Jacinda Ardern, the world's youngest female head of government, gave her farewell speech to Parliament on Wednesday, reflecting on her time in office and the challenges she faced. She thanked her family, her political party, and her supporters for their support and hoped to have demonstrated that "you can be anxious, sensitive, kind and wear your heart on your sleeve" and still be a successful leader. She also hoped her legacy would be showing the world “you can be a nerd, a crier, a hugger” and still be a leader.
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U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in a show of support for the self-ruled island, with a bi-partisan delegation of more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers in attendance. China has responded with threats of reprisals, but the U.S. has made it clear that it will not back down in its support for Taiwan's independence. The meeting is seen as a sign of the U.S.’s commitment to the island.
This article discusses the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia in Beijing, facilitated by China. The agreement, which calls for the countries to study the prospects of resuming flights and facilitating the visa process, is seen as a positive step towards peace and stability in the region. China has been praised for its role in brokering the deal, which is seen as a major diplomatic achievement for the country and a sign of its growing influence in the Middle East.
Over 250 legislators from across the United States have signed a letter condemning the proposed expulsion of three Democratic legislators in Tennessee for protesting gun violence on the state House floor. The letter calls the proposed expulsion an "anti-democratic" attempt to "silence" elected leaders on an important issue and a "clear violation of the First Amendment". It calls on the Tennessee House of Representatives to reconsider its actions and protect the right of its members to speak out on behalf of their constituents.
Gleb Karakulov, a former captain and engineer in Putin's elite security unit, has defected and labeled the Russian leader a "war criminal" for his actions in Ukraine. Karakulov said he had witnessed the "inhumanity and cruelty" of the Russian military in Ukraine, and that he could no longer remain silent. His defection and criticism of Putin is a rare event and is likely to be seen as a major blow to the Russian president's reputation.
Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed a bill into law making it a felony crime for adults to help minors travel to other states for abortion care without parental consent. The law creates a new crime called "abortion trafficking" with a minimum sentence of two years in state prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The bill has been met with criticism from pro-choice advocates, while proponents argue it is necessary to protect minors from making decisions with long-term consequences.
Governor Whitmer signed legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban in Michigan, which was passed by the Democratically controlled state legislature last month. The repeal follows a major victory for abortion rights advocates in neighboring Wisconsin, and is a result of a major ballot drive galvanized by the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court is expected to decide a lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 abortion ban, furthering the protection of women's rights in the region.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of former New York senator and US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, has filed paperwork to run for president in 2024 as a Democrat. He is a controversial figure due to his anti-vaccine views, and his campaign is a long shot. Kennedy Jr. plans to focus on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and economic inequality, and has promised to bring a “new generation of leadership” to the White House.