Australia repeals controversial carbon tax. Will others follow?
Australia is the first developed country to repeal legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, which the government said was too costly for businesses and consumers.
Christian Science Monitor
The Christian Science Monitor is an award-winning international news organization that covers news and feature stories from every corner of the globe. Founded in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the Monitor publishes news around-the-clock on the Web at CSMonitor.com.
Malaysian plane downing: Will it change course of Ukraine conflict?
It would seem to be a game-changer, but security analysts hold out little expectation that will be the case. A wild card? Germany.
California drought hits home: reckless lawn-watering could cost $500
The California water board has passed new restrictions to rein in water use amid the worst drought in state history.
Child migrants 101: What does it take to win US asylum?
It’s not enough to come from a dangerous place. Child migrants seeking to stay in the US must show they face persecution due to a specific group affiliation.
Amid media tightening, Thailand scoops up Facebook data
A fake Facebook application run by the Thai government tricked hundreds into disclosing personal information. It comes as Thailand’s military rulers increase media censorship.
Indiana marriage law is discriminatory, US court says in ruling for humanists
In a significant victory for nonreligious Americans, the appeals court ordered Indiana to allow secular humanists to officiate at weddings.
Why is child abuse suddenly in the spotlight in Britain?
Two government inquiries of decades-old abuses by powerful individuals are underway — spurred by the confluence of a high-profile case, police investigations, and media scrutiny.
Buffett, Gates, and Adelson: Billionaires prod Congress on immigration reform
Billionaires Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Sheldon Adelson have taken Congress to task for failure to enact immigration reform.
Captain Phillips strikes back: Off Horn of Africa, pirates go bye-bye
Somali pirates in 2011 attacked 237 boats in the oceans around northeast Africa. In 2014 there have been seven attacks, all failed.
Israel vs. Hamas: The conflict by the numbers
The exchange of Hamas rockets and Israeli missiles began on July 8. A look at a few telling metrics, which only begin to shed light on the conflict.
Russia takes aim at dissent, media criticism … and high heels?
Russia’s parliament has been in overdrive in recent weeks, working on legislation targeting free speech, women’s heels, and the use of foreign words like “hamburger.”
Videotaped beating of woman in L.A.: Is it Rodney King all over again?
The videotaped beating of a homeless African-American woman is reopening the L.A. race-relations dialogue initiated 23 years ago.
Why some Brazilians see a silver lining in epic World Cup loss
Brazil’s 7-1 loss to Germany could reignite tough debate over huge government spending on the World Cup. Some say that’s a good thing.
Rand Paul-Cory Booker bromance: how two political opposites attracted
Sen. Rand Paul, a tea partyer, and Cory Booker, a Northeast liberal, show where the far left and far right can agree.
How Bloomberg’s gun control group stacks up against NRA
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants his Everytown for Gun Safety to surpass the political influence of the NRA.
Confidence in the presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court all plummets
Gallup finds that Americans’ confidence in all three branches of the US government has fallen, reaching record lows for the Supreme Court and Congress, and a six-year low for the presidency.
New Old West: The Colorado restaurant where everyone carries a gun
Big businesses like Target and Starbucks are asking customers to please leave your guns at home. Not so at Shooters Grill in Rifle, Colorado.
Women call Goldman Sachs ‘hostile’ workplace, seek to expand bias suit
Two women suing investment bank Goldman Sachs now want their case to have broader class-action status. They allege a boys’ club office culture. The Wall Street titan says the complaint lacks merit.
‘Rape culture’ on campus: why Harvard’s new policy is ‘really important’
The federal government is leaning on colleges to address sexual assault on campus. Harvard University unveiled a new policy Wednesday, and other colleges are acting, too.
Land of the free? Not so much. Americans’ sense of freedom drops, poll finds
Americans are feeling ‘less satisfied with the freedom to choose what to do with their lives,’ according to a Gallup poll. The trend could be linked to a perceived rise in corruption.