WORLD THIS WEEK

Twitter: Musk finalises the deal

What happened?

On 28 October, Elon Musk finalised the USD 44 billion deal to purchase and make Twitter Inc a private company, six months after the takeover was announced in April. Musk tweeted: “The bird is freed.” In response, the European Union internal market commissioner said: “In Europe, the bird will fly by our rules.”

On the same day, Musk addressed advertisers on Twitter and justified his acquisition claiming that “it is important to have a common digital town square where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.” He said the risk of social media splintering into far right and far left echo chambers is prevalent and that it could lead to more hate and divisions within society. However, he said this does not mean Twitter would be a “free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.”

On the same day, media houses, including CNBC and Associated Press, quoted sources who said that after finalising the deal, Musk fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and legal affairs head Vijaya Gadde. BBC quoted Twitter co-founder Biz Stone’s tweets thanking the three for their “collective contribution to Twitter.”

What does it mean?

First, with the acquisition finalised, Twitter will now have to navigate through ensuring free speech and addressing extremist and hate content. Twitter has always been a key platform for political debates and discussions, unlike other social media platforms like Meta, which began as a space for sharing personal and recreational activities. Twitter served as a safe space to voice out one’s opinion but gradually became a space for misinformation and extremists from either political sides to insult, threaten and intimidate those with opposing views.

Second, Musk’s views on free speech have sparked debates on how free free speech should be. With responses like that of the EU, questions on who will regulate content, whether users should decide when and where to set limits or should external bodies should be surveilling your online presence remain.

Third, Musk’s attempt to attract advertisers signals that he could be planning on generating ad revenue, which has remained limited on Twitter compared to other platforms like Meta. However, as The Washington Post explains, advertisers are cautious about their ads appearing alongside hate content. Therefore, to win the confidence of advertisers, Musk would have to assure them and ensure that Twitter would be free of hate content.

ALSO IN NEWS

China: Foreign Ministry rejects Japan’s claims to EEZ in East Taiwan waters

On 26 October, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin addressed a press briefing and remarked that the country does not recognize the exclusive economic zone claimed by Japan in the East Taiwan region. The remarks were made as the press inquired about China’s stand on the stand-off between Japan’s coastguards and the Taiwanese research ship operating in the area. Wang referred to the issue and stated that the Chinese research vessels are within their right to carry out its activities in the area as it is just over 60 nautical miles from the island.

China: Russia’s Foreign Minister congratulates the proceedings of the 20th Party Congress

On 27 October, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and discussed the proceedings of the 20th Party Congress. The Russian President also congratulated China for successfully conducting the National Congress. Wang noted China’s willingness to deepen exchanges with Russia and promoting bilateral relations in various fields. The Foreign Ministers also discussed the war in Ukraine and other international issues, but there was no criticism of Russia during the phone call.

Japan: Relocation of US forces’ Naha military port

On 25 October, Japan’s central, Okinawa’s prefectural, Naha city and Urasoe city governments agreed to relocate the facility and take over functions of the US forces’ Naha military port. The relocation is within the Okinawa prefecture, 49 hectares of land in a sea area off the west coast of Urasoe city. Okinawa prefectural government estimates that the new facility will be completed in 17 years. Naha port is a strategically important site which was said to be the entrance to Okinawa. The functions of the military port as easy access to harbour and oil storage facilities, will not be changed through the relocation process. Okinawa demanded that the US should not take off or land at the new facilities or drill near it. The people from Okinawa oppose the relocation demanding the reason for having a US force military port in the country the government.

Japan and Australia: Intelligence sharing security pact signed

On 22 October, Japan’s and Australia’s Prime Ministers, Fumio Kishida and Anthony Albanese, signed a security agreement in Perth, Australia, to expand and strengthen their cooperation in defence and intelligence sharing amidst growing fear of China and North Korea. Under the pact, Japan and Australia will have

joint training of their defence forces in Northern Australia. The agreement comes after tensions arise in the South China Sea and East Sea. Kishida and Albanese did not mention China and North Korea by name but talked about their threat to regional security. Both leaders also discussed trade between Japan and Australia. Japan and Australia wanted to strengthen their relationship in trading rare earth and LNG.

Australia: Silentium defence unveils box-sized passive space radar

On 25 October, Silentium defence, an Australian company launched Maverick S, a new, world-first, category defining ‘observatory-in-a-box’ capability for improved Space Domain Awareness and Space Traffic Management globally. Low power passive radars work by tracking reflections of objects from FM radio waves. The Silentium system uses a relatively small portable generator for its power which gives it advantage of low emission, low cost and hence providing resilience against enemy attacks.

Indonesia: Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries meet to discuss the violence in Myanmar

On 28 October, a meeting of foreign ministers of ASEAN countries was held to discuss the grave concerns regarding escalating violence in Myanmar. The chair of the meeting said: "We are deeply saddened by the

growing casualties and immense suffering the ordinary civilians are facing." Myanmar's generals are barred from attending ASEAN meetings and the nonpolitical representatives have not agreed to address the meeting. The meeting was in regard to assessing the implementation of five-point consensus on Myanmar adopted last year and because of the recent air strike at the Kachin concert and the bombing of a Myanmar jail causing severe casualties.

India: First test flight of Gaganyaan scheduled for February 2023

On 27 October, the director of Human Space Flight Center (HSFC), ISRO, informed that it will start a series of test flights for India’s maiden human space flight mission. The HSFC added that the manned space mission will be ready by late 2024 or early 2025. Currently, HSFC is developing an environmental control system for astronauts and human capsule is in application phases.

Russia: Upgraded Su-57 took to the skies for the first time

On 25 October, a press release from United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the state tech corporation ROSTEC) declared that fifth generation aircraft Su-57 took to the skies for the first time. The Su-57 fighter jet features stealth technology with the broad use of composite materials, is capable of reaching a supersonic cruising speed and is furnished with the most advanced onboard radio-electronic equipment, including a powerful onboard computer (the so-called electronic second pilot), the radar system spread across its body and some other innovations, in particular, armament placed inside its fuselage.

France and the Netherlands: To exit from the Energy Charter Treaty with difference over climate goal

On 25 October, Deutsche Welle reported that France and the Netherlands revealed their intention to leave the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) due to it not coinciding with their climate goals. Spain and Poland defected earlier in 2022, and Italy in 2016 from the ECT. Fossil fuel investors have submitted lawsuits against European countries for changing to renewable energy sources as they will incur losses. The ECT, pressured by litigations, has allowed fossil fuel usage and

slowed down the green energy transition in Europe. The energy crisis related to the war in Ukraine also made Europe decide to use coal and reactivate coal power plants. Spain, Italy, Poland, France and the Netherlands do not comply with the usage of fossil fuels as it will increase the CO2 emission and thereby delay their climate goals.

The US: Navy gearing towards “super swarms” of drones

On 24 October, MIT Technology review reported that U.S. Navy is seriously considering developing swarms of cheap drones to add considerable weaponry to its arsenal, it might swarms of AI-enabled, autonomous drones for both offensive and defensive purposes. Drone swarms, for example, could take off from different places, like submarines and planes, and could be equipped in many ways, like carrying bombs, electronic jammers, and military equipment. The document also talks about making "mother ships" to transport and deploy these swarms.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ABOUT THE AUTHORSAnkit Singh and Rashmi Ramesh are PhD Scholars in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Avishka Ashok, Abigail Miriam Fernandes, Apoorva Sudhakar, Padmashree Anandhan, Sai Pranav, Joel Jacob and Anu Maria are Research Associates at NIAS. Madhura Mahesh, Bhoomika Sesharaj and Sethuraman Nadarajan are Research Interns at NIAS.