Wednesday, August 5, 2026 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

The U.S. intervened in Japan to help steady the yen. A move not taken since the height of the Asian financial crisis, it was motivated as much by American self-interest as it was by a desire to help out a close ally. Also: today’s stories, including how two Republican senators temporarily withheld approval of President Trump's attorney general nominee over concerns with an administration policy; the big expectations many Syrians have of their new lawmakers, as their country’s Parliament reconvenes with limited amount of leverage over government decisions; and how China’s ancient tradition requiring a month of special postpartum care is evolving and slowly migrating to the West. Join the Monitor's Chris Sherman for today's news.