World

• Why an octogenarian’s eviction has sent Spaniards into the streets

  The eviction of one particularly vulnerable woman, Maricarmen, has set off street protests in Madrid over predatory landlords and soaring rental costs.
• South Koreans turn museum artifacts into cosplay (video)

  Thousands gathered in Seoul to see the final showdown of the “Dress Like a Museum Exhibit” contest.
• In Gaza, farmers rescue roots buried under rubble to grow fruit again

  Gazan fig and date farmers are replanting crops from roots that survived years of Israeli bombing. 
• Houthi militia now leads Iran’s ‘Axis.’ But how much can Tehran count on it?

  Iranian officials and pundits laud the militia group’s gains as their own. At the same time, some media coverage appears designed to convince the Houthis to be better team players.
• From the MagazineWhy more young Indians are doubting the value of education

  As competition for college seats and postgraduate jobs grows, young Indians are losing confidence in their ability to get ahead through hard work and talent.

USA

• How rape allegations at Cornell test the college, prosecutors, and media

  Prosecutors, college administrators, and the media are working in parallel around the alleged sexual assault case at Cornell University.
• Supreme Court hits record low approval: What it means for the new term

  The next U.S. Supreme Court term begins Oct. 5. Justices return to the bench amid record low public approval, with some indications that the court is making subtle shifts to restore confidence.
• Republicans are losing support among Latinos. It might cost them the House.

  Many of the most competitive House districts this year, in states from Texas to Florida, California to Pennsylvania, have majority or near-majority Latino electorates.
• In Ohio, Sherrod Brown tests an old model of working-class appeal for Democrats

  At a moment when many Democrats are arguing over socialism and Israel, Sherrod Brown is squarely focused on the economic issues he’s always championed. Supporters say his brand of old-school liberalism could offer a way forward for his party.
• Afrikaners, Trump’s priority refugees, settle into American life

  The U.S. government is welcoming members of a small South African racial minority as refugees while continuing its drive to deport more immigrants.

Perspectives

• From the EditorsTurning a lens on landscapes

  Over the past few months, readers might have noticed a number of photos of the American Southwest in this magazine. Staff photographer Melanie Stetson Freeman was behind the lens for all these images. She talked with me about the power of visuals for telling stories about land, nature, and stewardship.
• It’s now the EU’s turn to avert a trade conflict with China

  The European Union and China hold meetings next week in Beijing for high-stakes trade talks, as the EU tries to steer clear of a all-out trade war.
• From the MagazineScrolls, not screens: Tibetan calligrapher brings his art to the next generation

  Self-taught artist Jamyang Dorjee Chakrishar holds the world record for the longest calligraphy scroll – 165 meters (about 180 yards) – which he created in 2010.
• From the EditorsChildhood in wartime

  The war in Ukraine has had a disproportionate impact on the country’s children. In our magazine this week, we revisit families helping young people maintain resilience.
• The new West: US allies find ways of coping with Trump administration

  America’s partners are becoming more assertive and are looking to build ties with other countries in response to President Trump’s transactional approach.

Editorials

• The Monitor's ViewOne of Ukraine’s winning principles

  Russia’s expanding attacks on innocent Ukrainians not only show desperation, they draw greater international support for Ukraine as it upholds the rules of war.
• The Monitor's ViewMorocco welcomes women in leadership

  The North African nation names its first woman prime minister. Supported by Islamic scholars, new views of women’s worth are taking hold across the Arab world.
• The Monitor's ViewWhen students rise up, integrity might prevail

  Waves of youth-led protests worldwide offer a chance to reverse the democratic decline. The latest example: Serbia’s leader was forced to call a snap election after massive demonstrations.
• The Monitor's ViewInnovation’s secret sauce: Less fear, more forgiveness

  This week saw two massive moments in space and in underground engineering, showing that Americans not only still think big but also recover from failures well.
• The Monitor's ViewThe Swiss take a stand on neutrality

  Voters overwhelmingly reject a strict neutrality in the face of foreign threats in Europe, testing Switzerland’s ability to be a peacemaking arbiter.

Economy

• The ExplainerThe price of diesel keeps rising. Why it’s about to hit American consumers.

  The average price of diesel fuel in the U.S. is at a record high, raising the cost of transporting goods as the nation’s economy is burdened with persistent inflation.
• Buc-ee’s gas stops are beloved. But has its beaver become a ‘trademark bully’?

  The roadside oasis Buc-ee’s is known for brisket tacos and immaculate bathrooms. But its aggressive lawsuits alleging infringement of its beaver logo are sparking controversy.
• Trump has prioritized oil and minerals. Lower prices haven’t followed.

  President Trump says America should take advantage of its natural resources to grow jobs and cut household energy bills. Those goals remain out of reach.
• Rhode Island’s ‘Taylor Swift tax’ on vacation homes aims to boost affordable housing

  A new tax on vacation homes in Rhode Island targets pricey beach properties, such as the one owned by pop star Taylor Swift. At stake is whether the effort can raise funds for affordable housing without driving away vacation-home owners who contribute to the economy.
• First LookTrump threatens Bombardier ban as Canada tariff deadline looms

  Facing tariff deadline, President Trump threatened to ban Bombardier jet sales in the US unless the Canadian firm builds its planes domestically.

Environment

• Is nature priceless? This study spotlights its huge value for the world’s economy.

  Much of the world’s biodiversity is at risk, yet natural ecosystems are foundational to every national economy. A new report by the Paulson Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund highlights how policies can make a difference.
• The EPA may soon deploy AI to regulate toxic chemicals. It’s not telling the public.

  Federal law requires U.S. government agencies to disclose how they’re using AI tools in their work. But in the case of the EPA, this doesn’t appear to be happening.
• Where have all the Atlantic hurricanes gone? El Nino's might brings record slow storm season

   On Saturday, the Atlantic set a record for the longest start to a season without a hurricane since the satellite era began. Experts say El Nino creates conditions that prevent storms from developing, despite warm ocean waters.
• ‘Cold weather’ Massachusetts now must problem-solve for rising heat

  Massachusetts was known as a “cold weather” state. But rising temperatures have prompted it to find solutions such as “cool parks” and a heat resilience officer.
• From the MagazineUtah planned the world’s biggest data center. Then came the bipartisan pushback.

  Utah aims to be industry-friendly. But choosing a fragile ecosystem to house a sprawling facility has generated intense grassroots opposition.

Technology

• From the MagazineWith viral ‘Lego’ videos, Iran stakes claim as a propaganda power player

  Iran’s 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’s humanoid robots are gaining ground – but they’re not there yet

  The U.S. and China are racing to build humanoid robots capable of performing many daily tasks – but the complexity of home and business environments makes that challenging. 
• 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. 
• 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’s also concerned about its impact. “We don’t have any privacy anymore,” Mr. 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’s next for NASA?

  The Artemis II mission has concluded with a safe return to Earth. The mission rekindled “moon joy” 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’s 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‘The tools to imagine solutions’: 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 ‘con’ in climate change. Xi sees cash.

  While President Trump decries climate change as a “con,” China’s 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 “Drill, baby, drill.”

Arts & Culture

• From the MagazineWhy Howard Zinn became a ‘people’s historian’

  A new biography connects the dots between the professor’s labor-union beginnings and the left-wing outlook that shaped his bestselling history book.
• How a British bookstore has extended its shelf life

  Katie Clapham offers warm and witty dispatches about her experiences as the owner of Storytellers, an independent bookshop in a coastal England town.
• From the MagazineAt the bookend of summer, here are September’s best reads

  Monitor reviewers recommend titles by Emily St. John Mandel, Min Jin Lee, and Paul Theroux.
• From the MagazineThis saxophonist’s jazz offers a call and response for Africa

  Boston-based Nigerian musician Temidayo Balogun mixes styles and beats to promote unity on his home continent.
• From the MagazineIn Canada, a storied travel writer finds a kind of homecoming

  Paul Theroux’s latest cultural travelogue includes an exploration of his ancestral connections to the northern nation.

The Home Forum

• From the MagazineOne summer, a door – and then books, and then a new world – opened

  Miss Louise lived in a big stone Tudor, covered with ivy. Inside that house was a library – and a lifelong gift.
• From the MagazineOn the 6:09 train, a traditional sound brings reflection

  The early morning train from Jerusalem is a display of light and dark. It is also a reminder of a larger journey from uncertainty to insight.
• From the MagazineEveryone has a 9/11 story. This is mine, from behind the lens.
• From the MagazineA walk in the rain

  An unexpected downpour floods the writer with childhood memories and a defiant joy in getting soaked.
• From the MagazineJoyful collaboration

  A poet is inspired by how a composer and large chorus breathe connection into her work.