New Zealand: PM Ardern Resigns
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Thursday that she will step down from her position on Feb. 7 in advance of the national election scheduled for Oct. 14. She reportedly plans to remain a member of Parliament until April.
Citing burnout, she claimed not to have the heart and energy to lead the country anymore after her six "challenging" years in office. Labor members of Parliament will vote for a new leader on Sunday but the contest will go to the party's lay membership if no candidate receives two-thirds support.
The announcement made at her Labor party's annual caucus meeting also comes a month after Ardern was caught on a hot mic insulting opposition leader David Seymour during an exchange in which he asked her to apologize for a mistake she made and fix it.
Left narrative
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.
Right narrative
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.
South Africa Confirms Upcoming Naval Drills With Russia, China
South Africa confirmed on Thursday that it will host a "multilateral maritime exercise" with Russia and China off its coast in February, the second time that such an exercise is held in the presence of the three naval forces.
The 10-day drills dubbed "Operation Mosi," which means "smoke" in the local Tswana language, will take place from Feb. 17 to 27 off the port cities of Durban and Richards Bay on the country's east coast.
A statement from the South African military said the exercises were intended to strengthen "already flourishing relations" with China and Russia. Pretoria, which recently assumed the chairmanship of the BRICS group of nations, has so far declined to condemn Moscow over the Ukraine war.
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
Iraq: Stampede Outside Soccer Stadium Kills 4
On Thursday, the Iraqi government announced that a stampede outside Basra International Stadium killed at least four people and left around 80 critically injured.
Though Basra Gov. Asaad Al Eidani warned people without tickets not to flock to the stadium, videos shared on social media showed a sea of people gathered outside hoping to watch the country host its first international soccer match in four decades.
The stampede reportedly broke out when tens of thousands of fans, arriving from throughout the Gulf region, were told that around 90% of the tickets were sold out ahead of the match.
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
Trump Allies Seated on House Oversight Committee
Multiple right-flank Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), and Scott Perry (R-Pa.), have landed seats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee.
The appointments made by the House Steering Committee must now be voted on by the entire GOP conference, which reportedly usually votes in line with the appointments. This comes after the White House stated it wouldn't comply with GOP oversight requests until the new Congress assumed power.
Many of the appointed representatives are supporters of former Pres. Trump and have been at the center of controversy in the past. Greene has also been appointed to the Homeland Security Committee.
Democratic narrative
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.
Republican narrative
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.
Day 330: Zelenskyy Presses Western Partners for Tanks
At the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the West for continued military support, but bemoaned the lack of tanks from countries including the US, Poland, and Germany. Speaking via video link, he criticized a "lack of specific weaponry," adding: "there are times where we shouldn't hesitate ... when someone says, 'I will give tanks if someone else will also share his tanks.'"
The comments were a veiled criticism of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who on Wednesday dodged a question about whether Germany will commit its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Poland and Finland have previously said they're prepared to send their tanks, but Germany must give permission for them to be re-exported.
A German government source told Reuters that Scholz has repeated the stipulation that Germany will allow its tanks to be sent to Ukraine only if the US agrees to do the same. At time of writing, US Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin and Germany's new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius were yet to resolve differences currently causing Berlin to block the sending of the Leopard 2 to Kyiv.
Anti-Russia narrative
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.
Pro-Russia narrative
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.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that Ukraine will receive a security guarantee from another country before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Harvard Medical School Joins Boycott of US News Rankings
On Tuesday the dean of the faculty of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. George Daley, announced that the school no longer will submit data to US News & World Report's annual "best medical schools" ranking. It's the second graduate school from the university to boycott the list in recent months.
Daley cited concerns about fairness and equity in withdrawing from the US News rankings, saying that "as unintended consequences, rankings create perverse incentives for institutions to report misleading or inaccurate data..."
Last year, deans of prominent law schools announced that their universities would no longer participate in US News' annual law school rankings because of perceived flaws and the view that the rankings did not reflect the values of legal education. High-profile withdrawals prompted US News to make a number of changes in its methodology.
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
Nerd narrative
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.
Soccer Star Wins Landmark Maternity Lawsuit
On Tuesday, French soccer club Olympique Lyonnaisto — popularly known as Lyon — was ordered to pay former player Sara Bjork Gunnarsdóttir €82K ($88K) in unpaid salaries following a landmark FIFA tribunal ruling last May.
According to a statement by the global players' union FIFPro, Lyon must also pay an additional 5% annual interest from Sept. 10, 2022, until the outstanding dues have been cleared. The French club reportedly faces a transfer ban if it fails to pay the compensation within 45 days.
The midfielder termed the verdict "a wake-up call for all clubs" and said her victory sends a strong message that all players who get pregnant have "rights and guarantees." "This is not "just business," Gunnarsdóttir tweeted.
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
'Rust' Shooting: Alec Baldwin Formally Charged with Manslaughter
New Mexico prosecutors have formally charged actor Alec Baldwin and movie set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with involuntary manslaughter for their involvement in the fatal 2021 shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of "Rust."
In documents released Tuesday, prosecutors allege that "Baldwin's deviation from known standards, practice and protocol directly caused the fatal death," adding that "Baldwin was provided only minimal training on firearms, even after Reed requested more."
They add that "According to Reed, Baldwin was distracted and talking on his cell phone...during the training." This comes after Baldwin, in 2021, claimed that he "spent an hour and a half shooting the pistol" and that Gutierrez-Reed gave him "all her safety instructions."
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
Senegal: Opposition Leader to Run for President Despite Rape Trial
In a press conference on Thursday, Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko stated that he will run for president next year despite facing rape charges. He added that he cannot envision that any judge would sentence him to the five years in jail he potentially faces.
This comes after lawyers for both Sonko and his accuser revealed on Wednesday that a judge ordered him to face a criminal court trial for the alleged rape and death threats against an employee of a beauty salon he reportedly went to for a massage.
This trial could potentially threaten his plans to run for president in 2024 and stoke political tensions in the country, with skirmishes having already broken out in March 2021 after Sonko was first summoned and arrested.
Narrative A
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.
Narrative B
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.
US Hits Debt Limit, Could Default in June
The US hit its $31.4T borrowing limit Thursday, forcing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to begin using extraordinary cash management measures in order to postpone default until June.
The limit on how much the US can borrow to pay for its expenses, known as the debt ceiling, pays military members’ salaries and Medicare benefits, among other things, and is set by Congress.
Republicans, who took control of the House in the November midterm elections, are hoping to use a debt ceiling raise as a bargaining chip to get spending cuts from Democratic Pres. Joe Biden. Congress last voted to raise the ceiling in December 2021.
Republican narrative
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.
Democratic narrative
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.