Wagner Chief Vows to 'Make Russia Even Greater'
In his first video address since leading an aborted mutiny in Russia in June, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has claimed he is working hard "to make Russia even greater" and to help Africa become "even more free."
In the video, shared by a Telegram channel linked to the Russian mercenary group, Prigozhin claimed his troops are exploring for minerals and "making life a nightmare for Islamic State and Al-Qaeda, and other bandits."
Prigozhin — who appeared armed and dressed in military garb, holding a rifle in a desert area — stated that Wagner is conducting surveillance and search operations and "hiring real bogatyrs" [ancient Slavic warriors] to "fulfill the tasks that were set before us and that we promised we would handle."
Anti-Russia narrative
Branding Prigozhin a traitor and sending him into exile in neighboring Belarus were plainly false flags intended to deceive the West, expand Wagner's and Putin's influence in Africa, spark a major regional crisis, and enrich the backyards of the Russians with illicit business deals.
Pro-Russia narrative
There's no evidence that Prigozhin is continuing to move in and out of Russia, or that this latest video was filmed in Africa. After all criminal charges against him and the Wagner fighters who participated in the mutiny were dropped, Moscow considers the Prigozhin-era over.
Nerd narrative
There's a 13% chance that Vladimir Putin will declare Martial Law in at least 3/4 of Russia before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Cambodian Parliament Elects Longtime Ruler's Son as New PM
On Tuesday, Cambodia's national assembly unanimously endorsed the four-star general Hun Manet to succeed his father, the outgoing PM Hun Sen, who ruled for nearly four decades.
This comes as Hun Sen anticipated that his eldest son was to take over as prime minister shortly after his Cambodian People's Party's landslide electoral victory in July, in which Hun Manet won his first assembly seat.
While the election was widely criticized for lacking any prominent opposition to the ruling party, Hun Manet described it as free and fair in his speech after being appointed prime minister.
Narrative A
This reshaped, youthful cabinet led by a US and UK-educated individual may lead to a thawing in tensions with the West, offering Cambodia the opportunity to reshape its policies. With tourism damaged since the pandemic and Chinese investment below domestic expectations, there is a chance, albeit a small one, that the country may change its direction.
Narrative B
Hopes that the Western-educated Hun Manet will reform the police state his father built or even abandon its vital alliance with China are completely delusional, as Hun Sen will continue to pull the strings as head of the ruling party. Cambodia won't change while this regime stands and this family remains in power, so the West should define an effective strategy to defend its interests and security.
Japan Begins Releasing Fukushima Water Into Pacific
Japan on Thursday began releasing its treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant ― which was devastated by the deadly 2011 earthquake and tsunami ― into the Pacific Ocean, prompting China to ban seafood from Japan.
The water is collected and partly recycled as cooling water after treatment, with the rest stored in around 1K tanks, which are already filled to 98% of their 1.37M-ton capacity.
The water to be released into the Pacific Ocean has been treated to remove the most dangerous elements; however, it still contains radioactive tritium — a hydrogen isotope.
Pro-establishment narrative
A more accurate understanding of the plans to discharge Fukushima water is starting to prevail internationally. The IAEA has thoroughly assessed Japan's intentions and confirmed that the release would have a negligible impact on the environment and human health. The only contaminated element left in the treated water will be tritium, at a concentration well below internationally approved levels. Neighboring countries and industry heads must stop fear-mongering over these plans.
Establishment-critical narrative
This release could result in a significant blow for a fishing industry already dogged by the stigma of radioactivity. South Korean opposition leaders have accused Pres. Yoon Suk Yoel of disregarding the health risks posed by discharging radioactive waste for the sake of diplomacy. Pushing ahead with these plans will likely backfire on Japan's government, hurting the nation's image abroad while making relations with China more challenging in the near future.
Nerd narrative
There's a 30% chance that will there be a major nuclear accident before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden Maui Visit Met With Anger From Some Residents
Almost two weeks after wildfires hit the Hawaiian island of Maui — leaving at least 114 dead and roughly 1K still unaccounted for — US Pres. Joe Biden made his first visit to the island, sparking anger from some residents who said he should've been there sooner, while others welcomed him with the shaka — a common Hawaiian greeting.
Protesters greeted Biden at Kapalua Airport on Monday with jeers and placards, including signs that read "no comment" — referencing his response when asked about the rising death toll last week. Others compared the amount of money earmarked for survivors compared to the amount given to Ukraine.
Prior to his arrival, the White House issued a statement defending the federal response, which said, "My heart, my prayers, and my focus are on the victims of the Maui wildfires and their families," adding that he knows "nothing can replace the loss of life" and that he "will do everything in [his] power to help Maui."
Republican narrative
Biden completely dropped the ball during his overdue visit to Maui. He inappropriately compared the hardship of families who have lost everything to a small kitchen fire at just one of his many homes. And his administration has offered just $700 total to people who are now homeless. The federal response has been far from satisfactory and the local residents are quite right to have questions of their commander-in-chief.
Democratic narrative
Biden has been dealt a tall task in overseeing the devastating aftermath of Maui's wildfires, and the criticisms are unfounded. The work to arrange an immediate presidential visit would've taken away from the necessary recovery efforts, and Biden has shown his desire to help the community as a whole and console the individual victims on the ground. While he may face criticism from those who already didn't like him, his compassion and decency were certainly on display in Hawaii.
Nerd narrative
There's a 60% chance that Joe Biden will be re-elected President of the United States in 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Urges Citizens to Leave Belarus
The US on Monday urged Americans in Belarus to leave the country immediately.
Following suit from a similar advisory in April, the US embassy in Minsk said that citizens "should depart immediately" and told Americans to use the remaining border crossings with Lithuania and Latvia or travel by plane.
The development comes after Lithuania closed two of six border crossings with Belarus last week. Poland, meanwhile, closed all but one border crossing earlier in the year and announced the transfer of 10K troops to the border last week.
Pro-establishment narrative
Americans in Belarus currently face heightened risks, including increased chances of arrest and the possibility of not being able to leave the country if hostilities break out. This is a serious warning that should be immediately listened to and acted upon.
Establishment-critical narrative
The situation in Belarus is safe and stable. These are politically motivated developments aimed at giving the impression of a dangerous situation, even though that couldn't be further from the truth.
Nerd narrative
There's a 52% chance that Russia will significantly incorporate Belarus into the Union State before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Pakistan: Eight Rescued From Cable Car Accident
On Tuesday, a military rescue successfully saved six children and two adults trapped in a cable car hanging over a ravine in north-west Pakistan, saving the lives of all eight. The dangerous rescue operation brought a joyous end to the tense incident.
Earlier in the day, when one of the connecting cables snapped, the cable car was transporting the children over a river ravine on their route to school in the Battagram district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Six hours after the malfunction, military helicopters were dispatched to begin rescue efforts.
Gusty winds further complicated helicopter rescue attempts, yet rescue operations conducted from ground-based operations yielded a successful outcome.
Pro-establishment narrative
Now that this harrowing rescue has been concluded with the best possible outcome, it's time to investigate the cause, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has demanded that authorities begin safety inspections on all similar privately owned chair lifts to ensure that such an event doesn't occur in the future.
Establishment-critical narrative
This significant incident is just a glimpse into the vulnerable and precarious situations that the people living in remote Pakistan face each day. Tens of thousands of people live in these areas and lack the very basic necessities for transportation, education, healthcare, and other life-sustaining services. No investigation will ever be complete without taking this context into account.
US Federal Judge to Decide Future of Texas’ Border Buoys
US District Judge David Ezra was scheduled Tuesday to consider the Dept. of Justice's (DOJ) lawsuit against the state of Texas over the floating barrier the state has established at the US-Mexico border.
The buoys — which are the size of wrecking balls — were installed in July on the Rio Grande River, and the Biden administration is seeking their removal.
This case could hinge on the interpretation of part of the federal Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act, which requires a federal permit to build structures in US waters that are “navigable.”
Democratic narrative
These cruel and dangerous buoys are just the latest part of Abbott’s illegal attempt to localize dangerous approaches to immigration law enforcement. Neither Abbott nor any Republicans seem to care about the humanitarian crises the buoys and other tactics are causing, and they’re accompanying anti-immigrant rhetoric is stoking the flames of white supremacy and putting the country at risk.
Republican narrative
If the current administration won't protect the southern border, then Texas is well within its rights to do whatever it takes to keep it and the country safe. If Democrats are so worried about an alleged humanitarian crisis, they should discourage migrants from attempting the dangerous journey to the US from wherever they’re from. Woke, leftist immigration policies are the real danger for America — not attempts to bolster barriers to illegal entry.
UN: Over 200 Former Afghan Officials, Soldiers Killed Since Taliban Takeover
The UN is reporting that the Taliban has conducted more than 200 extrajudicial killings of former Afghan military members, law enforcement, and government officials since seizing control of the country two years ago.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released the report on Tuesday, claiming that the alleged 218 killings were part of “at least 800 human rights violations” by the Taliban – including "enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions, torture and ill-treatment and threats."
After taking over Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, the Taliban immediately pledged to grant general amnesty to the country’s former officials and soldiers. However, the new leadership allegedly proceeded to commit around 100 killings in its first four months in power.
Narrative A
The UN’s latest report is another example of the Taliban’s brutality and abuse of power to silence its opponents. From promising to grant amnesty to former officials and soldiers to pledges of advancing women’s rights, the Taliban has done nothing but lie since taking over. Western countries should hold the Taliban accountable and continue to not recognize this illegitimate government.
Narrative B
The UN’s latest report is a gross misrepresentation of Afghanistan and the leadership of the Islamic Emirate. The Taliban has overwhelmingly abided by its promise of a general amnesty and has made numerous positive developments for the emirate. While there may have been personal instances of rogue officials abusing their power, it's not representative of the state.
Nerd narrative
There's a 47% chance the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will be used as a base for terrorism against a NATO nation by 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden Names New White House Counsel
US Pres. Joe Biden on Tuesday chose Ed Siskel, a former Obama admin. attorney who helped craft the response to the congressional investigations into the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, to be his next White House counsel.
Siskel also helped the Obama admin. handle lower-stakes House Republican investigations, such as federal loans to politically connected solar panel maker Solyndra, which went bankrupt in 2011. Since then, he has worked as an attorney for the city of Chicago and chief legal officer for a private equity firm.
While serving under former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Siskel — who is replacing Stuart Delery — was known for targeting corporate criminals and defending immigrants. Most recently, he represented Grosvenor Holdings LLC, owned by major Democratic donor Michael Sacks.
Republican narrative
As more and more evidence piles up against the Biden family, the president is going to need all the corruption-loving legal defenders he can find. Now that Congress — and even the Democrat-friendly Justice Dept. — are both pursuing criminal and political charges against the Biden family, the dishonest media can only try to spin these scandals in a positive way.
Democratic narrative
House Republicans — without a shred of evidence — are hypocritically targeting Biden After complaining about Nancy Pelosi's cautious inquiry into former Pres. Donald Trump ahead of the 2020 election, they have now decided to float the idea of impeaching Biden just 13 months before the 2024 election. Siskel is well-suited to take on these unfair allegations.
Nerd narrative
There's a 20% chance that Joe Biden will be impeached by the House of Representatives, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Set for Arrest in Georgia Thursday
Former Pres. Donald Trump on Monday confirmed on the Truth Social platform that he plans to turn himself in for booking at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta on Thursday.
Hours after court papers set bail at $200K, Trump posted about going to Atlanta to be arrested. The bond agreement also forbids Trump from intimidating co-defendants, witnesses, or victims — including on social media.
After a two-year investigation by Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ office, Trump and 18 others were indicted last week on state felony charges in relation to the 2020 presidential election.
Pro-Trump narrative
Joe Biden, the Democratic Party, and the Dept. of Justice are continuing their witch hunt to derail Trump’s certain victory in the 2024 presidential election. Former President Trump hasn’t done anything wrong, and these charges — like the ones in the other indictments — are all part of an attempt to drown a political opponent in legal action.
Democratic narrative
This case is the most perilous for Trump, starting with the strict terms of his bond deal that aim to crack down on the social media attacks he’s made in the other cases. This is the first time he’s had to post cash bail and be fairly treated based on these criminal allegations. If convicted of state charges, there would be no chance for him to pardon himself if he regains the presidency.
Nerd narrative
There’s a 50% chance that Trump will be jailed or incarcerated before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.