Māori and the Haka: A Living Tradition

The Māori are the Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, with traditions deeply tied to the land, language, and ancestors. Among their most powerful cultural expressions is the haka—a posture dance of fierce gestures and chants that embodies strength, unity, and defiance. Historically performed before battle or in times of challenge, the haka remains a living declaration of identity and resilience.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.”
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

This wisdom frames Māori worldviews: true power lies in people standing together.

Here’s a high-level summary of the facts contained in the newly released study, titled “Debunking the Genocide Allegations: A Reexamination of the Israel-Hamas War from October 7, 2023 to June 1, 2025” published by the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies213-2.9.2025-Edited.

Purpose

This report examines allegations that Israel committed genocide during the 2023–2025 Gaza conflict. The authors focus strictly on factual, historical, and statistical analysis, not legal or ethical conclusions.

Narcotics as a Weapon of War

History has shown that narcotics can be deployed as instruments of war. The Opium Wars devastated China in the 1800s; today, adversaries appear to be flipping the script, using drugs as modern tools of destabilization.

Cocaine from Venezuela, fentanyl precursors from China, and methamphetamines and opium from Burma’s Golden Triangle are not just criminal enterprises. They are weapons of proxy warfare, deliberately eroding the stability of the United States and Thailand. Addiction has become the silent battlefield.

Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, Syria’s Christian communities—already scarred by a decade of war—have faced escalating violence, intimidation, and systemic discrimination. From the burning of churches and homes in Sweida, to the bombing of St. Elias Church in Damascus, to the murder of Pastor Khaled Mazher and his family, a chilling pattern of religiously motivated violence has emerged.

These assaults highlight both the fragility of Syria’s minorities and the failure of President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Transitional Government to provide protection or accountability. Meanwhile, Turkey’s support for armed militias implicated in sectarian crimes has compounded the danger.

When Spain’s Supreme Court upheld the conviction of a Spanish–Moroccan man who fought with al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, it did more than close one case. It revealed the uncomfortable truth that Turkey has long been both a transit corridor and a staging ground for European jihadist fighters, while also highlighting the urgent gaps in judicial cooperation between Ankara and the European Union.

Implications of Anutin’s Election

• Political shift & instability: Anutin, the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, has secured the premiership amid continued political turbulence. He leads a minority government, backed by a deal with the opposition People’s Party promising constitutional reform and an early election—expected within four months. ReutersAP NewsThe Guardian

• Decline of the Shinawatra dynasty: His rise signals a sharp setback for the influential Shinawatra line, particularly after the ouster of Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the departure of her father, Thaksin, who fled to Dubai ahead of a parliamentary vote. The GuardianReutersThe Wall Street Journal

• Domestic focus on reform: Anutin, known for championing cannabis decriminalization, now faces challenges governing without a stable majority, in a country beset with economic issues like household debt and sluggish demand. AP News+1ReutersThe Guardian

In the United States, discussions of marriage, divorce, and custody too often center on adults—rights, freedoms, finances, or control—while the well-being of children remains secondary. From skewed custody patterns to the devastating impacts of father absence, from policies that ease separation but do little to promote reconciliation, to weaponized custody battles, the cumulative evidence shows a system that consistently puts the best interests of children last.

On September 2, 2025, the U.S. military carried out a precision strike in the southern Caribbean, sinking a speedboat believed to be transporting cocaine and other narcotics from Venezuela. The operation resulted in the deaths of eleven suspected members of Tren de Aragua, a transnational gang with roots in Venezuela, and underscored the willingness of U.S. forces to take decisive action against organized crime threatening American communities.

A Precise and Risky Operation

The strike was part of a larger counter-narcotics buildup in the Caribbean, where U.S. destroyers and Marines were recently deployed to deter smuggling routes. Officials described the crew as “narcoterrorists,” emphasizing their links to the Tren de Aragua, which the U.S. has formally designated as a terrorist organization.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, marked a turning point in European security. To understand the roots of this war, it is necessary to examine Ukraine’s policies on Crimea, its deepening ties with NATO and the United States, and Russia’s perception of encirclement. The record shows a mixture of legitimate defensive actions, political aspirations, and contested narratives—elements that Moscow used to justify its aggression.

The world is entering a profound geopolitical transition. At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, India, Russia, and China projected a clear message: the West is no longer indispensable. While no leader uttered those words directly, their coordinated rhetoric and behavior revealed a shared vision of a multipolar order designed to weaken U.S. influence and reorient global power.

This shift carries immediate and lasting implications for countries caught in the struggle between Western norms and Eastern-backed authoritarianism—most notably Burma (Myanmar) in Southeast Asia and Venezuela in Latin America.

In a world increasingly defined by authoritarianism, censorship, and ideological conformity, millions across the globe still view the United States as the final bastion of true freedom—a nation founded not on bloodlines or monarchs, but on ideals: liberty, justice, and individual rights. For those living under oppressive regimes, the USA is not just a country; it's a symbol of hope, a beacon of resistance, and for many, the only superpower still willing to fight for freedom beyond its borders.

Freedom in Retreat: A Global Cry for Help

From the tightening grip of the Chinese Communist Party, to theocratic regimes in Iran, to brutal military dictatorships like Burma (Myanmar), the tide of freedom has been receding in many corners of the world. Protesters in Hong Kong waved American flags. Dissidents in Iran chant “Death to the Dictator” while quoting the U.S. Constitution. Refugees escaping North Korea risk their lives just to taste what Americans often take for granted.

In a nation gripped by political repression, economic instability, and mounting international pressure, Venezuela Watch offers a focused lens into the realities facing the Venezuelan people. From government crackdowns and human rights violations to environmental emergencies and transnational tensions, this briefing brings timely and accurate insights to the forefront. Our mission is to inform, empower, and amplify the call for freedom, accountability, and dignity for the people of Venezuela—reminding the world that silence enables suffering, but awareness fuels change.

In a world marked by rapid shifts and deepening crises, PowerMentor Global Watch provides a weekly glimpse into pressing developments across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. From armed conflicts and humanitarian emergencies to natural disasters and political turmoil, this brief delivers clear, reliable insights to help you stay informed, advocate strategically, and respond with purpose.

For years, people have marveled at how The Simpsons seems to “predict” the future. From political outcomes to global crises, the uncanny accuracy of certain episodes has become a cultural phenomenon. But what if the truth is far deeper—and far darker—than coincidence?

The reality is this: The Simpsons is not predicting anything. It is programming.

Hiding in Plain Sight

The elite understand the subconscious mind better than most of us. They know that if an idea is placed in front of you—through movies, shows, or even cartoons—your brain absorbs it without resistance. Over time, when the event unfolds in real life, your subconscious has already accepted it.

1. Legitimizing a Brutal Regime Through Political Optics

The Myanmar junta, spearheaded by Min Aung Hlaing, has faced significant international condemnation for violent repression and humanitarian atrocities since its 2021 coup. Despite this, the regime is aggressively seeking to rehabilitate its image:

• In a bold move, the junta’s Ministry of Information signed a $3 million per year lobbying deal with U.S.-based DCI Group, beginning July 31, 2025.

• DCI Group, known for its strong Republican and Trump-era connections, is being engaged to reshape U.S. perceptions—particularly in areas like trade, natural resources, and humanitarian aid—even though sanctions against the regime remain firmly in place.

By facilitating access to the Trump-aligned political ecosystem, this lobbying deal conveys a veneer of normalcy and acceptance that dangerous authoritarian regimes actively seek.

Burma (Myanmar)’s junta just branded the Karen National Union (KNU) a “terrorist organization” and an “unlawful” association—a move with sweeping legal and propaganda consequences. This isn’t merely repression; it’s a narrative weapon intended to isolate and fracture Karen resistance. The IrrawaddyAP News

Here’s the twist: for years, KNU leadership and channels close to it have worked to delegitimize the Kawthoolei Army (KTLA)—denouncing its formation, refusing to recognize it, and pressing partners to “handle” (read: sideline) it. That branding war inside Karen politics now mirrors the junta’s tactic against the KNU itself—a textbook boomerang. Myanmar Now.

Burma’s military regime has launched counter-offensives nationwide—but nowhere is its control more tenuous than in Rakhine (Arakan). There, the Arakan Army (AA) now commands 14 of the state’s 17 townships, edging ever closer to complete control. This insurgency, rooted in a decades-long quest for sovereignty, now reverberates through other ethnic theatres of resistance—most notably among the Karen and Kachin—raising the stakes for Burma’s fragile transition and fragmentation.

Awakening the Resilience: Arakan Army and Solidarity Among Ethnic Resistance

The AA isn’t an isolated actor. In the early 2010s, it fought alongside the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) against the Tatmadaw in Burma’s north, building military and political ties within the broader Northern Alliance of ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) Council on Foreign Relations. This collaboration underscores a shared resistance infrastructure spanning Kachin, Shan, Chin, and Rakhine regions.

A recent Facebook post by TheKaren ThaiFree showcased a video from his visit of an amazing Karen find. Archaeological discoveries can transform our understanding of history, shedding light on the lives of peoples whose voices have been muted by time. One such discovery has emerged from a burial site in the hills along the Thai-Burma border, where skeletal remains—believed to be more than 3,000 years old—were carefully excavated. Scholars suggest these remains may be linked to the Karen people, one of Burma’s most deeply rooted and enduring ethnic groups.

If confirmed, this finding not only expands the historical timeline of Karen presence in the region but also underscores the cultural continuity of a people who have long asserted their ancestral claim to these lands.

Unearthed in the Hills

The remains were discovered in soil layers preserved by centuries of sediment and stone, revealing a fragmented skull, ribs, and arm bones. The burial context indicates intentional placement, consistent with early Southeast Asian mortuary practices in which the dead were positioned with care, often accompanied by symbolic markers (Rajadhon, 1950).

In Catholic teaching, purgatory is understood as a place of purification between life and eternity—a space of suffering, judgment, and waiting.

Now, disturbingly, an extremist online group calling itself “Purgatory” has claimed responsibility for a wave of false active shooter calls that terrorized universities across the United States. These hoaxes—sometimes staged with fake gunfire sounds, sometimes multiplied by hundreds of simultaneous calls—sent campuses into lockdown and communities into panic.

And then came Minneapolis. A real shooting at Annunciation Catholic School and Church left two children dead and 17 injured as the gunman fired into stained-glass windows during Mass.

The symbolism is hard to ignore: an online group adopting a Catholic name spreads terror through hoaxes, followed days later by a massacre at a Catholic church and school.

Across the country, communities have been shaken by a surge of false active shooter reports. These hoax calls—often made to schools and universities—have forced police lockdowns, triggered fear, and diverted emergency resources.

Now, this pattern has taken a deadly turn. On August 27, 2025, Annunciation Church in Minneapolis, MN became the scene of a real mass shooting, proving that attackers may be using hoaxes to mask or prepare for real violence.

Recent Hoax and False Reports

To understand the threat, here’s a list of recent hoax calls with past 2 days: