海角大神

• Ukraine, Russia in limited ceasefires: Ukraine鈥檚 defense minister said Kyiv had agreed to two ceasefire agreements with Russia. The United States, which announced the agreements March 25, said it had made separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea and to implement a ban on strikes against energy facilities in both countries. 鈥� Reuters
• Consumer confidence drops: U.S. consumer confidence fell for a fourth straight month, and Americans鈥� trust in the future 鈥� based on a Conference Board measure of Americans鈥� short-term expectations for income, business, and jobs 鈥� declined to a 12-year low amid rising concern over tariffs and inflation. 鈥� The Associated Press
  • Related Monitor story: In times of uncertainty, individuals鈥� and businesses鈥� spending often slows, and can cool the economy.
• Executive order on elections: President Trump signed a sweeping executive action Tuesday to require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandate that all ballots be received by Election Day. The order calls on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes. It threatens to pull federal funding from states where election officials don鈥檛 comply.聽
• U.S. intelligence hearings: The Trump administration鈥檚 top intelligence officials stressed to Congress March 25 the threat they say is posed by international criminal gangs, drug cartels, and human smuggling. The hearing came a day after news that plans for military strikes in Yemen were shared in a group chat that included a U.S. journalist. Mike Waltz, Mr. Trump鈥檚 national security adviser, took responsibility during an interview Tuesday night with Fox News. 鈥淲e made a mistake. We鈥檙e moving forward,鈥� he said.
  鈥� AP
• Related Monitor story: At the crossroads of intel and national security, experts warn that rapid changes invite risk.
• Strengthening ties in Asia: With strained U.S. alliances dominating headlines, a quieter shift could sway global geopolitics: Diplomats of China, Japan, and South Korea 鈥� countries historically at odds over issues from wartime grievances to territory to trade 鈥� met in Tokyo March 22 and agreed to speed plans for a summit this year. Proposed focus: advancing economic cooperation and addressing common challenges. All three countries are bracing for potentially stiff new tariffs planned by the Trump administration. Their collaborative response could signal a hedging of America鈥檚 top two Asian allies toward China, their leading trade partner. 鈥� Staff

The lease on a Social Security office on the outskirts of Columbus, Georgia, has been terminated, one of dozens of looming closings of federal offices across the United States. Walk-ins have been curtailed as the agency works to uphold its mission, which includes handling payments for 74 million Americans and issuing Social Security numbers for the nearly 10,000 new citizens born every day. The impact of deep cuts could challenge Americans鈥� views more broadly of what the government not only should do, but also is capable of doing.

Voters in the battleground state of Wisconsin will decide on April 1 whether their state Supreme Court will have a liberal or conservative majority. The technically nonpartisan race has turned into a partisan proxy fight and the first real test of whether Democrats can fight to win back control of Congress in 2026. It鈥檒l also determine who has the power to decide some major issues that stretch far past Wisconsin.

Palestinians flocking back to the Yarmouk refugee camp outside Damascus, Syria, say it鈥檚 more than a physical place. And they are proving that you can return home, whether it鈥檚 livable or not. Yarmouk was founded in 1957 to house refugees driven from northern Palestine by the 1948 Mideast war. Today, much of it is destroyed. But 鈥淥ur situation has changed 100%,鈥� Samer Jalbout says, his smile caked in concrete dust as he shovels debris. 鈥淣ow we can express our identity and our religion. We can relax and just be.鈥�

The world鈥檚 youngest country is no stranger to conflict. South Sudan fought a two-decade war for its independence from Sudan, which it achieved in 2011. Then, just over two years later, a bitter civil war broke out. That conflict ended in 2018 with a wobbly peace deal between the country鈥檚 two top leaders. But now, their power-sharing agreement is fracturing. There is still some space, small though it might be, for optimism. The rainy season is coming, making military maneuvers difficult. That could allow for confidence-building measures on the ground.

鈥淭he Ballad of Wallis Island鈥� is both modest and magical. One of its co-stars, Carey Mulligan, has described its tone as a 鈥済entle euphoria.鈥� That phrase perfectly expresses how this wonderful movie transports us. The Monitor鈥檚 film critic offers his highest rating to the movie, which pulses with humor as it explores the landscape of nostalgia and love.

In countries struggling against a drift toward autocracy, the tone of pro-democracy protests is usually hostile, even rude. Not so in Turkey these days. After a week of street demonstrations since the March 19 detention of the main opposition politician, Turks are offering a new playbook to the world 鈥� largely based on loving one鈥檚 enemies.

From his jail cell Monday, for example, presidential hopeful Ekrem 陌mamo臒lu 鈥� who was arrested on dubious charges of corruption 鈥� sent this message to the young people protesting in Turkish cities against the two-plus-decade rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an:

鈥淪tay away from conflicts. Be good to our security forces, police officers, and people whom I love very much. Let me see you all with smiling faces.鈥�

In a step affirming democracy, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu鈥檚 center-left Republican People鈥檚 Party went ahead with a planned presidential primary Monday while also opening the voting to all citizens. Mr. 陌mamo臒lu was the only candidate 鈥� something President Erdo臒an sought to prevent by the arrest in order to stay in power. Yet the party estimates nearly 15 million adults cast ballots in a country of 86 million people.

The party is also trying not to invite police violence, calling for peaceful action by the protesters. It has moved the demonstrations to different places while keeping municipal services running.

When some protesters hurled curses and insults at President Erdo臒an鈥檚 family, leaders of the Republican People鈥檚 Party called for 鈥渃lean language.鈥� Party leader 脰zg眉r 脰zel said the curses felt like they were 鈥渄irected at my own mother.鈥�

Since his election as Istanbul鈥檚 mayor in 2019, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu has countered the president鈥檚 tactics of polarization and attempts to eliminate rivals with what he calls 鈥渞adical love,鈥� or the antithesis of fear. Besides appealing to Mr. Erdo臒an鈥檚 supporters, he has become famous with his slogan 鈥淓verything will be fine.鈥� With humor and gentleness, he tells Turks that they can bring 鈥渄emocracy out from within us.鈥�

This politics of inclusion is one reason Turkey鈥檚 opposition parties now control the local governments of more than half of the population. Constitutionally barred from running again, President Erdo臒an is tightening his grip on power. Rather than following the tactics of fear, Mr. 陌mamo臒lu says the protests have 鈥渋gnited鈥� a light rising like the sun, binding Turks together 鈥渨ith warmth.鈥�