All The Monitor's View
Did Paul Ryan leave them rolling in the aisles?The rest of Paul Ryan鈥檚 tenure as House speaker should be used to take a measure of his efforts to bring civility to politics, including how he helped members learn to laugh together.
Hungary plants two kinds of seedsEven as a tilted election further erodes its democracy, Hungary also sees a rise in corruption. The latter trend will someday help restore full rights and liberties.
A creative solution to the US-China trade disputeAs the world鈥檚 two largest economies slap new tariffs on each other, they also are forced to look at their common interest in nurturing innovation. That may help drive both to a truce.
A chemical attack felt round the worldThe reaction to Syria鈥檚 latest use of chemical weapons shows humanity鈥檚 steady if uneven embrace of universal rights, such as the right to life for innocent civilians. Those rights, enshrined 70 years ago by the UN, need both protection and celebration.
How the #MeToo movement speaks to he-menThe era of the strongman needs the era of #MeToo and its emphasis on lifting the views of men about their identity.
Cybersecurity may be beating cyber fearDespite the drumbeat of data breaches, such as Facebook鈥檚, the good news is that companies and governments are putting security first, according to a new survey.
An election so normal it鈥檚 a benchmarkMost Latin Americans will vote for a president this year, and Costa Rica has already set a standard by resisting populism and social media polarization in its April 1 election.
Yemen鈥檚 women as warriors of peaceAmid the tragedy of Yemen鈥檚 long war and the loss of men, women are being forced into new roles. Foreign aid helps many rebuild their lives and the country鈥檚 social fabric.
What to make of a North Korean apologyIn a country whose leaders are portrayed as infallible, a recent apology by a top official may help soften coming talks with the US and South Korea.
A guide to watching Arab electionsEgypt鈥檚 sham election doesn鈥檛 deserve as much attention as a real one this May in an Arab nation that embraces liberty of conscience.
Africa鈥檚 second liberationWhen most of the continent鈥檚 nations sign up to create a free-trade zone, it signals more than a business transaction. Africa is sharing values of trust and equality.
Why Facebook must 鈥榣ike鈥� ethical investorsAfter news broke of Facebook鈥檚 misuse of personal data, social capitalists on Wall Street helped bring down the stock price of this 鈥榮urveillance capitalist.鈥� Ethical investing is rewriting rules for what are 鈥榞ood鈥� profits.
The West鈥檚 real struggle with MoscowThe best response to Russia鈥檚 many provocations, such as the attempted murder of an ex-spy, is to reach the Russian people with a message that their identity relies on universal values such as liberty, not fear of others or notions of civilizational greatness.
Latin America gets a scrubbingPeru becomes the latest country to see a leader taken down by corruption scandal.聽 It will also soon host a regional summit. The theme: clean governance.
Europe backs Britain 鈥� and itselfAfter the attempted killing of civilians in Britain with a Russian nerve agent, the EU backs London and plans actions against the Kremlin. The Continent鈥檚 solidarity is a measure of its democratic values.
Trump's action on China helps all inventorsIn punishing China for patent theft, the president claims only a benefit for the US. But the action also affirms global rules on intellectual property that help nurture discoveries for all.
A Saudi leader鈥檚 test of moderationThe crown prince鈥檚 visit to the US puts a spotlight on his claim of ending the country鈥檚 past hate-filled ideology and instead embrace a 鈥榤oderate Islam.鈥�
Facebook鈥檚 lapse in privacy protectionThe use of personal data on Facebook accounts for political targeting must bring higher standards for privacy protection. Companies that use 鈥榖ig data鈥� rely on the trust of customers.
The light Stephen Hawking leaves behindTributes to the British scientist continue to roll in, noting how his humble search for truth inspired others, especially at a time of 鈥榝ake news鈥� and misinformation.
South Africa sings in the anti-corruption chorusThe prosecution of a former president on corruption reflects a global trend among many democracies to end impunity and ensure equality of law.