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Civilians Killed in Northern Syria Missile Attack
At least 14 were killed and dozens injured on Fri. when a rocket attack hit the northern Syria town of al-Bab. The Syrian Civil Defense, known as White Helmets, said five children were among the dead.
The attack in the town, held by Turkey-backed opposition in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo, comes after the Syrian govt. blamed Turkey for an air attack that killed Syrian troops and US-backed Kurdish fighters in Aleppo.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed Friday's attack was carried out by the Syrian govt. forces in retaliation to the alleged Turkish-backed raid.
Narrative A
Though any civilian casualties are tragic, Turkey is not trying to annex Syrian land, go to war with Assad, or harm the Syrian people. Any military offensive taken by Turkey is in an attempt to free both Turkey and the Syrian population from Kurdish terrorists.
Narrative B
Turkish neo-Ottoman expansionism is in full throttle. Turkey has military assets engaged in the Levant, Horn of Africa, Caucasus, and North Africa and is eager to expand its presence even further. When interacting with powers in the region, Ankara is primarily focused on protecting and promoting its own interests, while also casting itself in the role of regional supervisor for others.
FL Gov. DeSantis Announces 20 Voter Fraud Arrests
Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Thurs. that 20 ex-felons who voted in the 2020 election have been charged for breaking the state's election laws on felon voting rights.
This comes as part of an effort by the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS), which was created by the state legislature this year.
Though he didn't specify the exact locations where the arrests were made, the Gov. said the majority were in Palm, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. If convicted, those arrested face a $5k fine and five years in prison.
Republican narrative
This is what leadership and accountability look like. While the 2020 election went smoothly, DeSantis knows those who managed to subvert the system must be punished to maintain the integrity of all votes.
Democratic narrative
Punishing 20 people out of millions of voters hardly has anything to do with election integrity and everything to do with DeSantis - a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate - intimidating voters. His attempt to look tough on crime will only discourage those who might be confused about their eligibility from voting.
Apple Report: Security Flaw Affects iPhones, iPads, Macs
On Wed., Apple issued two security reports warning of serious security vulnerabilities for iPhones, iPads, and Macs that could allow attackers to take complete control of the devices.
Apple explained that if exploited, the vulnerabilities could allow hackers to get "full admin access," including users' location, messages, contact lists, and even potentially the device's camera and microphone.
The tech company didn't disclose how the vulnerabilities were discovered but they have advised owners to update any iPhone6S or later, several models of the iPad, and Macs running macOS Monterey. Some iPod models have also been impacted.
Establishment-critical narrative
Apple, which prides itself on its privacy features, has been confronted with a breach that - due to the company's greedy information collection - has the potential to be detrimental to users. While the tech business would like customers to believe that they're fully in charge of their privacy, the reality is far from this.
Pro-establishment narrative
The recent disclosure by Apple is no reason to panic. While the vulnerability, if exploited, could allow hackers to gain access to users' device(s), there are steps that can be taken to prevent this. This is an opportunity for users to take control of their privacy. Customers should stay calm and update their device's software.
Facebook and Instagram Ban Major US Anti-Vaccine Group
On Thurs., Facebook owner Meta announced that it had removed the nonprofit Children's Health Defense (CHD) from the platform for allegedly spreading COVID misinformation.
In addition to CHD's Facebook page being unpublished, their Instagram account - also owned by Meta - was taken down. A Meta spokesperson said the organization has repeatedly violated the platform's policies specific to COVID and vaccines.
CHD, founded by Robert Kennedy Jr. that's most well known for its anti-vaccine movement, has been critical of COVID vaccines. In response to the bans, it accused the tech giant of infringing on its right to free speech.
Left narrative
This case is simple CHD has repeatedly violated Meta's policies and was therefore banned. While this is a step in the right direction, Kennedy's personal Facebook account is still active, giving him room to keep spreading dangerous health misinformation that has been debunked by reputable organizations.
Right narrative
This development highlights that Meta's policies seemingly only apply to those it doesn't agree with. The tech giant has been openly antagonistic to the ideas and opinions of the right and actively seeks to block any posts or pages that may offend the liberals. There's no consistency, which leaves conservatives to suffer the overreach of Meta's bots.
Establishment-critical narrative
Robert Kennedy's book "The Real Anthony Fauci" was never mentioned and not even attacked in mainstream media despite being the bestselling book in America ior 16 weeks. This shows how afraid the establishment is of open discussion of official medical narratives.
Day 180 Roundup: Ukraine Braces For Intensification of Attacks Following Moscow Car Bomb
Ukraine is bracing itself for an intensification of Russian missile attacks following a Moscow car bomb that killed the daughter of Aleksander Dugin – a prominent Russian philosopher and ally to Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin. A rise in the intensity of strikes is also anticipated as Ukraine is set to celebrate its independence anniversary this week.
Ukrainian officials denied responsibility for the attack on 30-year-old Darya Dugina and a former Russian MP, Ilya Ponomarev, who lives in Kyiv, claimed the attack was the work of Russia's National Republican Army, a previously unknown anti-Kremlin partisan group. However, commentators in Russia blamed Ukraine and called for strikes on "decision-making centers."
Even prior to the attack, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleged in his nightly address on Sat. that Russia "may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel," in the coming week as the country will celebrate its independence from the USSR in 1991 on Wednesday. Government officials in Kyiv were advised to work from home and large traffic queues leaving the capital were reported on Sunday.
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 12% chance of a coup or regime change in Russia during 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Somali Forces End al-Shabaab Hotel Siege
Security forces on Sat. night violently ended a siege of a hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, that had been undertaken by fighters from the al-Shabaab militant group for around 30 hours.
The assault on the popular Hayat Hotel, frequented by government officials, began on Fri. evening and left at least 21 people dead and 117 injured, according to Somalia's Ministry of Health.
Four attackers from the al-Qaeda-affiliated group - who allegedly gained access to the hotel with two car bombs - were shot dead, and 106 guests, including children and women, were rescued.
Narrative A
It's time for al-Shabaab to feel the full military force of the new Somali government, as that's the only language they understand. This, paired with international cooperation to cut them off from their flow of funds, is the only way to effectively combat the terrorist group.
Narrative B
After more than 15 years, al-Shabaab still has extensive logistical and operational capabilities. While something must be done, military confrontation alone isn't the answer. There also needs to be a focus on political rapprochement and dialogue with the militants to reduce violence.
Establishment-critical narrative
The US has deployed up to 500 soldiers to Somalia under the pretext of "fight[ing] against terrorism." Its real objective, however, is to contain China and Russia in Africa. It's also not a coincidence that Somalia is considered one of the world's last untapped oil Eldorados, while the former Somali government withdrew an oil contract with a US company in February.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though detractors of the US's commitment to stability and democracy say that Washington is only interested in Somalia because of great power competition, the US truly seeks to help stabilize a region that is particularly vulnerable to security threats and highly geostrategically important due to its proximity to shipping lanes. Al-Shabaab has become a growing threat and is still a massive obstacle to stability in the Horn of Africa that must be confronted.
Israeli Spyware Company CEO Resigns
On Sun., Israeli spyware firm NSO Group, the maker of the controversial Pegasus spyware, said that its CEO Shalev Hulio will step down, with COO Yaron Shohat to oversee a company-wide reorganization until a permanent replacement is found.
The company - which has faced legal action over allegations that its software has been used by governments and agencies to hack the phones of dissidents, activists, and journalists - will also dismiss 100 of its 700 employees.
While NSO claims its software is only sold to governments to investigate national security and crime-related matters, it was allegedly used to target Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi days before he was murdered.
Pro-establishment narrative
NSO - which only sells its software to governments and agencies after approval from Israeli's Defense Ministry - has been used to successfully catch countless criminals and terrorists. In light of allegations of misuse, the company has worked to mitigate this by cutting off parties who abuse the technology and implementing safeguards.
Establishment-critical narrative
Even though NSO claims to not intentionally sell its technology to bad actors, software like Pegasus has been used for illegal spying far too many times to be trusted. If these security issues can't be solved through regulation, then it should be shut down completely.
US, S. Korea Launch Joint Military Drills
On Mon., the US and South Korea began the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) – reportedly their biggest joint military exercises since 2017 – amid mounting tensions with the North.
The full-scale drills, which will take place until Sept. 1, are expected to involve thousands of troops, warplanes, warships, and tanks. According to the South's defense ministry, there will be at least 11 field training programs.
The exercises will have two components, with the first being focused on frustrating potential North Korean attacks and defending the greater Seoul area, and the latter involving counterattack operations.
Pro-establishment narrative
Seoul and Washington have for four years demonstrated goodwill toward Pyongyang in the hopes of creating a conducive environment for disarmament talks. However, as North Korea has failed to make good on its promises – resuming its missile tests and working on its nuclear program – this course correction is greatly needed to restore their readiness for an attack from the North.
Establishment-critical narrative
While Washington was truly committed to de-escalating tensions with North Korea, Pyongyang responded positively, halting missile tests and demolishing several testing sites. This changed when the US began to increase its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, posing an existential threat to the DPRK. The UFS is simply a provocative drill that will only escalate tensions even more.
Nerd narrative
There's a 17% chance that North Korea and South Korea will be recognized as a single sovereign state before 2045, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Singapore To Decriminalize Gay Sex
Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong announced on Sun. that the nation is set to decriminalize sex between men. However, the reforms will stop short of legalizing marriage between homosexual couples.
The city-state plans to repeal a colonial era law, known as Section 337A, that criminalizes homosexual relations between men and is considered by many to effectively ban homosexuality. Although those who violate the law can technically face up to two years in jail, it isn't currently actively enforced.
Lee has vowed that the effects of the repeal will be limited and will not compromise Singapore's traditional family and societal norms, including what children are taught in schools, what is allowed on television, and the definition of marriage, as well as general public conduct.
Left narrative
This is a positive step for LGBTQ rights in the Asia-Pacific. Societal norms have changed considerably since these laws were put in place and it's only right that the law changes to keep up with the times. Although there is still a long way to go, this is a hard won victory of love over bigotry and fear.
Right narrative
Repealing this law may be a necessary and important step in bringing equality to a marginalized community, but doing so risks starting down a slippery slope. Traditional family and marriage are the very bedrocks of Japanese society, and these must be protected at all costs.
Three Ark. Officers Suspended Over Video of Alleged Beating
Three Arkansas Police officers are facing state and federal investigations after a video from a bystander captured the officers apparently beating a suspect during an arrest. The state police hasn't disclosed the officers' names, but all three have been taken off duty.
Randall Worcester of Goose Creek, S.C., has been identified as the suspect. Police say they confronted Worcester after he reportedly spit in the face of a store clerk and made threats. Worcester allegedly pushed a deputy to the ground and punched him in the back of the head, sparking the arrest.
Worcester was taken to an area hospital, where he was examined and treated before being released into police custody.
Left narrative
Police brutality is still an ongoing concern and cameras are playing a big role in showing the world these violent arrests. From the 2020 killing of George Floyd to the beating of a teenager in Chicago just last month, this video is just the latest in a series of forceful arrests that have resulted in injured or dead suspects.
Right narrative
While the video is alarming, full details have yet to emerge. Worcester was accused of threatening a store clerk and then allegedly became physical with officers. Arkansas authorities are rightfully supporting a state and federal investigation, which will shed light on this incident.
Fauci to Step Down in December
On Mon., Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that he'll be stepping down in Dec. from his roles as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and as chief medical advisor to Pres. Joe Biden.
Fauci, 81, joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1968 and advised each of the past seven presidents, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Pres. George W. Bush in 2008.
Under Bush, Fauci helped develop PEPFAR, a global program to combat HIV/AIDS, which is estimated to have saved 21M lives.
Republican narrative
It's about time that Fauci, the man who was wrong about everything related to COVID, is ending his reign. He harmed the country with his version of politicized science and is now running from the eventual Republican investigations that will expose his incompetence.
Democratic narrative
Fauci has dedicated many decades to public service, which included not just work on COVID, but also on Ebola, anthrax, HIV/AIDS, Zika, and West Nile virus. Despite being a victim of political entanglement during the pandemic, he was able to explain the science calmly and efficiently. His retirement will leave a hole among Biden's advisors as the country continues to cope with COVID.