Stories We’re Watching

MAGA’s in Paris: Europe Rebukes Trump’s Nationalism

In a scathing rebuke of President Trump, French President Macron denounced nationalism and suggested the formation of a European cyber defense force against China, Russia, and the US. The remarks came amid Sunday’s ceremony in Paris commemorating the centenary of WWI’s end. President Trump’s decision to cancel a visit to the graves of American soldiers killed during WWI drew widespread condemnation both in Europe and in the US. Yesterday in Poland, as EU President Donald Tusk warned of nationalism’s threat on EU stability, Polish President Andrzej Duda marched with nationalists and others to celebrate Poland’s national independence day.

• Defense One: Trump’s Visit Highlights Threads of Increasing Global Disorder
• Business Insider: Macron reportedly asked Putin not to privately meet Trump during WWI
• Financial Times: Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump and the ghosts of 1918
• POLITICO EU: Macron takes implicit dig at Trump, denouncing ‘nationalism’
• Time: European Union President Says He Has ‘Different Views’ From President Trump on U.S.-Europe Relations

Rohingya flee refugee camps ahead of repatriation

The first round of repatriations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is set to begin this Thursday, but dozens have already fled from the refugee camps. Bangladesh and Myanmar agreed to repatriate 2,000 refugees in this first round. UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, has warned against this early repatriation and has said that Myanmar’s campaign against the Rohingya constitutes genocide. Aid groups and regional experts expressed doubt about the safety conditions of the return and questioned Myanmar’s readiness. Earlier today, Amnesty International has withdrawn the award it gave to Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto civilian leader.

• Channel NewsAsia: Rohingya flee refugee camps in Bangladesh, as Myanmar prepares
• Reuters: Dozens of Rohingya flee camps by boat, reviving memories of 2015
• Dhaka Tribune: Rohingya flee refugee camps, as Myanmar prepares for first returnees
• Stuff: The other side of Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis
• NPR: Rohingya Repatriation Set To Begin, As Amnesty Revokes Award To Aung San Suu Kyi
• UN: Statement by UN High Commissioner for Refugees on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar

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North Korea’s Secret Missile Base

According to a report released earlier today by Washington DC’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, North Korea is continuing its ballistic missile program at Sakkanmol, an undeclared operational missile base for short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). North Korea has an estimated 20 undeclared missile operating bases, 13 of which have been identified with commercial satellite images. At their Singapore meeting earlier this year, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and President Trump vowed to work toward denuclearization. Although their agreement was bereft of specifics, this discovery highlights the challenges of neutralizing the North Korean nuclear threat.

• CSIS: Undeclared North Korea: The Sakkanmol Missile Operating Base
• Axios: Satellite images show North Korea expanding 16 ballistic missile sites
• New York Times: In North Korea, Missile Bases Suggest a Great Deception
• CNBC: North Korea keeps undeclared missile bases up and running: US think

Eight Killed in Covert Israeli Action in Gaza, Threatening Fragile Cease-Fire

Seven Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed by Israeli forces in an undercover raid operation in Gaza. Among the casualties were a local militant commander and three other Palestinians who are believed to be militants. Two rounds of apparent retaliatory attacks were launched from Hamas-controlled territory following the operation. Violence has gone unabated since March, when Palestinians began protesting weekly. In some instances, Israel has responded to these demonstrations by opening fire on the protests, killing over 150 demonstrators, and injuring thousands.

• Haaretz: Netanyahu: No Diplomatic Solution for Gaza, Just Like With ISIS
• BBC: Eight killed in covert Israeli action in Gaza
• The Guardian: Eight dead in undercover Israeli operation in Gaza
• Haaretz: Senior Israeli Officer Killed During Special Forces Raid in Gaza
• The Independent: Israelis kill six Palestinians including Hamas commanders during raid …

Dollar at 16 Month High

Earlier today, the US Dollar hit a 16-month high against a basket of currencies. Until today, the US Dollar had fallen following the US midterm elections. The Euro, British Pound, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan all fell against the US Dollar. Foreign exchange market analysts believe that this peak reflects a shift in investor focus: risky assets are being abandoned in favor of safe haven assets such as the US Dollar. Investors are likely considering the extent of China’s economic slowdown, political risks in Europe, the fallout of Brexit, and month’s US Federal Reserve interest rate increase.

• CNBC: Dollar at fresh 16 month high; sterling and euro knocked by Brexit
• Reuters: Dollar nears 16-month high, sterling hit by Brexit uncertainty
• US News & World Report: Dollar Hits 16-Month High; Brexit Fears Knock Sterling
• Reuters Africa: GLOBAL MARKETS-Sterling tumbles on Brexit turmoil; dollar, oil jump

From Deep State Radio

BLOG: NO WALL CAN PROTECT TRUMP FROM THE GHOSTS HAUNTING HIM FROM WITHIN

No one knows the skeletons in Donald Trump’s closet better than Donald Trump. No one knows the crimes he has committed, aided or abetted so well. No one has such a firm grasp on the wrong-doing that was the daily bread of the Trump Organization, his children and close associates.
Now, after an election defeat that was humiliating regardless of what pundits may say, a blue wave that produced greater Democratic gains in the House than any since Watergate and big wins at the state level, Trump is haunted by his knowledge of what coming investigations may uncover. Continue

DEEPTECH:  DeepFakes Get Real

It’s getting harder for humans and machines to spot Deepfake videos, which is especially troubling since AI systems are learning to recognize and respond to human emotions. Analysts caution that deepfakes could erode voter confidence, worsen the spread of misinformation, and undermine national security. Deepfake technology is like photoshop for videos; it’s the same technology used in Star Wars Rogue One to replace Princess Leia. Anyone can use it to create a video of anyone else doing or saying something that they didn’t do or say. Deepfakes used to be easy to detect, and humans can still … Continue 

DEEPTECH: How could paperless money possibly worsen global warming?

A new study has found it takes 3x more energy per US$ to mine bitcoin than it does to mine gold. Unlike paper money, which must be printed, most cryptocurrencies are mined, and this process is so energy intensive that scientists have warned Bitcoin production alone could nullify climate change efforts. Financial analysts expect this finding to further damage Bitcoin’s value, which has already fallen nearly 70% since peaking last year. The problem stems from the energy-intensive mining process. To prevent someone from simply making more bitcoins by just copy-pasting, … Continue