The Christian Science Monitor | All stories https://www.csmonitor.com The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters. en-us Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 13:25:52 EDT 300 The Christian Science Monitor | All stories https://www.csmonitor.com/extension/csm_base/design/csm_design/images/csmlogo_250x30.png https://www.csmonitor.com Pakistan hosts another round of peace talks between the U.S. and Iran https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0425/Iran-Pakistan-U.S.-Middle-East-Hormuz-Strait?icid=rss 0c023dd75749c88bbe6b9ed8846560fc U.S. envoys headed to Pakistan on Saturday for another round of indirect talks with Iran. A ceasefire in the Middle East has mostly held, but shipping in the Strait of Hormuz is still blocked, which is being felt across the global economy. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 10:06:00 -0400 Saad Sayeed, Ariba Shahid and Steve Holland What’s ethical for undercover operatives? Anti-hate group entered gray zones. https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2026/0425/southern-poverty-law-center-informants?icid=rss 4fb82a776b34307c91689a3c767bf8eb The Trump administration’s charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center highlight concerns about how informants operate within extremist groups. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:16 -0400 Patrik Jonsson Already pressured by Trump, Harvard faces grad student workers strike https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0425/harvard-student-strike-trump?icid=rss fa5a66a7a44e5919f9a7407a402648aa Over 4,000 graduate students, who teach classes, grade papers, and conduct research went on strike at Harvard on Tuesday morning. They are demanding higher wages and more protections. Sat, 25 Apr 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Cameron Pugh Amid extended ceasefire, Lebanon assesses high cost of Israel-Hezbollah war https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0424/israel-lebanon-ceasefire-disarming-hezbollah-iran-war?icid=rss b0866090fc410a542d4b081614605027 In this latest round of Israel-Hezbollah fighting, Lebanese civilians have once again paid a heavy price. Even as the ceasefire in Lebanon is extended, neither combatant is showing signs of backing down. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:01:00 -0400 Scott Peterson As Japan shifts away from postwar pacifism, Takaichi eyes constitutional reform https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2026/0424/Japan-Takaichi-pacifist-constitution-reform?icid=rss 0e919147a84df44c92a5cd306dc28bb4 Constitutional reform is something Japan’s ruling party has long debated, but never been able to accomplish. Now, the country’s prime minister is using her popularity to push the matter forward. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:31:21 -0400 Ann Scott Tyson Scandinavia's U-turn on book reading https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0424/Scandinavia-s-U-turn-on-book-reading?icid=rss d3b23b57cd6a7d7ccfde956e29a63389 The former pioneers of screen-mediated learning in schools shift back to books to better cultivate purpose and judgment in young people. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:50:53 -0400 the Monitor's Editorial Board In Gaza, rare elections put hope, and talk of Palestinian unity, on the ballot https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2026/0424/gaza-elections-hamas-palestinian-unity-democracy?icid=rss 06a252a4ae9401b049ed9d68e555191a Municipal elections are being held Saturday in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, coinciding with voting in the West Bank. It’s the first time since 2005 that Gazans are able to vote. Water and sanitation are on the ballot, as is, symbolically, Palestinian national unity. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:06:47 -0400 Ghada Abdulfattah Taylor Luck Fix my watch, tell me a story https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Home-Forum/2026/0424/Fix-my-watch-tell-me-a-story?icid=rss 554162bd9c4346a844c373abecb5af89 Who even has cause to utter the word “watchmaker” anymore? I, for one, haven’t worn a watch in many, many years. Nor do most of the people I know. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:09:16 -0400 Robert Klose Trump administration reclassifies marijuana, as public polls give mixed signals https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2026/0424/marijuana-trump-reclassification-cannabis?icid=rss db0b571d3e31b41224d1b07f160caf37 Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana as a less-dangerous drug, following President Donald Trump’s call for a more “common sense” policy. But many Americans have been growing more skeptical of the drug’s effects on users and on U.S. society. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:10 -0400 Stephen Humphries A nuclear deal could end the Iran war. What was Obama’s version Trump rejected? https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2026/0423/iran-war-trump-obama-jcpoa-nuclear-deal?icid=rss ec246215056fe9312346e70103606779 In the absence of renewed talks, the U.S. and Iran are wrangling over the Strait of Hormuz. But the main dispute between the two is still Iran’s nuclear program. Here’s a look at the 2015 JCPOA. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:52:00 -0400 Howard LaFranchi