The 318th Block: This is not anti-China propaganda
This week…
Your reading time is about 5 minutes. Let’s start.
I went to the Na Me Res Pow Wow for drumming, dance, crafts. Every year I will find a way to have a moose or buffalo burger with fried bread. Please have a look at it! I come from Ramly Burger land, but this is the top burger in North America.
I must also let you know that this month, I’m wrapping up my evidence law module with the final assignment due July 7. Because I would be spending a lot more time on my butt this month with this assignment (plus work), I decided to get a desk bike so I can do a little bit of cycling while working. I don’t know if the novelty will wear off, but I am thoroughly enjoying it!!
Your Wikipedia this week: Techno-Orientalism
(The other day, I had the grand opportunity to make an edit to one of my favourite athlete’s Wikipedia page.
And now, a selection of top stories on my radar, a few personal recommendations, and the chart of the week.
ICYMI: The Previous Block was about protests.
CORRECTION NOTICE: None notified.DISINFORMATION, DATA & DEMOCRACY
Propaganda and fake news editors: Myanmar’s manufactured transition
Achim Munz for The Diplomat:
The junta’s information operation has several distinct layers, each addressing a different audience. At the formal end sit the Global New Light of Myanmar, the civilian state newspaper and Myawady Daily (the Myanmar military’s own organ, run by its Directorate of Public Relations and Psychological Warfare). No serious observer takes either at face value.
The more consequential layer is the Myanmar Narrative Think Tank (MNTT), established under the Ministry of Information in January 2025 and operating through its public website. The founding members including a media operator with roots in the Than Shwe era, Ko Ko, chair, Yangon Media Group; an economist with international academic credentials, Dr. Zaw Oo, also a Central Bank director and executive director of the respected Centre for Economic and Social Development; a Russia-trained former military officer who runs a defense research institute, Dr. Naing Swe Oo; and a former Health Ministry technocrat, Dr. Khin Maung Lwin. It also includes several individuals who took part in the Myanmar peace process in the past, bringing credibility in terms of ethnic reconciliation and former closeness to the National League for Democracy government.
Each member was recruited to cover a specific narrative domain, such as economic credibility, security framing, ethnic reconciliation, and technocratic legitimacy. They also provide the civilian face that generals in uniform cannot credibly supply themselves.
Loosely linked:
The college scam that promised students fleeing war a new life in Finland by Aye Sandar Aung and Kelly Ng for BBC.
Dear You – the Chinese migration film igniting a propaganda debate in Southeast Asia ($) by Xinlu Liang for SCMP.
Russian interference in Armenia: A nation tested by disinformation by Nathan Gallo for France 24.
It’s no surprise that an AI-faked presidential speech condemning foreign exploitation went viral – the world is suffering from a leadership vacuum by Kenneth Mohammed for The Guardian.
Medical misinformation on Tylenol in pregnancy spreads faster than safety studies by Amina Zafar for CBC News.
Kalshi and Polymarket prohibit affiliates from spreading election misinformation by Cecilia Nowell for The Guardian.
Science flags paper that found AI chatbots help debunk conspiracy theories by Avery Orrall for Retraction Watch.
Periodistas en la diana por Mercedes Gallego en CTXT.
Por qué llamarlos ‘fascistas’ cuando es sinónimo en la misma raíz de ‘comunistas’ y ‘nazis’ por Julio Martín Alarcón en El Confidencial.
Comment la France a identifié un réseau de sites de propagande liés à Pékin ($) par William Audureau dans Le Monde.
Maxime Audinet : « Xenia Fedorova relaie activement et sans ambiguïté les récits russes, et les adapte aux audiences françaises » par Lucie Carton et François Quinton dans La revue des médias.
What I read, listen, and watch
I’m reading Kingdom of Characters (2022) by Jing Tsu. The author explores how language and literacy intersect with global power, trade and technology. I’m somewhere in the second chapter, learning about the Chinese typewriter.
I’m watching a DW documentary on the women’s organisation that is trying to make right-wing extremism more popular among women.
I’m listening to On The Media about the Chinese online “alt-history” fiction genre.
Chart of the week
SpaceX demolishes IPO records by Pasit Kongkunakornkul, Vineet Sachdev, Colin Barr and Minami Funakoshi for Reuters.
Completely agree. Students deserve more transparency and better information before making important academic decisions.
That's exactly why platforms like RateMyProfessors.org are valuable—they give students access to real experiences and help them make more informed choices about their education.