海角大神

World

• From the MagazineWith viral 鈥楲ego鈥� videos, Iran stakes claim as a propaganda power player

  Iran鈥檚 viral social media campaign has been slick, savvy, and accessible to a Western audience. It seems to have caught the U.S. completely off guard.
• Can Argentina鈥檚 social solidarity endure despite historic labor law overhaul?

  Argentina鈥檚 overhauled labor law is meant to modernize the workforce and loosen the grip of historically powerful unions. But in an administration focused on cost-cutting, some workers find the legislation one shock too many.
• Iran war opened doors for drone-savvy Ukraine. Zelenskyy is seizing the moment.

  Ukraine has turned its advances in drone technology into a diplomatic asset. Not so long ago, President Zelenskyy visited foreign capitals to beg for assistance. Now, he seals deals for drone sales and tech-sharing 鈥� as a desirable security partner.
• First Trump, now Putin: Beijing receives Russian leader to bolster 鈥榩artnership鈥�

  By visiting Beijing, Vladimir Putin is trying to bolster relations between Russia and China 鈥� and to limit their vulnerability to U.S. adventurism.
• First Trump, now Putin: Beijing receives Russian leader to bolster 鈥榩artnership鈥�

  By visiting Beijing, Vladimir Putin is trying to bolster relations between Russia and China 鈥� and to limit their vulnerability to U.S. adventurism.

USA

• Trump settlement fund claims a high motive. Critics see a corruption of justice.

  The Trump administration has reached an unusual settlement in a case of the president suing his own government. Critics worry that a resulting 鈥渁nti-weaponization fund鈥� will be ripe for abuse benefiting President Donald Trump, his family, and his allies.
• Among Democrats, support for Israel is crumbling 鈥� with major implications

  An overwhelming majority of Democrats now view Israel negatively 鈥� a dramatic shift that is playing out in primary campaigns across the country. It could portend big changes in policy, should the party capture control of Congress.
• From the MagazineWith viral 鈥楲ego鈥� videos, Iran stakes claim as a propaganda power player

  Iran鈥檚 viral social media campaign has been slick, savvy, and accessible to a Western audience. It seems to have caught the U.S. completely off guard.
• Trump extends his grip on GOP in defeat of Kentucky鈥檚 Massie

  As an outspoken critic of President Trump, Thomas Massie faced a closely watched primary contest 鈥� and has lost his seat to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein. It鈥檚 the latest in a string of election results showing the president鈥檚 hold on the Republican Party.
• As international graduate student enrollment falls, US schools scramble to fill the hole

  Enrollment of graduate students from abroad is plunging at U.S. schools, leaving them with gaping holes in their budgets.

Perspectives

• Difference Maker鈥楾he first ray of light鈥�: Illuminating a path for Pakistan鈥檚 out-of-school children

  Pehli Kiran, a nonprofit, operates schools聽with mobile infrastructure and tailored lesson plans.
• College move-outs fill curbs with cast-off stuff. This group reduces the waste.

  College move-outs have increasingly become a dumpster drama, as students pile furniture, decor, and other goods on sidewalks. Alex Freid is promoting a different path.
• From the EditorsNorway鈥檚 situation is complex. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 a good story.

  On a trip to Norway, our senior global correspondent finds a complex story about energy solutions.聽
• Trump has been to China before. Why this visit is different.

  This American president presents himself as a China hawk. But Donald Trump鈥檚 second state visit to Beijing comes at a tricky moment, with the Iran war looming large for both countries.
• In Europe, and now Asia, confidence in US support wavers

  Ahead of President Trump鈥檚 expected visit to Beijing, American allies in Europe and Asia remain on edge about the strength of their partnerships.

Editorials

• The Monitor's ViewThe vital voice of Congress in launching war

  Presidents from both political parties have long skirted congressional approval for acts of war. Beyond partisanship, current votes on war powers resolutions signal constitutional democracy in action.
• The Monitor's ViewA welcome spotlight on China鈥檚 海角大神s

  The possibility that a prominent pastor might be released from detention 鈥� which was indicated at last week鈥檚 U.S.-China summit 鈥� has put a new focus on why 海角大神ity endures in China.
• The Monitor's ViewThe global prompt for a reliable AI future

  The world鈥檚 two major powers, as well as private and public sector players internationally, seek cooperative approaches to harness AI鈥檚 benefits 鈥� and minimize potential misuse.
• The Monitor's ViewMercy for good apples when they expose bad apples

  Under better federal rules, firms that quickly report white-collar crime are spared prosecution, benefiting workers, shareholders, and financial markets. Honesty brings its own reward.
• The Monitor's ViewMore civility on campus 鈥� and perhaps beyond

  Across the U.S., colleges and universities are recentering a core purpose of higher education: equipping young people with the civic skills of open inquiry, free speech, and mutual respect, all essential to a thriving democracy.聽

Economy

• Balancing act for new Fed chair: Taming inflation amid rate-cut pressures

  New Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh must navigate surging inflation, making it hard for the central bank to reduce interest rates as President Trump wishes.
• Stocks might be soaring, but US economy is feeling Iran war shocks

  The Iran war has degraded Iran鈥檚 military strength, but the conflict has imposed high economic costs on the U.S., where consumers are feeling squeezed.
• Congress eyes action on prediction markets amid corruption concerns

  With prediction markets facing corruption and manipulation charges, Congress is weighing bipartisan measures to curb insider trading and protect trust.
• From the Magazine鈥業t鈥檚 a lot for me鈥�: Inside the challenge of soaring food costs

  More than half of Americans say everyday life聽is less affordable. Gas and energy prices are up. But most say rising grocery costs聽are the main culprit.
• Despite tariffs, global trade keeps growing 鈥� just with new partners

  A year after President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs stunned the world, global trade is still expanding 鈥� but nations are diversifying beyond the U.S. and China.

Environment

• The ExplainerWhy the US will pay a French company nearly $1 billion to give up wind farm plans

  The Trump administration鈥檚 deal to pay TotalEnergies to shift from wind farms to U.S. fossil fuel investment appears to be a novel use of taxpayer funds. It also fits within a broader White House effort to restrict the offshore wind industry.
• After 100 years, and decades of cleanup, shellfishing set to return to Boston Harbor

  Decades of cleanup efforts in Boston Harbor will allow a few towns to open beaches for recreational shellfishing, which had been mostly banned since 1925.
• Trump rescinds EPA鈥檚 ability to regulate greenhouse gases. What鈥檚 the impact?

  President Trump and his team held a 鈥淐lean, Beautiful Coal鈥� event this week and are rescinding a rule that enables the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. But the moves come as renewable energy sources including solar are increasingly in demand.
• A year after LA wildfires, slow recovery but 鈥榓 feeling of hope鈥�

  The Eaton and Palisades wildfires destroyed 13,000 homes, and left thousands more uninhabitable. Some survivors are frustrated at the pace of recovery.聽
• EPA鈥檚 new clean-water rules: What a farmer, builder, and scientist say

  The EPA proposes to narrow the scope of a key part of the Clean Water Act 鈥� a change criticized by environmental groups but welcomed by businesses.

Technology

• From the MagazineWith viral 鈥楲ego鈥� videos, Iran stakes claim as a propaganda power player

  Iran鈥檚 viral social media campaign has been slick, savvy, and accessible to a Western audience. It seems to have caught the U.S. completely off guard.
• China鈥檚 humanoid robots are gaining ground 鈥� but they鈥檙e not there yet

  The U.S. and China are racing to build humanoid robots capable of performing many daily tasks 鈥� but the complexity of home and business environments makes that challenging.聽
• First LookGeorgia leads toward a nuclear future with its first operating reactor

  Georgia Power Co. announced one of its two new reactors reached self-sustaining nuclear fission on Monday. The announcement is a key step toward reaching commercial operation of nuclear energy in the United States.聽
• First LookCellphone at 50: Its inventor reflects on mobile advances and risks

  Cellphone inventor Martin Cooper, who placed the first mobile call on April 3, 1973, remains hopeful the technology can transform lives, but he鈥檚 also concerned about its impact. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 have any privacy anymore,鈥澛燤r. Cooper said at a trade show in Spain.
• First LookWhat links toothbrushes and weapons systems? A $52 billion investment.

  The U.S. government has reached a rare bipartisan agreement to invest $52 billion to develop advanced computer chips. Factories, autos, appliances, electronics, toys, toothbrushes, and weapons systems all depend on semiconductors.

Science

• With Artemis II back on Earth, what鈥檚 next for NASA?

  The Artemis II mission has concluded with a safe return to Earth. The mission rekindled 鈥渕oon joy鈥� for the public and made scientific advancements, which NASA aims to expand during the next phases of the ambitious Artemis program.
• Russia sees opportunity in thawing Arctic. But it鈥檚 looking for partners, too.

  Russia is ramping up efforts to take advantage of the opening Arctic, both through military and economic means, and through international cooperation.
• Difference Maker鈥楾he tools to imagine solutions鈥�: Science educator inspires Pakistani children

  Science Fuse, a social enterprise, primarily teaches children in impoverished areas, including the Machar Colony slum area in Karachi.
• Trump sees a 鈥榗on鈥� in climate change. Xi sees cash.

  While President Trump decries climate change as a 鈥渃on,鈥� China鈥檚 Xi Jinping is going all-in on green tech. The latter approach is providing some hope as the COP30 climate conference gathers in Brazil.
• From the MagazineMake Oil Great Again? Even California drills as global climate action stalls.

  Gov. Gavin Newsom made green energy a priority. But as President Donald Trump makes oil the focus of U.S. energy policy, even California considers 鈥淒rill, baby, drill.鈥�

Arts & Culture

• End of Stephen Colbert鈥檚 show illustrates risks of stirring a polarized nation to laughter

  The demise of 鈥淭he Late Show with Stephen Colbert鈥� raises questions of whether humor can bring together a polarized nation.
• From Haiti to the Arctic, May鈥檚 best reads transport

  Historical anniversaries share space with satisfying mysteries and far-flung, imagination-stretching novels in our roundup of May鈥檚 best reads.
• Astute 鈥楾ranscription鈥� asks readers, 鈥楧o you copy?鈥�

  Ben Lerner鈥檚 noteworthy novel explores tech鈥檚 impositions on memory, history, and relationships.
• 鈥楾he Sheep Detectives鈥� is a tender fable wrapped in a murder mystery

  "The Sheep Detectives" could have been just a funny fable about sheep searching for their shepherd's killer. Our reviewer says tenderness and melancholy elevate it.

The Home Forum

• A springtime discovery
• Discovery at the drive-thru
• The wind chime
• Fix my watch, tell me a story
• Hope in the soil and stones