Libya: Missing Uranium Recovered, Say Eastern Forces
Ten drums of uranium ore that had been reported missing in Libya were recovered on Thursday near the border with Chad, according to armed forces in the country's east. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it is "actively working to verify" the reports.
The IAEA first reported on Wednesday that about 2.5 tons of natural uranium went missing from a Libyan site not controlled by the interim government, prompting nuclear safety concerns.
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi informed the organization's member states that the organization's inspectors found that ten barrels of natural uranium in the form of uranium ore concentrate were no longer present at the undisclosed location "as previously declared."
Pro-establishment narrative
While the recovery of the missing uranium is a major relief, this incident is a reminder that the country's security situation must finally be rectified. The best way to achieve this would be to hold the overdue elections this year to unite a divided country. The various factions must embark on the path of democracy for the good of Libya, and the West can be counted on to support this process. Libyans have freed themselves from the Gaddafi dictatorship, and they deserve a democratic and peaceful nation.
Establishment-critical narrative
The deeper cause underlying the conditions in which uranium can simply disappear ultimately stems from NATO's 2011 military assault on the country with Africa's largest known oil reserves. Though Libyans previously enjoyed a comparatively high standard of living, as well as safety in their own country, the North African nation plunged into chaos after its "liberation" and virtually turned into a failed state. It is the West that is to blame for the security risks resulting from Libya's fragmentation.
Myanmar Officials Visit Bangladesh Refugee Camp for Repatriation Project
A 22-member delegation from Myanmar arrived on Wednesday in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar to verify the information about Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh's camps that are enrolled for repatriation and willing to return to the Rakhine State.
Reuters reported, citing a Bangladesh official, that 1,140 Rohingya refugees are to be repatriated under this pilot project, with 711 cases having already been cleared. It is unclear when they would be going home.
Myanmar and Bangladesh are reputedly working to start repatriation before the monsoon season gets underway in the next few months. Conditions for the Muslim majority Rohingya in Rakhine have allegedly improved.
Narrative A
This is the first and most promising move to solve the Rohingya crisis, which has been disrupting South and Southeast Asia for six years. Bangladesh has long requested Myanmar to speed up the repatriation process but both COVID and the army's takeover disrupted the process. Because the situation is calmer in Rakhine now, this is the right time for repatriation to start.
Narrative B
Though every refugee must be allowed to voluntarily repatriate, conditions in Myanmar's Rakhine State are not auspicious for the sustainable return and reintegration of Rohingya refugees yet. The military junta is implementing this pilot project due to pressure from the international community, particularly from China, not out of its true goodwill. Discriminatory policies against Rohingya people are sadly likely to continue.
US May Ban TikTok Without ByteDance Stake Sale
The Biden admin. has demanded ByteDance divest its stake in the video app TikTok or face a possible US ban. The move is the most dramatic in a series of recent steps taken by American officials and legislators concerned that user data could potentially be passed on to the PRC.
This policy change represents a major shift for the Biden administration, which has come under fire from some Republicans who allege that the admin. hasn't taken a tough enough stance on the perceived security threat posed by the app.
According to TikTok executives, ByteDance has 60% of its shares owned by global investors, 20% owned by its employees, and another 20% owned by its owners. However, the owners' shares carry outsized voting rights.
Anti-China narrative
TikTok developer ByteDance has come under increased scrutiny from governments and regulators over fears that Beijing could gain access to the company's database — something that could be used to potentially harvest users' data to spy on Western nations to advance China's interests. This dramatic move by the Biden administration demanding divestment or a nationwide ban on TikTok is based on well-founded security concerns.
Pro-China narrative
The US government has not presented any meaningful evidence that the TikTok app poses a threat to national security. Instead, it has attempted to spread misinformation and unreasonably suppress legitimate private firms. The US crackdown on TikTok is nothing less than xenophobic bullying. They should stop the harassment and start providing a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for foreign companies.
Nerd narrative
There's a 25% chance that the US will ban Tiktok before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
South Korea, Japan Renew Ties At Tokyo 'Fence-Mending' Summit
South Korean Pres. Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday met with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in Tokyo for a summit to repair historically strained relations.
They agreed to restore "shuttle diplomacy" and expand cooperation in several areas, such as Seoul's proposal to settle a dispute over wartime labor and Kishida vowing to adhere to the 1998 declaration expressing "deep remorse" for Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the two leaders are preparing to announce the resumption of a bilateral security dialogue, which has been suspended since 2018, after Yoon stated he expects to revitalize security cooperation.
Narrative A
Historical disputes between Seoul and Tokyo will not cease overnight as they are rooted deeply in both nations, so this summit means little in the improvement of their relationship. If Yoon insists on bowing to the US-Japan strategy of creating a strong, unified front against China, he will risk infuriating domestic public opinion and sacrificing his country's national interests only to serve as a pawn in the destabilization of Asia.
Narrative B
Despite their long-standing controversies, Japan and South Korea have no other option than to ease tensions as they face mounting threats from North Korea and a rising China. The two like-minded democratic nations have many incentives to deepen their cooperation, which is vital to counter the growing influence of violent, authoritarian countries in the region.
Nerd narrative
There's a 72% chance that the Japan Self-Defense Forces will have tested a Tomahawk missile by mid-2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Shows Russian Jet Footage in Black Sea Drone Encounter
On Thursday, the US European Command released declassified video footage from the encounter between a US surveillance drone and Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea earlier in the week.
The 42-second clip — part of an encounter that the Pentagon said lasted between 30 and 40 minutes — shows a Russian Su-27 jet approach the back of the US MQ-9 Reaper drone before dumping fuel as it passes over. In another portion of the clip, a Russian jet repeats the action, this time closer to the drone and seemingly disrupting the video transmission. Once video returns, damage can be seen to the drone's propeller, supporting the US case that there was contact between the two aircrafts.
The incident caused the drone to crash in the Black Sea and prompted a call between US Defense Sec. Austin Lloyd and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday — their first contact since last October. In a briefing after the meeting, Lloyd said: "We take any potential for escalation very seriously. And that’s why I believe it’s important to keep the lines of communication open."
Pro-Russia narrative
This collision over the Black Sea happened because the West has repeatedly refused to take action to avert dangerous mid-air incidents. Despite the attempts of numerous Russian delegations to address the potential for risky proximity between aircraft — especially around the borders of the alliance and Russia — western countries have pointedly ignored the warnings. The US purposely flew into this restricted zone, but Russian fighter jets avoided escalating the situation by refusing to engage their weapons.
Anti-Russia narrative
The Russian fighter pilots deliberately made a US drone unflyable by recklessly crashing into the MQ-9. The aggressive actions taken against the drone — which was merely carrying out routine operations in the airspace — forced US officials to deliberately crash the object. Moscow's denial of any culpability in this incident is ludicrous.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that there will be more than 4 deaths between Russia and NATO forces outside of Ukraine before July 1, 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US: Maternal Mortality Hits Highest Level Since 1965
The maternal mortality rate in the US rose 40% to 1,205 deaths in 2021, compared with 861 deaths in 2020 and 754 deaths in 2019, according to a report released Thursday by the National Center for Health Statistics.
The dramatic rise, which was compounded by COVID, has pushed the maternal mortality rate to 33 deaths per 100K live births – the highest since 1965.
Furthermore, the report found the maternal mortality rate among Black women was 2.6 times the rate for White women, at 69.9 deaths per 100K live births.
Narrative A
COVID had a dramatic and tragic effect on maternal mortality rates, but we cannot let that fact obscure the reality that structural racism, systemic discrimination, and health inequities compounded the crisis. Until issues related to income inequality, family planning, education, and racial injustice are addressed, pregnancy-related deaths will continue to soar in the country and disproportionately effect the most vulnerable.
Narrative B
These results are disheartening, but not surprising considering the myriad of external facts causing them such as the COVID pandemic and the influence of higher rates of diabetes and obesity. While the US must address these crucial issues, pregnant women also have agency and could take steps to lower their mortality risk, including by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and ceasing the use of any substances.
US Charges Chinese Businessman Guo Wengui With Fraud
Guo Wengui, a Chinese businessman based in New York, has been charged by US authorities with leading a billion-dollar fraud scheme alongside his business partner Kin Ming Je — a dual Hong Kong-British citizen who's not yet in custody.
He’s been charged with 11 criminal counts, including securities fraud, wire fraud, and concealment of money laundering. He was arrested Wednesday and pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan federal court.
Guo, an associate of former Pres. Donald Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, allegedly promised outsized investment returns via his company, GTV Media. He reportedly used some of the funds to purchase personal items, including a New Jersey mansion, a $37M yacht, and a $3.5M Ferrari.
Democratic narrative
From obscure and inconsistent names to wild accusations against other Chinese dissidents and now this latest scandal, there's no telling where Guo's allegiance really lies. What is clear, however, is that Bannon-comrade Guo is the latest indication that Trump's MAGA circle is surrounded by corruption.
Pro-Trump narrative
If found guilty, Guo should undoubtedly bear the brunt of the US justice system, but politics should be left out of this case. Guo is connected to a range of politicians, including former British PM Tony Blair of the left-wing Labour party, and assuming guilt by a distant association is dangerous.
Israel Army: Bomber Suspected of Coming From Lebanon Killed
The Israeli army announced that an armed man suspected of entering the country via Lebanon blew up a car before being killed by Israeli forces not long after, raising the risk of renewed tensions with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese Shiite armed group and political party.
The alleged attacker placed a roadside bomb that seriously injured a driver near Megiddo Junction in northern Israel on Monday. The military said that he was stopped at a checkpoint soon after before being shot and killed, and was allegedly wearing an explosive vest and was armed.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated on Thursday that those involved in the attack would be found and held accountable, saying, "we will find the right timing and appropriate manner to hit back."
Pro-Israel narrative
Israel is facing an Iranian-backed axis of terror. Though the explosive used raises many questions, and Hezbollah might not have directly launched the attack, that doesn't mean Iran wasn't involved. Hamas and PIJ are both backed by Iran, and both groups have increased their activity in the northern West Bank, close to northern Israel. However, this could still be a terrorist attack unrelated to Iran, as a thorough investigation needs to be carried out.
Pro-Palestine narrative
It's unclear if Hezbollah was involved or not, but either way, attacks like this are a symptom of Israel's occupation of Palestine, as well as areas in Lebanon and Syria. Violence is a terrible thing, but the violence of occupation is an everyday occurrence that is far greater than any attack like this.
Dutch Farmers Protest Party Wins Victory in Provincial Election
The upstart Farmer-citizen movement (BBB) is set to become the largest party in the upper house of parliament following Dutch provincial elections on Wednesday.
The BBB party, or BoerBurgerBeweging, soared to national prominence after widespread protests against the government’s climate and environment policies, and it's set to win more Senate seats than PM Mark Rutte’s conservative VVD party.
A first exit poll projected BBB won 15 out of 75 seats in the Senate, which has the power to block legislation agreed upon in the Lower House of parliament. Meanwhile, the VVD is forecast to drop from 12 to 10 seats.
Establishment-critical narrative
This is a big win for the BBB — and the Dutch people in general — which has fought back against globalist tyranny. While the EU shills in the Dutch government tried to destroy Dutch farming and essentially confiscate land illegally, Dutch voters have said “enough is enough” and stood up for their rights, proving that people can still stand together and send a shocking blow to the establishment.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Dutch elections are a scary reminder of how conspiracy theories and anti-establishment rhetoric can infect national, and even global, politics. Dutch extremists pedaled dangerous ideas like the “great replacement” theory as well as climate change denial to rally voters. Unfortunately, this type of strategy will likely be echoed in other parts of the world.
GOP Governors Align to Oppose 'ESG' Investing
Nineteen GOP governors, led by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, on Thursday announced in a joint press release their opposition to an investing strategy known as ESG ["Environmental, Social and Governance"].
ESG is an acronym for prioritizing environmental, social, and governance when investing — a philosophy that has drawn much criticism from conservatives in the US.
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming have joined Florida in the announcement.
Republican narrative
ESG is a dangerous menace to America, as it weaponizes investments against citizens through woke ideology. Leaders and residents of all freedom-loving states should do whatever’s necessary to prevent its harmful proliferation.
Democratic narrative
This is just another misguided shot in the Republicans’ war against so-called woke culture. ESG investing has been around for decades, and it aims to hold to account investors and managers of companies that have negative health or environmental impacts on society.