👋 Goedemorgen!*
Welcome to Monday, where U.S. and Russian officials meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss possible ceasefire, Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 25 and a quiz question from the City of Lights. Meanwhile, Les Echos’ reporter Anaïs Moutot tells the success story of HomeExchange, the French-powered answer to Airbnb.
[*Flemish]
💡 SPOTLIGHT
The Bolsonaro coup trial is next — riding Trump’s wave of lies and disinformation
On March 25, the first panel of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court will decide if Jair Bolsonaro must face trial for attempting a coup after his electoral defeat in October 2022.
The evidence of his involvement in the coup plot is overwhelming: Bolsonaro met with and pressured military generals, authorized a plan to assassinate his victorious opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and was aware of a coup-themed letter signed by Army officers.
There is also evidence that he helped draft a decree declaring a state of defense — including the arrest of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — and even had the so-called "Green and Yellow Dagger" plan printed inside the presidential palace, where he lived.
According to the Federal Police, Bolsonaro "planned, acted, and had direct and effective control over the execution of the coup."
There is no doubt that the case has enough substance for Bolsonaro to be tried — something unprecedented in Brazil’s history.
But the real battleground where this will play out is not the courts — where documents, witnesses and facts still hold weight. More than ever, it’s the digital arena — online and on social platforms — that defines public opinion.
And in much of that chaotic space in Brazil, Bolsonaro is not a coup plotter — he’s a victim of political persecution.
It’s all part of a grand conspiracy, they say, one that began with the Supreme Court's "illegal" release of Lula, followed by the "rigged" election that stole Bolsonaro’s re-election, and then capped off with Moraes’ "censorship" campaign.
In that world, everything adds up to a case of persecution of an innocent man.
It’s nonsense to claim that Big Tech is actively supporting Bolsonaro, as if Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter/X are explicitly boosting his defense.
What’s happening is actually far more sinister. [...]
— Read the full article by Natalia Viana for Agência Pública, translated from Portuguese by Worldcrunch.
🗞️ FRONT PAGE
Seoul daily Hankyoreh dedicates its front page to the wildfires ravaging the country’s southeast, showing the image of huge mountains criss-crossed by lines of flames. The fires, which started on Friday afternoon, have killed at least four people and forced thousands to evacuate. An estimated 9,000 responders and 120 helicopters were deployed, containing most fires by Monday. Authorities declared a state of emergency as dry, windy conditions fueled the spread.
🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
• U.S., Russia meeting to discuss possible ceasefires. U.S. and Russian officials began talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday to make progress on a broad ceasefire in Ukraine, with Washington pushing for an initial deal to preserve peace in the Black Sea before securing a wider agreement. The Black Sea has not been a main location of hostilities, but represents an economic passage for goods like grain from both Ukraine and Russia. Read more in this analysis translated from German by Worldcrunch: Make No Mistake, Putin Wants The War To Continue
• Israel strikes Gaza overnight, at least 25 dead. Pre-dawn strikes launched by Israel hit a hospital in Gaza and killed at least 25 Palestinians, including a 16-year–old and a Hamas political chief, on Sunday night. The strikes came nearly a week after Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas by resuming hostilities in Gaza. Meanwhile, there are reports of a new push by Egypt to reestablish the ceasefire, which Hamas has “responded positively” to.
• Istanbul mayor chosen as opposition presidential candidate. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Turkey over the weekend to protest the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the leader of the country’s opposition. İmamoğlu was officially nominated as the presidential candidate for the opposition CHP, according to a party spokesperson Monday, following the corruption charges that prosecutors arrested him on.
• South Korean court dismisses impeachment vote. South Korea’s constitutional court reinstated Prime Minister Han Duck Soo to his post at the head of the government after dismissing his impeachment by the country’s parliament. Han was impeached two weeks after taking power in December, which came because of the impeachment of Prime Minister Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law. Yoon is also facing a decision from the court over his impeachment, with supporters and opponents flooding the streets in Seoul over the weekend.
• Greenland’s PM slams U.S. officials’ visit. Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute B. Egede has sharply criticized the planned visit to the island by U.S. officials — including by Second Lady Usha Vance and the national security advisor — calling it “highly aggressive” amid rising tensions between the U.S. and the Danish-controlled territory. President Donald Trump’s proposal to purchase the island faced widespread backlash from residents. In a recent election, Greenlanders reaffirmed their preference for politicians who support maintaining the island’s current status as part of Denmark.
• “Snow White” underwhelms at box office debut. Disney’s live-action Snow White topped the box office but underperformed in sales amid poor reviews and controversy. The film, which earned roughly $87.2 million globally during its opening weekend, was widely described as underwhelming by critics, and was a serious miss in mainland China where it made less than $1 million in its first three days in theaters. The film is one of the lowest-performing remakes that Disney has made in recent years, adding questions to the company’s strategy for remaking previously animated films in live-action.
• News Quiz! Parisians went to the polls Sunday to vote on a referendum that passed by a nearly two-thirds majority. What did Paris residents vote in favor of?
A. Allowing smoking only outside of bars and cafes
B. Requiring people to sing Les Champs-Elysées before renting an apartment
C. Creating more bakeries to reduce the price of baguette
D. Turning 500 streets into pedestrian-only walkways
[Answer below]
#️⃣ BY THE NUMBERS
$27
Japan is tightening regulations to combat overtourism and environmental damage on Mount Fuji, the country’s iconic peak and UNESCO World Heritage site. Starting in 2025, climbers must pay a 4,000 yen fee ($27), book online, and complete a safety class. Authorities are also restricting access at night. These measures reflect Japan’s broader push to balance tourism revenue with sustainability amid growing concerns over overcrowding and safety.
📹 ON THIS DAY VIDEO — 4 HISTORY-MAKING EVENTS, IN 57 SECONDS
➡️ Watch the video: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
📰 IN OTHER NEWS
🇷🇺 The Russian president has no problem talking about negotiations and peace treaties. But he's a master decoy artist. Putin has built his power on conflict, and now he needs war to hold on to it.
— DIE ZEIT
🛐 Ramadan shifts our focus from production to minimalism. It reminds us that we are not created to be productive all year long, that we are allowed to slow down, to be selective, and to prioritize our health and families — unlike the corporate world.
— DARAJ
🏠 With an 80% market share in the house-swap space, and explosive growth, HomeExchange, bought and reinvented by two Frenchmen, has become the undisputed champion of house swapping. Will it undercut Airbnb’s hold on the market?
—LES ECHOS
📸 PHOTO DU JOUR
Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after a five-week hospitalization for double pneumonia, appearing frail but determined. Before heading home, the 88-year-old made a surprise stop at St. Mary Major basilica, leaving flowers for a revered Madonna icon. — Photo: Evandro Inetti/ZUMA
📣 VERBATIM
“We will not let that happen.”
— Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney called for snap elections to take place on April 28, framing the vote as a fight for Canada’s sovereignty, after he met with governor general Mary Simon on Sunday. With U.S. tariffs looming, Justin Trudeau’s successor vowed a strong response, saying of Donald Trump: “He wants to break us, so America can own us. We will not let that happen. We’re over the shock of the betrayal, but we can never forget the lessons. We have to look out for ourselves. We have to look out for each other.” Carney’s decision comes as the Liberals experience an unprecedented swing in the polls that has now put them ahead of the Conservatives, with some projecting the party has enough support nationally to form a majority government.
✍️ Newsletter by Jacob Shropshire & Cecilia Laurent Monpetit
Let us know what’s happening in your corner of the world!
Quiz Answer: D. Parisians voted overwhelmingly in favor of a referendum that would turn 500 streets into pedestrian-only walkways in the French capital. With 66% in favor, residents approved the effort to reduce car usage and improve air quality, getting rid of more than 10,000 parking spaces in the process. Once completed, the city will have more than 700 of these so-called “green lung” streets, making up more than a tenth of the streets in the city.