World

Low on gas, high on hope, many Mexicans back leader’s war on fuel thieves

Politicians’ vows to fight corruption, crime, and impunity are usually crowd-pleasers. But when the campaign runs into real-life complications, what price is the public prepared to pay?
In ticking of ‘The Clock,’ a parallel to Brexit's relentless grind

Whether you're observing it from afar, reporting on it, or living it, Brexit can seem endless. And the Monitor's Brexit correspondent finds echoes of the Brexit experience in an exhibit not far from Westminster.

Postwar Syria? Arab world moving to bring Damascus back into the fold.

If conflict creates opportunity, so does its resolution. Syria's civil war created openings for outside powers Iran and Turkey. But by embracing an eager Syria anew, Arab diplomats are pushing back.
First Look Sharp uptick in Iranian migrants attempting Channel crossing by boat

Last year saw a spike in the number of migrants, many of them Iranians, trying to cross the English Channel to reach Britain by boat. The re-imposed sanctions by the United States have hurt the Iranian economy and made life hard for ordinary Iranians, causing some to flee.

Photos of the Week 01/21 Photos of the week

A shark named Deep Blue, one of the largest recorded great white sharks, swims off Hawaii on Jan. 15.

First Look By running away, Saudi women seek to rebel against male-dominated culture

After Rahaf al-Qunun made headlines last week for escaping her strict Saudi family and seeking asylum through the internet, another Saudi woman has called out for help via Twitter, this time from within Saudi Arabia.
First Look Resistance against autocrats grows worldwide, says Human Rights Watch

The agency's annual report said that states, civic groups, and popular movements are pushing back against autocrats who are seeking to curtail freedoms. Populists are fueling a resistance that keeps winning, which re-energizes the global defense of human rights, the report says.
Sharp Dressed Man gives tailored suits to those in need

Self-presentation can make all the difference in life – especially during formal occasions like job interviews. That's why Christopher Schafer has made it his mission to help men in need find the perfect suit.
Meanwhile in … Japan, an enormous rare-earth mineral deposit has been found

And in the United States, thousands of works of literature and art have begun to enter the public domain.
For Turkey's strongman Erdoğan, trouble seeing eye to eye with Trump

Behind closed doors (or on the phone), what do world leaders expect to accomplish with each other? In the latest US-Turkish clash over Syria, unmet expectations played a central role.
First Look Street singer captures heart, plight of Venezuela's growing diaspora

Venezuelans have fled their country en masse since 2015, but out of the will to survive has emerged singer Reymar Perdomo and her song “Me Fui” – a catchy, joyous tune that has become a viral sensation and raised the profile of Venezuelan migrants.
Sudanese protests test warming Western ties with a longtime foe

President Omar al-Bashir’s government has been rocked by weeks of protests. His regime, once treated like a pariah state, has become an important Western partner on anti-terrorism efforts and migration.
First Look Hotel attack in Kenya over, terrorists behind act 'eliminated'

Kenyan security forces gave the all clear a day after Somali terrorist group Al Shabab killed 14 people in a raid on a luxury hotel in the Westlands neighborhood, the latest attack in a bloody six-year campaign against the Kenyan government that has left hundreds of Kenyans dead.
First Look Freed from death row, Pakistani Christian woman still fears for her life

Pakistan's Supreme Court acquitted Aasia Bibi of blasphemy after eight years on death row on Oct. 31. As she awaits the final verdict, extremists and angry mobs are still calling for her death because she refuses to convert to Islam.
Dijana Pavlovic works to give the Roma a more political voice

The actress-turned-activist is based in Italy, where anti-Roma attitudes are marked. She uses performance and poetry to change perceptions of Roma people.