All The Monitor's View
South Africa has a springbok in its stepA World Cup victory by its racially integrated national rugby team was not only inspiring, it set a tone of gratitude for the country’s progress on race and opportunity.
Sea level rising? Make some new landFor some seacoast cities new property reclaimed from the ocean could be more valuable than the cost of making it.
Celebrating the unlikely champsThe Washington Nationals managed to make winning in the face of almost certain defeat look routine. They entertained and sustained us.
Why we still drop a cardThe internet whisks images and texts around the globe nearly instantaneously. But after 150 years the common postcard still holds its own unique appeal.
Are job skills and an education the same thing?English majors may be in decline, but studying the humanities is still a worthwhile option.
Birds on a high wireTwo recent studies show North America’s birdlife in peril. But humans can still change the picture.
Rediscovering Mr. RogersWhat seemed like a simple, gentle children’s show has had an unexpected impact on society. It all began with the way he viewed his ‘neighbors.’
Sweet uses of adversity for African entrepreneursAfrica’s digital revolution may be lagging but its many obstacles are also a source for innovation.
The Balkans fuseThree nations in what was once Europe’s powder keg set plans to blend their economies, replicating the “common home” of the EU.
Canada’s breach over oil exportsMonday’s election may force Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to find a better balance between the oil-rich provinces and Canada’s leadership on climate change.
Lebanon awakes to fearmongeringDays of protests reveal a diverse nation shaking off corrupt politicians who divide by sects to stay in power.
Wanted: Ethical intelligence for artificial intelligenceFrom the Pentagon to the United Nations, leaders seek advice on AI’s potential to harm – or to serve.
Friendship across political linesEllen DeGeneres and George W. Bush socializing sets an example for keeping doors open for those on the opposite side of issues.
A radical choice for equality in TunisiaA law professor wins the presidency with his ideas – and actions – of equal opportunity for equality. Tunisia again inspires the Middle East on democracy’s fundamentals.
New poverty busters get their dueThis year’s Nobel prize in economics puts a spotlight on a new type of research that brings a fresh view of the poor as capable and resilient.
Why a peace prize befits Ethiopia's leaderLike a 21st-century Mandela, Abiy Ahmed prepared himself with a mental peace to be able to bring it to others.
The global bandwagon on tax integrityOne of the more notorious tax havens, Cayman Islands, commits to honesty and openness in financial transactions.
The borderless power of sportsIn Iran and China, the globalization of sports – and its values – is helping transcend frictions over religion and nationalism.
Life without plastic? The idea gains a big player.Consumer-goods giant Unilever sets an example with its radical plan to collect more plastic than it sells.
How a splintered country plans to mendEthiopia’s new reconciliation commission aims not at punishment for a violent past but at exposure of root causes for past injustices, all in hope of forgiveness and unity.
