Syria: New Govt. Appoints First Woman as Central Bank’s Head
Syria's new administration on Monday appointed Maysaa Sabrine as the governor of the Central Bank of Syria, making her the first woman to hold the position in its over 70-year history. Sabrine has also been the institution's first deputy governor and supervising director.
Sabrine — who also represented the central bank on the Damascus Securities Exchange board — replaced Mohammed Issam Hazime, who was appointed in 2021 by then-Pres. Bashar al-Assad.
Sabrine, who holds a master's degree in accounting, is the second woman to join the Syrian transitional regime. Earlier this month, Aisha al-Dibs was appointed head of the Women's Affairs Office.
Narrative A
Maysaa Sabrine's appointment as Syria's first female central bank chief is a groundbreaking moment, highlighting the vast potential of Syrian women. Yet, it's only a first step. True progress demands dismantling barriers in every sphere — homes, workplaces, and society at large. Syrian women deserve not just symbolic victories but a revolution that grants them full equality and opportunity. This milestone must inspire a broader, bolder push for lasting change that genuinely transforms their lives.
Narrative B
Syria's appointment of its first female central bank chief is a token gesture by a regime entrenched in archaic, misogynistic traditions. The move starkly contrasts with pervasive sexism in governance, exemplified by officials' recent dismissive rhetoric on women's capabilities. While framed as progress, this appointment masks systemic exclusion, denying women substantive roles in rebuilding the nation. Such actions underscore a disingenuous view of gender equality.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that half of the world leaders will be women by August 2084, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Treasury Accuses China of Hacking Its Workstations
The US Dept. of the Treasury alleged on Monday that Chinese state-sponsored hackers gained unauthorized access to employee workstations and unclassified documents earlier this month through a compromised third-party software service provider called BeyondTrust.
BeyondTrust first detected suspicious activity on Dec. 2, confirmed the breach on Dec. 5, and notified the Treasury Department on Dec. 8 that hackers had obtained a security key that allowed remote access to Treasury systems.
The Treasury Department designated this breach a "major cybersecurity incident" and is working with the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and intelligence agencies to investigate its full scope and impact.
Anti-China narrative
The breach proves Chinese state-sponsored actors have deliberately targeted sensitive US government systems through sophisticated third-party compromise techniques. However, Washington will not tolerate efforts by the Chinese government to intimidate Americans who serve the public or steal from American institutions.
Pro-China narrative
These accusations are baseless as China opposes all forms of hacking and cyber-attacks. The US must stop using cyber security to smear China's reputation or spread disinformation without evidence for political purposes. Politicizing cybersecurity issues doesn't solve the real problem.
Nerd narrative
There's a 56% chance that the US will have passed legislation that requires cybersecurity around AI models before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Taliban Orders NGOs to Stop Employing Women or Face Closure
In a letter published on X (formerly Twitter), Afghanistan's Economy Ministry said that all national and foreign nongovernmental organizations must stop employing women or risk losing their operating licenses.
Additionally, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered buildings to modify windows that overlook areas where women might be present, requiring the installation of walls, fences, or screens.
This comes two years after the Taliban administration told the NGOs operating on its soil to suspend female employment, allegedly due to non-compliance with Islamic dress code interpretations.
Narrative A
These restrictions are a clear breach of humanitarian principles and constitute gender apartheid, severely impacting crucial aid delivery to millions of vulnerable Afghans. The systematic elimination of women from public life contradicts international human rights standards and threatens the effectiveness of essential humanitarian operations.
Narrative B
Nearly 9K work permits have been issued to women since 2021, which demonstrates the Taliban's commitment to appropriate female participation in the workforce. The recent measures align with traditional Islamic values and Afghan cultural norms and are necessary to ensure proper adherence to maintain public safety.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance the US will recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
$13M Jewelry Heist Rocks London's Billionaire Row
A lone burglar stole £10.4M (US$13M) worth of jewelry and £150K (US$187K) in designer handbags from art collector Shafira Huang's mansion on Avenue Road, London, during a 19-minute heist on Dec. 7.
The suspect, described as a White male in his late 20s to 30s, reportedly gained entry through a second-floor window at 5:11 pm while armed with an unknown weapon. He then escaped at 5:30 pm.
The stolen items include a 10.73-carat Graff diamond ring, De Beers butterfly diamond rings, Hermès Crocodile Kelly handbags, and unique 1978 Van Cleef & Arpels pieces. Police warn the items' unique designs make them hard to sell.
Left narrative
This burglary, while unprecedentedly epic in nature, underscores a stark economic divide. In a city where wealth disparity is palpable, such high-value crimes reflect not just greed but also systemic failures regarding the haves — such as those who live in Primrose Hill — and the have-nots. When basic needs become unaffordable for many, the desperation can lead to crime, highlighting the urgent need for equitable economic policies.
Right narrative
The entire culture of London has been destroyed by liberal policies, fueling a sharp rise in crime, particularly thefts. While a heist like this is irregular, the decriminalization of low-value thefts has normalized shoplifting, leading to a record number of robberies this year. With the vast majority of offenders going uncharged, coupled with the £200 shoplifting threshold and reduced police responses, average Londoners, not millionaires, make up most of the victims
Arrest Warrant Issued for S.Korean Pres. Yoon
A South Korean court has issued arrest warrants for Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law on the country in early December, making him the first sitting president in the country's history to face arrest.
The martial law order on Dec. 3 was rescinded by members of parliament hours later, with Yoon being impeached on Dec. 14. Yoon's presidential powers are currently suspended pending a constitutional court decision.
The arrest and search warrants are for alleged abuse of power and treason and come after Yoon rebuffed summonses from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The lawyer for the president has called the warrants "illegal and invalid."
Narrative A
The calamitous and unconstitutional move by Yoon to suspend democracy will have wide-ranging percussions, and is it only right that he face justice personally for this move that imperiled South Korea as we know it. Throwing up obstructions to protect Yoon is fruitless, as a broad coalition of lawmakers and civil society members holds Yoon to account.
Narrative B
While the motivations for his move are yet to be known to the broader public, the brief instance of martial law does not deserve the outsized reactions from enemies of the ruling party. The judiciary should let the impeachment proceedings continue without interference, and not attempt to bypass laws and norms to make a point against the president.
Netanyahu Leaves Hospital for Knesset Vote
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his hospital bed against the advice of his doctor to push a Knesset vote over the margin necessary for a critical budget bill to pass on Tuesday. Netanyahu is currently recovering after having his prostate removed.
Netanyahu — as well as a Likud MK who left his deceased mother's shiva — went to the vote after right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to vote against the budget bill. Ben-Gvir is a member of Netanyahu's coalition.
Ben-Gvir said he opposed the bill over concerns that it would harm law enforcement, which he oversees. The legislation — part of a series of bills related to the 2025 budget — mandates that companies pay taxes on profits that haven't been reinvested or distributed as dividends.
Right narrative
Ben-Gvir and other members of Netanyahu's coalition must straighten up and end these ridiculous theatrics. Netanyahu, who is still recovering from surgery, was forced from his hospital bed so that this budget bill could be passed. These antics risked the coalition's viability, as failing to pass the budget could have led to early elections. Thankfully, Netanyahu is in good health and can manage these issues.
Left narrative
Netanyahu and his far-right allies continue to demonstrate that they are unable to run a functioning government, making a mockery of Israel's democratic system. Indeed, the ruling coalition was forced to stage a filibuster in the plenum to delay the vote so that it could get the necessary votes to pass the bill.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Regardless of the latest political crisis in Israel, the country's genocide in Gaza has continued unabated. "Cease-fire" talks have acted as a ruse by the Americans to provide Israel with diplomatic cover as it continue its genocide. Indeed, it's quite clear that Israel's political and military leadership have decided that a drawn-out campaign in Gaza is in Israel's best interest.
US Sanctions Entities in Russia and Iran for Alleged 2024 Election Interference
The US Dept. of the Treasury imposed sanctions on entities from Russia and Iran over what it said were attempts to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election through disinformation campaigns.
The sanctions target Iran's Cognitive Design Production Center, a subsidiary of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Russia's Center for Geopolitical Expertise (CGE), affiliated with the GRU military intelligence agency.
The Moscow-based CGE, directed by Valery Korovin, allegedly used generative AI tools to create and distribute disinformation across at least 100 websites designed to look like legitimate news outlets.
Pro-establishment narrative
These election manipulation operations are classic Russian and Iranian tactics, demonstrating these two countries' continued efforts to destabilize American democracy. The sole aims of these actions are to stoke tensions and sway voter opinion, a clear breach of US sovereignty. The use of sanctions is imperative not only to safeguard democratic institutions but also to send a strong message that future elections will remain free from foreign meddling.
Establishment-critical narrative
These sanctions are the latest example of the US and its allies labeling any online information they disagree with as so-called "election interference." Germany, for instance, recently accused Elon Musk of election interference because he supported the AfD Party. The US, meanwhile, smears Russia and Iran as part of an "Axis of Evil" to justify its policies, painting a simplistic picture to vilify non-Western regimes and control the world.
Nerd narrative
There is a 25% chance that the United States and Iran will sign a new agreement restricting Iran's nuclear program before 2029, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: US Mass Shootings, Gun Deaths Fall to Five-Year Low
Data from Gun Violence Archive show that the number of mass shootings and gun deaths in the US this year has been the lowest since 2019.
As of Dec. 30, 2024, there were a reported 501 mass shootings — a figure that includes the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pa., on July 13, which left a man dead — and 16,576 gun deaths in the country.
The deadliest single incident took place in Joliet, Ill., on Jan. 21, with eight victims killed. Meanwhile, an incident in Akron, Ohio, on June 2, was the one that directly affected most people — one dead and 28 injured.
Democratic narrative
Gun violence has long been a major concern in the US. And while that won't change unless Republicans finally agree to pass better gun regulations, one shouldn't lose hope of better days. Efforts to address this issue and regulate firearms have proved to be helpful as gun crime rates fell this year.
Republican narrative
Gun Violence Archive is a leftist activist organization that has long inflated the number of mass shootings in America for the political purpose of fear-mongering. Given that they count non-lethal incidents, gang violence, and mob hits as mass shootings, these numbers are untrustworthy and the information presented is out of context.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 629 mass shootings will be reported in the US in 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Military Court Upholds Alleged 9/11 Plotters' Plea Deals
A military appeals court on Monday ruled against US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's attempt to nullify plea agreements for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other defendants in the 9/11 attacks, maintaining their opportunity to avoid death sentences.
The three-judge panel determined that Austin lacked authority to revoke the pretrial agreements after they were already in motion, upholding an earlier decision by military judge Air Force Col. Matthew McCall.
The plea deals, negotiated over two years and approved by Pentagon official Susan Escallier, would allow the defendants to plead guilty to war crimes in exchange for life sentences rather than face death penalty trials.
Right narrative
It's deeply troubling how Austin and the Defense Department have bungled this case. The sheer gravity of the 9/11 attacks demands full trials and the possibility of death sentences for the perpetrators. Making plea deals to spare their lives is inappropriate given the magnitude of their crimes against the American people.
Left narrative
Despite concerns from victims' families and some legislators about these plea deals, they truly represent a practical solution to resolve a legally troubled case — marking a crucial step toward justice after decades of legal stalemate. Additionally, complications arising from interrogation methods could lead to a court ordering these defendants to be released rather than imprisoned for life.