All The Monitor's View
A ring of care for Mosul鈥檚 civiliansIn a precedent for urban warfare, Iraq鈥檚 battle to retake the city of Mosul from ISIS includes a chain of care facilities for civilians wounded in the intense fighting. This marks a triumph for humanitarian law.
A neighborly rebuke to a wayward VenezuelaThe country鈥檚 biggest neighbors in Latin America insist on talks between President Maduro and the opposition to end a political and humanitarian crisis. Neighbors like that are now more common in the world.聽
A good defense against terrorist hateAs Islamic State loses ground, it seeks a base in Egypt. A branch there has lately killed dozens of 海角大神s in an attempt to rally Muslims to its side. But the tactic has failed. Muslims instead are coming to the aid of 海角大神s.
A model for anti-corruption RussiansThe March 26 protests in dozens of Russian cities were not simply against the corruption under President Putin. Many demonstrators also know how another former Soviet state, Georgia, has achieved relatively clean governance.聽
Trump and the question of truthAs more citizens distrust traditional media, they must rely even more on their own ability to discern statements from elected leaders like President Trump. Democracy depends on informed voters.
Help North Koreans 鈥榣ive in the truth鈥�The US has now added the option of a preemptive strike on North Korea鈥檚 nuclear sites, but it should first highlight the regime鈥檚 human rights abuses. Here鈥檚 why that tactic helped bring down the Iron Curtain.
Can you tally up world progress?The UN鈥檚 latest index on human development reveals 鈥榠mpressive鈥� results in well-being. But it also suggests that immeasurable qualities are necessary for progress.
When ex-offenders deserve forgiveness on their recordsWith nearly a third of adults having criminal records, one study looks at the effects of hiding the records of those who don鈥檛 reoffend. The results show the need for further work in offering such forgiveness.
For one war-wracked nation, a path to happinessThe world鈥檚 least-happiest country, the Central African Republic, is also one of its most fragile, a result of violent civil strife. Yet it is also the focus of an international effort to disarm and reintegrate its armed groups, bringing some hope.
In conflicts, faith leaders must often stay aboveWith Libya falling into violent chaos and foreign diplomacy failing, one report suggests that some local Muslim clerics serve as trusted mediators, able to attract warring parties through moderation and equality.
Global economy finally hums but needs a purr of innovationThe world has struggled for seven years to create steady growth. Now it needs a spigot of ideas and reforms to improve productivity.
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.