Trump Says US Will 'Take Over' and 'Own' Gaza
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Pres. Donald Trump said that the US "will take over" and "own" the Gaza Strip, proposing to transform it into what he called "the Riviera of the Middle East."
Trump outlined a plan where the US will "be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings." Additionally, he suggested the possibility of deploying American troops if necessary.
The proposal includes a suggestion that Palestinians should be permanently resettled in other countries. However, Trump later added that Palestinians would also continue to live in the redeveloped Gaza alongside "the world's people."
Pro-Israel narrative
The US takeover of Gaza represents a bold, innovative solution to bring stability and prosperity to a region plagued by conflict and destruction. A different future for Gaza will ensure better living conditions for Palestinians and create an international hub that could transform the Middle East's economic landscape.
Pro-Palestine narrative
The proposal amounts to ethnic cleansing and a violation of international law, undermining Palestinian sovereignty and their right to self-determination. It threatens to destabilize the entire region and compromise decades of peace-building efforts. No American of good conscience should stand for uprooting Palestinians from their land.
Nerd narrative
There's a 17% chance that the Gaza war will end and significant progress will be made toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict before Jan. 1, 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Aga Khan IV Passes Away at 88
Billionaire philanthropist and entrepreneur Karim Al-Hussaini, also known as Aga Khan IV — the 49th hereditary Imam of Shia Ismaili Muslims — passed away in Lisbon, Portugal, on Tuesday at age 88.
His charity, the Aga Khan Development Network, announced the death of the Switzerland-born British citizen in a statement without detailing the cause of his death. He is survived by his three children, his brother, his half-sister, and four grandchildren.
Al-Hussaini was passionate about horse racing and breeding and owned private jets, a $200M super-yacht, and a private island in the Bahamas, with a wealth estimated at between $800M and $13B — inherited and from investments.
Narrative A
The world has lost a visionary leader whose influence stretched far beyond his spiritual role. Thrust into leadership at just 20, Aga Khan IV transformed his position into a force for global development, blending faith with pragmatic action. Through his philanthropy, he uplifted millions — investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in some of the world’s most fragile regions. His commitment to pluralism and progress leaves an enduring legacy of compassion and change.
Narrative B
Aga Khan IV straddled the worlds of faith, business, and high society with remarkable ease. While hailed for his philanthropy, his extravagant lifestyle often personified a contradiction between his spiritual leadership and material excess. His financial empire, fueled by contributions from followers, blended altruism with calculated investment, blurring the line between genuine benevolence and strategic self-interest. In the end, his mercurial celebrity was dazzling but also paradoxical.
Nerd narrative
There is a 1% chance that at least two of the largest Abrahamic religions will recognize the arrival of the Messiah in the next 200 years, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: CIA Offers Buyouts to Entire Staff
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) offered buyouts to its workforce on Tuesday.
As part of the move — confirmed by CNN and Reuters — staff will receive eight months of salary and benefits if they resign.
A CIA spokesperson said the decision had been taken "to ensure the CIA workforce is responsive to the administration's national security priorities" under the agency's new director, John Ratcliffe.
Pro-Trump narrative
This move is an effort to make the CIA leaner amid suggestions that it has strayed from its core competencies by hiring an abundance of analysts. It will also reshape the agency to focus on Trump's priorities of countering China and bringing down the drug cartels while giving those who oppose Trump's agenda the option to leave voluntarily.
Anti-Trump narrative
Though everyone expected some retribution from the second Trump presidency, everyone is shocked by the extent of his revenge. While he started off by punishing public officials he perceived as disloyal, he is now gutting whole swaths of government, with the brunt of his actions being felt by anonymous government employees who didn't see this coming.
Nerd narrative
There's a 1% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Australia Bans Chinese AI DeepSeek From Government Devices
The Australian Department of Home Affairs issued a directive on Tuesday requiring all government entities to remove DeepSeek products from their systems and prevent future installations, citing unacceptable security risks to government technology.
The ban specifically targets government systems and devices, excluding private citizens' usage, and requires immediate compliance from various government bodies except corporate organizations like Australia Post and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
DeepSeek, established in 2023, gained international attention for matching US competitors' performance at significantly lower costs, causing substantial market disruption and billions in stock market losses.
Pro-establishment narrative
The ban represents a necessary protective measure against serious national security threats to Australia, as DeepSeek's extensive data collection and storage practices in China pose unacceptable risks to government systems and sensitive information.
Establishment-critical narrative
The restrictions appear politically motivated and could hinder technological progress, as DeepSeek has demonstrated remarkable innovation by matching Western AI capabilities at lower costs despite limited access to advanced chips, potentially benefiting global AI development. This is another unfair move against China as the West is failing to face the realities of a multipolar world.
Nerd narrative
There's a 5% chance that OpenAI will offer ChatGPT in China before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Argentina Withdraws From World Health Organization
Argentina's Pres. Javier Milei has instructed Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein to withdraw the country from the World Health Organization (WHO), presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni said on Wednesday.
Argentina's decision stems from "deep differences" regarding health management during the pandemic, with officials claiming that WHO guidelines led to what they describe as the longest lockdown in human history.
Adorni said that Argentina doesn't receive WHO funding for health care management, asserting that the withdrawal would give the country "greater flexibility to implement policies adopted in the context of interests that Argentina requires, as well as greater availability of resources."
Right narrative
The WHO's management during COVID demonstrated clear political and financial influence from certain countries and promoted endless lockdowns without sound scientific evidence. Argentina will not allow international meddling in its sovereignty, internal affairs, or health management.
Left narrative
The WHO is a crucial coordinator of global health responses, providing life-saving treatments and coordinating international efforts against diseases. Argentina's move will disturb the alignment of global health policy and WHO's role of protecting the health and security of the world's people.
Nerd narrative
There's a 56% chance that Javier Milei will be re-elected president of Argentina before Jan. 1, 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Philippine House Impeaches Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
The Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to impeach Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, with 215 out of 306 lawmakers endorsing the impeachment complaint. This is the first time a vice president has faced such proceedings in the country's history.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations of conspiracy to assassinate Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., misuse of $10.3M in confidential funds, corruption, and failure to address Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
It will now undergo a thorough document-by-document review by Senate staff. The Senate, which will serve as the impeachment tribunal, must secure a two-thirds majority vote (16 of 24 senators) to convict and remove Duterte from office. Proceedings are expected to begin in June.
Narrative A
The impeachment represents a necessary step to uphold constitutional accountability and address serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The overwhelming House support demonstrates the gravity of the charges, including threats against the president and misuse of public funds.
Narrative B
The impeachment is a politically motivated attack aimed at preventing Duterte from running for president in 2028. The timing of the vote, just before midterm elections, and the rushed process suggest this is more about political maneuvering than genuine accountability.
Nerd narrative
There's a 2% chance that the Philippines will experience a civil war before 2036, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Syria’s al-Sharaa Meets Turkey’s Erdoğan
Syrian interim Pres. Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Turkish Pres. Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan in Ankara on Tuesday, marking his second international trip since the former Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December.
The leaders reportedly discussed establishing new Turkish military bases in central Syria, including potential airbases at Palmyra and the T4 base in Homs province, as part of a comprehensive defense partnership.
Turkey pledged support for Syria's fight against the Islamic State (IS) and Kurdish fighters, referring to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria, which Turkey says is an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
Narrative A
The Turkish-Syrian alliance represents a crucial step toward regional stability and security, with both nations united in their commitment to combat terrorism and protect territorial integrity. The partnership promises to bring economic revival and infrastructure development to Syria while addressing mutual security concerns. Both Turkey and Syria will benefit from continued cooperation.
Narrative B
An alliance between Syria's new government and Turkey would be an existential threat to the US-backed SDF, which has been a key ally in fighting IS. The proposed Turkish military expansion into Syria risks undermining Kurdish autonomy and years of successful counter-terrorism efforts.
Canada Appeals Court Ruling on 2022 Emergencies Act Use
The Canadian government has begun its appeal of a January 2024 ruling that found its use of the Emergencies Act to end the 2022 "Freedom Convoy" COVID protests in downtown Ottawa was unconstitutional.
Federal Court Justice Richard Mosley determined last year that the regulations, which included freezing bank accounts, prohibiting public assemblies, and towing trucks, violated Charter rights, including free expression and freedom from unlawful search and seizure.
The government's lawyer, Michael Feder, argued that it was unfair for Mosley to reprimand the government through "20/20 hindsight." He claimed the government at the time was dealing with a volatile, progressively worsening situation.
Left narrative
Critics may question the Emergencies Act now that everything is settled, but they ignore dangers posed by the Freedom Convoy at the time pollution, incessant noise, blockades, and intimidation, not to mention border closures. The government was legally justified under the circumstances to address this immediate threat to the public. Even the freezing of bank accounts was legally supported as a measure to prevent further funding of the riotous convoy.
Right narrative
The Trudeau government severely abused its authority by using the Emergencies Act to criminalize protests and freeze bank accounts, actions that were unsurprisingly deemed unconstitutional by the federal court. There was no national emergency, yet Trudeau's draconian measures infringed on Canadians' civil liberties, arresting even peaceful protesters. This misuse of power was a clear violation of the Charter and should be remembered that way.
Bondi Confirmed, Sworn In as New US Attorney General
The US Senate on Tuesday night confirmed former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the new US Attorney General by a vote of 54-46.
Bondi previously served as Florida's first female attorney general for eight years and as a prosecutor in Tampa for nearly two decades.
US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office to Bondi in an Oval Office ceremony Wednesday. Bondi pledged to restore integrity to the Justice Department (DOJ) and lead the fight against violent crime.
Republican narrative
Bondi is the right person to bring fundamental reform at the DOJ and end its weaponization in order to restore public trust. She'll refocus the DOJ on its core mission of fighting crime and ensuring equal justice, moving away from politically motivated prosecutions.
Democratic narrative
Bondi's closeness to Trump, and history of supporting his false election fraud claims, put her ability to maintain independence in doubt. This threatens the DOJ's traditional separation from political pressure and could lead to selective prosecution of political opponents.