Topic: Afghanistan

Featured

10 best books of June, according to The Christian Science Monitor

Here are the 10 June books to which the Monitor's book reviewers gave their most enthusiastic thumbs-up.

All Content

Global News Blog Good Reads: From raising champions, to Norway’s slow TV, to making real friends

This week's round-up of Good Reads includes a profile of Olympian Missy Franklin, American sitcoms in Kyrgyzstan, a strange TV phenomenon in Norway, a 'slow friend' backlash to Facebook, and productive early risers.
Tragedy at sea puts Australia's refugee policies to the test

More than 800 people seeking asylum from places like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have died on the trip to Australia since 2009, including the recent drowning of a 1-year-old.
The Monitor's View As US eyes retreat in Afghanistan, it must listen to Malala

The young Pakistani girl is a model for the global struggle against the anti-women Taliban. With Obama weighing troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Malala's speech to the UN today gives reasons to finish the job.
Drone landing on aircraft carrier opens new possibilities for Pentagon (+video)

The X-47B drone made the carrier landing off Virginia Wednesday. How military leadership decides to put the drone into use will form the crux of ‘naval doctrine moving forward,’ one expert says.
Drone carrier landing: Navy successfully completes unmanned carrier landing (+video)

Drone carrier landing: The landing of the X-47B experimental aircraft means the Navy can move forward with its plans to develop another unmanned aircraft that will join the fleet alongside traditional airplanes to provide around-the-clock surveillance while also possessing a strike capability.
Global News Blog Top Muslim Brother: 'Military coup' under way in Egypt

In a letter posted to Facebook, top Egyptian official Essam el Haddad warns that an overthrow would send the world the message that 'democracy is not for Muslims.'
WikiLeaks trial: Prosecution rests after calling 80 witnesses

Prosecutors rested their case against Pfc. Bradley Manning on Tuesday. In June 2010, Manning was arrested for giving WikiLeaks more than 700,000 classified battlefield reports, diplomatic cables, and video clips while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad.
Pakistan wants to talk to its Taliban, but doesn't know what to say

Pakistanis favor comprehensive peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban, but the process has been held back by disagreement over how to compromise.
Global News Blog Good Reads: From algorithms, to Roman walls, to the new liberals and conservatives

This week's round-up of Good Reads include doubts about algorithms' 'all-power,' the recipe for Roman concrete, the need for a Turkish Mandela, young liberals who may be more conservative than they realize, and the usefulness of military 'land power.'
Top Picks: Washington, D.C.'s Fourth of July celebrations, National Geographic's documentary on a group of US Marines, and more

Deborah Madison's book 'Vegetable Literacy' gives you recipes for your farmers' market purchases, pieces by the Emerson String Quartet show why the group is one of the world's best, and more top picks.
Pentagon slammed for $1 billion deal with banned arms dealer

Including the new contract, the Pentagon has spent more than $1 billion on helicopters and related maintenance and service with Rosoboronexport, Assad's top arms supplier.
Focus Is Afghanistan ready to defend itself?

Evidence is mixed as to the readiness of Afghanistan's Army and National Police to assume the lead in planning and fighting – with the summer combat season likely to be the first big test.
Terrorism & Security Taliban offers to exchange US prisoner as it seeks international support

The Taliban is trying to set itself up as a legitimate party, angering the Afghan government which has put peace talks on hold.
Prisoner swap? What Taliban want in return for US soldier Bowe Bergdahl.

US soldier Bowe Bergdahl has been a Taliban captive for four years. The Taliban, after opening an office in Qatar from which to conduct reconciliation talks on Afghanistan, wants a prisoner exchange with the US.
Terrorism & Security Symbolism of Taliban flag and banner upends Afghan peace talks

Planned negotiations between the US, Afghanistan, and the Taliban look doubtful after the Afghan president announces a boycott amid a row over the Taliban office in Doha.
The Monitor's View Talking with the enemy: Obama, Taliban negotiate Afghanistan's future (+video)

With the US and Taliban due to open talks, Obama's idea of negotiating an end to the Afghanistan war faces its big test. Fortunately, the Taliban will also be tested to face the new Afghan realities.
Backchannels As Karzai blusters over Taliban, more trouble in Afghanistan

Afghan President Hamid Karzai suspended talks with the US over a new Status of Forces Agreement, furious that the US is trying to join peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar.
Terrorism & Security Bagram Air Base attack: Four US soldiers killed as US seeks talks with Taliban

Bagram Air Base attack: The Taliban killed four US soldiers overnight, as the US sought talks with the militant group. The Bagram Air Base attack infuriated Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Taliban peace talks hold glimmer of hope, but also unanswerable questions

No one is predicting an easy road ahead for the peace talks. One key question: How united are the Taliban’s political and military wings behind this latest reconciliation effort?
As Taliban prepares for peace talks, US braces for disappointment

The Taliban will open a political office in Qatar, the White House announced Tuesday. This would help prepare for reconciliation talks in which the government of Afghanistan and the US would take part.
Terrorism & Security After 12 years, NATO passes security responsibility to Afghan forces

The formal transfer of Afghan forces into the lead of the fight in Afghanistan is raising questions about whether they're prepared to fight on their own.
Mass hysteria outbreaks hit Bangladesh's garment workers

Doctors say 'mass psychogenic illness' – not contaminated water – is to blame for recent outbreaks of sickness. Garment workers are fearful of workplace safety after a year of deadly accidents.
Fort Hood shooting: Judge nixes Nidal Hasan defense strategy. What now?

Army Maj. Nidal Hasan cannot use the defense that he acted to protect Taliban leaders from US soldiers deploying to Afghanistan, a military judge ruled Friday. His challenge now is to come up with another explanation to argue at his court-martial.
Focus 'Exponential' progress in prosthetics helps ease tough path for amputees

People who lost arms or legs in the Boston Marathon bombings – and in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – are among some 2 million Americans coping with limb loss. Emerging technologies and expanded peer support programs are helping.
Terrorism & Security Taliban assault on Kabul airport ends with seven militants dead

A small Taliban unit assaulted the Kabul airport just before dawn today. Afghan police and Army units handled the response.