Russia Continues to Focus on Getting More Out of Africa

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT RECENT RUSSIA-AFRICA SUMMIT

Historically, Russia has oscillated in its geopolitical orientation between large 'cultural' shifts. Most recently, Russia has begun a significant transition; opening its 'window to Europe' towards Africa. This suggests a shift in Moscow's traditional Eurocentric worldview and international standing, stemming from tensions with the US and NATO, particularly over Ukraine. Russia's new orientation is provoking a split in its foreign policy; maintaining relationships with Europe, North America and the Anglosphere - 'the house of foes', and developing ties with those outside this sphere, particularly Africa. The measure to recognising which side of this divide a country falls is their stance on the sanctions regime against Russia. This recent shift lays bare the interconnectedness of culture, finance, and geopolitics in Russia.

Catalog for my 12-part series on the NFL, sports gambling, and the Mafia

Author Dan E. Moldea recounts his journey exposing the link between the NFL and organized crime in his book “Interference: How Organized Crime Influences Professional Football.” Following disappointing personal experiences in football and advice from a veteran journalist father, Moldea delved into NFL's illicit ties. Despite initial backlash, his predictions about the NFL benefiting from legalized gambling were vindicated when a 2018 US Supreme Court decision led to the nationwide legalization of sports gambling. Many praised the book for its trailblazing exposure of illegal activities within the NFL, solidifying its importance in sports literature.

My 48-year investigation of the Jimmy Hoffa murder case, Part 44 of 44

The author recounts his long-standing relationship and investigation with Phillip Moscato on the disappearance and murder of Jimmy Hoffa. Moscato, a key figure with connections to the underworld, provided valuable insights regarding the infamous Hoffa case, though often hesitated to directly implicate others. Despite promising implications, a conclusive interview detailing the complete events of Hoffa's disappearance never came to fruition, due to Moscato's deteriorating health and eventual death. The author continues to delve into the case, with the Hoffa mystery likened to their personal 'white whale'.

Goodbye, Lahaina Post Script

The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization warned about potential fire risks in Lahaina as early as 2014, but insufficient funding hampered preventive measures. Concurrently, substantial funds were devoted to COVID-19 lockdown measures, sparking questions about the state's resource allocation. A second study in 2020 linked outbreaks of fires in Maui and Oahu to hurricanes. Amid COVID-19 restrictions, the state provided substantial benefits to out-of-work residents. The final death toll from the recent Lahaina fire, which many residents were unprepared for, is believed to be higher than reported. An investigation into the rapid fire spread is needed, potentially revealing inadequate preparations for wildfires in the area.

FBI's Intimidating Visit on Discord Leak Story

Paul Cobaugh, a retired U.S. Army information warfare expert, was recently visited by the FBI and asked to delete an article he had shared on LinkedIn about the so-called Discord leaks, a significant trove of classified documents allegedly stolen by an Air Force National Guard member. FBI agents informed Cobaugh that as a former federal employee with security clearances, he had an obligation not to share the leaked classified documents, even if they had been widely published. The FBI is reportedly contacting everyone involved in re-posting photos of the leaks as part of a counterintelligence operation, despite the leaked documents already being widely distributed on the internet.

A CIA Family Drama

John Hadden, a playwright, actor, and writer, released a 2016 memoir where he documented lengthy, engrossing conversations with his father, a CIA operative from the Cold War era. His father's intriguing admissions include the Mossad's constant surveillance on him during his time as CIA station chief in Tel Aviv during the 1960s, the Kennedy administration's pressure on the CIA to assassinate Fidel Castro, and his distaste for the damaging covert operations by "cowboys" within the CIA. Hadden's father also believed Americans were inherently ill-equipped for espionage due to their unreserved nature. The memoir sheds light on sensitive aspects of the complex relationship between the CIA and Israel in the 1960s.