Christian Science Monitor: World

The Vostok 2018 war games in Siberia may look to some like an indicator of an impending Sino-Russian alliance. But experts say the exercises are not as grand as they appear and are less an omen than a word of warning to the West.

With a limited water supply, villagers in northern Pakistan struggled to grow crops, bathe, and drink clean water. But a new mountain pipe drastically increased water supply, yielding greener fields and a higher quality of life.

Finding a common language, perhaps especially in a multilingual environment, is key to social cohesion. And speaking another’s language signals respect and fosters understanding.

“Who knows how you get a horse to trot?” Dale Perkins asks the campers. “You slap the reins!” yells 11-year-old Schneider. “No, that’s only in the movies," says Mr. Perkins.More | Talk | Read It Later | Share

‘Live today to fight tomorrow’ has been the motto of Syrian rebels and their families who, with each successive battlefield loss, have flocked to Idlib for months. An existential moment has arrived.

Northeast Nigeria has been under sustained assault by Islamic militants for many years, and as the Army loses control many are wondering, what happened? The setback comes as President Muhammadu Buhari, who promised to eradicate Boko Haram, seeks a second term.

In the crowded skies over Syria, a Russian reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by Syrian forces. Russians have accused the Israeli military of deliberately using the Russian plane as a cover to dodge the Syrian defenses, straining diplomatic ties between the nations.

The era of political Islam appears to be waning in some regions. But as some Islamists broaden their appeal, it’s an opportunity to increase our understanding of the nuances of Islam in politics.

The practice of talaq in Indian Muslim communities allows men to instantly divorce their wives. India's Hindu-led government is pursuing its punishment of this edict in efforts to, some experts say, broaden their electoral chances ahead of elections in April.

Honduras's supreme court has indefinitely delayed the trial for the murder of Berta Cáceres, a renowned environmental rights activist, after her family's lawyers filed a series of appeals.