海角大神

A second day of talks聽on the war in Ukraine聽ended yesterday in Abu Dhabi with agreement on a Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange. Discussions among U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian officials lasted only a few hours, underscoring a stalemate over issues such as territorial concessions and postwar security guarantees. Meanwhile, Washington and Moscow agreed to resume high-level military negotiations that were suspended in 2021.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill into law yesterday restricting state and local partnerships with ICE. Other blue states have passed or considered similar bills amid backlash to immigration crackdowns. U.S. officials say 鈥渟anctuary鈥� policies strain federal resources and lead to more street arrests. New laws in GOP-led states like New Hampshire promote cooperation with immigration officers.

An Argentine court asked the U.S. to extradite Nicol谩s Maduro to face trial in Argentina. The ousted Venezuelan leader was captured by U.S. forces last month and is facing federal charges in New York, including narco-terrorism. Argentina accuses Mr. Maduro of crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, Venezuela鈥檚 interim government has begun freeing some political prisoners and has promised to close a prison notorious for torture.

The Trump administration moved to make it easier to fire roughly 50,000 career civil servants. A rule finalized yesterday reclassifies some senior government employees, stripping job protections that had shielded them from being ousted for political reasons. The administration says the change is needed to curb bureaucratic resistance to its agenda. It has been one of President Trump鈥檚 priorities since his first term.

Gunmen attacked two villages in western Nigeria this week, killing more than 160 people after they refused to submit to the rigid form of Islam dictated by a militant group in the area. The attacks underscored the severity and complexity of the security crisis in Nigeria, where armed groups of various affiliations are responsible for thousands of deaths annually. President Trump has labeled the crisis a war on 海角大神s, a categorization some experts reject as overly simplistic.

Canada will scrap its mandate requiring all new cars to be electric by 2035, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced yesterday. Yet Ottawa is introducing new incentives for EV-focused automakers, stricter emissions rules, and the return of consumer rebates 鈥� steps that could push electric vehicles to 90% of new sales by 2040. The move comes as the U.S. government and auto industry retreat from electric vehicles.

NASA鈥檚 Perseverance rover completed its first AI-guided drive on Mars. The car-sized robotic rover traveled more than 1,500 feet over two experimental trips, analyzing images and terrain data to choose the best path. Engineers usually plan routes by hand, using orbiter and rover images, but the distance between Earth and Mars means real-time control is impossible. They say new systems could make future missions more independent and efficient.

鈥� From Monitor writers around the globe

U.S.-Iran talks set for Friday were briefly canceled, then revived at the urging of Arab governments. But the two adversaries鈥� preferred agendas are very different. Amid reciprocal threats, does each side have a realistic grasp of what is at stake?

Despite a president who has boosted digital money, cryptocurrency markets have been roiled in recent months by economic uncertainty and geopolitical strains. The sell-off accelerated this week.聽It is raising questions about theories that bitcoin can be a kind of digital gold, a haven from financial storms.

Pricey offerings aimed at the wealthy 鈥� letting them cut lines, watch events from private boxes, and travel in comfort 鈥� now make up a growing share of consumer spending, as regular Americans cut back. Some say there鈥檚 a social cost to living in such a bifurcated economy.聽

Rising price tags for a ballooning international sporting event have many would-be Olympic hosts rethinking their bids. The International Olympic Committee is testing a new approach in Italy by using existing venues and multiple cities to shoulder the Games.

Olympians aren鈥檛 immune to the political divisions that kindle social media, but they often find a higher purpose through their sport, fostering cooperation, hope, and support.

鈥淭he President鈥檚 Cake鈥� follows a girl, who, along with her friend, and her pet rooster, searches for the ingredients to make a birthday cake for Saddam Hussein. While the movie is fully her story, it also demonstrates how Iraqis survived a brutal and dehumanizing dictatorship.

From its quality cars to its quirky cartoons, Japan has long been a global influencer. On Sunday, after Japanese voters go to the polls to elect a new Parliament, it might become known for something new: an unconventional style of leadership.聽

In fact, the election called by Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae 鈥� just months after being given the office by the ruling party 鈥� is seen by this former drummer in a heavy-metal band as a referendum on her leadership more than on her policies.

鈥淐an you entrust the management of the nation to Sanae Takaichi?鈥� she asked last month in announcing the election. 鈥淚 ask the people directly to judge.鈥�

Ms. Takaichi has been riding high in the polls, notably among Japan鈥檚 young adults who are taken by the truth-telling authenticity, selfless vulnerability, and relatable humor of the country鈥檚 first female prime minister.

鈥淪he communicates in a bright, positive way and I think that energy resonates with young people,鈥� Takeo Fujimura, a 24-year-old clerical worker, told Reuters.

In part, the popularity of this former TV anchor relies on what she is not among her party鈥檚 largely male members: a vague-speaking, elderly politician whose father or grandfather was in the Liberal Democratic Party. She was born into an ordinary family and speaks with clarity and simplicity 鈥� giving the conclusion first in her remarks, traits admired among younger Japanese. With about 2.6 million followers on X, she is wildly popular on social media.

She jokes about her 15-minute face masks, writes with a pink pen, and carries a large, black handbag that speaks to her workaholic image. She openly mirrors herself after Britain鈥檚 long-time prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, even in her aspiration to be Japan鈥檚 鈥淚ron Lady.鈥�

Polls indicate her style and popularity can help her party win this election. If so, Japan 鈥� a rising challenger to China鈥檚 aggression and one of the world鈥檚 largest economies 鈥� may be in for years of an identity-changing shift. Already, Ms. Takaichi is the world鈥檚 second-most popular leader (after India鈥檚 Narendra Modi), per one poll.

In a country coming out of 35 years of economic stagnation and facing demographic decline, the Japanese appear ready for a clean break. They know cosmic change may start first with down-to-earth leadership.