Key takeaways: The Biden administration is preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The tanks will be paid for through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.…
Posts published in “World”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation after more than five years in office. Her final act as leader was to join Education Minister Chris Hipkins at the Rātana meeting grounds, and her departure has been met with sadness from many New Zealanders. Ardern's deputy, Grant Robertson, will serve as acting Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen in a leadership election on February 18th.
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov has resigned following allegations of corruption related to the procurement of food supplies for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has opened an investigation into the allegations, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised to launch a staff shake-up and root out corruption in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office, has asked to be relieved of his duties in response to the allegations.
Germany has announced a significant shift in policy, committing to spending 100 billion euros to modernize its military capacity. This comes as Poland pushes for Berlin to allow the transfer of German-built Leopard tanks to Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has welcomed the move, indicating that Berlin won't seek to stop the transfer. This shift in policy reflects a growing concern among European leaders about national security.
On Monday, a nationwide blackout left hospitals, schools, factories, and tens of millions of homes without power across Pakistan. The federal energy minister attributed the outage to a surge that knocked out the country's electricity grid, and the blackout occurred as the government attempts to conserve fuel supplies. The blackout caused disruption to everyday life, with vendors using backup lights at their stalls in markets and workers waiting for electricity outside their workshops.
Poland is pushing for Germany to grant permission to supply Ukraine with German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks. Poland is building a coalition of nations ready to send the tanks, but needs Germany's consent to send them to a non-NATO country. The Leopard 2 is one of the most advanced main battle tanks in the world, and Poland is advocating for the European Union to provide Ukraine with the necessary military aid.
Key takeaways: Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has indicated that the German government will not object if Poland decides to send Leopard 2 battle tanks…
Peru's ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has been closed indefinitely due to security concerns amid ongoing anti-government protests, which have resulted in 46 deaths and 58 injuries nationwide. The protests are calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, and the government has responded by declaring a state of emergency and deploying the military to the streets. The closure of Machu Picchu is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.