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US, Mexico Discuss Cooperative Relationship
US Pres. Biden hosted his Mexican counterpart Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the White House on Tues. to discuss several long-running concerns, including migration, drug trafficking, and inflation.
The visit comes a month after López Obrador boycotted Biden's invitation to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles due to the exclusion of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
While Mexico is the US's second-biggest trading partner, it's also the top source of undocumented migrants and illegal drugs in the nation. Weak border security also currently sees guns flowing from the US to Mexico, exacerbating an already critical problem with organized-crime violence.
Democratic narrative
This meeting was indicative of the strong relationship Biden has established with Mexico. Despite López Obrador skipping the Summit of the Americas, he still signed a multi-country declaration to tackle migration in the western hemisphere, demonstrating the mutual respect between the countries that will lead to more positive collaborations in the near future.
Republican narrative
With the migrant crisis at the border worse than it's ever been, and fentanyl overdoses spiking nationwide, Biden has to get tougher with López Obrador. This dovelike foreign policy won't achieve the results the US needs.
Nerd narrative
There is a 10% chance that the US will phase out per-country caps on employment-based visas before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
John Bolton Admits to Planning Coups Abroad
Former Trump national security advisor, John Bolton, said on Tues. in an interview with CNN that he "has helped plan coups d'état" in other countries.
When asked for specifics, Bolton referenced his book, "The Room Where It Happened," which discusses the alleged failed attempt to oust Venezuelan Pres. Nicolás Maduro in 2019.
Following his comments, reports emerged suggesting Bolton was directly involved in alleged efforts to oust governments in nations such as Nicaragua, Iraq, and Haiti.
Establishment-critical narrative
This simply reaffirms the US' long and well-documented history of intervening in foreign nations, despite claiming to promote democracy. And John Bolton's involvement is no surprise; he's a long-time interventionist and warmonger. One could only conclude that he - along with so many establishment politicians - loves it when the US intelligence agencies and military are in places they shouldn't be.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though the US has made mistakes in the past, Bolton's latest claims are blatant and dangerous lies. The government quickly learnt that coups don't work, and, with increased oversight and accountability, hasn't been involved in overthrowing governments for a long time.
Germany to Stop Buying Russian Coal and Oil
Germany will stop buying Russian coal and oil on Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, respectively, state sec. in the federal chancellery Joerg Kukies announced on Wednesday. The country has been under increasing pressure to end its reliance on Russian energy since the invasion of Ukraine.
Germany's heavy dependence on Russian energy sources has seen it act more slowly than the rest of the EU to cut ties - the nation previously supplied 40% of Germany's coal and 40% of its oil.
However, Kukies noted that the EU at large will find it challenging to fill the gap left by the 158 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas that Russia usually supplies each year.
Establishment-critical narrative
Implementing a ban on Russian oil could prompt Moscow to retaliate and use natural gas as a political weapon by halting LNG exports to the EU. Restricting imports of Russian energy will only damage western economies by pushing up oil and gas prices for European consumers, perhaps even pushing Europe into recession, while Russia continues business elsewhere.
Pro-establishment narrative
The US and its G7 allies are continually discovering new measures to starve Russia's ability to fund its war in Ukraine. They may even mandate a cap on the price of Russian oil purchases, thereby stabilizing prices and the global economy while ensuring Moscow cannot profiteer and continue its international aggression. Sanctions can still play a key role in limiting Russia's capacity in this war.
Nerd narrative
There is a 6% chance the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will be completed before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 141 Roundup: UN Hails 'Critical Step Forward' Following Meeting on Grain; Shelling Reported Across Ukraine
Following a UN-backed meeting of military delegations in Turkey on Wed., UN Sec. General António Guterres said that Russia and Ukraine have taken a "critical step forward" to allow the safe export of Ukrainian grain. He said "more technical work will now be needed" to reach an agreement, "but the momentum is clear."
Meanwhile, a barrage of Russian shelling has reportedly hit a number of Ukrainian territories in the last 24 hrs. Ukrainian officials said three Russian missiles struck a business center in the central city of Vinnytsia on Thurs. morning, damaging nearby residential buildings. At least 22 people were reportedly killed and 50 more injured.
Missile strikes were also reported in the southern city of Mykolaiv on Thurs. morning. The region's governor Vitaly Kim said a hotel in the city center was struck, damaging a shopping center across the street. He later added that two schools and a public transport building were damaged. One person was reported injured.
Pro-establishment narrative
Western sanctions on Russia have been successful in forcing the country to default on its debt for the first time since 1998, while the Russian economy is expected to face a deep recession and shrink by 10% in 2022. Such restrictions are a practical way of countering the Kremlin's immoral violation of international law.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's hypocritical to impose sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine, but not on the US for invading Iraq for equally unjustified reasons, or on Israel for invading and annexing Arab lands.
Nerd narrative
There's a 3% chance that Russian troops will invade Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia prior to 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
South Carolina Attorney Indicted For Murder
On Thurs., a grand jury indicted disbarred South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh on charges of murdering his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22.
His wife and son were found shot dead last June. Murdaugh has maintained his innocence, claiming he was visiting his father in the hospital at the time of the murders.
However, police allegedly have cellphone video that contradicts his alibi.
Narrative A
We shouldn't jump to conclusions just because Murdaugh has admitted to other crimes doesn't mean he killed his wife and son. The legal process hasn't fully played out yet, and he should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Narrative B
This case isn't just the indictment of one man, but rather a test of South Carolina's entire justice system. The Murdaugh family has played a central and powerful role in the state's legal community for decades, and this indictment is a step in the right direction to holding those in positions of power accountable.
Amazon's Ring Gave Footage to Police Without Consent
According to a letter sent by Amazon to Congress earlier this month, its doorbell surveillance company, Ring, has shared videos with police departments 11 times this year, without the consent of users.
The letter was in response to an inquiry by Sen. Ed Markey and was publicized by his office on Wednesday.
Ring's policies state that it won't share customer information with police without consent, a warrant, or "an exigent emergency."
Establishment-critical narrative
Amazon is plagued by a myriad of ethical issues and this latest disclosure highlights its unwillingness to protect customers' data. It's time for consumers to decide whether the convenience offered by the tech company is really worth their privacy.
Pro-establishment narrative
Amazon acted well within its legal and ethical rights by disclosing the surveillance videos to law enforcement - who had judged each instance to constitute an emergency. Despite criticisms, police access to Ring's network could substantially support law enforcement's work.
UK Conservative Leadership Race: Braverman Knocked Out
UK Attorney General Suella Braverman has been eliminated from the Conservative Party leadership race, coming last in the second round of voting with 27 votes. She received five votes less on Thurs. then she did on Wed.
Braverman - a candidate to the right of the party and a committed supporter of Brexit - will miss out on competing in the first televised debates of the leadership race, set for Fri. and Sat.
Five Tory MPs will now compete for Boris Johnson's position as Party leader and PM: Rishi Sunak (101 votes, up from 88), Penny Mordaunt (83, up from 67), Liz Truss (64, up from 50) Kemi Badenoch (49, up from 40) and Tom Tugendhat (32, down from 37).
Right narrative
This race is a key opportunity for the Tory Party to reset its priorities after over a decade in power. Britain spends too much on providing collective social services. Although candidates are suggesting they will reduce the size of the state, whoever prevails needs to pursue a more absolute reform and repurposing of welfare to protect the UK's entrepreneurship and economy.
Left narrative
The leadership candidates' compulsive focus on cutting taxes and returning spending to a more firmly conservative fiscal policy is nonsensical. While the candidates for the next PM seek victory by starving already-emaciated public services, voters suffering through a cost-of-living crisis will also ask how to survive through a selfishly motivated renewal of austerity.
Nerd narrative
There is a 1% chance that Tom Tugendhat will win the next UK Conservative Party leadership election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Haiti: Dozens Dead, Thousands Trapped by Gang Violence
The National Human Rights Defense Network declared on Wed. that at least 89 have been killed, 16 are missing, and 74 have been wounded following a week of fighting between rival gangs in Cité Soleil, a poor and densely populated neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.
Clashes erupted a day after the first anniversary of the killing of Pres. Jovenel Moïse, reportedly between the G9 gang coalition and the G-Pep group. This transformed the area into a "real battlefield" per Doctors Without Borders.
Cité Soleil residents are reportedly stranded without water, food, and medical care.
Establishment-critical narrative
Haitian police are unfairly positioned to tackle gang violence. While the criminals are heavily armed with smuggled US-made assault-style rifles, security forces are under-equipped and must rely on seized weapons, as US laws ironically restrict their access to arms. Foreign governments aren't doing enough.
Pro-establishment narrative
The US has been taking bold measures to help Haiti counter the concerning surge in gang violence, including providing armored vehicles and weapons. The possibility of establishing an international coalition involving Canada and France to back Haitian law enforcement agencies is being examined, and US personnel are expected to train Haitian defense forces this year.
France Prepares Future Strategy Ahead of Mali Withdrawal
France's Foreign and Defense Ministers will travel to Niger on Fri. to discuss a new strategy to counter armed groups in the Sahel as Paris plans to complete its withdrawal from Mali by the end of summer amid concerns over the country's security.
A regional redeployment is likely to be sealed, turning Niger into France's hub in the Sahel with around 1K troops in the capital city Niamey and up to 400 dispatched for special operations in regions bordering Mali and Burkina Faso.
Reports indicate that up to 1K soldiers may head to Chad with an undisclosed number of special forces. Once the withdrawal is completed, France will no longer fight or pursue militants in Mali.
Establishment-critical narrative
Local resentment, as well as diplomatic and military failures, only increased despite Macron claiming his administration deepened ties in the region. West African affairs have been disrupted for decades by the West, and this French transfer of troops from one country to another will only spread destabilization.
Pro-establishment narrative
At the request of West African leaders, France has stepped up to aid their allies in the region not just through military assistance, but to educate the countries' youth and build stronger ties between the aging political leadership and younger generations. France continues to be a strong, peacebuilding partner in the Sahel.