Christian Science Monitor

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in fighting and a release of hostages and prisoners, in an agreement that President Donald Trump says is a step toward peace.

Despite Ukraine being outgunned and out-resourced by a far larger enemy, the increasing dependence on drones by both sides has largely leveled the battlefield. As Russian forces press forward, Ukraine’s drone operators are exacting a high price.

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

A new U.S. approach uses the military to strike small boats presumed to be carrying drugs. Yet one country is busting up cocaine rings by relying on legal enforcement and the integrity of its investigators and prosecutors.

The matriarch of the Cab family knows that its work alone cannot “change the world.” But she remains a passionate beekeeper and advocate for bees.

At the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Portland, Oregon, the Monitor finds security and free speech concerns from law enforcement and protesters.

Negotiating the obstacles to President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza could take time. But with so much riding on a deal, not least a chance at elusive Mideast peace and perhaps a Nobel, he’s likely to show patience.

The president has been openly campaigning for the prize, which will be announced this Friday, since his first term. Recent signs of progress in Ukraine and especially Gaza could give him a legitimate claim.

The Trump administration is using public funds for private investments, saying it bolsters U.S. security and access to key resources. Critics see a risk to the economy’s free-market foundations.

Agreement by the two warring parties in Gaza after months of tense negotiations and near-deals brought widespread relief, raising hopes that a war that was sparked by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack will finally be brought to a close.