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$300B a Year Deal for Climate Cash at UN Summit Sparks Hope — and Outrage (Maria)
The authors write, “United Nations climate talks adopted a deal to inject at least $300B annually in humanity’s fight against climate change, aimed at helping developing nations cope with the ravages of global warming in tense negotiations. The $300B will go to developing countries who need the cash to wean themselves off the coal, oil and gas that causes the globe to overheat, adapt to future warming and pay for the damage caused by climate change’s extreme weather. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3T that developing countries were asking for, but it’s three times a deal of $100B a year from 2009 that is expiring. Some delegations said this deal is headed in the right direction. … But it was not quite the agreement by consensus that these meetings usually operate with and some developing nations were livid.”
Trump Still Faces Civil Lawsuits Even If Criminal Cases Go Away (Reader Steve)
From Bloomberg: “President-elect Donald Trump will bring legal baggage to the White House in January, even if he succeeds in pausing or getting rid of the four federal and state criminal indictments against him. Trump’s reelection is expected to end the two federal cases, given the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. His defense lawyers are arguing that the same immunity principles should apply to the two state prosecutions. But Trump still faces at least a dozen civil lawsuits, and the presidency won’t provide any special protections or way out. The US Supreme Court has said that officeholders aren’t immune from being sued over their private conduct.”
I Watched Orbán Destroy Hungary’s Democracy. Here’s My Advice for the Trump Era. (DonkeyHotey)
The author writes, “Trump’s goal this time is to remake the American government to enhance his power. He isn’t the first modern right-wing populist to attempt this — he is following a playbook pioneered by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. I lived through Orbán’s power grab as a member of Hungary’s parliament and have been researching populism since. I’ve learned a few things along the way that might help Trump’s opponents understand how he won and how they can fight back.”
Dining Sheds Changed the NYC Food Scene. Now Watch Them Disappear. (Russ)
From The New York Times: “Street side sheds and shanties helped keep restaurants afloat during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, for better or worse, new city rules are forcing their removal.”
Hedgehogs ‘Near Threatened’ on Red List After 30% Decline Over Past Decade (Laura)
The author writes, “Hedgehogs are now listed as ‘near threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list after a decline in numbers of at least 30% over the past decade across much of their range. While hedgehogs were once common across Europe, and were until now listed as of ‘least concern’ on the red list, they are being pushed towards extinction by urban development, intensive farming and roads, which have fragmented their habitat.”
Oldest Known Alphabet Unearthed in Ancient Syrian City — 500 Years Older Than Thought (Dana)
From Arkeonews: “Johns Hopkins University researchers uncovered evidence of the oldest alphabetic writing in human history. … During an excavation at an ancient tomb in Tell Umm-el Marra, the team, under the direction of Professor Glenn Schwartz, discovered small clay cylinders marked with what may have been alphabetic symbols. Once a major city in western Syria, Tell Umm-el Marra is renowned for being one of the first urban centers in the area.”
