The Ambiguous Condition In The Ivory Coast

 

Rumors of a military coup have come from Ivory Coast. So far, there is no evidence of an removal of the Alassane Ouattara presidency. Much of the unrest in the country comes from his desire to run for a fourth term. The Ouattara administration was the product of French invention in the Ivory Coast. The disputed election in 2010 saw the French install a government in the country. Pro-Ouattara forces arrested Laurent Gbagbo in 2011. Ivory Coast was experiencing post-election violence and what could be described as a civil war. Laurent Gbagbo was sent to Hague to be tried. It was clear this was political persecution disguised as fighting crimes against humanity. The charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Egregious as this was, pro-Ouattara officials were never charged for banishing Gbagbo to the Hague. Gbagbo plans to run for president in 2025. There is a possibility that 2025 could be a repeat of 2010. The Economic Community of West African States are least likely to condemn Alassane Ouattara administration. ECOWAS is more aligned with EU political objectives, which explains its antagonism directed at the Alliance of Sahel States. Ivory Coast becomes more important to ECOWAS to counter Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The condition of Ivory Coast remains unclear, yet the coming months will see increasing political turbulence.  

Tik Tok CEO Shou Zi Chew Responds To The Supreme Court Ruling

The US Supreme Court has shown support for the banning of Tik Tok. Based on the First Amendment this could be considered a violation of free speech and press. The legislation has to pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Tik Tok CEO Shou Zi Chew made a video response to the US Supreme Court. The response was more so directed at users. Chew assured Tik Tok users that an agreement can be reached with the US government. The case for the ban is that Tik Tok poses a national security risk related to data. There is no evidence that the CCP is using Tik Tok for espionage. If that was the actual concern, then Google, X, and Meta should be investigated. A bias exists against Tik Tok, because it is a Chinese company. The US government is attempting censorship on the basis of national security. If the Tik Tok ban happens, then a number of social media platforms could be at risk. Shou Zi Chew believes he persuade the in coming Trump administration to shift policy. Considering Trump's anti-China rhetoric, this seems unlikely. Even if a presidential veto is done it could be overridden. Social media has been under attack since the late 2010s. The attempts to ban Tik Tok is an extension of a growing movement to control access to information. 

 

Walter Cronkite Announces The Death of President John F. Kennedy

 

Walter Cronkite was the host of CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981. He went on air on November 22, 1963 to announce that President John F. Kennedy was dead. He was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This news was the most shocking Walter Cronkite reported. Cronkite interviewed President Kennedy in September. During that interview, President Kennedy acknowledged that he was not really a popular figure in the South. The presidential election of 1964 was going to be a challenge. The reason was that the Kennedy administration was shifting its support to civil rights. This divided the Democratic Party. Southern Democrats favored segregation. President Kennedy going to Texas was a security risk for him. Going there was for the sake of Democratic Party unity for the election next year. The assassination happened 61 years ago and there remain unanswered questions. Walter Cronkite never challenged the findings of the Warren Commission. Cronkite never did a journalistic investigation into the matter. Although he was willing to discuss controversies surrounding the criminal investigation, CBS did not go further. Only speculation and theories exist about why President John F. Kennedy was killed. 

Infowars Facing Possible Shutdown

 

Infowars could be ending operation. Alex Jones can no longer keep the media empire going due to the lawsuits related to the reporting on the Sandy Hook Elementary  School shooting. Alex Jones has filed for bankruptcy and Infowars is now up for auction. Alex Jones was charged for defamation for asserting the shootings were nothing more than a hoax. The families of the victims are expected to get cash settlements from Infowars. Alex Jones is hoping to find a buyer for his media company, but that does not mean he would remain employed under new management. Some sources report that Roger Stone might be interested in the purchase of Infowars. Infowars has been active since 1999. When it launched very few news based websites were on the internet. The public was still getting their news from television and  corporate media. Infowars is known for conspiracy theories and right leaning ideology. However, Alex Jones does not favor the neoconservative political establishment. During the 2000s Jones was a critic of the Bush administration and objected to Hillary Clinton's foreign policy. Infowars was given more mainstream attention in 2016. The reason was based on Alex Jones supporting Trump and the concern about disinformation on the internet. Infowars was then banned from Youtube and other social media platforms. Infowars has published false claims, but corporate media has done the same. Fox News and CNN rarely retract false stories or correct their media bias. Alex Jones may not be the main target. The case and bankruptcy proceedings could be used as a blueprint for prohibiting independent media. By linking independent media to more fringe movements, it becomes a justification for shutdown. Content creators could be demonetized, accused of spreading disinformation, or face defamation charges. Alex Jones stated that he will find another platform to do reporting. With Free Speech Systems be part of the bankruptcy proceedings, it will be difficult. Broadcasting continues to evolve with culture and technology. Infowars was able to build with a niche audience and eventually was noticed by the mainstream media. 

Julian Assange Set To Be Released From Prison

 

The attempts of the US governments persecution of Julian Assange could be coming to an end. The plea deal allows 17 changes against Assange related to espionage to be dropped. Part of the plea deal is that Assange pleads guilty to one charge. The case shows that there is no evidence he was conducting espionage or working on the behalf of a foreign power. Assange is an Australian citizen and the US criminal charges against him would have legal implications with his home country. Prime Minister  Anthony Albanese condemned the US attempt to have him extradited.  Julian Assange has done nothing criminal and was forced into Belmarsh Prison. While incarcerated in the UK Assange was put into solitary confinement. There is enough evidence to show his basic human rights were violated. The Espionage Act charge does not hold. What Assange released on Wikileaks were diplomatic cables. These were not classified documents. A diplomatic cable would not be sensitive information revealing national security related  intelligence.  Chelsea Manning has access to classified documents, not Assange. Wikileaks was able to reveal the war crimes of the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. The extent of murder and violence was largely censored in American mainstream media.  There have not been criminal charges of officials in the Bush or Obama administration related to those crimes. As Assange returns to Australia a growing concern about his safety is felt. Julian Assange has suffered mental and physical health decline related to his imprisonment. It might take a longtime for him to recover from 11 years of being a political prisoner. His release was a triumph for advocates of free press and independent journalism. 

The Attempts To Ban Tik Tok

 

Governments are attempting to ban Tik Tok . The popular social media platform has been accused of disinformation and being a national security risk. These claims are being made based on anti-China sentiment. A number of countries are attempting to ban the application based on a xenophobic nationalism. The European Union has made a ban on Tik Tok to apply to staff devices. This applies to the European Parliament, European Commission, and and EU Council. The measure is unnecessary considering the only application that should be used in offices are for work , not entertainment. France, Canada, Belgium, Pakistan, Nepal, and Australia have adopted similar policies. The US motivation for the ban is because it does not want Chinese competition in the technology sector and wants censorship. Video sharing applications expose concerns that are not discussed by the mainstream media or government. While it is used mostly for frivolous purposes, videos show abuses. Israel's human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza have been exposed on various platforms. The Tik Tok ban is a test to introduce censorship on multiple platforms. The public would never accept this, so false justifications are made. Disinformation, preventing public disturbance, and national security are the common arguments. Intelligence agencies and law enforcement have a good amount of resources to deal with matters of espionage. This is not about protect, rather undermining press and free speech. Afghanistan also imposed a ban on Tik Tok on the basis it was protecting the youth. Governments both authoritarian and democratic want to prevent the public from having independent thought. More social media platforms and video sharing sites could be a target of censorship.     

Remembering John Pilger

 

John Pilger ( 1939-2023)  was a journalist, reporter, and documentary filmmaker who challenged the establishment narratives. Pilger came to prominence covering the Vietnam War and the  Cambodian genocide. The Australian journalist came into reporting when media giants did not have such dominance. Based in the UK, John Pilger's career began before NewsCorp had become a monopolizing force in news. John Pilger through his reporting exposed human rights abuses in Bangladesh and Biafran War. He was an advocate for Aboriginal rights . His criticism of the US, UK, and Australia for military intervention was bold considering current sentiments. The War on Terror resulted in civilian deaths, but reporters questioning the wars were condemned. Pilger was not afraid to call the Iraq War and the invasion of Afghanistan as imperial projects. During his final years Pilger was a critic of the West's shift to an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese foreign policy. The mainstream media acts as a public relations firm to the government. John Pilger's frustration with the mainstream media was that it did not confront or challenge official foreign policy positions. The BBC has been accused of bias, but claims to be impartial. John Pilger was based in the UK for most of his life and discovered during his long decades career that one narrative is promoted. The notion that the US, UK, and Australia are promoting freedom and human rights is presented in news. Although it is fiction the message is prevalent in both liberal and conservative media outlets. John Pilger spent his life debunking this false narrative. What he leaves behind is a large body of work and a blueprint for the alternative media. John Pilger's use of documentary filmmaking was effective in persuasive argument. Documentary films are a tool in which those who seek to challenge the establishment must utilize.        

Brazil and Argentina Are Creating A Common Currency

 

Brazil and Argentina are developing a new common currency. These preparations could mean a major economic transformation is happening in Latin America. The major objective is to increase  regional trade. It has been speculated that Brazil  would one day become an important economic power. Being a member of BRICS demonstrates a rise to international standing. The major obstacle to this was objection from Brazil's central bank. The intention also could be to extend the use of the new currency to other South American nations. The name that has been proposed is the sur. The situation  is different from 2019. South American countries are seeking economic stability in  a world torn by geopolitical confrontation. Two leftist governments are in power, which makes collaboration easier. President Alberto Fernandez would be classified  centre-left and Peronist. The election of President Lula Da Silva in Brazil makes bilateral economic ties more attainable. Argentina needs new solutions to deal with national debt and the damage caused by past recessions. Seeking aid from other Latin American countries would be a better solution. The International Monetary Fund has not been helpful in getting the South American country on a path to economic recovery. IMF programs have been active since 1991 and did little to reduce the economic crisis in 2001. Argentina continues debt negotiation to reduce suffering on the general public. The new currency must be backed by a commodity of value. Only then will  Latin America gain economic independence. Brazil and Argentina must prove to other nations of South America that the new currency is an important financial investment.  

The Rise and Fall of The TV Journalist

 

Critics of media and journalism have noted a contrast in quality. The media has become more partisan and biased. Bias was always present in reporting, but the rise of Tv took it to another level. Adam Curtis explains in a short documentary about how the public perception  of the  Tv journalist.  They were seen as heroic figures during the 1960s and 1970s exposing corruption and societal ills. Then a shift happened with the Cold War. The geopolitical situation became more complex and a simple narrative of good versus evil could not explain a world rapidly changing. Objective reporting was an ideal that was never reached. The idea was that the journalist was suppose to explain current events to the audience. Yet, the media can also be prone to error. The Tv journalists slowly morphed into supporters of the status quo. The public began to view the Tv journalists as part of the elite and establishment. The hostility became more pronounced in the 2010s. A decline in quality has been happening before the 2020s. These shifts allowed for the rise of independent journalism. Some wonder if cable news or other networks can survive in its current condition. Tv news needs to make drastic changes to remain relevant.  

The Aid To Ukraine

 

The European Union and  the United States is  sending more aid to Ukraine. The EU is preparing for a mix of grants and loans which is estimated to be a total of  8 billion euros. The US intends to provide a $1 billion military aid package. The large sums of money is not helping Ukraine. The aid packages are extending the war and escalating a humanitarian crisis. The desire to see Russia weakened by a long term proxy war is not working. Ukraine cannot win, unless there is some form of multilateral intervention. NATO does not have the legal authority to do so, because Ukraine is not a member.   Such an act could spark a large war across Europe and a possible nuclear exchange. The only rational solution is to have a peace settlement. The majority of aid does not go to humanitarian concerns. Weapons and various munitions are what the aid is intended for. Europe  still remains reliant on Russian gas and this could be used as leverage in winter. The citizens of the US and EU countries should not be expected to have their tax funds wasted on a war that could be lost. The longer the Russia-Ukraine conflict goes, the economy becomes erratic. NATO expansion and the interference in Ukraine caused the conflict. More aid will result in more deaths and instability in Europe. The loans and aid packages only will make Ukraine dependent on the UK, Germany, and US. Ukraine might not be able to pay back all the loans it has received. A nation that is in debt to multiple countries  has its sovereignty limited. Ukraine is one of the poorest countries in Europe and national debt could harm its future.   

Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis

 

Sri Lanka has fallen into economic turmoil. The crisis has become so severe that food and fuel are in short supply. Reports of Sri Lankans attempting to leave the country have been circulating. The common destination is Australia where prospects are better economically. Inflation and shortages have also made the public more resentful of their government. Rice production was negatively impacted with the ban of chemical fertilizer. Rice is a staple for the country and the policy endangered food security. The ban was repealed, but farmers and fishers were harmed from the policy. The economic crisis is tied to a political one. The Rajapaksa family has dominated the politics of the island. Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned as prime minister and other members of his family have done so. This does not mean their involvement in politics is over. Mahinda Rajapaksa has served as prime minister multiple times. A return to power would be no surprise for a powerful political family. The corruption that has been a part of the system has resulted in civil unrest. Sri Lanka might need major economic assistance. Sri Lanka  then would fall into massive debt that it would never be able to pay. India's influence could grow from the crisis. India is providing financial aid during the worst economic crisis Sri Lanka has seen. Sri Lanka seeks at least $6 billion  to get some relief. Options are limited to either the IMF or more aid from India.  

How We All Became Richard Nixon By Adam Curtis (2010)

 

There has been a breakdown between the press and public. The lost of trust has become more apparent since the late 20th century. President Richard M. Nixon was notorious for his hatred of the press. He believed it was his enemy and dominated by an eastern establishment with liberal sentiments. The rage became so pronounced it gave way to paranoia. Nixon's paranoia made him think  enemies were everywhere. The public upon learning about the scandal of Watergate, became more paranoid themselves. Institutions that were thought to be keeping society stable were engaging in crime and corruption. Margaret Thatcher as the UK's prime minister like Nixon had  paranoia about enemies trying to destroy the country. The public also simultaneously became more hostile to the skilled professional  class as being agents to a powerful elite. The prevalence of corruption, economic decline, and lack of trust explains the rise of various conspiracy theories. The press also fell to this rise in paranoid thought. Headlines  began to exaggerate the level of danger in everyday life. The reason disdain is no the rise for the press and government relates to decades of institutional failure. Those who do seek to make improvements to institutions face backlash. Roy Jinkins would not be a successful Politian in the 21st century. Too much distrust  exists to fix these problems in media and government. 

The End of The Disinformation Governance Board

 

The Department of Homeland Security launched the Disinformation Governance Board. This new agency generated a huge amount of controversy. The agency had the potential to damage free press and free expression. The DGB appears to be shutting down after much criticism from civil liberties organizations. The Department of Homeland Security has been criticized ever since its creation during the Bush administration. The Disinformation Governance Board is not about stopping propaganda or the spread of fake news. The objective is to have the public agree upon one narrative and stop dissent. Nina Jankowicz was head of the DGB until she announced her resignation. Her appointment to the agency also created concern. She has referred to herself as a disinformation expert. The writer and researcher has no background in journalism. Being appointed to a disinformation agency overseeing media makes that even more precarious. A government agency should not determine what the truth is. Nor should it stop individuals from seeking out information. The Disinformation Governance Board could have enabled the government to hinder a citizen's ability to exercise free speech. For now, it is dissolved yet more agencies could be created that would threaten basic rights. The end of this agency was for the best considering the amount of legal challenges that would be directed at it. Every media and news organization could have been threatened by an agency under  the Department of Homeland Security. Many activists and  human rights advocates should seek the abolition of the DHS. The creation of such an department could pose a serious danger to the rights of American citizens in  the US Constitution.    

The End of CNN Plus

 

CNN Plus only lasted a month. The business model the 24 hour cable news media companies are using are dated. The ability to compete is limited due to social media. Cable news fails to capture viewers as it once did in the 20th century. The contemporary period allows for more access to various sources of information. Viewers would not pay for a streaming service which they could watch on TV. The mainstream media has lost trust and the ability to report interesting stories. Bias and  partisan narratives are the common attributes of various 24 hour cable news networks. News should not resemble propaganda or a political party public relations firm. The American media has become as divided as the population itself. This explains why viewers are turning to alternative media. The traditional broadcasting networks demonize alternative media as conspiracy theory or spreading disinformation. There was a time in which TV news was criticized by newspapers. Overtime, it gained acceptance. Cable news networks that failed to adopt change will not survive. The experiment in video streaming should a warning to media companies. CNN has been around since 1980 and new technology will impact the media industry. Only by making quality content, questioning the status quo, and doing investigative journalism can media companies survive. 

Twitter Has New Ownership

 

Elon Musk the CEO of  Tesla is set to purchase Twitter. This will be one of his many business ventures. Musk has also stated that he wants to change the popular social media platform. One promise was the relaxing of content restrictions. Musk claims he wants to promote free speech on Twitter and  wants to include an edit button for posts. There also has been discussion about having an open source algorithm. Elon Musk also wants to target cryptocurrency scams on the platform. While it appears that Musk has some ideological motivation for buying Twitter, the real reason is business. Buying Twitter makes it easier for Musk to promote his other companies. The business elite do not support free speech or free expression when it interferers with profit. Twitter was bought by Elon Musk for a total of  $43 billion. An investment of that type is not done for political reasons. Twitter still has a large amount of users and it could be expanded in various ways. The growing concern is the rise of the giant tech monopolies. New competitors can rise, but are at a disadvantage compared to Twitter and Facebook. Having a small business elite control social media platforms is a threat to press freedom and free speech. Large tech monopolies also reduce competition in a free market. This can cause economic complications, which reduce consumer choice . Another concern is related to employment. If the tech giants collapse the job loss will be immense. Elon Musk will certainly add more wealth to his net worth. 

Global Inflation Increases

 

The pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war has caused an increase in global inflation. Consumer goods are rising in price due to these events. The other factor is that certain corporations are taking advantage of the situation. Intentional price hikes are being done and are not being challenged. World leaders will face the ire of citizens who cannot afford food or fuel. Food prices were previous increasing prior to the war in Ukraine. Global inflation will not effect all nations equally. The developing nations will struggle combined with debts owed by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The developed nations might do better, but the class structure means people in poverty are more vulnerable. It is possible that more people could fall into poverty. Inflation does happen in an economic system. The concern is about the rate of inflation, Since January prices have gone up. If this is not controlled, it is possible the world could see another economic crisis. The world have not recovered from the 2008 economic crash. The EU will see higher gas and oil prices due to the sanctions directed at Russia. Although the US is not dependent on Russian energy, the sanctions imposed will still effect American energy prices. This explains why Asian and African nations are not willing to impose sanctions on Russia. China doing lockdowns harms economic activity. A slowdown in economic growth has created fears of possible recession. While the future cannot be predicted, the condition of the global economy is weakening.  

Imran Khan Loses No Confidence Vote

 

Imran Khan is no longer the prime minister of Pakistan. He lost the vote of no confidence and now the country is about to get a new leader. What sparked this vote was accusations of mismanagement of the economy and negligent handling of Pakistan's foreign policy. Serious charges such as corruption were not mentioned, but there is no evidence that Khan's government did any criminal wrong doing. His removal was instigated by a coalition of political opponents and defectors from his own party. The legality of this vote was questioned by Pakistan's Supreme Court. The view was that the charge of economic mismanagement was unconstitutional and the the vote of no confidence was not valid. Imran Khan was elected during a period in which the effects of the Nawaz Sharif era and the war in Afghanistan caused Pakistan immense amounts of instability. Ongoing tension with India complicated matters. His desire to reduce poverty and stop government corruption was hindered by multiple internal and external obstacles. The Pakistan Tehreek -e-Insaaf Party might struggle to remain politically relevant. A change in leadership also is a concern to China. The Belt and Road Initiative is a significant trade and infrastructure project that Pakistan is a part of. Khan suggested that he was a victim of a foreign influenced plot. While it could be a possibility, his government was losing support due to inflation and reduced foreign exchange reserves.    

Research Suggests Humans Could Live Up To 150 Years

 

The journal Nature Communications made the suggestion that human life span can go up to 150 years. This was determined by the number of step counts and examination of blood cells. What was seen is that blood cells gradually lose the ability to return to a stable condition. There might be a pace of aging and as people age the ability to recover from certain diseases or other events become more complicated. Overtime the body loses biological resilience.  The study however, should be subject to the scientific method. The question remains why has no one reached 150 so far. There are other organisms that outlive humans. Bowhead whales and Greenland sharks can live over 200 years. The oldest person documented is Kane Tanaka. She is currently 119 years old. Jeanne Calment  was 122 when she died in 1997. This would suggest that 150 years would not be attainable by natural means . There is a limitation to human life span. If it were to go any further, some form of life extension technology would have to be utilized.  Those who do live long are of interest to health science and gerontology . Certain habits, environments, and genetics could all be factors in longevity. The study analyzed blood cell counts and number of steps by the samples compiled by age groups. It did not take into account factors such as diet  or if  exercise was part of their daily routine. What can be said with certainty is that cell physiology might have a link to aging and life span. 

Russia Today Gets Banned In The EU and RT America Shuts Down

 

The Russian state owned international news network is being banned in the European Union. RT America has shut down after ten years in operation. The American staff was dismissed and programs cancelled. The claim is that RT was being used as a platform for spreading disinformation. The motivation behind this ban is due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The channel does provide a Russian perspective, but is also critical of EU and US foreign policy. The channel has produced documentaries regrading the Iraq War and The Afghan War. The ban on media based on its country of origin is more like xenophobia rather than a concern about disinformation. This goes against the values of press freedom and free speech. Viewers should have the right to access multiple sources of information no matter which country it originates from. The purpose of fact checkers is to expose false information. Prohibiting RT is more of a political gesture to express anger with the Russian Federation. Censorship is a threat to free press and this will reverberate. BBC and Voice of America are restricted in Russia. These were steps in retaliation for the RT restrictions .   Disinformation is being used as an excuse for censorship. Ultimately, the consumers of news around the world are put at a disadvantage. With few sources of information,  it becomes difficult to make sense of  of world events. RT still remains on  Facebook and Youtube. 

The Sixth EU-AU Summit

 

The European Union and African Union are holding their sixth summit. The meeting between members of the two supranational organizations is occurring in Brussels. The diplomatic exchanges are complicated by Europe's past and current history in Africa. Subjects that are going to be discussed will include climate change, the covid-19 pandemic, and nature of  AU-EU relations. There is intent on establishing the Africa-Europe Investment Package. The concern is that investment packages are means to extend European control over African countries. Europe could be attempting to challenge the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation with new investment packages. The Global Gateway Investment Package might be another way to either counter or reduce China's influence on the African continent. Africa is making attempts to assert itself in response to European intervention in Africa. France was been active in Mali. French military intervention has been a source of contention. Economic, political, and security factors contribute to difficulties in an effective EU-AU partnership. Only an end to military interventions, structural adjustment, and an unequal partnership will diplomatic relations improve.