海角大神

Governor聽Rossell贸鈥檚 resignation was about more than a trove of offensive messages. Puerto Ricans were protesting years of mismanagement. But many demonstrators were reclaiming something, too: a sense of their own power.

Humans like to think they have conquered every corner of the planet. But in reality we know little about the world鈥檚 largest biome: the ocean. Part 1 of 鈥淧eering into the deep,鈥澛燼 five-part series exploring our evolving understanding of life beneath the waves, examines the ocean's "Twilight Zone."

In a culture in which drinking goes largely unquestioned, the sober curious movement is gaining ground and encouraging people to reexamine why we imbibe.聽

In the instant that a racehorse thunders by, what do you see? Beauty, talent, cruelty? To many Xhosa men in South Africa, racing is about both tradition and opportunity: a way to follow their fathers鈥� footsteps, while building a better future.

The paradox of the Tarantino聽oeuvre, notes film critic Peter Rainer, is that it is highly derivative of other movies and yet the films seem distinctly his.

In an Arab world long on one-man rule but short on peaceful handovers of power after an election, this moment should not go unnoticed: On Thursday, the first freely elected president of Tunisia, B茅ji Ca茂d Essebsi, died. On the same day, under a democratic constitution, the head of the legislature temporarily took over the office. Plans to elect a new president are already in motion.

No protests, no gunfire, no military coup.

Tunisia is again a template for other Arab nations in how to avoid the trap of personality-based or militaristic rule and the upheavals they bring. After the 2011 Arab Spring, it was the only Middle East or North African country to topple a dictator and then lock in basic freedoms and fair elections. Now after eight years 鈥� a short time to root any new democracy 鈥� it has passed a key test by preparing a peaceful transition.

To put some context around this feat, recall that Syria, Libya, and Yemen are in civil wars, Egypt has returned to military dictatorship, and many Arab monarchies still exist. Algeria and Sudan are in difficult transitions from authoritarian rule. Meanwhile Iraq, despite the strong influence of Iran, can claim similar peaceful transitions.聽聽

Since adopting a new constitution in 2014, Tunisia has had successive prime ministers. But a central figure has been President Essebsi, whose political pedigree extends back to the country鈥檚 six decades of one-man rule. After being elected in 2014, he stepped up to the task by reducing the power of the Islamist-inspired party Ennahda, and presiding over many reforms, notably for women, as well as helping launch a 鈥渨ar on corruption.鈥� He was called 鈥渢he father of consensus.鈥�

Yet Tunisia, which was the birthplace of the Arab Spring, may face other tests in the years ahead, perhaps even in how it conducts the coming election. Islamic militants still threaten violence. And the economy has not improved since 2011, lessening popular support for democracy.

Yet it has laid many cornerstones to sustain elected government. Now it is adding another one with a transition to a new president. This will help further cement the idea in the Arab world that a free and equal people can pick their leaders without losing their heritage or culture.

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