At least six people have been killed in a devastating fire that ripped through a hostel in Wellington, New Zealand overnight, with 11 people still unaccounted for. Firefighters responded to the blaze at Loafers Lodge hostel late Monday night, forcing 52 people to flee the four-story building. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed that the number of fatalities is likely to rise, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.
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Harvard University has announced that former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be joining the school later this year. Douglas Elmendorf, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, praised Ardern for her “strong and empathetic political leadership” and said her presence at the school will “generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels of government.” Ardern’s appointment to Harvard is a testament to her leadership and commitment to public service.
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.
Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year according to the U.N.'s World Happiness Report. The report uses data from Gallup to evaluate each country based on physical and mental health, lack of corruption and effective government. Despite the pandemic, the report found that life evaluations from 2020 to 2022 have been “remarkably resilient” and global averages remain in line with the three years preceding the pandemic.
Georgina Beyer, the world's first openly transgender member of Parliament, passed away at the age of 65. She was a tireless advocate for LGBTQ rights and was known for her work in the legalization of civil unions and gay marriage as well as the decriminalization of prostitution. Her death has been met with an outpouring of grief from the LGBTQ community and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who praised her for her courage and commitment to equality.
Meta Platforms (META.O) has launched their new subscription service, Meta Verified, which will allow users to verify their accounts with a government ID and receive a blue badge for extra protection against impersonation. The service will be available for Instagram and Facebook and will initially be available in Australia and New Zealand. The service is part of Meta’s effort to help content creators grow and build communities and protect users from fraudulent accounts.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced a new paid subscription program called "Meta Verified" that will allow users and businesses to verify their accounts with a blue badge. The service will require customers to provide a government ID to avoid fake accounts, and will come with other perks such as extra protection and direct access to customer support. The new system is expected to help users and businesses gain more trust and credibility, as well as reduce the number of fake accounts on the platform.
Phillip Mark Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was taken hostage last week by Indonesian separatist rebels in the restive Papua province. Photos and videos of Mehrtens standing among a group of fighters have been released, and the New Zealand government has expressed its concern and is working with the Indonesian government to ensure his safe release. The Free Papua Movement has been fighting for independence from Indonesia since the 1960s, and the international community is watching the situation closely.