Singapore Carries Out Fifth Execution Since March
On Fri., Nazeri bin Lajim was hanged at Changi Prison for possession of 33.39g of heroin a decade ago, marking Singapore's fifth execution for drug-related crimes in less than four months. He was sentenced to death in 2017.
This comes after the Court of Appeal rejected a plea to halt his execution on Thurs., claiming his appeal was made after the due window period and without reasonable reasons.
Nazeri was among the 17 ethnic Malayan prisoners sentenced to death who filed a suit accusing the Singaporean government of discrimination and bias. The case was dismissed last year and deemed an abuse of process.
Pro-establishment narrative
Singapore doesn't take joy in the death penalty, but Singaporeans understand the need for it. The nation's anti-drug strategy has proven to work, as the country has one of the lowest rates of drug abuse in the world. While many express sympathy for drug traffickers who face the death penalty, it's important to remember the immense harm drugs cause abusers and their families.
Establishment-critical narrative
Singapore's use of the death penalty doesn't represent an effective deterrent from crime but instead displays the country's disregard for human life. The practice of mandatory death sentences for drug-related crimes is ridiculously punitive and violates international human rights laws. These executions must stop.
Brazil: Police Raid on Rio Favelas Leaves At Least 18 Dead
On Thurs., at least 18 people died as tactical teams of Rio de Janeiro's state police raided a complex of favelas - or slums - known as Complexo do Alemão to tackle a group allegedly involved in cargo theft and bank robberies.
Two of the deceased included a bystander and a police officer, while the remainder are still unidentified.
Rio state police declared that the still unidentified casualties are likely to be criminals, claiming all of them died confronting security forces.
Left narrative
Though not directly linked to operations carried out by state police, Pres. Bolsonaro has influenced them by defending legal immunities for police officers and promoting security policies based on increased violence. As a result, there has been a surge in police massacres in impoverished areas in Brazil.
Right narrative
Despite being heavily criticized by the left, Bolsonaro's security policies have proved to be able to curb violence. It's no coincidence that after empowering police officers and granting them the right to self-defense, the homicide rate in Rio de Janeiro has fallen to an all-time low.
Nerd narrative
There's a 29% chance that Jair Bolsonaro will be president of Brazil by 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Logs First Polio Case Since 2013
On Thurs., the New York State Health Department identified a case of polio in an unvaccinated adult male in Rockland County NY. This is the first polio case identified in the US since 2013.
The case is identified as a "revertant polio Sabin type 2 virus," meaning it originated in someone who received an oral polio vaccine. It is possible that the virus originated outside the US, where the oral vaccine is still administered, but an investigation into the origin is ongoing.
Local officials in Rockland County have identified the man as being a member of the county's Orthodox Jewish community. In 2018 and 2019 there was a measles outbreak in the county concentrated amongst people in the same community, whose vaccination rates tend to be lower than the larger population.
Narrative A
This isn't normal, and we don't want to see this. This polio case is another stark warning as to why vaccinations are so important. The polio vaccine is safe and effective and vaccinations are vital to preventing the spread of this debilitating, yet entirely preventable, disease.
Narrative B
Vaccines are a personal choice, and governments should not be able to mandate what individuals choose to do with their health. If people choose not to get vaccinated for any disease, that is a valid choice that must be accepted. Personal freedoms are part of America's ethos.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the WHO will certify the worldwide eradication of Polio by 2032, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 152: Ukraine Claims Kherson Will Be Recaptured by Sept. as War Enters 6th Month
Ukrainian officials claimed that Kyiv's forces have reached a "turning point" in the battle to retake the southern region of Kherson, which was captured by Russia on Mar. 3, and that Western weapons will help liberate the city by September.
It comes as Russian media reported that officials in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are preparing to hold referendums in Sept. on the regions joining the Russian Federation. Vladimir Rogov, a member of Russia's military administration in Zaporizhzhia, said: "It is highly likely that the referendum will be held simultaneously in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as successes on the line of contact have assured security."
Meanwhile, following a Russian missile strike on the port of Odesa on Sat., Ukrainian officials confirmed that grain storage facilities had not been hit and that there was no significant damage to the port. They also added that preparations to resume the export of Ukrainian grain were still under way.
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after an election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to rewrite history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
Nerd narrative
There is a 2% chance that NATO will declare a No-Fly Zone anywhere in Ukraine before 2023, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
2 Palestinians Killed in West Bank Gun Battle
Israeli forces on Sun. reportedly killed two Palestinians barricaded in a house and wounded at least 19 more during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus. No Israeli personnel were killed.
The Palestinian health ministry said that Muhamad Azizi, 25, was killed by a bullet to the chest, while Abdul Rahman Jamal Suleiman Sobh, 28, was shot in the head.
While Israel's army claimed to have "neutralized terrorists," Hussein al-Sheikh, a senior Palestinian official condemned the "occupation forces" for allegedly carrying out another crime.
Pro-Israel narrative
Israeli forces had no other choice than to use lethal force against the two Palestinian terrorists hiding out in Nablus. The two men were involved in previous shootings, and their neutralization was necessary to safeguard Israel's security.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Despite a lack of mainstream coverage, Israeli forces attacked the house with explosives and gunfire, evidenced by destruction of the house's upper floor. Violence in the West Bank will continue as long as the occupation continues, and peace cannot be achieved until the occupation is ended.
Pope Francis Apologizes to Indigenous Communities on Canada Trip
Pope Francis on Mon. issued an apology for the Catholic Church's involvement in a "catastrophic" system of residential schools where pupils were abused and forcibly assimilated into Western culture.
Speaking in his native Spanish, the pontiff said: "I am deeply sorry - sorry for the ways in which, regrettably, many Christians supported the colonizing mentality of the powers that oppressed the Indigenous peoples."
The Canadian government has admitted that pupils suffered physical and sexual abuse at the schools, which operated between the 1880s and 1997 and were attended by more than 150K Indigenous children. Many pupils also died of disease.
Narrative A
An in-person apology from Pope Francis goes beyond what many victims of this terrible abuse could've imagined. This week could see gaping wounds left by the Catholic Church begin to be repaired and survivors finally free to resolve their ongoing trauma.
Narrative B
An apology isn't enough, victims of such horrific and systematic abuse deserve more. Indigenous leaders and some survivors have called for financial compensation, the return of Indigenous artifacts, and the publication of school records. These calls need to be heard.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance the Catholic Church will elect a new Pope by June 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Iran: Israel-linked Cell Members Arrested for Alleged Sabotage
Iran announced on Sat. that its security forces arrested a network of agents allegedly working for Israel before they were able to carry out sabotage and "terrorist operations."
Iran's intelligence ministry said the unspecified number of individuals were working under orders from Israel's spy agency, Mossad, and targeted a "sensitive center" in Isfahan, which is the location of the country's main nuclear facilities.
Iran added that the suspects, whose nationalities weren't disclosed, "employed cutting edge operational and communications equipment and powerful explosives," adding they were just hours away from attacking.
Pro-establishment narrative
Though Iran is still far from achieving a 90% enriched uranium threshold, Israel must be prepared to attack in case they achieve a nuclear weapon. Especially since the end of the nuclear deal with the US, Iran has shown no desire to slow its program, meaning Israel must be vigilant.
Establishment-critical narrative
Iran is a sovereign nation that has the right to a peaceful nuclear program. Just as Israel would counter any attacks on its soil, Iran can and should respond to Israeli provocations in the Islamic Republic. This isn't the first Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites, and Tel Aviv is only asking for a strong response with each new attack.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that Iran will possess a nuclear weapon by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Cheney: Jan. 6 Committee Could Subpoena Ginni Thomas
The House select committee investigating the Capitol riots will "contemplate a subpoena" for Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, the wife of SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas, if negotiations with her representatives don't lead to voluntary cooperation, committee co-chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said Sunday.
Calls to subpoena Thomas came as she faced allegations of working with both former Trump Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump's campaign lawyer John Eastman to overturn the election results. Her emails and texts were both obtained by the committee.
Texts to Meadows reportedly included "Help This Great President stand firm," and "The majority knows Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History" [sic].
Democratic narrative
Considering what we know about Ginni Thomas – that she's a promoter of debunked conspiracy theories around the 2020 election and she had a direct line to Trump's White House – the American people deserve to know more about her role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. What else did she know about Trump's plans, and did her husband play a role?
Republican narrative
This committee doesn't really care about Ginni Thomas, they're instead targeting her husband in this partisan witch hunt. Scouring for information on Clarence Thomas and his court rulings sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to future committees attacking justices with whom they disagree politically.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that 19 or more people will be charged by the US DOJ with seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan 6th Capital riots, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK Experts Identify Likely Cause of Child Hepatitis Outbreak
According to two independent studies from UK researchers, the recent outbreak of hepatitis among children is likely due to a common virus.
The outbreak was first identified in April, and there have reportedly been at least 1k cases across 35 countries, with 22 fatalities and 46 requiring liver transplants.
Those impacted by the mysterious illness have been children under the age of five. They've experienced gastrointestinal symptoms and jaundice, or the yellowing of the skin.
Narrative A
This study reinforces the damage that the pandemic lockdowns did to small children. The endless cycle of lockdowns may have weakened their immunity and left them at risk of infections like the adenovirus. Enforced social isolation has consequences.
Narrative B
There are a lot of question marks here and we can't jump to conclusions. While these studies are a great step to understanding this illness, additional research will be needed to determine the cause and the timing of this outbreak.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov on Africa Tour
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has begun a tour of Africa, with stops in Egypt, Ethiopia, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda. This comes amid a global food crisis and Russia's efforts to deepen its non-Western ties.
On Mon., he arrived in the Republic of Congo, stressing Moscow's role in supporting the African nations' struggle for independence. Lavrov will meet with Congolese Pres. Sassou Nguesszo before heading to Uganda.
He also met on Sun. with Egyptian Pres. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and FM Sameh Shoukry. Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its grain export obligations to Egypt, which imported about 80% of its wheat from Ukraine and Russia last year.
Establishment-critical narrative
The West likes to claim that not only Washington and its closest allies, but the whole so-called "international community" has isolated Russia over the Ukraine war. The neutral stance of the vast majority of African leaders proves this to be nothing more than an illusion. The West doesn't understand that Africa is no longer willing to follow its will and double standards, and Russia enjoys an excellent reputation across large parts of the continent.
Pro-establishment narrative
Indeed, it isn't all that accurate to speak of Russia's international isolation, and that is precisely why the West should focus on long-term strategies to detach Africa from Moscow's sphere of influence. In addition to sanctions against Russia, the West should simultaneously invest economically and politically in African countries, since this would not only strengthen the rules-based world order but also help to curb Russian and Chinese influence.
Ex-Coinbase Manager Charged in First-Ever Crypto Insider Trading Case
A former employee of cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase has been charged with insider trading by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Ishan Wahi is alleged to have passed along confidential information about Coinbase's plans to make certain cryptocurrency tokens available on the platform to his brother, Nikhil Wahi, and his brother's friend Sammer Ramani.
Wahi and Ramani are alleged to have then purchased the tokens before their announced public listing on Coinbase caused their prices to rise.
Narrative A
Fraud is fraud whether it happens on Wall Street or in cyberspace. US law enforcement authorities have demonstrated with this case that they are well equipped to pursue fraud even into the furthest reaches of the blockchain.
Narrative B
The criminal charges are getting all the press, but crypto industry insiders know that the real headline here is from the parallel civil suit filed by the SEC, which asserts that the crypto tokens in question were in fact "securities." That could be a signal that the SEC is set to crack down on crypto exchanges that traded in tokens.
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