Russia’s Vladimir Putin has vowed to take all of the mostly occupied Donetsk region either through negotiation or militarily. Even as Ukraine resists ceding territory, how is the city of Sloviansk maintaining morale in the face of a forbidding future?

With Europe worried over the threat from Russia, Germany is feeling pressure to lead the way on European defense. Whether Germans themselves are ready to pick up arms is another matter.

In Israeli descriptions of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, use of the term “Jewish terrorism” has been rising. A plurality of Israelis say the attackers have been handled too leniently. But the settlers have strong allies in the government.

In one of the darkest corners of the world, a group of “astro-ambassadors” are making a living off the night sky – and creating a bridge between science and tradition.

President Trump’s recent dehumanizing remarks about Somali Americans play to stereotypes and obscure a complex history.

Some in Congress want to ban members from trading in stocks to counter possible insider trading. At present, the rules mostly cover disclosure issues.

President Trump has expanded the use of pardons in his second term. Critics say some of his clemency grants could amount to a threat to democracy.

The US is on track to record the lowest level of mass killings, including deadly shootings, in two decades. Causes of violence are complex, but prevention programs and community health may play a role in the shift.

With military leaders in the spotlight over drug boat attacks, how do troops know when to follow orders and when to push back?

For nearly a century, U.S. Supreme Court precedent has restricted the president’s ability to fire heads of independent federal agencies. That precedent could soon be overturned.

A recent report confirms that journalists around the world are facing increasing threats. But the “good sense” of citizens and their commitment to freedom of the press can strengthen democratic governance.

Artificial intelligence’s rapid advances have lawmakers racing to manage risks, alongside its business and social benefits. In the U.S., willing state and federal coordination could point to new models.

To address the challenge of violence against women, countries have enacted more than 1,500 laws. As cultural norms shift, upholding universal values and higher views of genuine manhood and womanhood can help cement the progress.

An improbable journey to the 2026 World Cup has lit the spark of possibility for gang-beleaguered Haitians, as have plans for an election and a renewed international peacemaking effort.

A new federal program that will create investment accounts for newborns aims to lessen the fear and ignorance about savings and investments. It can also build a more inclusive economy.

The volatility of some cryptocurrencies can shake up financial markets. There’s a stabler version of crypto, but as people continue to buy in, even that carries some risk to the greater economy.

As the artificial intelligence industry booms, states are passing regulations on the technology even as President Trump says they should stop.

Georgia is a hub of the U.S. timber industry, yet its mills are closing fast despite some help from new tariffs. The industry aims to innovate and develop new products to survive.

Many now see America’s oldest subway system as a model for repairing the country’s crumbling transportation infrastructure – a huge turnaround from two years ago. 

The prospect of rising disruptions – from airports and national parks to programs such as SNAP – might test public patience with the government shutdown.

The EPA proposes to narrow the scope of a key part of the Clean Water Act – a change criticized by environmental groups but welcomed by businesses.

After the deadliest fire in 100 years of U.S. history, houses are rising from the ground once again in Hawaii. But the people of Lahaina are trying to do more than rebuild buildings – they are also trying to rebuild their culture.

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.”

Protesters accuse the Philippine government of misusing billions in climate money. One issue concerns whether such spending reaches the most vulnerable.

Connie Bell's husband died a month before the LA wildfires destroyed her Malibu home. Now, she charts her future, with exhilarating and daunting choices.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Science Fuse, a social enterprise, primarily teaches children in impoverished areas, including the Machar Colony slum area in Karachi.

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.

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.”

Protesters accuse the Philippine government of misusing billions in climate money. One issue concerns whether such spending reaches the most vulnerable.

In a first, China has set an absolute target for cutting emissions. Its pledge also covers greenhouse gas emissions and economic sectors.

Author Danyel Smith praises sportscaster Stuart Scott, the subject of an ESPN documentary. She says without him, broadcasting “wouldn’t be as diverse, wouldn’t be as eloquent, wouldn’t be as full of energy.”

As of Dec. 10, no one under 16 is allowed to access Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms. Other countries are mulling following Australia’s lead.

Some retirees are turning to AI chatbots, including those tailored to their specific faith tradition, for big questions such as the meaning of their life and finding purpose in retirement.

Director Celia Aniskovich’s new documentary, “The Merchants of Joy,” explores the tree-selling families that turn New York’s streets into forests of firs at the holidays.

Director Celia Aniskovich’s new documentary, “The Merchants of Joy,” explores the tree-selling families that turn New York’s streets into forests of firs at the holidays.

From mystery and history to fiction and memoir, these are the titles that captivated Monitor reviewers this year.

“The Boston Way,” examines a group of abolitionists who believed a civil war would not only result in bloodshed but also set back the cause of African American rights. 

Joseph Torigian talks about writing “The Party’s Interests Come First,” which profiles the father of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

In this roundup of cookbooks, authors like Jacques Pépin and Samin Nosrat share how their personal creative processes in the kitchen can have a harmonizing, restorative effect.

“Amity” laces together separate tales of two Black siblings, searching for each other and for their true selves.