World

• As Trump proves unreliable, Europe rushes to firm up defenses on its own

  For Europe to defend both itself and Ukraine from Russia, Europeans will need to agree on what sacrifices they will make and who will pay.
• When slash-and-burn plantation fires spread, these Indonesian women douse the flames

  The palm oil industry has put Indonesian Borneo at risk of devastating wildfires. Ahead of International Women’s Day, The Christian Science Monitor joins an all-female firefighting force on patrol. 
• US moves on Ukraine make Europeans wonder: Is America an ally?

  President Trump’s overtures to Russia and hostility to Ukraine’s leader have undermined the historic US alliance with democratic European partners.
• Russia likes the US turn on Ukraine. But do Putin and Trump share an endgame?

  Moscow’s return from the diplomatic wilderness has been sudden. But Vladimir Putin’s attempts to capitalize on it may not match Donald Trump’s expectations.
• As Syrians struggle to rebuild, old US sanctions are a daunting hurdle

  Even as former anti-Assad rebels adjust to governing, private Syrians are trying to rebuild homes and communities shattered by civil war. Standing in their way are severe U.S. sanctions blocking equipment and investment.

USA

• First LookSupreme Court orders Trump to release $2 billion in foreign aid payments

  The Supreme Court left in place a lower court’s decision to pause the Trump administration’s spending freeze. The administration had appealed U.S. District Judge Amir Ali’s deadline to give the federal government until Feb. 26 to pay out $2 billion in aid.
• After wild six weeks, Trump tells Congress ‘We are just getting started’

  President Donald Trump touted his accomplishments on the border and going after government waste. On the economy, he warned of ‘a little disturbance.’
• Should law enforcement work with ICE? Sheriffs in a ‘sanctuary’ state are torn.

  In Colorado, some sheriffs are pushing for closer cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Others are telling immigrant populations their departments “are always here for you.”
• Mexico faces US gunmakers in Supreme Court, saying they fuel cartel crime

  Do U.S. arms manufacturers bear responsibility for the guns fueling cartel violence in Mexico? Mexico is arguing that case before the Supreme Court.
• How will Europe defend itself? 3 ways Trump is forcing the continent to adapt.

  After President Donald Trump’s public rebuke of Ukraine’s president, European leaders are attempting to step up their defense of Kyiv and adjust to shifting security norms.

Commentary

• The Monitor's ViewThe beauty in arguing over baseball umpires

  The major leagues are testing robots to call balls and strikes, prompting deeper questions about the irreplaceable values of human excellence.
• The Monitor's ViewRedefining security in a hostile world

  As big powers grow aggressive, Taiwan and Ukraine find defense can be more than bombs and bullets
• The Monitor's ViewWhen nations live by integrity

  A global body that sets norms for honesty and transparency in trade and finance has lately helped nations curb “dirty money” and boost their economies.
• The Monitor's ViewDrawing peace in Sudan

  Amid an ongoing civil war, education for displaced children shows how societies in conflict preserve normalcy through dignity.
• CommentaryA new editor, an enduring commitment

  The Monitor’s new editor details the organization’s steadfast commitment to truth and the vision of founder Mary Baker Eddy “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.”

Economy

• Trump’s tariffs and job cuts fuel Main Street uncertainty

  Donald Trump sailed into office on voter anger around inflation. Now his policies are creating uncertainty about prices, investment, and jobs.
• Uncle Sam as investor: Why America is considering a sovereign wealth fund

  President Trump continues to talk about creating a sovereign wealth fund. Economists say SWFs invite grift. But others say they cover for tax breaks. 
• Risk of a trade war rises as Trump boosts tariffs globally

  President Trump is hiking tariffs on steel and aluminum, and pledging to impose more. The question is whether this leads to a widening conflict or not.
• Tariffs on China but not Mexico, Canada? The stakes in a potential trade war.

  In postponing some threatened tariffs but not others, U.S. President Donald Trump is sowing uncertainty for businesses and consumers in his own country and abroad. His tactics could score some wins, but also carry big risks.
• Inflation’s lasting pressure: A hotel worker’s story shows the struggle

  Inflation has come way down since June 2022. But the issue might have decided the recent election. Here’s one story, from a Boston hotel worker, of how its effects still weigh on Americans.

Environment

• When slash-and-burn plantation fires spread, these Indonesian women douse the flames

  The palm oil industry has put Indonesian Borneo at risk of devastating wildfires. Ahead of International Women’s Day, The Christian Science Monitor joins an all-female firefighting force on patrol. 
• Hatched! Baby eagles send spirits soaring for webcam viewers.

  After a long, painful wait, and just a year after no eaglets ever appeared ... two eaglets have hatched!
• After LA wildfires, a job center grows into a hub for wildfire response

  The Pasadena Community Job Center helps day laborers find work. After the LA wildfires, workers volunteered to help others – and themselves – begin a long recovery. 
• In Yemen, activists seek to restore rubble-strewn sanctuary for migrating birds

  For centuries, Yemen’s coastal wetlands played host to each year to flocks of migrating birds. But civil war has left the ecosystem in dire straits.
• Points of ProgressHow our actions affect others – from driving more safely to making art

  Progress roundup: Studies show that Americans are safer partly because of better driving. And Britons are healthier when they pursue arts and culture.

Technology

• 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.
• First LookInternet speech: Supreme Court to weigh who is protected online

  Two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this week challenge Section 230, a 1996 law that protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their networks. The cases are part of a global trend toward holding social media platforms accountable.
• First Look‘Tremendous potential’: Why some disability advocates laud ChatGPT

  ChatGPT has spurred lively conversations about the role of educational technology. While some colleges and universities are cracking down on ChatGPT, the AI-powered chatbot, other educators believe ChatGPT could help with assisted learning. 

Science

• How four women physicists escaped the Nazis, but lost their life’s work

  “Sisters in Science” tells of the rise of female scientists in 1930s Germany – some of whom were Jewish – whose careers were ended by Adolf Hitler.
• China’s DeepSeek impresses. But is a ‘fast follow’ good enough in AI?

  China’s success with AI tool DeepSeek is giving U.S. markets a reality check. But it’s too early to say that American AI leaders will be eclipsed.
• First LookNvidia unveils new products from supercharged graphics chip to AI that trains robots

  Chipmaker and AI leader Nvidia revealed its most advanced consumer graphics processor unit, its first desktop computer, and artificial intelligence to better train robots and cars.
• Solar panels in space show potential for liftoff, despite cost concerns

  Technological advances mean space-based solar panels are edging closer to reality. Cost is the biggest hurdle.
• First LookAre the Boeing astronauts actually stuck in space? Nope. ‘Living in space is super fun.’

  Boeing’s new Starliner astronauts have had to combat rumors about their health and saftey after a forced extended stay on the International Space Station. However, the pair has taken the challenge in stride. “Mindset does go a long way,” said Butch Wilmore.

Culture

• Rebels with a robot: ‘Rule Breakers’ celebrates Afghan girls who dared to dream

  A celebration of the bravery and ingenuity of the Afghan girls robotics team contrasts with the reality of Afghanistan’s women under Taliban repression.
• The ExplainerWhy does the US have daylight saving time? A look at efforts to ‘lock the clock.’

  Could time be up for the twice-yearly clock switches?
• Lia Block Q&A: Can F1 Academy pave the road for women in motorsports?

  Season 7 of “Formula 1: Drive To Survive” debuts March 7 on Netflix. The Monitor reached out to rising star Lia Block to ask about the direction she, and racing, are headed.
• The Bay of Fundy has the world’s highest tides. Just roll with it.

  At its head, a tide here can rise about as tall as a four-story building, making a visual splash.
• As the Oscars near, there’s still time to see these best performances

  Our film critic loves a great performance. His top acting picks for 2024 include stars who are up for Academy Awards – and those who he argues should be.

Books

• London’s brief, glorious rise in the art world

  In “Rogues & Scholars,” James Stourton tells how postwar London became the center of the global art market.
• A sweet-natured hare wins the heart of a writer

  In “Raising Hare,” Chloe Dalton writes movingly of rescuing a newborn hare and finding herself more open to the wonders of nature.
• Twin sisters compete against one another in Soviet-era ballet world

  Elyse Dunham’s atmospheric novel “Maya & Natasha” portrays Russian dancers caught up in envy and ambition during the Cold War.
• Nellie Bowles of The Free Press punctures pretension left and right

  Once a card-carrying liberal, this writer got fed up with running afoul of the left’s sacred cows.
• Detroit’s attempt to improve its schools was hamstrung by redlining

  Michelle Adams’ “The Containment” argues that unfair housing practices kept Black Detroit residents confined to certain neighborhoods and undercut efforts to integrate schools.