This resignation is as surprising as Ardern's amazing rise to power in 2017. No one can blame her for being exhausted after leading the country during challenging years marked by disaster and death. She will be remembered as a compassionate and confident leader that has been able to renew the once moribund Labor leadership with energy, focus, sense of purpose, and competency.
While Ardern indeed became an icon to the left and inspired women worldwide, her government's limitations have been troublesome at home. Anger first understandably rose from those opposing COVID mandates and rules — soon spreading among New Zealanders and reducing her popularity due to inflation and mounting violence. Her resignation comes at the right time.
It is outrageous that while Russia is raining missiles on Ukraine, Pretoria is confirming joint naval drills with Russia and the no less autocratic and increasingly aggressive China. And while the vast majority of South Africans believe that South Africa should stand by Ukraine, Pretoria's stance is not only immoral but downright foolish, given that the West, not Russia or even China, are South Africa's most important export destinations. Therefore, Pretoria's negligent alienation from its Western allies amounts to an act of political and economic denial that is likely to backfire.
While China and Russia are striving to absorb strategically important South Africa into their vision of a multipolar world order, Pretoria is trying to maintain a balanced position between the emerging BRICS and NATO. Therefore, the upcoming trilateral naval exercises should not be taken as evidence that South Africa is switching sides from NATO and the West to China and Russia. Moreover, South Africa's military doctrine, equipment, and tactics are still heavily dependent on the Western military block, with which it has held more drills with them than with China and Russia. BRICS collaboration doesn't translate to Western alienation.
The tragedy exposes Basra's decades-old woes. The southern Iraqi city was the battleground for most of Baghdad’s Western-imposed wars for years, which affected infrastructure and economic resources. More recently, it has suffered from unemployment, lack of water supply, security vacuums, and regional conflicts. Though its security infrastructure issues aren't the sole fault of the Iraqi leadership, the tenuous governance structure should have been more prepared.
The government couldn't have predicted this chaotic stampede. This is deeply disappointing as Iraq fought against all odds to improve its regional image through sports events like these. A successful end to the Arabian Gulf Cup could have boosted Gulf tourism to Basra and improved current Iraq-Gulf State relations, but unfortunately, the tragedy tarnished the country's image only a few hours before the final ceremony.
These committee assignments show the GOP's true colors, particularly McCarthy's. Appointing Greene, who's been known for spreading anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim messages as well as conspiracy theories, to the Homeland Security Committee is a direct threat to marginalized groups and the nation as a whole. McCarthy has sold his soul and his party to QAnon, and the country will be worse for it.
These appointments send a strong message. Under a Republican watch, the Democrats’ anti-American policies will be overturned, and their poor policies will be investigated. Biden's devastating open borders policy, the woke agenda in schools, reckless spending, and the debt crisis must be all properly explored. This is a win for the GOP and the nation.
These meetings must see Germany — which has a unique historical responsibility to uphold the sovereignty and freedom of Ukraine — consent to the use of Leopard 2 tanks by Kyiv. Ukrainians were some of the greatest victims of Hitler and Stalin, and Berlin now has the opportunity to intercede on Putin's war of terror against an innocent people. The whole of the West will judge the courage of Germany on whether it allows tanks to be sent to Kyiv.
Germany, like much of the West, is fatigued with the special operation in Ukraine, which involves no-one except Kyiv and Moscow. A recent survey indicated that more than 40% of Germans oppose the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukrainian forces, while a third think the German government is spending too much on intervention in the conflict. The West should not bully Berlin into this unnecessary escalation.
There is a 10% chance that Ukraine will receive a security guarantee from another country before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US News college rankings may be the most prominent; however, its lists come with major flaws that can mislead impressionable prospective students and negatively impact their college application process. US News focuses far too much on outcomes and neglects students' quality of life, and the rankings perpetuate perceptions of prestige instead of rewarding universities that cater to their students' needs.
US News rankings have been the gold standard for school comparison and offer a very important and useful resource for students. No one claims the rankings to be gospel, and US News' mission is to provide students with more information as they look to make one of the most important decisions in their adult lives.
There's a 31% chance that there will be fewer than 400 public year colleges in the US by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
This ruling highlights the trauma pregnant footballers must endure safeguarding their basic professional rights. Not just the demands of strict training and playing schedules, but also how soccer clubs' severe lack of support for their expecting players during and after pregnancy are usually incompatible with raising a child. Women players are often pressured to push back having children until retirement. However, Gunnarsdóttir's victory indicates the tides are changing.
Only a few professional soccer players have given birth during their playing careers. There are many reasons players may decide not to have children until retirement, though job security is likely a major factor. Biological differences in strength, speed, and stamina are often used as excuses for pay inequality between men's and women's sports. Until systematic sexism in sports is addressed, such victories will elude female players who face highly precarious playing careers.
As more information comes out, the evidence seems to show that carelessness was the rule rather than the exception on the set of "Rust." Live rounds were found in multiple locations on set, and guns had reportedly gone off by accident before. The prosecution's case against both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed is apparently only growing stronger.
First of all, both Gutierrez-Reed and Baldwin were told by weapons professionals that the gun was not loaded. Secondly, it was Hutchins herself who told Baldwin to point the gun toward her as she was setting the camera up for a scene. This was an incredibly rare tragedy unforeseen by anyone on the film crew, but wrongfully indicting people won't bring Hutchins back and won't provide justice for anyone.
Ousmane Sonko is the victim of a politically-motivated conspiracy planned by the Sall government, which has the clear intent to eliminate him from the 2024 presidential elections. Senegal's justice system is not independent and is once again working to bar those that would work against the establishment in a healthy manner.
Sonko's position as a rival to Pres. Sall has nothing to do with the charges against him. The charges against him — including his brazen threats of retaliation against the victim — must be deeply investigated. The judiciary must work thoroughly to hold him accountable for his wrongdoing and not let politics sway the decision.
The GOP has taken control of the House with a mandate on several issues, first and foremost stopping wasteful government spending, which skyrocketed during the COVID pandemic. Meanwhile, instead of negotiating, Biden is willing to dangle the economy over a cliff. The president should come to the table for the betterment of the country's present and future — when the budget will hopefully be balanced.
There’s nothing to negotiate here. Republicans should raise the ceiling, like they have numerous times under presidents from their own party, and maintain the country’s record of always paying its debts. Spending cuts for the future won’t do anything to affect what the US has already spent. Republicans are playing a dangerous game of roulette with the economy, and Americans are going to feel pain if they don’t relent.