The fractured Murdoch empire and links to other interesting news and views

With Disney Deal Looming, Murdoch’s Empire Is Fractured - New York Times
The dynamics of the Murdoch family are continuously shifting, and outsiders are kept at a distance. To Hollywood, the Disney deal looked like a family schism, with Lachlan, 46, solidly back in line to succeed his father as overseer of the family’s remaining businesses and James, 45, without a clear future at Disney. Associates of James, however, say that he encouraged the deal, in part because he had grown weary of the dysfunctional push and pull with his brother and father.
The China model is winning, at the expense of liberal values
Emboldened By A Strengthening Economy, China Flexes Its Diplomatic Muscles - NPR
Analysts in China say the proactive statesmanship is befitting the new era Xi has declared, in which China confidently wields its newly acquired wealth and influence and resumes what it considers its rightful place at the center of global affairs rather than leaving world problems to the United States and other countries to deal with.


China, the Innovation Dragon - Project Syndicate
Given its own policies, and those of the US, China is on track to become the world’s innovation leader. By the end of 2018, it will likely be apparent to all just how quickly and easily this latest chapter in the Chinese success story will be written.
‘Fake News’: Wide Reach but Little Impact, Study Suggests - New York Times
But now the first hard data on fake-news consumption has arrived. Researchers last week posted an analysis of the browsing histories of thousands of adults during the run-up to the 2016 election — a real-time picture of who viewed which fake stories, and what real news those people were seeing at the same time.
The reach of fake news was wide indeed, the study found, yet also shallow. One in four Americans saw at least one false story, but even the most eager fake-news readers — deeply conservative supporters of President Trump — consumed far more of the real kind, from newspaper and network websites and other 
 Putin’s Medieval Dreams - Project Syndicate


As much of the world makes amends for social and political injustices of the past, Russia is lionizing its despots, raising statues to the worst of them. Behind this phenomenon is an ultra-nationalist brand of conservatism that seeks to take Russian politics back to the Middle Ages.
Economists Lose Credibility When They're Too Certain - Bloomberg
They made this mistake by claiming free trade had no downsides.
In Iceland, an example of what happens if you actually elect women - Think Progress
Starting January 1, 2018, it is now illegal for employers to pay women less than men. In Iceland, both public and private employers with 25 employees or more will need obtain government certification of equal pay policies. Organizations that fail to obtain the certification will face fines.
Putin considers ‘cryptorouble’ as Moscow seeks to evade sanctions - Financial Times
Russian leader orders officials to devise framework for establishing digital currency

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