Draw the draft

The looming threat of federal defunding from Washington elevates the contest from a local election to a pivotal national referendum on whether New York, a city increasingly concerned with issues of affordability and equitable growth, will embrace a n The contest for New York City Mayor has intensified into a high-stakes ideological clash, spotlighting the city’s shifting identity and drawing pointed intervention from President Donald Trump. Following the abrupt suspension of Mayor Eric Adams’ independent re-election campaign—a move many observers saw as an attempt to consolidate centrist votes—the race is now fundamentally a head-to-head between Democratic socialist front-runner Zohran Mamdani and independent former Governor Andrew Cuomo. President Trump weighed in on Monday with a renewed threat to cripple the Big Apple’s finances should the Democratic nominee win. “Self proclaimed New York City Communist, Zohran Mamdani, who is ru...

While Starmer may be gaining international respect for his diplomatic efforts, the road to securing domestic confidence remains a steep and, according to his own staff, deeply unfunny climb.… LONDON—A year into his tenure at No 10, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s focus on foreign affairs, including mediating between Europe and the US, is being overshadowed by a stark reality at home: his approval rating is plumbing depths matched by few other Western leaders. Recent polling underscores the challenge. A late August YouGov pan-European survey revealed a net favourability rating of -47%, with only 22% of the British public holding a favourable opinion of the Prime Minister. This data, collected before the disruption of Angela Rayner’s resignation and the subsequent cabinet reshuffle, paints a picture of deep domestic dissatisfaction. Starmer finds himself in the unenviable position of being the second most unpopular leader in the ...

The debate outside would continue—between efficiency and tradition, technology and authenticity, packaging and truth. But in this shabby kitchen, there was no debate. Only fire.… On a humid evening in a provincial Chinese city, a salesman in a wrinkled suit pushed aside the curtain of a small restaurant tucked behind a factory. The cloth was greasy to the touch, and inside, the smell of smoke clung to everything. The walls were streaked with oil, the wooden chairs wobbled as if on their last legs, and an ashtray, brimming with cigarette butts, sat like a permanent fixture on the table. The salesman ordered chicken soup and boiled dumplings. He had heard the rumors: this place was one of the last to insist on cooking with open flames. “Is there a manager here?” he called toward the kitchen. A white-haired man appeared, clutching a wok blackened with years of use. “Manager? You mean me?” “I work for a cooking equipment manufacturer...

This final exchange captured the complex reality of the situation: the IPC's decision had not just changed the rules, but had also created a new space for personal and professional reflection within the team itself.… The International Paralympic Committee’s decision to lift all sanctions against Russia and Belarus has opened the door for athletes from both countries to compete under their own flags at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics. This move, which comes after both countries were under sanctions since 2022, restores their full membership rights and privileges within the IPC. The IPC stated that it will work with the two members to put practical arrangements in place as soon as possible. While this decision has been welcomed by the Russian Paralympic Committee, it has been met with criticism from Ukraine, and it is important to note that the final decision on participation still rests with the international federations governing each specific sp...