Former US Pres. Jimmy Carter Dies at 100
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, died Sunday in Georgia at the age of 100.
The former Georgia governor and the one-term Democratic president — taking office in 1977 in a term that ended with the Iran hostage crises of 1981 — had been a world-leading voice in human rights and health causes.
In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development."
Narrative A
Jimmy Carter — a high school basketball star, former US Navy officer, and longtime Sunday school teacher — campaigned for civil rights causes and fiercely advocated for peace. Though he served just one term in office, the longest-lived US president spent his post-presidential life dedicated to the service of ordinary Americans.
Narrative B
Though Jimmy Carter's presidency was marked by economic tumult and the Iran hostage crisis, it brought stability, calm, and integrity after the political turmoil of Nixon, Watergate, and the Vietnam War. He was just what 1970s America needed and carried himself about as admirably as he could have done.
Syria's De-Facto Leader Says Elections Could Take Four Years
In a recorded interview broadcast Sunday, Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said that holding elections in the war-ravaged country would take up to four years while drafting a new constitution could take up to three years.
During the interview with Saudi Arabia-owned Al-Arabiya, al-Sharaa stressed the importance of Syria's ties with Iran and Russia and called for the US to lift sanctions on Syria he said were "issued based on the crimes that the [Assad] regime committed."
Emphasizing that a country can't be run "by the mentality of groups and militias" and valid elections require a "comprehensive population census," al-Sharaa revealed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) would be disbanded at a national dialogue conference.
Narrative A
Syria's path to democracy remains fraught. The leading rebel group HTS, with its roots in al-Qaeda, explicitly rejects democratic principles and enforces strict Islamic governance. While activists dream of an open society, Syria's history of coups and instability, coupled with deep ethnic and religious divisions worsened by years of civil war, suggests a challenging journey ahead for a nation that has never known stable democracy.
Narrative B
There's a palpable sense of possibility in Damascus. Opposition figures and civil society leaders are preparing to return home with years of experience in democratic governance and community building. Despite HTS' Islamist roots, activists believe Syrians won't accept new forms of tyranny after their immense sacrifices. This moment represents a precious chance at renewal for a nation that has endured decades of oppression.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Syria will no longer be classified as being in a state of civil war by August 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK Poll: Labour Would Lose 184 Seats in Hypothetical Election
An MRP [Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification] poll by More in Common, surveying over 11K UK adults between Oct. 31 and Dec. 16, 2024, has concluded that the Labour government, who was elected in July, would lose nearly 200 seats if a new election were held.
The poll projects Labour would win 228 seats, Conservatives 222, Reform UK 72, the Liberal Democrats 58, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) 37, and the Green Party two — leading to a hung parliament as no party would reach the 326-seat majority threshold.
Seven cabinet ministers would hypothetically lose their seats, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, with six falling to Reform UK and one to an independent candidate.
Left narrative
Labour offers the only credible path to rebuild the UK after years of Tory mismanagement. With bold steps to restore public services, address pay disparities, and invest in growth, Labour provides stability and progress. While critics focus on early challenges, Keir Starmer's leadership shows promise while the populist fantasies under Farage would deepen division and derail recovery. Labour must lead to ensure a fairer, stronger future for all.
Right narrative
Starmer's Labour has stalled the economy with anti-growth policies and record tax hikes. Gross domestic product has stagnated, leaving Britons poorer, while businesses face increased costs as investment flees. Internal divisions and weak leadership have compounded the party's failures. Starmer and his government are proving incapable of delivering the prosperity and stability the UK needs.
Nerd narrative
There is a 4% chance that the UK House of Commons will be elected by proportional representation before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Putin Makes Second Call to Azerbaijan's Aliyev Over Downed Passenger Jet
Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin on Sunday made his second phone call to Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in as many days over the passenger jet downed by Russia on Christmas Day, killing 38 of 67 on board.
In a call initiated by Putin on Saturday, the Russian leader apologized for the incident and "extended his deepest and most sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the crash."
In an assessment that appears to be shared by the US, the Kremlin said that Russian air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the republic of Chechnya, during a Ukrainian drone attack on the region.
Pro-establishment narrative
After days of incoherent explanations and trying to silence what happened, Azerbaijan made clear that Russia must apologize and admit its guilt, prosecute those criminally responsible and pay compensation for the injured. Russia has made good on its first promise, but the other conditions remain.
Pro-Russia narrative
After promising to stay in contact following their first phone call, Putin and Aliyev have carried on their conversation about various issues related to the Azerbaijan Airlines crash.
Nerd narrative
There is a 25% chance that Azerbaijan will invade Armenia before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK Seizes More Than 6K Illegal Bird Eggs
British authorities conducted multiple raids across Scotland, South Yorkshire, Essex, Wales, and Gloucester in November, seizing more than 6K wild bird eggs in the largest such operation in UK history.
The UK raids were part of Operation Pulka, an international effort that began in Norway in June 2023, where authorities arrested 16 individuals and seized 50K eggs, followed by seizures of 3.5K eggs worth A$500K (US$310K) in Australia.
The UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit suggested the seizures are connected to a single international crime network operating across multiple countries. This follows the seizure of over 56K eggs and the arrest of a man in Essex late last month.
Narrative A
Illegal wildlife smuggling, especially of bird eggs, devastates species globally. By driving demand for rare species, it leads to overexploitation and extinction without proper legal deterrents. In Australia, for instance, fines are often less than black market value. While eggs are targeted for their high value and ease of smuggling, other birds, like bald eagles in the US, are being sold for their wings, feathers, and tails. More must be done to prevent further extinction.
Narrative B
Despite years of legal efforts, laws against smuggling haven't stopped this black market from growing. In response, countries should attempt to privatize certain animal ownership, which would save species by giving owners incentives to propagate, not just preserve, them. Examples of this, such as tiger farming, have shown that market value can drive conservation, unlike bans that increase illegal demand.
Nerd narrative
There is a 24.1% chance that space-based technologies will facilitate the creation of an effective global system for tracking and mitigating illegal wildlife trade before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Loses Appeal of $5M Carroll Verdict
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Monday upheld a $5M civil verdict that found Pres.-elect Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll in a Manhattan department store during the mid-1990s.
The original May 2023 jury verdict awarded Carroll, a former Elle Magazine advice columnist, $2.02M for sexual assault and $2.98M for defamation related to Trump's October 2022 Truth Social post denying her claims.
The three-judge panel, all of whom were appointed by either former Pres. Barack Obama or Pres. Joe Biden, rejected Trump's arguments that the district court made errors in its evidentiary rulings.
Anti-Trump narrative
This is a win for all victims of sexual violence. All the relevant evidence proved Trump's long history of exploiting women. Individuals like Carroll, and justice-seeking courts like the Second Circuit, should continue fighting for powerless victims despite Trump's reelection to the presidency.
Pro-Trump narrative
There wasn't nearly enough evidence against Trump in this case, but because of a new law — which is suspiciously tailored to target Trump — this appeal was rejected. This court is just participating in the political witch hunt that's lasted more than a decade against the president-elect.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1.2% chance that Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trinidad and Tobago Declares Emergency as Murder Rate Hits Record High
Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Pres. Christine Carla Kangaloo declared a state of emergency on Monday following an unprecedented surge in violence, with a record 623 murders recorded in 2024 among a population of 1.5M people.
The declaration grants police and military enhanced powers, including detaining individuals without charge for 48 hours and conducting warrantless searches of properties and people. Detentions can be extended by seven days with proper authorization.
The latest violence saw five men shot dead in a shop in the Laventille area in what authorities believe was retaliation for the murder of a prominent gang member the day before.
Pro-establishment narrative
T&T faces a dire situation with violent crime, predominantly driven by drug trafficking-linked gang activities. This has led to not only murders but countless assaults and kidnappings, making areas like Laventille and Beetham no-go zones. The prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action to protect citizens, particularly women, from both gang and domestic violence.
Establishment-critical narrative
T&T's violence and inequality stem from the European legacy of colonialism. Indentured labor and racial hierarchies set the stage for enduring economic disparities and social divisions, leading to a much-needed 1970 Black Power Revolution. Despite efforts to bring justice to the once colonized people, the island's social and economic systems are still plagued by Europeans' colonial past. Such devastation will continue until the root causes are dealt with.
Narrative C
Despite claims from both radical anti-colonialists and centrists, ineffective approaches to decolonization have worsened conditions in many former colonies. Unlike colonial times when basic infrastructure and governance were at least established, such as police forces, today's Western powers don't colonize but rather simply destabilize nations without building institutions. While controversial to say, many island nations are worse off than under colonial or pre-colonial conditions.
Ethiopia: 71 Dead as Truck Plunges Into River
A truck carrying wedding guests plunged into a river in Ethiopia's Sidama region, approximately 300 km (186 mi) south of Addis Ababa, resulting in 71 fatalities.
The accident occurred on Sunday at approximately 5:30 pm local time when the vehicle missed a bridge on a winding road in the Bona district.
Among the deceased were 68 males and three females, with an additional five people in critical condition receiving treatment at Bona General Hospital.
Narrative A
The accident represents a devastating loss for this local community in Ethiopia, with multiple families losing several members at once. Poor road conditions and winding terrain in the area created hazardous driving conditions that contributed to this tragic outcome.
Narrative B
Inadequate enforcement of vehicle safety regulations and overloading restrictions continue to plague Ethiopia's transportation system. The country's road safety standards remain significantly below international norms, with death rates more than three times higher than those in developed nations.
Trump Backs Johnson for House Speaker
US Pres.-elect Donald Trump on Monday endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for speakership reelection ahead of a leadership vote scheduled for Friday.
Trump wrote that the "American people need IMMEDIATE relief" from the "destructive" policies of the Biden administration. He called Johnson "a good, hard working, religious man" who "will do the right thing" before giving Johnson his "Complete & Total" endorsement.
With Republicans holding a slim majority, Johnson can lose only one Republican vote while still maintaining the speakership. This vote holds particular significance, as it precedes the Jan. 6 certification of Trump's electoral victory, which requires a seated speaker to proceed.
Republican narrative
Trump knows that early in his presidency it's best to avoid any in-fighting in order to accomplish his administration's goals. With such a slim majority, Johnson has done solid work despite making some deals that have frustrated conservatives. Moving forward, Trump knows he can always renege on his support of Johnson if the Speaker veers off the proper path.
Democratic narrative
If we've learned anything, it's that one endorsement — even from the president-elect — isn't going to prevent Republicans from causing chaos. Johnson's majority is too thin for him to retain the speakership easily when there are many in his caucus making unrealistic demands and refusing to shift to the center in order to get things done for the American people.