The Bulletin

• Is Azerbaijan safe to travel? The fatal crash of a plane that departed from Azerbaijan has raised questions about the safety of traveling to the country. Here's important travel information.

• Former Indian PM dies: Manmohan Singh, India's former prime minister, died on Thursday at age 92 and is survived by his wife and three daughters.

• Probe into Netanyahu's wife: Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara ordered an investigation on Thursday into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, over allegedly harassing political opponents and a witness in her husband's corruption trial. Get the latest updates.

• SNAP benefits: As 2025 approaches, there will be a number of small changes and improvements to the government program. Newsweek has broken down what you need to know ahead of the new year.

• US fighter jet update: The United States Air Force is continuing developments on its Next Generation Air Dominance fighter jet, Newsweek learned on Thursday, following the emergence of footage of two new Chinese combat aircraft prototypes.

• Americans expect fuller wallets: Americans are expecting to have fuller wallets in 2025, according to a new survey by WalletHub. Here's what else it reveals.

The rundown: With a new year and a new White House administration looming, Newsweek spoke with some of the leading economic and political experts about what inflation could look like in 2025. Here's what they said.

Why it matters: President-elect Donald Trump put the economy at the heart of his successful campaign, and with his imminent return to the White House. Experts suggest that U.S. inflation in 2025 could remain near 2 percent if prudent policies are maintained, according to Peter Loge, a former adviser within the Obama administration who emphasizes the limited control presidents have over the economy. One area that economic experts have been highlighting as a potential cause of higher inflation is tariffs. Trump's proposed 25 percent tariff policy has already sparked concern, as it would impact Canada and Mexico, which are the U.S.'s largest trading partners.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Mortgage Rates 2025: Predictions for Next Year

TL/DR: The economy was the most important issue for voters in the 2024 election and dominated much of the discussion between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

What happens now? Trump's economic agenda will begin in earnest in late January, when he is sworn into office. Provided there are no upsets in the Senate appointment process, financier Scott Bessent will join his Cabinet as treasury secretary.

Deeper reading Will Inflation Come Down in 2025? Experts Weigh In

The rundown: Two legal scholars have suggested Democrats should block President-elect Donald Trump from taking office, even as party leaders reject any such efforts and MAGA Republicans decry the very idea. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters: Evan A. Davis and David M. Schulte, two experts with extensive legal experience, wrote an op-ed for The Hill in which they argued that Democrats would be within their rights to block Trump's certification on grounds of "an oath-breaking insurrection" that makes Trump "ineligible to be president." The argument both men put forward relies on the 14th Amendment. The authors called evidence of Trump's involvement in the insurrection "overwhelming" and, therefore, disqualifying. The authors noted that the Supreme Court's decision on Colorado's plan to leave Trump off the primary ballot, which the court rejected, would likely be the main defense that critics of their plan would use.

Read more in-depth coverage:
DOJ Wants to Block Capitol Rioter From Attending Trump's Inauguration

TL/DR: Democrats have spent a year saying they will not block Trump's certification, and some legal experts in March 2024 already floated a few of the strategies that Davis and Schulte suggested.

What happens now? Congress will meet on January 6, 2025, to hold a session in which it will review and certify the votes for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Nerves will remain high after the events of 2021, but Democrats have shown no willingness to block certification.

Deeper reading Proposed Plan to Block Donald Trump from Taking Office Sparks MAGA Fury

The rundown: Marianne Williamson, an author who has run twice for president, announced on Thursday that she will be running to be chair of the Democratic National Committee. Know more about her.

Why it matters: Williamson joins a long list of candidates running to be DNC chair as Jaime Harrison is not seeking reelection. Williamson, 72, went on to list the "political theatre" supported by President-elect Donald Trump and how the "MAGA phenomenon" poses "challenges" to how politics are conducted. She laid out her own plan for the party, looking to move forward after losing the White House and Senate in November. Williamson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and 2024. Her past policies have included calling for an end to the war on drugs, supporting abortion access and choice, increasing the minimum wage, addressing climate change and creating a Department of Peace.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Joe Biden Not in Charge, Advisers Running 'Shadow Presidency'—DNC member

TL/DR: Williamson ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 and 2024.

What happens now? Forums featuring qualifying candidates will be held in January. In order to qualify, a candidate must submit a nominating statement signed by at least 40 committee members by January 25. The 448 voting members will elect the party's newest chair, as well as other officers, on February 1. The party's winter meeting will be in National Harbor, Maryland.

Deeper reading Who's Running for DNC Chair? Marianne Williamson Throws Hat in Ring

The rundown: South Korean Parliament voted to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, just days after his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over declaring martial law. Here's what's behind the unprecedented political turmoil shaking South Korea.

Why it matters: The opposition Democratic Party voted to impeach Han for failing to immediately appoints three judges to fill vacancies at the country's Constitutional Court. The latest move further deepens the political crisis engulfing the Asian nation, which is a major ally of the United States. The single-chamber National Assembly passed Han's impeachment motion with a 192-0 vote, with lawmakers with the governing People Power Party boycotting the vote. Earlier in December, Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's president who was impeached on December 14, defied requests from investigators to appear for questioning over his martial law decree.

Read more in-depth coverage:
South Korean President Refuses Questioning Amid Martial Law Rebellion Probe

TL/DR: Multiple agencies, including the police, the anti-corruption bureau, and the Defense Ministry, are pursuing charges of rebellion and abuse of power against Yoon.

What happens now? Han's impeachment means he will be stripped of the powers and duties of the president until the Constitutional Court decides whether to dismiss or reinstate him, according to the Associated Press.

Deeper reading South Korea Impeaches Second President in Two Weeks

The rundown: Ukrainian troops have taken their first North Korean soldier as prisoner, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap News. The soldier, who sustained unspecified injuries, was captured by Ukrainian troops in Kursk. More about the capture.

Why it matters: The capture of the first North Korean soldier in Kursk is significant because it shows that Democratic People's Republic of Korean troops (DPRK) may not be prepared to continue fighting Ukrainian soldiers. As North Korean troops have not engaged in combat since 1953 and casualty numbers have recently risen, they may not be able to sustain Russia's war with Ukraine. The DPRK soldier is one of up to 11,000 troops deployed to Kursk to fight alongside Russian forces, and they have been engaging in combat with Ukrainian troops since earlier this month.

Read more in-depth coverage:
North Korea To Deploy More Troops to Russia After Over '1,000' Killed: Seoul

TL/DR: South Korea's military has also predicted that North Korea will deploy additional soldiers to Kursk after sustaining so many casualties, and that they may send suicidal drones to Russia to further aid the war effort.

What happens now? It remains to be seen whether Ukrainian troops can capture more North Korean soldiers or other Russian valuables to gain leverage in the war with Moscow.

Deeper reading Ukraine Captures First North Korean Soldier