海角大神

President Trump fired Department of Homeland Security head Kristi Noem. She faced mounting blowback, including by some GOP lawmakers. In January, Secretary Noem oversaw immigration enforcement surges that resulted in the killings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. This week she told Congress that Mr. Trump approved a controversial ad campaign, which the president reportedly disputes. She will move to a special envoy role, Mr. Trump said Thursday. Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has been tapped for the DHS top slot. (Watch our app for Sarah Matusek鈥檚 report on Secretary Noem鈥檚 legacy at DHS, what led to her ouster, and how the institution can move forward.)

UN: Recent conflicts have displaced more than 330,000 people. Increased fighting in the Middle East and along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border has forced many families to flee. UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, on Thursday said most people have been forcibly displaced within their own countries. Two days after the U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran began, around 100,000 people had fled the Iranian capital of Tehran.
Our coverage: How Afghanistan-Pakistan relations deteriorated into 鈥榦pen war鈥�

Two dozen Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration. The lawsuit argues that the president鈥檚 new 15% global tariffs overstep presidential power. It is one of several developments since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month struck down the tariffs. This week, a federal appeals court denied a 90-day government delay, and the Trade Court ordered the government to begin refunding more than $130 billion in tariffs. More than 2,000 lawsuits have been filed by companies seeking to recoup money.

Somalia changed its constitution to extend presidential terms. Lawmakers voted Wednesday to extend presidential and parliamentary terms from four years to five, delaying planned elections by a year. Over two thirds of the country鈥檚 329 lawmakers in the parliament and senate voted by acclamation in favor of the change. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said it marked the completion of Somalia鈥檚 constitution, calling it a 鈥渉istoric day.鈥� Opposition leaders pressed for May elections to take place as planned.

Japan ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church. The Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court order to dissolve the controversial religious organization on the grounds of civil wrongdoing. The group, which began in South Korea in the 1950s, has been accused of using coercive fundraising tactics, and came under pointed scrutiny after the assassination of former prime minister Abe Shinzo. The shooter cited Mr. Abe鈥檚 links to the church, which he says bankrupted his family. The group can appeal.
Our coverage: In Japan, Unification Church scandal stains integrity of ruling party

Indonesia will ban social media for children under 16. The government regulation, signed Friday, will mean underage children can no longer have accounts on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. Implementation begins on March 28. Countries such as Denmark, France, and Spain have passed or are considering similar bans. 鈥� The Associated Press
Our coverage: Australia bans social media for teens under 16. Will other countries follow?

鈥� Compiled by Monitor writers around the world

The U.S. and Israeli leaders have made it clear they want regime change in Iran. But the Islamic Republic had prepared for this day, with a political succession plan and a battlefield strategy. The result so far is Iranian confidence, despite the existential threat of the war.

After Iran-backed Hezbollah militants fired rockets into Israel from Lebanon, Israel went on the offensive and took ground in southern Lebanon. Can Israel deal with Hezbollah without alienating a Lebanese government that seems keen on reining in Hezbollah 鈥� and that is not overtly hostile to Israel?听Shoshanna Solomon and Dina Kraft report from Washington and Tel Aviv.听

The war is still widening. Yet no matter how and when it ends, one thing is already clear: the emergence of Israel as a regional superpower intent on redrawing the politics, and the map, of a transformed Middle East.听Columnist Ned Temko offers an analysis听of Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 political calculus and some possible outcomes.听

The Iran conflict is generating strong criticism from many prominent MAGA commentators, who听say听President Donald Trump听has lost touch with what his voters really want. As the Republican Party starts looking toward a post-Trump era, it has the potential to reshape the MAGA coalition.

The U.S. is blocking oil shipments to Cuba, where people are struggling to make ends meet. Ordinary Cubans are also defying the risks that come with criticizing their government and asking for political change.

For decades, Republicans have embraced 海角大神ity and faith-based leadership. A new crop of Democrats is now doing the same.

Ukraine鈥檚 ability to fend off more than four years of relentless military assaults by Russia has forged a resolute unity and focus among its people. At the same time, its example in surviving the crucible of war has helped steel the geopolitical resolve of the European Union and led the 27-nation bloc to reassert its founding values.

The war has reminded Europeans 鈥渙f what unites them,鈥� stated Pawel Zerka of the European Council on Foreign Relations. 鈥淭he values of democracy, rule of law, human rights, civil society, and freedom went from abstract terms to something very tangible,鈥� he wrote soon after the war began in 2022.

Since the fourth anniversary on Feb. 24, Europe鈥檚 declarations of support for Ukraine 鈥� and for European unity 鈥� have grown even stronger. 鈥淭here is no moral ambiguity,鈥� France鈥檚 EU commissioner wrote in Le Monde. Aiding Ukraine is both 鈥渁n act of solidarity鈥� and 鈥渁n investment in building a stronger, safer and more united Europe.鈥�

One big divide in Europe might be on the mend. Nearly a decade after Brexit, when the United Kingdom left the EU, it has moved closer to the bloc on migration, trade, and defense. 鈥淚t is time to reset the [EU-U.K.] partnership ... to respond to today鈥檚 realities,鈥� European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said in a speech.

Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine 鈥渨as meant to weaken our alliance,鈥� she observed. Instead, she pointed out, Europe鈥檚 鈥渄efense industry has been revitalized鈥� and its bureaucracy 鈥渕ade faster,鈥� and it has 鈥渕obilized some 鈧�200 billion [$231 billion] in support for Ukraine.鈥�

In an interesting twist, the narrative is no longer just about the West coming to Ukraine鈥檚 aid. 鈥淓uropean nations are snapping up Ukrainian front-line know-how [to] ... rewire themselves for a transformed battlefield,鈥� stated The Wall Street Journal. The United States, too, is weighing purchases of Ukrainian-made interceptors to use against Iranian drones.

Perhaps the EU鈥檚 boldest move has been to fast-track Ukraine for membership in the bloc, which is seen as a prelude to possibly giving security guarantees against Russian aggression. While some EU members worry about Ukraine as an economic partner, they see the value of enlarging the EU tent. The situation recalls the words of Britain鈥檚 legendary World War II leader, Winston Churchill, from 80 years ago.

In a March 5, 1946, speech in Missouri, Mr. Churchill warned about the 鈥渋ron curtain鈥� that Soviet Russia, as he called it, was drawing across Eastern Europe. 鈥淭he safety of the world requires a new unity in Europe,鈥� he said that day.

Later that same year, he went further: The task is 鈥渢o recreate the European family,鈥� he said, 鈥渢o provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, safety and freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe.鈥� Little did he realize how a former Soviet republic, Ukraine, would someday nudge the continent to fortify its safety and freedom.

Editor鈥檚 note: A correction has been made to the quote from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who indicated that Europe鈥檚 cumulative support for Ukraine to date is nearly 鈧�200 billion. The earlier mentioned 鈧�90 billion figure referred only to the most recent loan amount.