NGOs: Hunger Killing One Person Every Four Seconds
On Tuesday, in an open letter to world leaders gathering at the 77th UN General Assembly, more than 200 NGOs called for decisive international action to end the spiraling global hunger crisis that is reportedly killing one person every four seconds.
According to the open letter, the global hunger crisis has been fueled by a deadly mix of poverty, social injustice, gender inequality, conflict, climate change, and economic shocks. These factors mean more than 345M people are now experiencing acute hunger, a number twice that of 2019.
Despite promises from world leaders that famine would never be allowed to happen again in the 21st century, Somalia is once again facing the threat. In all, there are 50M people on the brink of starvation in 45 countries.
Establishment-critical narrative
Extreme poverty and hunger are global emergencies, but sadly aren't treated as such. Developing countries all over the world are facing unimaginable poverty-catalyzed trauma. Much of the rich world has stepped up to support Ukraine, but has failed to recognize that Ukraine is just one of many countries in dire need of aid.
Pro-establishment narrative
The West is doing what it can, but the global food crisis has been exacerbated by unforeseeable events, including the COVID pandemic and now Russia's war on Ukraine. With Ukraine being the world's fifth largest exporter of grain – reportedly making up 40% of the World Food Programme’s wheat stock – the resumption of its exports should help ease some of the emergency. However, the only way to truly abate the global food crisis is to end the war.
Narrative C
The hunger crisis cannot merely be solved by raw international aid, but with the recognition that food insecurity is about gender. Women farmers comprise 60% of the agricultural labor force in low-income countries, but are systematically denied the resources they need to improve or even carry out agricultural practices. Wealthier nations must urgently intervene to support hard-working women farmers.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that at least 1.06K million people will be in severe food insecurity in 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Fed Announces Fifth Rate Hike Since March
In its latest move to fight record high inflation, the Federal Reserve ("Fed") on Wednesday issued a 0.75% interest-rate hike, bringing its benchmark lending rate to between 3% and 3.25% — the highest seen since early 2008.
This was the fifth rate hike since March and the third consecutive three-quarter point rise. The central bank indicated that further increases should be expected.
According to new projections, rates are forecast to reach 4.4% by the end of the year before topping at 4.6% in 2023. This is up from the previous estimation of 3.4% and 3.8%, respectively.
Establishment-critical narrative
What the Fed is forgetting to factor into the inflation equation are supply chain issues, which are also contributing to rising prices. If supply bottlenecks continue, then these rate hikes could add to an already growing unemployment rate without actually bringing prices down — if that becomes reality, the US is looking at a devastating recession.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though no one knows yet whether we're headed toward a recession, what we do know is that the economy must be cooled down in order to fight inflation. The Fed's only goal, for now, should be bringing prices down, which is what they've rightly committed to doing.
NY Attorney General Sues Trump Family and Business
On Wednesday, NY Attorney General Letitia James announced a civil lawsuit against Donald Trump and members of his family after years of investigating the financial practices of the Trump Organization.
The 221-page lawsuit alleges the company engaged in a years-long scheme including over 200 alleged instances of inflating property values across its international real estate empire.
The lawsuit - also focusing on Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump - seeks a $250M penalty, as well as a ban on doing any business in NY. It would disallow Trump and the organization from buying any real estate in NY for the next five years.
Democratic narrative
This lawsuit is only the latest of mounting legal troubles for Trump. While the Trump Organization has repeatedly sought to stall and settle the investigation - even stooping to odd accusations of reverse racism - there is no stopping the tremendous heap of trouble that Trump, his family, and his businesses will face.
Pro-Trump narrative
The hyper-political nature of this lawsuit couldn't be clearer, as Letitia James campaigned on her desire to go after Trump, harassed him and his family for years, and has now followed through on her promise. She once claimed Trump's presidency was "illegitimate" - now she's embarking on a blatant witch hunt.
Nerd narrative
There's a 37% chance that any US court will rule that Donald J Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency before January 20, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Somalia: US Military States 27 al-Shabaab Fighters Killed
The US military stated on Wednesday that it killed 27 al-Shabaab fighters in an airstrike on Sunday. This took place in the central Somali region of Hiraan, where the Somali military and forces of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) launched an offensive against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group last month.
According to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), the "defensive strikes," in which no civilians were reportedly injured, were carried out at the request of the Somali federal government while the Islamist extremists were attacking federal forces near Buulobarde, a town north of the capital Mogadishu.
AFRICOM claimed the US airstrikes, reportedly the sixth this year, allowed the Somali National Army (SNA) and ATMIS forces to regain the initiative and continue the offensive against the jihadists. Mogadishu is also now said to be supporting clan-based militias, which analysts say could prove crucial in the fight against al-Shabaab.
Establishment-critical narrative
The fact that Mogadishu has turned to the US, of all countries, for assistance in its fight against al-Shabaab is just another example of America's desire for regional dominance. It's certainly no coincidence that Washington decided in May to redeploy troops to Somalia under the guise of "fighting terrorism." In reality, Washington is primarily concerned with containing the growing influence of China, but also Russia, in this strategically important region.
Pro-establishment narrative
After former Pres. Trump decided to withdraw US troops from Somalia, there was an uptick in terrorist violence. The fact that the Somali federal government is now making progress fighting al-Shabaab terrorists is also due to the return of US troops to the country and America's military cooperation with Mogadishu. Since al-Shabaab also poses a direct threat to the US itself, defeating the terrorists is also a matter of national security.
Trump Docs: Appeals Court Lifts Hold on Classified Records
On Wednesday, the Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request by federal prosecutors to block a lower court's decision to halt the use of classified documents seized from Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence.
The three-judge panel agreed with the Dept. of Justice (DOJ), arguing that an injunction that delayed the use of classified material “risks imposing real and significant harm on the United States and the public.”
The DOJ argued that its investigation had been impeded by the order of US District Judge Aileen Cannon barring investigators from continuing to use the classified documents until a "special master" had completed a separate, independent review of the material.
Democratic narrative
The appeals court has demolished the Trump legal team’s rationale and ignored his futile attempts to stop the DOJ investigation. This is a victory for the rule of law and proves that Trump, like every other citizen, has to abide by the rules. No one is above the law.
Pro-Trump narrative
The courts neglected the public interest in getting an independent look at these documents. Instead, they've accepted the DOJ’s word as gold, despite many recent examples of government lies in warrants. The DOJ has been weaponized by Democrats to support shameless campaigning before the November midterms.
Nerd narrative
There is an 18% chance that Donald Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
World Leaders Pledge Billions to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria
On Wednesday, a donor conference on the sidelines of the UN's annual General Assembly raised a record $14.25B for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. World leaders seek to fight the deadly diseases after progress was delayed by the COVID pandemic.
The fund started in 2002 and seeks $18B for the next three-year funding cycle from governments, civil society, and the private sector. Before Wednesday's conference, it had already raised more than a third of this total.
US Pres. Joe Biden hosted the conference in New York and said the funding is crucial to combating the diseases. Under US law, Washington — which pledged $6B — cannot provide more than one-third of the funding, a limit designed to serve as a matching challenge for other nations.
Pro-establishment narrative
Although the job is far from done, the conference was a huge success and an encouraging display of global solidarity. The world has demonstrated that HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis can be defeated through science, leadership, and a critical mass of resources. This latest development should be celebrated.
Establishment-critical narrative
While this is a step in the right direction, unfortunately, it isn't enough. Even when the UK and Italy make their pledges, the total will likely not meet the planned target — a failure that will mean fewer screening campaigns, fewer treatments, less funding for community health centers, and less strengthening of health systems.
Nerd narrative
There's a 21% chance that the number of people globally living with HIV/AIDS in 2037 will be at least 36.9M as per the median estimate from UNAIDS, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 211 Roundup: Russia and Ukraine Exchange Prisoners, Protests Erupt in Russia
On Wednesday, Russia and Ukraine carried out the largest prisoner swap since the war began - almost 300 people were exchanged, including 10 foreigners and the commanders who led the Ukrainian defense of Mariupol earlier this year. The swap, which was organized with the help of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, saw 215 Ukrainian fighters released by Russia and 55 pro-Russia fighters released by Ukraine.
Elsewhere, at the UN, US Pres. Biden condemned Russia. He claimed that Moscow has “shamelessly violated the core tenets” of the international body with its war in Ukraine, and that nuclear threats against Europe showed “reckless disregard” for Russia’s responsibilities as a signer of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Meanwhile, protests have erupted across Russia following Russian Pres. Putin's announcement of a "partial mobilization," with at least 1,252 people from 38 cities being detained according to OVD-Info, a human rights watchdog that monitors police activity.
Pro-establishment 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 is a 15% chance that Ukraine will receive a security guarantee from another country before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Pentagon: Lack of Oversight on Junior ROTC Abuse
On Wednesday, US Pentagon officials said that "additional oversight is necessary" to stop alleged sexual abuse in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC), stating that measures to better supervise the program are being discussed.
This comes as Pentagon officials were questioned in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about a report accusing JRTOC instructors of sexually abusing and harassing students.
In July, the New York Times alleged that at least 33 instructors were charged with sexual misconduct involving students over the past five years, a higher-than-average rate compared to civilian high school teachers.
Establishment-critical narrative
While it may have some positive aspects, the JROTC program is more troublesome than helpful as school districts are responsible for its oversight, not the military. On top of that, the very nature of its activities allows low-trained military veterans to have an unusual level of access to teenagers while teaching them obedience to orders, making students more vulnerable to sexual assault.
Pro-establishment narrative
While these cases of sexual misconduct are deplorable, they don't represent the experience of the vast majority of those who take part in the JROTC. Overall this program inspires patriotic American values in students, offering a place for teenagers to get involved with a community, find their voice, and transform their lives for the better.
Virginia Thomas Agrees to Interview with Jan. 6 Committee
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, a conservative activist and wife of SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas, has agreed to be interviewed by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
Having been vocal about her belief that the election was stolen from Trump, Thomas became a person of interest for the committee after communications between her and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows surfaced, as well as with Arizona and Wisconsin lawmakers.
The committee also became aware of emails between Thomas and Trump lawyer John Eastman related to what’s become known as the “fake electors” plan, by which some states would reportedly nominate a Trump-aligned slate of electors.
Democratic narrative
The committee’s great work has led to the Dept. of Justice investigation into Jan. 6 and several grand juries nationwide. Ginny Thomas had strong connections to plots to stop the election from being certified, so testifying before the committee might be her best chance to avoid criminal charges. She's a major piece of the puzzle to getting to the truth.
Pro-Trump narrative
Ginny Thomas is a public citizen who so far has only been proven to have exercised her legal right to question election results. Calling her before the committee seems more like a nefarious plot to attack SCOTUS – by getting her husband to recuse himself from related cases – than a legitimate part of this witchhunt of an investigation.
Former Khmer Rouge Leader Loses Genocide Appeal
On Thursday, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), a UN-backed hybrid court established to prosecute alleged Khmer Rouge war crimes, upheld a genocide conviction and life sentence imposed on the regime's last surviving leader, Khieu Samphan.
In 2018, Samphan was convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. He claimed not to have any real decision-making powers, and filed an appeal against his conviction in 2021.
Up to 2M people –a quarter of Cambodia's population– are believed to have been killed by the Khmer Rouge regime that ruled the country between 1975-79, including about 20K ethnic Vietnamese and between 100K to 500K Cham Muslims.
Pro-establishment narrative
The end of this trial offers some long-needed closure for the people of Cambodia and the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime. Samphan was clearly involved with genocide and crimes against humanity, which cannot go unpunished. This trial shows that leaders must be held accountable, no matter how much time has passed.
Establishment-critical narrative
This lengthy and expensive trial didn't accomplish very much. The majority of the leaders died without facing any real accountability for their part in the genocide of thousands of innocent citizens. The majority of Cambodians want to be able to forget about this part of the nation's history and move forward.