Christian Science Monitor | World

Scotland-England split? Some Scots say take the pound, leave the crown

Scotland will vote in 2014 whether to split off from England and the rest of the United Kingdom. Scottish nationalists argue that Scotland would be better off alone.

Pope defends atheists: Atheists who do good are good, says Pope Francis

Pope Francis said yesterday that atheists (like everyone) have been redeemed by Christ Jesus, and that their goodness is determined by their acts, not their faith (or atheistic lack thereof).

'Colored' comment: Golf CEO compounds insults to Tiger Woods

'Colored' comment: European Tour CEO George O'Grady has apologized for saying, 'Most of Sergio's friends are colored,' after golfer Sergio Garcia was criticized for making a racist joke about Tiger Woods.

Japan's weak currency means tourism

The number of tourists coming to Japan dropped dramatically after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. But between the weak currency and fading memories of the disaster, tourism saw a record high last month.

For India, worries of another 1989 moment in the region

With NATO pulling out of Afghanistan in 2014, foreign policymakers in New Delhi are concerned that Pakistan may refocus militants on Kashmir.

With G8 leaders on the way, Northern Ireland ramps up security

Amid a perceived triple threat of left-wing protestors, Islamist terrorists, and dissident republican paramilitaries, Northern Ireland is doubling its police force and preparing drones for the summit.

Obama rhetorically ends the 'war on terror'

... while vowing it will go on by other means.

Defying naysayers on all sides, Kerry keeps pushing Israelis, Palestinians to table

Conventional wisdom is that the Israelis and Palestinians are too far apart to even begin talks, but Secretary of State John Kerry appeared undaunted on his fourth visit in as many months.

Did similar detours bring terrorism to streets of Boston and London?

The early indications point to both sets of killers being second generation immigrants, who either through their social networks or online media came to militant Al Qaeda-style Islam later in life.

80-year-old Japanese man conquers Mount Everest

Yuichiro Miura became the oldest man to summit Mt. Everest. It was his third time. He reached the summit when he was 70 and 75, too. An 81-year-old Nepalese man plans to climb the summit next week.

With youth pounding at kingdom's gates, Saudi Arabia begins religious police reform

Saudi Arabia's religious police force is infamous for patrolling streets and shopping malls to enforce Islamic conduct. With an eye to restless youth, the kingdom's aging king has ordered reform.

Gerard Depardieu goes to Chechnya to film next movie

Depardieu and actress Liz Hurley are paying a visit to Chechnya to make a movie, in what appears to be an effort to remake the former war zone's international image.

London murder highlights 'lone wolf' terrorist concerns

Police are treating the murder of a soldier in broad daylight as terrorism-related, and some British officials are calling for a crackdown on 'hate preachers' who may have inspired the attackers.

London street slayer references British wars, not Nigerian insurgency

Reports say the suspects in yesterday's butchering of a British soldier have Nigerian ancestry. However, they appeared to be driven by UK involvement in other Muslim nations.

Changing the world, McDonald's style: 5 great social franchises

Social franchises – businesses with a charitable purpose – develop and market cheap, innovative products that solve a social problem. Here are five examples.

London attack: Motivated by radical Islam?

Video footage and eye witness accounts from the scene of a brutal murder in London on Wednesday seem to indicate that the attackers may have been politically motivated. Counterterrorism officers are leading the investigation. Two men have been arrested.

Iraqi government still using bomb detectors it knows are faulty

James McCormick was sentenced in Britain weeks ago for selling the same fake bomb detectors in Iraq during the war.

Mais non! French in uproar over English in the classroom.

The French Parliament is considering a new bill that would allow university science classes to be taught in English. Politicians and academics across the spectrum are upset.

Japan no longer sanctions child abduction in mixed-marriage cases

Tokyo lawmakers unanimously approve Hague convention to settle child custody in broken international marriages. But Japanese domestic laws and legal loopholes still need to change, say scholars.

London attack: Broadcasters run video of man purporting to be killer (+video)

London attack: One man was found dead and two men were shot by police and taken to separate London hospitals, Commander Simon Letchford said.