DRC: 15 Killed in Protests Over UN Troops
At least fifteen people were killed and roughly 50 wounded on Tues., during the second day of violent anti-UN demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) cities of Goma and Butembo.
Demonstrations began on Mon. when hundreds of people attacked and looted a UN warehouse in Goma, demanding the mission leave the country.
The protests were called for by a faction of the ruling party's youth wing. They are accusing the UN mission, known as Monusco, of failing to protect civilians from violence attributed to rebel groups such as M23.
Establishment-critical narrative
UN troops have been in the DRC for over 20 years, and instead of delivering on their mission and protecting the Congolese from rebel groups, all they've done is advance the interests of foreign countries. It's time for the UN to go.
Pro-establishment narrative
The attacks in Goma aren't only unacceptable but counterproductive to obtaining the help the DRC needs. They actively hurt the UN Peacekeeping mission, and may even constitute a war crime. Congolese authorities must investigate these incidents and bring those responsible to justice.
Infowars Founder Ordered to Pay $49.3M
On Fri., jurors in Texas ordered Infowars founder Alex Jones to pay $45.2M in punitive damages - on top of the $4.1M in compensatory damages ordered the prior day - for making false claims about the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. The comments have since been retracted.
The amount levied against Jones is far from the $150M that the plaintiffs sued for, but the jury is expected to deliberate on whether Jones owes any punitive damages in a separate, shorter trial on Friday.
Jones had claimed multiple times that the Sandy Hook shooting, which killed 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, Conn., was a "hoax", a "false flag," and even "manufactured." However, in 2019, he acknowledged that the incident was real.
Left narrative
Jones is a notorious grifter who has spread damaging conspiracy theories for profit. He even later admitted that the Sandy Hook shooting actually happened and wasn't committed by "crisis actors." Justice has now put an end to his dangerous public platform.
Right narrative
While Jones' response to the tragic event may have been inappropriate and insensitive, Democrat law firms are weaponizing this case to tarnish his reputation and undermine the first Amendment. Their goal is clear to prevent Americans from questioning the establishment.
Nerd narrative
There is a 1% chance that Alex Jones will ever hold high Federal office in the US before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Dems Introduce Bill to Allow Foreign Aid for Abortions
On Thurs., a group of Senate Democrats introduced a bill to permit US funding for abortion overseas.
The legislation - led by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and nearly two dozen co-sponsors - would amend the Foreign Assistance Act and repeal the 1973 Helm Amendment, which banned all US international assistance funds from being used for abortion care.
Although the Helm Amendment includes exceptions for rape, incest, and medical emergencies, some say the rules are unclear and effectively stop countries from providing abortions out of fear of losing healthcare funds.
Democratic narrative
Although this bill is unlikely to pass, it's part of a broader effort to fight for abortion rights both domestically and internationally. It also provides an opportunity to place Republicans on record before the November elections, and reaffirm Democrats as the undeniable party for protecting a woman's right to choose.
Republican narrative
This is a continued attempt by Democrats to defy the decision-making of the judiciary ever since the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Despite their recurring failure, their machinations - including even bringing foreign aid into the debate - will inevitably continue.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Casey-era abortion rights will be granted in at least 57% of US states by May 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 155 Roundup: UK Warns of Higher Nuclear War Risk; Ukraine Says Operation to Re-Take Kherson 'Already Begun'
Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the UK's National Security Adviser, said the West faces an escalated risk of nuclear war with Russia and China because of a "breakdown of communication." Speaking at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Wed., he said there was now a greater risk of "rapid escalation to strategic conflict."
It comes as Ukraine's presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said the operation to re-take the southern city of Kherson "has already begun" following rocket strikes on the Antonivskiy bridge, a key Russian supply route, on Wednesday. He added that Russia was already conducting a "massive redeployment" of forces to the regions of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
On Thurs., Ukrainian officials alleged that a Russian missile strike on the northern region of Chernihiv was carried out from the territory of Belarus. The claim couldn't be independently confirmed. There were no reports of civilian injuries.
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
Nerd narrative
There's a 32% chance that Russian or Belarusian troops will cross the land border between Belarus and either the Volyn or Rivne oblasts by 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
North Korea Says It's "Ready To Mobilize" Nuclear Deterrent
Kim Jong-un claimed on Wed. that North Korea is ready to use its nuclear war deterrent "accurately and promptly," while accusing the US of "demonizing" the country to justify "dangerous, illegal hostile acts."
Speaking at the 69th Korean War armistice anniversary event, he warned South Korea that their government and military would be destroyed in the case of pre-emptive strikes against Pyongyang.
Kim Jong-un has accused both the South and the US of bringing the peninsula to the "brink of war" as they prepare to carry out their first large-scale joint military drill since 2018 next month.
Pro-establishment narrative
North Korea's actions pose a severe threat to the stability of the Korean peninsula and the security of the rest of the world. The US has so far failed to negotiate with Pyongyang an end to nuclear weapons in exchange for humanitarian aid - it's time for some new ideas about how to resolve this threat.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though Kim may seem like a madman, he's simply using the only leverage he has in dealing with South Korea and the US. His nuclear ambitions are designed to seek political gains and sanctions relief after successive American administrations derailed diplomatic routes to denuclearization.
Nerd narrative
There is a 34% chance that there will be at least one fatality from nuclear detonation in North Korea by 2050 if there's an offensive nuclear detonation anywhere, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Iraq: Sadr's Followers Begin Sit-In in Parliament
Supporters of Iraqi cleric and politician Moqtada al-Sadr erected tents and prepared for an open-ended sit-in at Iraq's parliament on Sun., a move that could prolong a political deadlock already plaguing the nation.
Wed. had seen protestors use ropes and chains to topple concrete walls around the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, then flood into parliament after confronting security forces.
Following Wednesday's breach, Iraq's PM, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, called on protesters to leave the building while the crowd waved flags, took photos, and chanted. The demonstration finally ended after Sadr called on his supporters to leave.
Narrative A
Despite Sadr's position against the West, he may be an unlikely asset to US interests, primarily due to his opposition to Iran. The future of the Sadrist movement depends on preventing Iran-aligned militias from expanding their influence within the state, and the West should make sure it at least tacitly accepts Sadr. As the expression goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Narrative B
Sadr, who is known for stirring the pot in Iraqi politics, is pushing the country to the edge. Though popular with many in the Shi'a community, his unruly supporters coupled with his fierce rhetoric could plunge Iraq into civil strife.
Cynical narrative
Sadr has already lost to Iran, and antics like this aren't going to change that. The firebrand cleric did quite well in last year's elections, but his inability to form a government has led to a significant loss of ground to Iranian-backed groups.
Recession Fears: US Economy Shrinks for Second Consecutive Quarter
The US Commerce Dept. on Thurs. reported that US GDP shrank 0.9% from April through June, the second quarterly economic decline in a row following the first quarter's 1.6% drop.
While two consecutive quarters of falling GDP meet one unofficial criterion of a recession, the Dept's National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - the official judge of recessions in the US - takes into account additional factors including employment, sales, income, and output.
Although the NBER report showed spending slowed, along with a slight decline in business and housing investment related to increased interest rates, the unemployment rate and job market held steady.
Republican narrative
Just a few days ago Biden said we wouldn't face a recession, but he can't hide from his own Commerce Dept.'s report. The White House is scrambling to spin the concept of what a recession means, but the American people – whose lives have been severely impacted by the current state of the economy – literally aren't buying it.
Democratic narrative
The two-quarter-declining GDP rule is misleading. While GDP makes up a portion of the NBER's deliberations, the committee takes into account other indicators when determining a recession - which hasn't actually been announced. With the current job market, the Biden admin. and the NBER are right to not induce panic things aren't as bad as some people claim.
Nerd narrative
There is an 80% chance that the US will enter a recession before Jan. 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Japan: Troop of Monkeys Attack City Residents
On Wed., city officials in Yamaguchi, Japan announced that they are hunting for a group of monkeys that have attacked and wounded nearly 50 people. Authorities have captured and killed just one monkey so far.
City officials have been tracking the rogue monkeys for weeks as they assaulted residents, mostly leaving mild scratches and bites.
The monkeys, identified as the Japanese macaques, are commonly found throughout the community and are considered a nuisance because of their proclivity to eat crops and enter properties.
Narrative A
The COVID pandemic has blurred safe boundaries between humans and wild animals. With shops, schools, and public infrastructure closed and people at home, many animals began infiltrating human habitats. Expect more acts of aggression from our primate cousins as humans reclaim our pre-pandemic turf.
Narrative B
This pre-dates COVID; humans have a long history of decimating primates. 66% of primates today are vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered and 85% of primates are in decline. Ruthless hunting and deforestation are bringing us perilously closer to tragic extinction events. Issues like poverty and climate change are driving this, and primate stress is a "canary in the coal mine" for larger systemic issues facing humanity.
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