Michal Stelmach, James Kensett and Philip Schnattinger Economists frequently use the vacancies to unemployment (V/U) ratio to measure labour market tightness. Analysis of the labour market during the current inflationary period often assumes the V/U ratio is constant and compares this measure with a supposed pre-2019 equilibrium. However, the V/U ratio has trended upwards over … Continue reading What can 40 years of data on vacancy advertising costs tell us about labour market equilibrium?
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I am in a grim and introspective mood this morning. I have been reflecting on how my father might react to where we are. He was one of those who fought against fascism. His life was shortened by being wounded during that fight. As a result, I never knew him as a healthy person. What, […]
Let’s start with this: Ukraine is losing the war, and the longer it goes on the worse the peace deal will be. I absolutely agree with Trump that there needs to be a peace deal, and soon.
But the rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration and its proxies suggests that Ukraine owes America nothing, and that indeed, Ukraine owes America for all its support. This sounds reasonable, on the face, but only if you don’t know any history.
Let’s start with the 2014 Maidan protests which overthrew the government. They were a color revolution, heavily supported by the Americans and Europeans. Say what you will about Yanukovych, he was the elected President. There’s decent evidence that the sniper massacre was done by Maidan itself (see this academic study), and post coup, Ukraine was essentially run by Victoria Nuland.
The British press are reporting that the Government there is planning further spending cuts of the order of billions of pounds because the economic environment has changed and the current fiscal trajectory is threatening their self-imposed fiscal rules thresholds. We already heard last week how the Government is significantly cutting Overseas Aid as it ramps…
Justin Trudeau eloquently calls Trump’s tariffs a trade war. Miko Peled questions why the allies aren’t liberating the concentration camp that is Gaza, Jeffrey Sachs asks how many wars China has been in in the last 40 years. Peter Cronau lists our eclectic list of defence priorities. BREAKING: Justin Trudeau is specifically asked if he Continue reading »
“He’s threatening an entire population with death — what else is that other than genocidal?” one expert told The Intercept.
The post Trump’s “Genocidal” Threat to Gaza: If Hamas Won’t Release Hostages, “You Are DEAD” appeared first on The Intercept.
Via Mediaite: JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: The first results of CNN’s instant poll are in. Let’s get right to CNN’s bureau chief and political director, David Chalian. David, how did the voters that you snap-polled feel about the speech? DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, first, I just want to mention, Jake, this is a poll of speech watchers, not a poll that is representative of the country overall, or what an electorate, an election looks like. And what we know is that people who tend to be fans or partisans with the president no matter which party the president is in, tend to tune in more on speeches like this. And that’s the case in tonight’s survey as well because 21 percent Democrat, 44 percent Republican in this sample. 35 percent independent. That’s about 14 points more Republican than the overall general population. So keep that in mind when you see these results of speech watchers. To the results. What was your reaction to Trump’s speech? 44 percent of speech watchers in our instant poll tonight say they had a very positive reaction to Trump’s speech, 25 percent somewhat positive, 31 percent negative.
“The Pentagon announced that Fort Moore, formerly named Fort Benning for a Confederate general, will again be named Fort Benning, although it will now honor a different Benning.” – CBS News
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It is with immense pleasure that I, King Éomer of Rohan, announce that Helm’s Deep and its fortress shall today revert to the original name of Sauron’s Deep.
No, my loyal servants, not that Sauron.
Rest assured that our beloved stronghold is not named after the evil dark lord hell-bent on destroying Middle-earth, but after a beloved Elven soldier named Elduin Sauron from the Battle of Mirkwood, or something.
This brave warrior, whose name we definitely didn’t spend hours looking for in various scrolls until we found one that matched, sacrificed his life and fought honorably against the forces of Dol Guldur. With this official renaming, we will now be able to celebrate the illustrious military career of the mighty Sauron (again, not that one) in all his glory.
“Thank you again. Thank you again. Won’t forget,” President Trump says as he shakes the hand of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. pic.twitter.com/uFrvem6rUj — Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) March 5, 2025 He thanks the Supreme Court Justice who wrote the opinion that gave him immunity for his many crimes, apparently not for the first time. Of course he won’t forget it. None of us will.
Anne Applebaum has been travelling in Europe and getting an earful. Her observation here is interesting and it certainly rings true to me: In just a few minutes, the behavior of Donald Trump and J. D. Vance created a brand new stereotype for America: not the quiet American, not the ugly American, but the brutal American. Whatever illusions Europeans ever had about Americans—whatever images lingered from old American movies, the ones where the good guys win, the bad guys lose, and honor defeats treachery—those are shattered. Whatever fond memories remain of the smiling GIs who marched into European cities in 1945, of the speeches that John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan made at the Berlin Wall, or of the crowds that once welcomed Barack Obama, those are also fading fast. Quite apart from their politics, Trump and Vance are rude. They are cruel. They berated and mistreated a guest on camera, and then boasted about it afterward, as if their ugly behavior achieved some kind of macho “win.” They announced that they would halt transfers of military equipment to Ukraine, and hinted at ending sanctions on Russia, the aggressor state.
Private equity firms are diverting billions from a Great Depression-era mortgage program — and making huge profits.
Leavitt: "He feels strongly that it would be very beneficial for the Canadian people to be the 51st state of the United States." pic.twitter.com/Ve6HHIloBf — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 5, 2025 The Canadians are taking this seriously too: Reacting strongly to US President Donald Trump’s proposal on making Canada the 51st state of his country, Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has said that she takes his remarks “very seriously”, BBC reported. “This is not a joke anymore,” Joly told Newsnight. “There’s a reason why Canadians, when they go out on a hockey game, are booing the American national anthem… We’re insulted. We’re mad. We’re angry.” I don’t blame them. And let’s face facts. The reason Trump is doing it is very simple. Trudeau is young and handsome and he hates him for it. There is no other explanation.
ALLEGRA School Coffs Harbour teacher and Leader of Student Support and Strategy Kelly Green, recently participated in the 2025 Bell Shakespeare National Teacher Mentorship program. The program has proven positive impacts that empower participants, their students, and the wider school community. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message...
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TWELVE family members of Wendy Hansen, the woman whose remains were discovered by Jetty Dunecare volunteers last June, have gathered at the Jetty Foreshore a year to the day since she went missing. They also wanted to meet the members of the volunteer bushcare group who have been so close to her story. Advertise with...
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A new UN report relies on a US government-funded operative, Felix Maradiaga, who helped instigate the violent 2018 coup to remove President Daniel Ortega in 2018. Yet UN “experts” have refused to interview the many Nicaraguans kidnapped and tortured by the opposition. MASAYA, NICARAGUA – Reynaldo Urbina rides his motorbike around the streets of Masaya, Nicaragua, with agility, despite having only one arm. Nearly seven years ago, at the height of a US- supported coup attempt against Nicaragua’s left-wing Sandinista […]
The post ‘Biased’ UN report on Nicaragua ignores victims of US-backed opposition violence first appeared on The Grayzone.
The post ‘Biased’ UN report on Nicaragua ignores victims of US-backed opposition violence appeared first on The Grayzone.
The chemical maker behind Roundup weed killer is lobbying the government to unilaterally block cancer victims from suing them.
How long have I been in this place? I cannot say. In the darkness, time has lost meaning. The only days I remember are Days of Heaven (Terrence Malick, 1978), the only nights, Nights of Cabiria (Fellini, 1957). My head aches, my ears ring, my thoughts swing between panic and unsolicited opinions about old movies.
Slowly, my memory returns: I was high on the top shelf, rearranging the Criterion Closet from alphabetical to philosophical. As I moved the Paul Schrader films to the “nihilism” section, I heard the door slam. The mound of Robert Altman films beneath my feet shook and then gave way, and I plummeted to the floor.
Now, I find myself trapped beneath an avalanche of ensemble casts and 1970s New Hollywood sensibilities. My head bleeds from the fall. I curse my stupidity. Fool! Why were you up there? I ask. Putting Schrader next to Bresson? Their similarities are superficial at best!
Lawmakers will decide on whether to deregulate payment apps, including the billionaire’s newest business venture.
After the election Australia is likely to have a minority government with the independents, who will hold the balance of power, negotiating each issue on its merits. But democracy is best served if each independent states before the election which party they will support to form a government by guaranteeing supply. For months now, the Continue reading »