海角大神

There were death threats, ethics scandals, and polls showing that Americans lost trust in the Supreme Court. But this term, the opinions themselves offered a return 鈥� in several cases 鈥� of more modest rulings and unwillingness to entertain controversial theories.

In the name of security, Israel has fought Hamas again and again in Gaza. Now, the largest Israeli incursion in the West Bank in two decades, targeting popular young militants in Jenin, seems to be paving the way only for more clashes.

One Indigenous community in Brazil, awarded millions over illegal logging, has found that agency over its future is paramount when it comes to reparations.

What does it take to get by in an aging society with a dwindling pension reserve? Our veteran China correspondent went deep into the country鈥檚 rural northwest to find out. She joins our聽鈥淲hy We Wrote This鈥�聽podcast to discuss her reporting.

For Africa鈥檚 elected leaders seeking to extend their hold on power, fiddling with constitutional limits has been one of the most dog-eared tricks in the political playbook. That trick just got a little harder. Earlier this week, Senegalese President Macky Sall announced that he would not circumvent his country鈥檚 laws to seek a third term in elections later this year. 鈥淚 have a code of honor and a sense of historical responsibility that compel me,鈥� he said in an address on July 3. 鈥淪enegal is more than me.鈥�

Mr. Sall鈥檚 deference to a democratic norm comes amid some other bright turns for democracies worldwide. On June 22, Mexico鈥檚 highest court struck down reforms sought by President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador that would have eroded the independence of the agency that oversees national elections and weakened its ability to hold politicians accountable for breaking election laws. Chile, meanwhile, is setting a standard for deliberative constitutional reform that has been shaped and checked by voters six times over the past 30 months.

Africa鈥檚 efforts to entrench democratic practices like rotation in office and peaceful transfer of power may get less notice than deserved. Nearly 40 countries have adopted presidential term limits. Those measures have been subject to almost constant meddling. Since 2000, according to the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, presidential mandates were removed or loosened at least 24 times in 18 countries. But they have been strengthened in at least 23 cases across 19 countries during the same period.

In an African Union declaration last year, members issued a declaration to 鈥渟trongly condemn all forms of unconstitutional changes of government,鈥� including 鈥渆ntrenching power of the incumbent in violation of the national democratic principles.鈥� More than 75% of Africans support presidential term limits, according to Afrobarometer.

Senegal is now showing how democratic aspirations become principles. The country adopted term limits under a new constitution in 2001. That provision survived its first test in 2012, when voters rejected an attempt by then-President Abdoulaye Wade to seek a third term. Mr. Sall won 鈥� and now it is his turn to reaffirm the precedent his election set.

There were doubts in recent months that he would. At least 16 people died in street protests that turned violent last month in part over his refusal to confirm that he would not run again. The delay may have reflected more wisdom than dithering. As Mr. Sall noted, a broad sweep of mayors and members of parliament were pushing him to run again. At stake, observers say, is political control over Senegal鈥檚 lucrative impending oil and gas development deals.

At earlier points in his career, Mr. Sall showed little patience with corruption. His adherence to rules-based governance may now hold another point. 鈥淲e must stand up for democracy and freedom, and uphold the best of our collective and African identity 鈥� an identity that is both rooted in our traditions and open to a world of innovation and opportunity,鈥� the president wrote in an op-ed in Project Syndicate on Friday. For a continent hoping to reshape the global order, credibility abroad starts with honesty at home.