New Zealand Apologizes to 200K Victims of Abuse in State Care
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday made a "formal and unreserved" apology in parliament to over 200K people who suffered "horrific" abuse and neglect in state and faith-based care institutions between 1950 and 2019.
Luxon's apology comes after a Royal Commission of Inquiry in July found that nearly a third of some 600K children and adults in New Zealand's state, foster, and church care endured physical, sexual, verbal, and psychological abuse for over 70 years.
Establishment-critical narrative
A parliamentary apology falls drastically short for survivors of abuse. True accountability demands a shift beyond symbolic gestures. The government's words should be paired with immediate, systemic reforms, direct survivor engagement, and financial redress. Survivors need sustained protections, oversight, and tangible policy changes to prevent future harm, not mere statements. Apologies alone can't restore their dignity — only a profound and actionable commitment to justice will.
Pro-establishment narrative
Luxon's apology marked a decisive step forward, symbolizing New Zealand's commitment to course correction after the shocking Abuse in Care report. This act is a public acknowledgment of past failures and a pledge to honor survivors with actionable change. While words alone can't heal, Luxon's address represents a hopeful beginning towards genuine reform — reinforcing the nation's resolve to prioritize human rights, accountability, and compassion in shaping the future.
Trump Makes Major Selections for Security, Foreign Policy Posts
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump has reportedly chosen Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) to be his national security advisor, an important role tasked with updating the president on national security concerns and coordinating with government agencies.
Waltz, 50, served 27 years in the Army, including as a Green Beret and National Guard Colonel. After serving several tours in the Middle East and Africa, he was elected to Congress in 2018, where he's been a vocal critic of China.
Republican narrative
Americans voted for Trump because they want their country to be strong at home and abroad, and Trump is acknowledging that mandate. With Rubio and Waltz protecting the US against China, and Stephen Miller and Tom Homan cracking down on Biden's open border, the country is massively upgrading its national security. Trump is putting America first across the board.
Democratic narrative
Donald Trump wasn't lying when he promised to rule with force. He's appointed the most hardline officials to conduct deportation schemes and similarly hawkish politicians to run foreign relations. The US is about to lose any semblance of decency as Trump targets immigrants at home and the most vulnerable abroad.
Establishment-critical narrative
If anyone expected Trump to keep war hawks and neocons out of his new government, they would be disappointed. With Mike Waltz as his national security advisor, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, and Elise Stefanik as UN Ambassador, Americans can expect the conflicts in the Middle East to continue over the next four years.
Nerd narrative
If there is an American AUMF or declaration of war against Iran before 2030, there is a 20% chance the US will control Tehran within one year, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK: COVID Critic Jailed for Inciting Violence
COVID critic Patrick Ruane was on Monday sentenced to five years in prison for terrorism offenses, after using social media to encourage violence against England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, among others, during the COVID pandemic.
Referring to Whitty, Ruane had said that "whacking" the back of his skull "would turn said target into a vegetable for the rest of its life." About former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he stated that there was an Irish Republican Army "play book" that "nearly took out Thatcher."
Pro-establishment narrative
Since the COVID pandemic, the UK has seen an alarming rise in harmful conspiracy theories, including those that encouraged the horrific violence in Southport over the summer. To mitigate this dangerous trend, the UK government must better regulate social media, raise public awareness through education, and provide greater support for marginalized individuals vulnerable to this type of content.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the establishment is quick to silence anyone who questions the official line concerning COVID, a host of legitimate questions about its origins and purpose, and the potential relationship between the vaccines and excess mortality rates, remain. A large segment of the public continues to blindly follow the government narrative, much to the disadvantage of the pursuit of answers.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the World Health Organization will announce that the COVID-19 pandemic has ended by October 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
50K Russian, North Korean Troops Prepare to Mount Offensive in Kursk Region
Russia has amassed some 50K troops, including at least 10K North Korean soldiers that recently arrived in the country, in an effort to dislodge Ukraine's forces from Russia's Kursk region.
It comes as state media in both Russia and North Korea reported that their respective leaders — Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un — have in recent days both signed into law a mutual-defense treaty that vows to defend one another in the case of an attack.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
By fighting these 50K troops on Russian territory, Ukrainian soldiers are keeping enemy forces from the frontlines in Ukraine. The nation is thankful to those serving for helping keep the country safe.
Pro-establishment narrative
With the assistance of North Korea, Russia has been able to leverage 50K troops in Kursk without sacrificing its presence in eastern Ukraine, making US officials pessimistic about Ukraine's long-term prospects. These are dangerous times for Ukraine, and it might be wise to start considering peace talks.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance there will be a bilateral cease-fire or peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine by December 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Bitcoin Passes $93K in Post-Trump Victory Boom
After reaching a record high of more than $89K on Tuesday, which marked a 30% gain since the Nov. 5 US election, the price of one Bitcoin jumped again on Wednesday to $93K. By Thursday morning, it fell back to around $89.2K.
The recent Bitcoin surge began with a 9% jump following the Nov. 6 early morning election results showing Pres.-elect Donald Trump's victory. The cryptocurrency has risen 38% in ten days, with analysts expecting its value to reach $100K.
Republican narrative
Crypto is the currency of freedom-loving Americans, which is why the market has been on Team Trump for months. While Trump uses crypto himself and wants to empower the rest of the country to do so, Harris embodied a left-wing establishment that hates the idea of decentralized currency. The Federal Reserve won't be able to ruin this financial revolution so long as Trump is in charge.
Democratic narrative
Trump's approach to the entire economy is to prioritize short-term gains over long-term stability. Just as his plans to cut taxes and reduce regulations will increase deficits, fuel inflation, and leave everyday consumers at the mercy of corporations, his lax stance on crypto risks opening the door for speculative bubbles and scams. Trump cares about his corporate buddies, not the average American worker.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that the highest value 1 bitcoin will ever reach by 2030 is $199K, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Picks Lee Zeldin to Lead the EPA
In what was his second cabinet appointment for his upcoming administration, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York Representative Lee Zeldin, 44, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Zeldin, who served four terms in Congress representing Long Island, doesn't support the Paris climate agreement and has a lifetime score of 14% from the League of Conservation Voters. He also questioned the severity of global warming in 2014.
Republican narrative
Despite the smear campaigns from the other side, Lee Zeldin cares deeply about the environment, particularly regarding farmland and the threat it faces from China. Zeldin also won't be starting from scratch, as the previous Trump administration achieved tremendous results, from removing lead and copper from the water system to the largest carbon reduction of any country in 2019. Zeldin's EPA will focus on protecting the environment without crushing the economy.
Democratic narrative
There is no need to lie about Zeldin's threat to the environment when he makes comments about "energy dominance." As the US is already burning record amounts of fossil fuels, his anti-regulation mindset will put the country, and thus the world, on an exponentially regressive track away from saving the planet. You can't promise to produce clean water and air while simultaneously drilling unlimited oil and gas and igniting extreme droughts.
Nerd narrative
There's an 85% chance that if a Republican wins the 2024 US presidential election, the US will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement before 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
China: 35 Killed After Car Rams into Crowd at Sports Center
At least 35 people were killed and 43 injured after a car rammed into a crowd outside a sports center in China's southern Zhuhai city on Monday.
According to the Zhuhai police, the 62-year-old suspect was detained as he attempted to flee the scene and is currently hospitalized and in a coma following self-inflicted knife wounds.
Pro-China narrative
Though this incident is extremely vicious, violent crime is rare in China. It appears that this particular driver was resentful over a divorce settlement. However, he is still receiving medical treatment and will be questioned by the police and severely punished by the law once he is fit to undergo interrogation.
Anti-China narrative
Violent crime isn't as rare as China would have us believe. Despite strict laws, there have been several such attacks in recent months, which Beijing has been quick to censor. This latest incident took place amid heightened security and highlights the PRC's failure to screen potential attackers and resolve conflicts and disputes promptly.
Mauritius: Opposition Leader Appointed Prime Minister After Election Win
Navin Ramgoolam, the leader of the opposition Alliance du Changement coalition, was appointed prime minister of Mauritius on Tuesday.
The son of the country's first post-independence leader will be in office for his fourth five-year term as he previously served as prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and between 2005 and 2014. A date for his swearing-in ceremony has yet to be set.
Narrative A
During his tenure as prime minister, Jugnauth was able to maintain strong economic management and provide a secure environment for investors while securing a historic victory in reclaiming the Chagos Islands from the UK. Now that the country has chosen another team, the prime minister respects this decision.
Narrative B
Though the economy had rebounded year-on-year, Jugnauth had betrayed public trust through government-sanctioned illegal surveillance of citizens, opposition members, and journalists — demonstrating authoritarian behavior. Now that he's no longer in power, he must face the consequences of suppressing information and dissent.
23andMe to Slash 40% of Staff
US genetic testing company 23andMe announced that it's laying off 40% of its staff, or about 200 employees, as well as shutting down its drug development business.
This comes as the company, which said the layoffs will impose a one-time $12M cost but save $35M, has reportedly seen its stock price drop more than 70% this year.
Narrative A
While 23andMe was genuine in its pursuit to democratize the health care industry, it stretched itself too thin by attempting multiple unproven businesses simultaneously. By shifting to genetic testing without retaining a strong ancestry-focused service, it was left vulnerable and ultimately killed by federal regulation. 23andMe shouldn't have put all of its eggs into one basket without knowing they would hatch.
Narrative B
23andMe was ethically compromised from the beginning, as it was funneling untold amounts of genetic information into a Google database. Its claim that all data collection was consensual was also false, as the company used its research and development clause to collect everyone's genetic material with or without permission. Even those who supported the health care democratization aspect of the company were concerned about its relationship with Big Tech.
Nerd narrative
There is a 73% chance that there will be an adversarial use of consumer genomic data before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.