Tuesday Briefing – New York Times

Trudeau will resign as Prime Minister

Justin Trudeau, who served as Prime Minister of Canada for nearly a decade, He said he would step down In the coming months, bowing to angry voters at a time of uncertain economic prospects and political infighting. He added that he decided to suspend Parliament until March 24.

The announcement left Canada in a state of political flux just as the incoming Trump administration pledged to impose punitive tariffs on Canadian imports. Trudeau’s replacement will be chosen through a nationwide Liberal Party election.

He is the latest leader in the West to be pushed aside by an anti-incumbency mood, a backlash against immigration and anger at the lingering effects of rising inflation during the coronavirus pandemic. Although inflation in Canada has fallen to less than 2%, unemployment remains high, exceeding 6%.

Quoted: “It’s time to reset,” Trudeau said, adding: “I really feel that removing the controversy over my ongoing leadership is an opportunity to lower the temperature.”

In numbers: According to an Ipsos poll published last month, 73 per cent of Canadians – including 43 per cent of Liberal voters – believe he should step down as party leader.

The United States has eased some restrictions on aid to Syria

Weeks after rebel forces overthrew the Assad family’s 50-year-long authoritarian grip on the country, The Biden administration has lifted some restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria, but kept comprehensive sanctions in place.

The Treasury Department’s decision, which lasts for six months, allows humanitarian organizations to operate more freely without conflicting with US sanctions, including helping to provide basic services such as electricity, power, water and sanitation.

Sanctions remain one of the most pressing concerns for the new Syrian administration as it tries to chart a way forward, and Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the rebel coalition that ousted the government, has called on the United States to begin easing restrictions.

background: During the civil war in Syria, the United States and its allies routinely sought to exert economic pressure on ousted President Bashar al-Assad, his inner circle, and the country’s economy more generally. Washington is now taking cautious steps to deal with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the main faction that overthrew the government in Damascus.

From the region:

Russia has captured a major city in Ukraine

Russia said yesterday That she had it under control Kurakhov, a town located in the Donbass region of southern Ukraine, is closing in on its forces there.

Ukrainian forces made their advance through a renewed incursion into the Kursk region in southern Russia. Combat footage, found by military analysts, indicated that Ukraine was trying to break through Russian defenses in at least three directions — the first significant attempt to advance into the region since the initial Ukrainian incursion in August.

Risks: Military analysts said that control of Kurakhov and surrounding towns could allow Russia to expand its attack on the city of Pokrovsk, which has been a focal point of the war in recent months. Russia is trying to encircle the city, hoping to avoid brutal and prolonged urban fighting.

analysis: Experts said that the mutual attacks highlighted the Kremlin and Kiev’s efforts to show strength, as Donald Trump prepares to take office. Trump pledged to end the war quickly, but did not explain how.

More top news

The Taliban desperately needs an injection of funds after losing billions in international aid. Now, they’re looking at an estimated $1 trillion underground Of mineral deposits and gemstones Beneath the rugged landscape of Afghanistan.

But it remains to be seen whether the Taliban can do what the United States has been unable to do: control the country’s deeply disorganized industry enough to profit from it.

A life he lived: Drag star James Lee Williams, who played The Vivienne and won the inaugural season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK,” He died over the weekend On 32.

Start the conversation

Arts and ideas

Push their buttons

Many online creators have trained their pets to communicate by pressing multi-colored plastic buttons on the floor, expressing concepts like FOOD, MORE, and even I DOG. For some commentators, the posts elicit extreme ridicule; Others are amazed and even inspired.

But what do scientists think? “On the surface, the interest in owning dogs is that they’re another species. There’s something unknown about them, and that’s fascinating,” said Alexandra Horowitz, head of the Canine Cognition Laboratory at Barnard College. Why do we tend to force them to wear clothes and speak our language?

That’s all for today’s briefing. See you tomorrow. -Natasha

Reach out to Natasha and the team at [email protected].