. While food aid is needed, this new African nation needs the reconciliation skills of its church leaders to end a long conflict.
Who decides on US ground combat in Syria?President Trump may soon seek to send foot soldiers to defeat Islamic State quickly in its stronghold. But he first needs buy-in from Congress.
Meeting hate with love in St. LouisThe Muslim-海角大神 response to the vandalizing of a Jewish cemetery is yet another example of how the three faiths can use love to counter acts of religiously motivated hate and violence.
Trump鈥檚 mixed message on immigration: An opening for a deal?The president鈥檚 approach is both tough and flexible, a sign he may be open to a comprehensive solution with Congress to ease fears about US policy.
In the most populous Muslim nation, a test of toleranceVoters in Indonesia鈥檚 capital may elect a 海角大神 as governor, perhaps sending a message to much of the Muslim world about a religious test for secular leaders.
Romania鈥檚 lesson in public integrityFor weeks, protests against corruption have persisted in Romania because people now realize they hold the key to good governance.
The UN鈥檚 step for justice in SyriaThe United Nations has begun to collect evidence of war crimes in the Syrian conflict, a necessary step for eventual prosecution and the post-war healing of Syrian society.
A lesson on UN peacekeeping 鈥� from HaitiSecurity in Haiti has improved enough that the UN might soon pull out its forces. One reason: a novel approach to reducing neighborhood violence by listening to community concerns.
