All The Monitor's View
- Sports betting, friends and foes
Even as New Jersey opens up sports betting, Singapore offers a law to suppress online gambling to help end the country's reputation as home to match-fixing worldwide, especially on European soccer games.
- Why Muslims from US, Europe join Islamic State
Hundreds of jihadists with Islamic State come the US and Europe. Most are not driven by a love of Islam but by a desire for a strong social identity. The West can prevent more IS recruits by providing that identity.
- Another way to defeat IS
Arabs need a hopeful model of progress if they are to rally behind the US in 'destroying' the Islamic State group. Such a democratic model is coming along well in Tunisia, the original home to the Arab Spring.
- Surprises in global perceptions of child abuse
A Unicef report, the largest survey ever on violence against children, reveals unexpected attitudes that justify such abuse. Exposing these perceptions is half way to ending – and changing – them.
- Merkel's leadership style on trial in Ukraine
As the West's main negotiator with Russia, the German leader has tried to redefine power in Europe. Yet her patience, restraint, and step-by-step diplomacy are being tested by Putin. Germany must be able to show how the Continent can live in peace.
- When sensational images are a click away
Recent videos of Americans being beheaded and stolen images of nude celebrities call for Internet user to have better discernment on the easy choices in viewing such visuals.
- Hong Kong's pearl of great price
Long known for its freedoms, Hong Kong faces a plan by China to restrict democracy by limiting candidates in the territory's elections. At the same time, China plans more freedom for its consumers and investors. The Communist Party sits on a contradiction.
- The answer to Islamic State: by sword – or word?
More than by military attacks, the Islamic State, commonly known as ISIS or ISIL, can be defeated if more Muslims counter its message that faith can come through coerced acts of presumed piety rather than freely chosen spiritual understanding.
- A real peace for Israel, Gaza
A cease-fire in the latest war between Israel and Hamas must lead to reconstruction of Gaza, controlled by moderate Palestinians in the West Bank. Israel should support an active peace, not merely a long 'quiet' in hostilities.
- NATO on Russia's border: a check, not a threat
NATO's plan for long-term rotation of troops in its eastern states is well tailored as a deterrence and not a provocation to Russia. The alliance's strategic patience with Putin reflects not a desire for victory but hopes for a nonaggressive Russia.
- A global nix on nicotine's new delivery system
Most nations help people be free of tobacco addiction. Now the WHO wants a ban on indoor use of 'electronic nicotine delivery systems,' or e-cigarettes, as well as their sale to children. A global meeting in October should endorse such steps.
- In Ebola crisis, time to honor the nurses
Africa's frontline health workers against Ebola are nurses. Some have died while many have been ostracized by family or friends. They may find comfort in a new digital archive of Florence Nightingale's writings, freely accessible on the Web.
- Job creation and global economic rapport
Last week's gathering of top central bankers reflects how much governments have learned to work together since the Great Recession to prevent 'spillovers' of their economic and financial actions.
- Amid war and beheadings, Iraq's fresh start
Iraq has tapped a new leader who represents a possible inclusive leadership that can heal religious and ethnic divisions, based on unity around constitutional rights.
- Putin’s backward gaze
By moving on Ukraine, Vladimir Putin looks to the past when he should be envisioning a fresh future for Russia.
- America’s rainbow schools
The most diverse group of students ever will enter public schools this fall. With help from adults, they will shine.
- Smarter police work
Building trust can help prevent another Ferguson, Mo.
- Will a robot take your job?
Experts are divided, but humans can still decide what will happen
- There’s gold in college sports ...
... and that’s the problem
- Women’s breakthroughs
Maryam Mirzakhani has won the ‘Nobel Prize’ of mathematics to crack another glass ceiling. And she’s not alone.