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Indian Government Sparks Backlash Over Insulting Comments About Islam
Derogatory statements about Islam and the Prophet Mohammad made by two officials in India's ruling party have sparked diplomatic backlash from Middle Eastern countries.
Nupur Sharma, a national spokeswoman for India's PM Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made remarks about the prophet and his wife last week while appearing on a right-wing Indian news channel. The party's media chief Naveen Jindal also posted a controversial tweet, which he later deleted.
At least five Arab nations, as well as Pakistan and Afghanistan, have filed official protests against India.
Establishment-critical narrative
In India, years of a radical Hindu administration has led to brutal Muslim oppression. The party is currently more politically dominant than at any other time in recent memory and it is damaging the Indian nation. Since winning re-election, Modi has stirred his far-right Hindu patriot base, a large number of whom consider Muslims to be intruders in a legitimately Hindu India.
Pro-establishment narrative
The BJP have clarified that the remarks do not reflect the views of the government and has condemned them as "views of fringe elements." The fact that the BJP took swift action against Sharma and Jindal and issued a strong statement denouncing religious insults speaks for itself.
Nerd narrative
There is a 55% chance that there will be a non-BJP Prime Minister of India before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Kazakhstan: Voters Approve Constitutional Changes
Kazakhstan's Pres. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowed to implement democratic reforms after the Central Election Commission's announced on Mon. that the population widely favored the reforms in a referendum.
Almost 70% of Kazakh voters cast a ballot on Sun., and preliminary results released by the CEC indicate that over 77% of them backed the changes while less than 19% rejected them.
This comes months after the "January bloodshed," when 230 people were killed and authorities called in troops from a Moscow-led security bloc following a peaceful demonstration against rising fuel prices.
Pro-establishment narrative
The approval of this referendum gives hope that democratic liberalism can flourish in Eurasia despite a rising authoritarian tide. Kazakhstan can become an important ally to Western powers, so it should fully engage to promote stability and help facilitate a transition to democracy.
Establishment-critical narrative
Western powers shouldn't fall into wishful thinking; this may not be enough to solve Kazakhstan's problems. The reforms passed in the referendum don't address the deep structural problems that have led to recent agitations in the country. These reforms focus mostly on auxiliary problems to provide an image of stability at home and abroad.
Day 104 Roundup: 1k Ukrainian Soldiers Transferred to Russia, 9 Civilians Reportedly Killed in Donetsk
More than 1k Ukrainian soldiers who surrendered from the Azovstal steelworks plant in Mariupol last month have reportedly been transferred to Russia, according to the state-owned Russia news outlet Tass on Tuesday. This has yet to be independently confirmed.
Earlier in the day, Rodion Miroshnik, ambassador to Russia for the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), claimed that nine civilians had been killed and 18 more injured in Ukrainian shelling of the neighboring Donetsk region in the last 24 hours. Ukraine alleged Russia was responsible for the shelling.
Pro-Russian forces have reportedly gained control of much of the city of Severodonetsk, the last major territory in Luhansk held by Ukraine, amid continuing reports of heavy street fighting. On Tues., Miroshnik claimed that LPR groups had cleared the city alongside Russian forces, and that fighting was reserved to the outskirts and the airport towards Lysychansk.
Pro-establishment narrative
As the war shifts to the strategically important Donbas regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, the US and its allies need to continue to do everything in their power to arm Ukraine with all the weapons they need. Doing so is the only way to push Putin's forces back as was done in Kyiv.
Pro-Russia narrative
As stated by Putin, the whole purpose of the war was never to invade Kyiv, but to liberate the ethnically Russian people of Donetsk and Luhansk, who have been subjected to systematic killing by Ukrainian forces for not recognizing the 2014 coup in Kyiv. This tragedy would have been avoided if NATO had kept its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification.
Nerd narrative
There is a 2% chance that Russia will be removed from the UN Security Council by 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Biden Announces Moves to Boost US Solar Panel Industry
The White House has announced it will exempt US solar companies for two years from tariffs on panels manufactured in countries other than China, and that it's invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ramp up production of solar panel parts, insulation, and heat pumps.
These moves come in response to the US solar panel industry coming to a near standstill during a probe into whether China has been circumventing US tariffs.
If production ramps up as expected, domestic solar manufacturing will triple by 2024 – enough "to enable more than 3.3M homes per year to switch to solar energy," according to a WH official.
Democratic narrative
Biden is proving he takes clean energy seriously. These moves will help the US continue on the road to achieving its carbon reduction goals, as well as become energy independent. A win-win for the environment and economy alike.
Republican narrative
Biden can come up with solutions like invoking the DPA, but the Democrats' utopia of green energy creating hundreds of thousands of manufacturing will never come true because most of those jobs will go to countries with lower labor and energy costs.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 19.9% of US electricity will be produced by solar power by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Israeli Coalition Fails to Pass Bill Upholding Settler Law
On Mon., Israel's Knesset rejected a bill that would renew and uphold legal protections for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, marking a major setback for the fragile coalition, which some warn could spark its demise and create the conditions for new elections.
The law, which gives settlers the same rights as citizens in Israel, has been ratified by parliament every five years since 1967, but it failed to pass by a 58-52 margin in the 120-seat Knesset.
The bill reportedly served as a test of the government's support, with some parties that actually back the settlements voting against it in an attempt to weaken Bennet's ruling coalition.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Though it's a good sign that this heinous bill was voted down, Bennet's coalition didn't lose the vote because of moral considerations but because of opposition to his coalition. Israel is committing the crime of apartheid in the occupied West Bank, and with every passing day, this becomes more apparent.
Pro-Israel narrative
The Palestinians have had many chances since Israel's foundation to have a state of their own, but they have consistently refused and chosen terror instead. Settlements are not a barrier to peace, as some like to make them out to be, and there will only be a Palestinian state when the Palestinians put down their arms and accept Israel's right to exist.
Narrative C
Netanyahu's chances of returning to power seem better by the day. Critical members of Bennet's coalition voted against the legislation, and the Israeli public is getting fed up with the government's continued deadlock and inaction. If elections were held today, Netanyahu's bloc would be expected to win 59 seats, putting it near a majority in the Knesset.
Nerd narrative
There's a 35% chance that Netanyahu will be Prime Minister of Israel again by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Iraq: British Geologist Sentenced to 15 Years for Artifact Smuggling
Retired geologist Jim Fitton was sentenced to 15 years in prison in a Baghdad court on Mon. on charges of smuggling artifacts out of Iraq, a verdict that reportedly shocked the trial's witnesses.
Judge Jabir Abd Jabir concluded that the 66-yr-old Brit was attempting to transport items out of Iraq with criminal intent, while German national Wolker Waldmann, arrested alongside Fitton, was acquitted of smuggling charges.
Fitton collected 12 stones and shards of pottery from a site in Eridu while on an archeology tour. His lawyer, Thair Soud, argued that Fitton was ignorant of any Iraqi laws prohibiting the collection of the items, and he had no idea of their value.
Narrative A
The items Fitton collected were of no material or archeological value. It's ludicrous he is being charged with smuggling, and it's blatantly obvious that the judge has failed to apply the law correctly. This is an unjustly severe punishment.
Narrative B
Iraq's smuggling laws have developed in direct response to decades of looting, some of which US forces were complicit in when deployed to the country starting in 2003. Iraq has more than 25k archeological sites and not enough security resources to protect them, hence the country's current focus on extreme punitive measures to deter future theft.
UK Workers Begin World's Biggest Trial of Four-Day Week
A six-month program involving employees from 70 companies across the UK has been launched to test the effects of a four-day workweek.
Workers will attempt to provide 100% of their regular output while working 80% of their usual hours for 100% of their pay. Researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and Boston College will announce the results of the trial on productivity and quality of life in 2023.
The pilot has been organized in conjunction with the think tank Autonomy and the 4 Day Week Campaign after the pandemic encouraged more companies to improve the work-life balance for employees and give themselves a competitive edge in the job market.
Right narrative
Reducing working hours when Britain is already in the grip of a post-pandemic recruitment crisis is ludicrous. This idea cannot be implemented in customer-facing jobs or 24/7 operations, where the extra cost would end up being levied on employers or the taxpayer. This idea would only reduce the quality of life and dampen the economy. Who will be left to perform labor in times of crisis?
Left narrative
The goal of creating a "new way of working" is a direct response to the impacts of the pandemic-era "great resignation." A four-day work week has the potential to make staff less stressed and improve their health, while employers could benefit from heightened productivity and better worker retention.
Chinese Fighter Jet Allegedly Cuts Off Australian Plane, Dumps Debris Into Engine
The Australian Defense Ministry said Sun. that a Chinese fighter jet veered in front of an Australian military plane shooting off debris that entered its engine on May 26.
Defense minister, Richard Marles, said the Chinese aircraft released a "bundle of chaff" containing aluminum particles that were sucked into the Australian P-8's engine, causing them to return to base.
The incident, which Australia said took place in international airspace above the South China Sea during a "routine maritime surveillance activity," allegedly threatened the safety of the Australian plane and its crew.
Anti-China narrative
This was an unprovoked act of aggression. Australia was operating completely within its rights and according to international law. This incident shouldn't deter Australia from continuing to engage in its activities to protect freedom of navigation in and above the South China Sea.
Pro-China narrative
The Australian plane was dangerously near Chinese airspace despite warnings. If Canberra doesn't want to be held responsible for further consequences, it should halt its provocations of China.
Establishment-critical narrative
The West seems to think that if they put enough military pressure on China in the South China Sea, then China will back down. What they don't seem to realize is that, under Pres. Xi Jinping, the more confrontational the West becomes, the more assertive Beijing will be in response.
Nerd narrative
There is an 8% chance that there will be an armed conflict in the South China Sea before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Axon Halts Taser Drone Plans After Members of Ethics Board Resign
On Sun., Axon Enterprises - the law-enforcement company best known for developing the Taser - announced it's halting plans to develop stun-gun-equipped drones after several members of the company's ethics board resigned.
The announcement comes after Axon unveiled its plans on June 2. The company proposed the new technology to combat mass shootings, alleging that the drones would immobilize an active shooting remotely in 60 seconds.
The board had previously voted 8-4 against developing the idea, citing concerns that it could disproportionately target communities of color, breach people's privacy, and lead to more violence if further weapons are added to the drones.
Narrative A
While it's understandable that everyone is desperate to find a solution to the epidemic of mass shootings, developing and selling Taser-equipped drones isn't the way to go. At best, the idea is unachievable. At worst, it opens a pandora's box in the already fatal arsenal of police weaponry to potentially prey on vulnerable communities.
Narrative B
Although Smith's new idea certainly raises questions and may not prove to be the most effective solution to America's gun problem, at least someone is trying to think outside the box. So far, politicians have been utterly inept in addressing mass shootings, and - while taser-equipped drones may not be the answer - a new approach is needed.
Biden Considers Lifting Tariffs on Some Chinese Goods
US Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo said Biden has asked the dept. to look into lifting some of Trump-era imposed tariffs on Chinese goods in an attempt to combat inflation.
She said that the admin. will keep tariffs on steel and aluminum, but tariffs on items such as household products could very well be lifted.
Biden already lifted some of the hundreds of billions in Trump-era tariffs when he came to office, but this will go further.
Republican narrative
Biden's action will most likely be a unilateral move without any Chinese reciprocation. Besides, this won't help with the highest inflation areas like gas and food, and there's no guarantee that the PRC will lower the prices of goods just because America has dropped the tariffs.
Democratic narrative
The tariffs only hurt American importers and consumers, while doing little to achieve their purported goal of pressuring China into ending its unfair trade practices. Eliminating these burdensome tariffs is a powerful tool for Biden to combat inflation and help bring prices down.
Fox News Won't Air Jan. 6 Public Hearings
Per an official press release, Fox announced its coverage of the Jan 6. Capitol riot public hearings will air on Fox Business Network and not on Fox News. This could make Fox News the first major news network to not carry the hearings live, which begin in primetime on Thurs. evening (EST).
Instead, Fox News will air its mainstays in those timeslots - Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham. Fox announced they will only provide coverage of the hearings "as news warrants."
Carlson's show (the highest-rated program on cable news) and the other Fox News programs will run head-to-head against Jan. 6 live coverage from outlets including ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC.
Left narrative
Fox News is rolling out its toxic right-wing tropes to distract from Jan 6. and the role their on-air talent has played is downplaying its severity. An onslaught of xenophobia and transphobia has already started to air in the run-up to the historic public hearings.
Right narrative
Fox viewers don't want to see a partisan committee disinterested in finding out what really happened on the day of the riot. Cue the liberal tears, and enjoy your regularly scheduled programming.
Cynical narrative
Last week, Fox News decimated its competition as the most-watched primetime cable network, even vaulting over ESPN and TNT's coverage of the NBA playoffs. With 1.3M viewers, why change its formula - especially when other channels will be saturated with simultaneous coverage of the hearings? This is about business and ratings.