Fiji's Military Called in After Disputed Election
On Thursday, the Fiji Police requested military assistance to maintain security and stability in the country due to alleged threats against minority groups, just over a week after outgoing PM Frank Bainimarama lost power in a general election.
The decision was reportedly made after police and military leaders met with Bainimarama, who has refused to concede defeat. On Wednesday, his FijiFirst party's general secretary stressed he remained as incumbent PM and cast doubt on the validity of the internal voting in the kingmaking Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).
This comes as SODELPA leaders narrowly decided by 16-14 to back opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka instead of Bainimarama, forming a tripartite coalition with the People's Alliance party and the National Federation party.
Pro-establishment narrative
Despite allegations of electoral fraud, Fijians have much to celebrate as they are looking at the first peaceful transfer of power in their history. Political parties working together for change reflects the will of the people, and this new government will be a momentous occasion for Fijians. It's time to close the book on the tumult and disrespect for the rule of law that has colored politics on this island for too long, put differences aside, and move the nation forward.
Establishment-critical narrative
The reintroduction of democracy should be lauded, but it also opens the door to new causes of strife in the nation. Rabuka and his coalition partners have ethno-nationalist tendencies that could tear open ethnic fault lines in the country. There are reasons to be optimistic, but a transition to democracy is no easy task. It remains to be seen if the former coup leader has the respect for democracy that he claims.
UN Resolution Calls For Peace In Myanmar
On Wednesday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) demanded Myanmar stop the widespread violence in the country and urged the military junta to free "political prisoners" while expressing support for a peace process implemented by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The British-proposed resolution, which also requested that the Secretary-General or his Special Envoy on Myanmar provide an oral report to the body by March 2023, was approved in the 15-member body by a vote of 12-0, with China, India, and Russia abstaining.
This comes almost two years after Myanmar's military took over the country, overthrowing the democratically elected government and arresting civilian leaders such as the deposed State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint.
Establishment-critical narrative
This resolution risks botching efforts to promote peace in Myanmar both due to its format and content, as it lacks balance and risks antagonizing the junta. There's no quick fix to the Myanmar conflict, and pressuring for an overnight solution can only prolong the crisis, as the Libya issue has shown.
Pro-establishment narrative
This historic resolution makes it clear to Myanmar's military junta that the international community will not tolerate human rights abuses against the people of Myanmar and the destruction of the country's democratic institutions. It also endorses ASEAN's central role in solving this crisis and supports its 2021 five-point consensus to restore peace and stability to the country.
Narrative C
This resolution indeed lacks any substantive action to stop the military junta from committing atrocities against Myanmar's people because China and Russia have taken the UNSC hostage, favoring their junta allies and trade partners. UN member states must take action and impose a global arms embargo and targeted sanctions against the terrorist military regime.
Israel: Netanyahu Announces Formation of New Govt
Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday told Israeli Pres. Isaac Herzog that he has succeeded in forming a new government. The announcement signals the return to power of Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister at the helm of what is reportedly the most far-right coalition in Israel's history.
Netanyahu's announcement came minutes before a midnight Wednesday deadline and followed weeks of negotiations with far-right coalition partners. The PM-designate was unseated in January 2021 over corruption investigations, but his coalition won 64 seats in Israel's 120-member parliament, the Knesset, after Israelis cast ballots on Nov. 1 for the fifth time in four years.
The coalition government will be comprised of Netanyahu's Likud party, the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism [UTJ], and the far-right factions Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionists Party [RZP], and Noam. The new cabinet is due to be sworn in by Jan. 2.
Establishment-critical narrative
To stay in power, corruption-plagued Netanyahu has bowed to the demands of the most extreme elements of Israeli politics. His concessions to ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalist parties are a massive blow to Israeli democracy, the rule of law, and thus to the future of Israel. Moreover, by rejecting the two-state solution, the new government is poised to risk fresh Arab-Israeli violence. It's time for Washington to end its ambiguity about Israel and stand up for democracy, as it otherwise does all over the world.
Pro-establishment narrative
Even before the new Israeli government is sworn in, media activists have warned that it poses a threat to Israeli democracy. However, these critics ignore the fact that Israel remains the only democracy in the Middle East and that it was the Israelis who wished Netanyahu back in power. Washington should think twice before joining the doomsayers' camp and alienating its closest ally in the region. Instead of jumping to conclusions and demonizing the coalition government, the actual political work should be evaluated as it happens.
Narrative C
Even if everyone seems to agree that Netanyahu would do anything to stay in power and out of prison, the coalition is ultimately an expression of the voters' will. One thing is certain Given the negative tendencies in Israeli politics, "Bibi" is the last hope for the survival of liberal Israeli democracy. Now he will have to prove whether he is up to the historic task of keeping Israel from turning into an apartheid state.
FTX Associates Plead Guilty to Fraud
On Wednesday, Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, and Gary Wang, co-founder of crypto exchange FTX, pleaded guilty to several charges, including wire fraud, securities fraud, and commodities fraud.
Both Ellison — whose charges collectively carry a maximum prison sentence of 110 years — and Wang — facing up to 50 years — struck a plea deal with the US Dept. of Justice (DOJ) earlier this week.
As part of the plea deals, Ellison and Wang must fully cooperate with investigators, providing them with documents and records and testifying when asked. The government, in turn, will request the judge give them lesser sentences.
Pro-establishment narrative
According to the government's account, Bankman-Fried's corruption was baked into FTX's processes from the very start of its operation. Whether he was dishonest, deluded, or both, the US government is rightfully conducting the most thorough investigation and prosecution of this fraudulent crypto billionaire.
Establishment-critical narrative
Both Bankman-Fried and Ryan Salame donated tens of millions to establishment Republican and Democratic politicians and campaign committees. There's a reason for the silence on this issue from both sides of the aisle in Washington; the collapse of FTX exposed the dirty US campaign finance underworld, and the hushed tone from the political elite tells it all.
Day 302: In US Trip, Zelenskyy Invokes Fight Against Nazi Germany
In a whirlwind trip to Washington lasting less than 10 hours on Wednesday, Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with counterpart Joe Biden, addressed a joint session of Congress and held individual meetings with senators and members of Congress as he sought to galvanize further US support for Ukraine.
The visit came as the US approved a further $1.85B in assistance for Ukraine, but was scrambling to approve a $1.7T omnibus spending bill to avoid a government shutdown that will include an extra $45B for the war-torn country — a move opposed by some Republican senators.
In trying to unite senators, Zelenskyy thanked "every American" for the support already provided and said "your money is not charity," but rather "an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way." He also invoked a US victory in the Battle of the Bulge, a turning point against Nazi Germany in World War II.
Pro-establishment narrative
Continued US financial and military support to Ukraine is essential for it to keep staving off Russian aggression and to ultimately secure Ukraine’s sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity.
Pro-Russia narrative
Despite repeated Russian warnings, the US is continuing to escalate the conflict with its delivery of funds and advanced weaponry. This is increasingly raising the prospects of a wider escalation with unpredictable consequences.
Cynical narrative
Multi-billion dollar weapons packages will make little difference in the outcome of the war. The US has been meddling in Ukraine since the end of the Cold War, and what we're witnessing is a geopolitical ponzi scheme to benefit those aligned with the military-industrial complex. War is a lucrative racket.
Nerd narrative
There is a 1% chance that NATO will declare a No-Fly Zone anywhere in Ukraine before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: IRS Delayed Trump Tax Audits
Following a congressional report that found the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) failed to inspect former Pres. Donald Trump's tax returns until Democrats pressed for their release, the agency's mandatory audit of presidents' and vice presidents' taxes has come under scrutiny.
The three-point policy states that individual returns for the president and VP should be filed in an orange folder, kept away from the eyes of IRS agents, and securely locked away when not being reviewed by an examiner.
According to the report released by the Democrat-led House Ways and Means Committee, the process, which dates to 1977, was "dormant, at best" during the Trump administration.
Democratic narrative
It seems Trump wasn’t lying when he said he was under audit during the 2016 election. But while some thought he was hiding nefarious tax evasion – which he still may be guilty of, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars – he was actually afraid of his less-than-masterful business skills being revealed. The IRS is also at fault here, and it's time the agency rebuilds itself to finally go after the rich and powerful.
Pro-Trump narrative
This report isn't about holding the IRS or the wealthy accountable, it's about Democrats taking one more baseless jab at nailing Trump before they're out of power in less than two weeks. This is also an attempt to codify the release of any and all public officials' taxes in the future, creating a weapon against political opponents, and dissolving the separation of powers between Congress and the White House.
Asia's Meth Kingpin Extradited to Australia
On Thursday, Australian police said that Tse Chi Lop — Asia's most-wanted meth kingpin — had arrived in Australia to face "conspiracy to traffic commercial quantities of controlled drugs" charges following a legal battle with Dutch authorities.
He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in February 2023. Lop, a Chinese-born Canadian citizen, made no application for bail, but his lawyers say he will contest the charges.
Lop allegedly ran a multibillion-dollar crime syndicate known as "Sam Gor" or "The Company," laundering billions in drug money through casinos, hotels, and real estate in Southeast Asia's Mekong region.
Establishment-critical narrative
High-profile transnational organized drug cartels flourish in the Golden Triangle — the border region between Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos — under the control of competing warlords, drug traders, and militias. Tse Chi Lop's arrest is unlikely to affect the drug trafficking business in Southeast Asia until governments effectively implement political solutions to the region's decades-long civil war. It's a tall order, but if they don't, another Tse Chi Lop will soon rise and likely be harder to catch the next time.
Pro-establishment narrative
There's no evidence there are drug kingpins or any significant triad involvement in the drug trade in Southeast Asia. If Tse Chi Lop were Asia’s El Chapo, the high-profile criminal would not have allowed himself to get caught in the public glare. Drug production in the Golden Triangle would have also suffered blows after his arrest. Since none of that happened, reports about drug kingpins and the massive flow of drugs in Southeast Asia are questionable.
COVID in China: WHO Chief ‘Very Concerned’
Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the UN agency is “very concerned” about reports of severe COVID cases across China after the country veered sharply away from its long-standing “zero-COVID” policy.
On Wednesday, in the PRC's latest COVID report, no new fatalities were noted despite nationwide reporting of overloaded medical facilities, crematoriums, and long lines of hearses. Since the onset of the pandemic three years ago, China has reported only 5,241 COVID deaths — a very low count when compared to other less populated countries.
A Chinese health official stated that throughout the pandemic China has only counted deaths occurring from pneumonia or respiratory failure in its official death toll. The tally does not include the deaths of patients with pre-existing conditions; this narrow definition limits the number of deaths being reported.
Anti-China narrative
Though the Western media initially praised China's response to the pandemic, the numbers it reported were simply lies. Now, China has almost completely lifted restrictions, and cases of the virus have exploded. The Chinese Communist Party is betting they will be more successful at obfuscating the number of lives lost than they were in keeping people locked down with draconian measures.
Pro-China narrative
China is doing the best it can regarding COVID as the PRC tries to balance economic realities, public health, and societal pressures. China has been the world's premier partner in dealing with the pandemic, and it will continue to respond to new COVID-related challenges. There is no need for the international community to worry about this recent COVID surge in China — Beijing will safeguard both health and the economy.
Report: US Life Expectancy Lowest in 25 Years
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Thursday that the US has reached its lowest life expectancy since 1996, with an increase in death rate of 5.3% between 2020 and 2021.
COVID-related deaths had the largest death rate increase, followed closely by accidental injuries, which include overdoses. Deaths caused by liver disease, kidney disease, strokes, and heart disease increased as well.
Life expectancy for American-born people now sits at 76.4 years and is down 2.4 years from 78.8 years in 2019. This is a vast divergence from 20 years of steadily increasing life expectancy in the US.
Pro-establishment narrative
COVID, the leading cause of reduced life expectancy in the US, has brought devastation upon the nation and the entire world. Americans have sacrificed for over two years as they battle the global pandemic, and it's disheartening to see its effects. However, with advances in science and resilience, the country can reverse this trend.
Establishment-critical narrative
Politicians may choose to focus on COVID deaths, but the real concern is the increase in deaths of despair like suicide and drug overdoses. In fact, botched COVID policies — and the widespread deterioration in mental health that ensued — are even largely to blame for exacerbating the issue. The nation's leaders can no longer afford to ignore the drugs, alcohol and suicide epidemic raging within the pandemic.
US House GOP Releases Jan. 6 Report
On Wednesday, five Republicans denied from serving on the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots at the US Capitol released their own 141-page report that focuses on alleged security failures.
The report claims that administrative mismanagement — including an alleged delayed deployment of the National Guard — and "political pressures" from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) left the Capitol Police unprepared.
Released days after the Jan. 6 committee unveiled an executive summary of its findings and voted unanimously to refer former Pres. Donald Trump to the Justice Dept. on four criminal charges, the GOP report also accused House Speaker Pelosi (D-Calif.) of impeding security response at Capitol.
Republican narrative
Not long after Democratic leadership complained about police trying to stop racial riots in the summer of 2020, Democrats once again paved the way for more violence by leaving the Capitol Police ill-prepared for predictable riots at the Capitol. Pelosi's claim that she wasn't in charge that day is false, as the Sergeant at Arms clearly deferred to her and her staff when deciding not to secure the complex.
Democratic narrative
The GOP report is nothing more than a distraction as those truly responsible for the violence of Jan. 6 are held to account by the House committee, law enforcement, and other government agencies. Many communications and security leaders in the government were complicit or willfully ignorant of what was going on, but they, just like Trump, will face repercussions.