Prime Minister Liz Truss Maintains Tax Cuts

 

Prime Minister Liz Truss has stated she will maintain tax cuts. These tax cuts are not for the average citizen rather corporations of the UK. Another policy is to reduce regulation. Liz Truss favors supply side economics. This is the policy of the Conservative Party, but  the agenda has caused panic in the markets. Supply side economics conservatives claim promotes growth. These policies have not accomplished this nor promote economic stability. Truss' plan is to jump start the economy by massive borrowing. The Bank of England was forced to do bond buying as a protective measure for pensions. Instead of acknowledging that supply side economics is inadequate blame was directed at Russia. The UK does not have to sanction Russia which has caused inflation and an energy crisis. Unless the UK can start becoming energy independent options are limited. The British are going to struggle in the coming months. Germany and France could suffer similar fates. The value of the pound has plummeted.  The unfunded tax cuts are estimated to be 45 billion pounds. These policies can result in the United Kingdom's gross domestic product shrinking. As markets become more volatile, this creates a tense political climate. Investors and businesses are concerned about unforeseen outcomes. The threat to the general public is food security, housing, and access to energy .   

The Russian Mobilization

 

Russian mobilization marks a turning point in the war. Ukraine could be engulfed by the Russian Federation if a peace settlement is not reached. NATO expansion is what instigated the conflict, yet few European leaders want to address the issue. The reaction inside the Russian Federation has been a growing  anti-war movement. Germany, France, and the UK ignore these protests and instead demonize the Russian population. Russia at the start of the invasion did not use their full military capability. Now there is a desire to do so. The only way for the conflict to end is to make Ukraine neutral and halt NATO expansion in Eastern Europe. Russia can easily halt all energy sales to Europe in response to arming Ukraine. Germany, France, and the UK are facing an energy crisis . Without gas and oil  the European economy is in peril. The weapons and money being shipped are not fully accounted for. Allegations have been made a majority of the weapons Ukraine requested have not reached them. The invasion was at first not about conquest. It was to aid the militias in the east. That might change if further escalation continues. The only way Russia could lose is if every NATO county attacked with the United States. These actions could trigger a nuclear exchange. A direct conflict between the United States and Russia would result in nuclear war. Russian mobilization does not mean the country is struggling. Russia is pushing to end the conflict in a few months. The intent of  NATO is to extend the conflict for several years to weaken Russia. This cannot happen if the Ukrainian military cannot defend against more forces entering its territory. The mobilization phase shows that the Russia-Ukraine war is going to get more violent.  

Tanzania And Mozambique Form An Alliance Against Terrorism

 

The escalation of violence has encouraged Tanzania to seek an alliance with Mozambique against terrorism. The combat in the Cabo Delgado region has also gotten the attention of other African nations. Rwanda also has involvement in the conflict. Both countries have not revealed the details of the nature of the security agreements. Tanzanian president Samia Hassan expressed the need for border security with Mozambique. The concern over destabilization of the east and south African region remains a concern. The conflict has been going on since 2017 and all insurgents have not been defeated. The origins of the terrorist group remains unclear. Analysts suggest they are ISIS affiliated. There is a possibility that the terrorist group has a domestic origin. If it is foreign backed it could be used for the purpose of regime change or asymmetric warfare. The Southern African Development Community might have to develop a plan for longtime military operations. Collaboration with the African Union is also a necessity . The question remains of what is the level of involvement of al-Shabab. The group is known to operate in Kenya and Somalia. The terrorist organization could have greater reach across Africa than previously thought. The reason to retake Cabo Delgado is to protect the economic center. Another dire need is to assist the population fleeing the province. The number of internally displaced persons has increased since the beginning of the conflict. The security pacts were a rational choice for Tanzania and Mozambique to ensure regional stability. 

Giorgia Meloni Elected Prime Minister of Italy

 

The failure of political centrism and neoliberal economic policy has pushed populations to the right. The election of Giorgia Meloni demonstrates this political trend. Her election also contradicts a narrative that women being elected to office is an indication of progressive political triumph. Female leaders have the potential to be just a harmful to society and citizens as their male counterparts. While the right has never been an advocate for women's rights, they claim sexism when  opponents criticize her political positions. The Italian voter has become so desperate and vexed that they are willing to select leaders with questionable ideology. Giorgia Meloni has expressed an authoritarian right sentiment mixed with xenophobic nativist nationalism. Her claim is that Italy's identity and family values are under attack. Giorgia Meloni also claims that the economic system has put the average person at a disadvantage. Yet, she has no intention of fighting the neoliberal capitalist system. The liberal critics state that Italy has fallen into fascism. A serious economic and constitutional crisis would have to occur to make that possible. As long as inflation and  the energy crisis continues in Europe there could be major disturbances. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia -Ukraine War has resulted in this shift to populist right-wing authoritarianism. The lack of a genuine leftist political block  only empowers this growing phenomenon. The Brothers of Italy claims to be anti-establishment, but Giorgia Meloni has been active in various offices and political parties. The worse the economy becomes, the greater political power the authoritarian-right gains. These  events explain Giorgia Meloni's election as prime minister.     

The First Hoverbike Shown To The Public

 

The world's first hoverbike has been invented. The technology was the product of Aerwins. The capabilities are somewhat limited. The total speed the hoverbike can reach is 62 miles per hour. This can only remain in flight for 40 minutes. The hoverbike will not be replacing the motorcycle at the moment . Then the price makes it out of range for most of the public. The hoverbike by Aerwins costs up to $ 777,000. The name of this hoverbike is called Xturismo. The goal is to make a smaller model and an electric version. The schedule for release is set for 2025. Japan has simultaneously been building hoverbikes. Aerwins plans to produce 200 more Xturismo hoverbikes. While their application can go beyond just mere transportation, there are some concerns. Law enforcement could easily abuse this technology. The hoverbike could be designed for military use. That should not be the intent of the technology. Using them for a racing sport or search and rescue operations would be preferable. A hoverbike might be a better option than a car. The challenge would be related to regulating traffic. Certain companies want to invest in an air taxi service. Airlines have interest in the development of an air taxi service. The hoverbike is in an earl development stage. It takes time to develop technology and perfect engineering. 

Violence In Iraq

 

Iraq has been falling into a state of permanent violence. Clashes between the state security forces and Shia militias continue with little prospects for resolution. Much of the controversy is related to the fact Iraq has an ineffective government. The 2003 Iraq War, the insurgency, and the growing public discord has made Iraq more unstable. The tension between Coordination Framework Alliance and the supporters of the Sadrist Movement have gotten worse. Iraq could descend into civil war without an effective leader, The CFA has links to Iran some critics have accused. Back in August, Iran did close its borders with Iraq in response to the growing violence. Al-Sadar supporters did for a time occupy the Green Zone in protest to the government. Iraq was not been stable since 2003. The country is still dealing with the aftermath of invasion  and the removal of Saddam Hussein. The attempt at nation building and imposing a liberal democratic system resulted in deadly consequences. Oppression has not gone away. The crackdown on the Tishreen protests in 2019 demonstrate this political reality. Basic necessities like electricity and clean drinking water are in short supply. When needs are not met the anger of the public grows. The youth have become more disillusioned with politics and activism. All have not given up. The Union of Baghdad Students seeks to change the political structure of Iraq. As long as their disunity among Kurds, Shia and Sunni Muslims Iraq will not have peace.    

Discontent Among US Railway Workers

 

A potential railway strike was avoided in the United States. While the focus was an extension of supply chain issues and the loss of billions dollars, the complaints of workers remained ignored. Employees do not randomly go on strike unless there is a decline in working conditions. Railroad corporations have failed their employees in the US freight industry. BNSF and Union Pacific have seen immense profits, but workers have not seen dramatic improvement. Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate has done well considering the current economic condition in the US. The combination of labor cuts, reduced compensation, and grueling precision scheduling systems has caused discord among workers. On call scheduling systems and limited time off has added to the frustration. If US railway labor unions cannot get an agreement that solves all these problems, then this can happen again in the next few years. Paid time off and  changing the scheduling policies are the only solutions. The Railway Labor Act was designed to allow corporations and unions to discuss concerns and grievances  to avert a nation wide labor incident. If abuses still happen there may be no other choice but to do a mass strike. Labor unions should not settle for an agreement that does not get to the route of labor disputes. Laws should protect workers, not corporate power. A total of twelve labor unions have been negotiating contracts.     

Namibia's Hydrogen Power Plant

 

Africa is about to open the first hydrogen power plant on the continent. The plant is expected to start producing electricity in 2024. This allows Namibia not to be too reliant on South Africa for 40% of its power. Namibia wants to expand its sector in solar and wind energy. The nation has an advantage related to its environment. The economic potential is vast, but might not materialize rapidly. The technology is still developing in the field of renewable energy. How hydrogen plants work is through a network of solar panels. Their role is to power electrolyzers to produce hydrogen to be stored. This allows a country to move away from carbon based methods. Large amounts of carbon emissions contribute to rising global temperatures. Hydrogen plants are an engineering solution to a dire environmental problem. Concerns about EU involvement and some European companies have been made. These roles in hydrogen power plants might be a means to stir African countries away from Russian energy. The best method for Namibia would be to have access to as many markets as possible. Namibia  has diamonds, uranium,  gold, copper, zinc, and suspected  oil reserves. Namibia has reached the status of upper middle income country. However, poverty remains a persistent economic concern. The construction of hydrogen plants, exporting goods to the world market, and job training are policies that ensure Namibia's survival. Hydrogen power plants also protect Namibia's environment and diverse wildlife. 

Queen Elizabeth And The Imperial Legacy

 

Queen Elizabeth has passed away. She had been a fixture of the United Kingdom for half a century. While the press in both the US and UK praise the longtime Queen, they  ignore the sordid imperial legacy during the last years of the British Empire. Although a constitutional monarchy, it virtually ruled over Hong Kong, Jamaica, and India. The British Empire was not willing to grant independence to the African and Asian colonies after World War II. Wars had to be fought for the cause of national liberation. Queen Elizabeth put a more tolerable image of empire, when it was not longer acceptable as a political entity. Malaya, Kenya, Cyprus, and Yemen people took up arms to fight the British. The Anglo-Jewish War brought an end to the British mandate in Palestine. White settlers refused to acknowledge that times had changed. The exact amount of causalities from the anti-colonial wars may never be known. While there is no evidence that the Queen was directly involved in abuses, she was complicit in them. The stance against South Africa was only taken by Queen Elizabeth when more African states gained independence in the 1960s. Rhodesia was an issue even before the Universal Declaration of Independence. She headed the Commonwealth which was designed to maintain British influence in the former colonies. It was and continues to be more paternalistic and condescending rather than a partnership of equals. Over the past five decades a  public relations campaign was designed  to make he seem like a humanitarian figure. The attempts to sanitize the history of violence by the British Empire has come under new scrutiny. It was reported 10 years ago thousands of documents related to abuses in the colonies were destroyed. Those documents related to colonial abuses remain in the Foreign Office archive. Queen Elizabeth was more so a symbol for those who believed in the myth of benevolent empire. The history exposes how nostalgia distorts  the public's understanding of events. The British Empire has a different meaning to African and Asian peoples. The negative effects are still resonating in global affairs.       

Flooding On The Rise In Sudan

 

Seasonal floods have occurred in Sudan. This has been common with the rising waters that come from Nile River. The concern is the growing intensity  of the floods. Rain fall and water levels are being altered by climate change. The increase in sea levels means flooding in costal areas. Sudan is not the only African country to struggle with floods. Uganda has seen some damage from rising waters. If too much rainfall happens this can cause landslides. When flooding stops, there are also devastating consequences. Homelessness and damage to infrastructure are major challenges. The death from flooding becomes more disturbing as governments show they have limited ability to save lives. Practical solutions do exist. Ditches, canals, and culverts must be expanded in Sudan. Infrastructure and other buildings should be as far away from  at risk areas. An emergency evacuation plan should be established to ensure public safety. A climate change management policy must be developed b the African Union to ensure the preservation of East Africa. The intensification of floods also comes at a time when drought is happening in certain areas of the region. 

The Min Aung Hlaing Regime Extends Aung San Suu Kyi's Jail Sentence

 

The military government of Myanmar has extended Aung San Suu Kyi's jail sentence. The Min Aung Hlaing regime wants to remain in power and to do so it requires to stop all political opposition. The National League of Democracy won the elections, but the military objected to the results. Since 2021 Min Aung Hlaing has manipulated the State Administration Council. Combined with being commander-in-chief of the Defense Forces, this gives him vast amounts of political power. Suu Kyi is the victim of political persecution. The National League of Democracy leaders also face imprisonment. What is going on is nothing more than a show trial. Myanmar has again become a pariah, with certain countries imposing sanctions. This has done little to undermine the military regime. Hlaing might be using Suu Kyi as an example to frighten the people resisting his rule. A resistance has been ongoing with certain ethnic groups taking up arms against the government. Min Aung Hlaing wants to crush revolts and eliminate armed groups. The desire became so extreme that this resulted in the violence against the Rohingya. The crisis can be described as ethnic cleansing and some would argue possible  genocide. Hlaing's involvement has been extensive in the human rights violations of Myanmar's ethnic groups. Suu Kyi's situation has reverted back to what it was in the 1990s. Arrest and detainment due to her political beliefs. The attempt to build a democratic system has failed. Just like in Thailand, Pakistan , Nigeria, and Egypt the military has too much control over the government. Myanmar continues to struggle with the military taking over government. Suu Kyi will either need to find a means of escape or live the rest of her life imprisoned.