Daily Brief

The Daily Brief: Iraq Parliamentary Elections See Lowest Voter Turnout Since 2003

Despite month-long campaigns and millions of foreign dollars spent trying to increase voter trust in the Iraqi election system, turnout in Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections was only 19% by midday.

Published

1 year ago

11 October 2021

The Analyst

The Daily Brief Iraq Parliamentary Elections See Lowest Voter Turnout Since 2003

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Polls have closed in Iraq’s Parliamentary elections following exceedingly low voter turnout.
Summary:

Despite month-long campaigns and millions of foreign dollars spent trying to increase voter trust in the Iraqi election system, turnout in Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections was only 19% by midday.
Polls closed at 6 PM local time, but the Iraqi Electoral Commission indicated that turnout had only increased slightly through the afternoon.
This election is the sixth nationwide vote to take place since the 2003 US invasion which gutted the Iraqi government and instated a political system marred with corruption.
Low turnout suggests public skepticism of the election process and its ability to actually bring about change in the country.
As polls neared a close, mosque loudspeakers and politicians on social media urged voters to cast their ballot.
The international community sent hundreds of observers to monitor the elections and prevent voting fraud.
Moqtada al-Sadr, leader of the established Shia-dominated ruling elite, is expected to sweep the polls.
al-Sadr is a former armed group leader, religious conservative, and strongly opposes foreign interference; his el;ection would not greatly alter the power balance in the Middle East but it would increase his sway over the Iraqi government.
Election results are expected to be released within the next 48 hours, however negotiations to choose a prime minister tasked with forming the government may drag on for months.
Sources:

Al Jazeera

Washington Post

Tweets:

I hope today’s federal elections in Iraq succeed peacefully, and I urge every eligible voter to turn up and cast their vote -mb. pic.twitter.com/PMXnmC1y4a
— Masrour Barzani (@masrour_barzani) October 10, 2021

Very preliminary results, Iraq elections:

– Signs of a major surge for opposition candidates across Kurdistan; if the trend continues, the New Generation will easily surpass PUK.
– Extremely low turnout across much of Iraq, including in politically charged cities such as Kirkuk.
— Abdulla Hawez (@abdullahawez) October 10, 2021

Iraq elections:

These sensitive biometric card readers are quite challenging for some voters here. This woman for example wasn’t able to vote as the machine first didn’t recognised her card & then it didn’t read her finger prints. pic.twitter.com/HmiloDy5Cg
— Nafiseh Kohnavard (@nafisehkBBC) October 10, 2021

Pope Launches 2-Year Consultation on Future of Catholic Church

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Pope Francis has opened a 2-year, 3-stage process to consult with every parish and dioceses around the world to define the future of the Catholic Church.
The initiative has been named “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission” and it aims to clarify the Church’s stance on controversial issues and identify discrimination against those on the margins of society such as women, minorities, and youth.
The first stage of the process involves discussing with parishes, the second stage will gather Bishops to analyze findings, and the third stage encompasses a month-long assembly of Bishops at the Vatican in October 2023.
Sources:

BBC

Reuters

Tweets:

Dear brothers and sisters, may this Synod be a true season of the Spirit! For we need the Spirit, the ever new breath of God, who sets us free from every form of self-absorption, revives what is moribund, loosens shackles and spreads joy. #ListeningChurch
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) October 9, 2021

Pope Francis encourages openness in the Synod: "That expression – 'We have always done it that way' – is poison for the life of the Church."

Full text here: https://t.co/aXpb5VP2nf pic.twitter.com/A8byz5RvIm
— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) October 9, 2021

Protests Take Hold in Brussels. Climate Change Needs to Stop.

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Slogans are waving. Protests in the streets of Brussels are demanding for action to be taken about climate change.
More than 80 organizations were a part of this big event. The Police estimated that there were about 25,000 protesters
Youth make up a large portion of the protesters.
Earlier this Month, propositions are made that fossil fuel industries should be taken out by 2030. This was said by a Swedish activist who was in Milan.
Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/10/thousands-march-in-brussels-to-demand-action-on-climate-change

Tweets:

Brazil Faces High Covid Deaths

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Johns Hopkins University reports a high volume of Covid deaths in Brazil, with tolls reaching approximately 600,000. This is the second highest national death count for Covid, right under the United States.
The US is said to have 712,695 deaths due to Covid-19 while South America has suffered about 600,425 deaths.
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has been made fun of for his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic. He declared that he would not get vaccinated because he has already had Covid. Bolsonaro has also not been very tolerant of lockdowns, even when hospitals were filled to the brim.
Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/09/americas/brazil-passes-60000-covid-deaths-intl/index.html

Tweets:

Father of Pakistan’s Atomic Bomb Dead at Age 85

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Abdul Qadeer Khan, father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, died on Sunday at the age of 85 due to Covid-19 related complications.
Khan sold nuclear weapons technology and distributed them to Iran and North Korea during his career. Some people believe he may have sold illegal nuclear secrets to opponents of the US.
Abdul Qadeer Khan was admitted to the hospital on August 26 due to testing positive for Coronavirus. Later on, he went to a military hospital in the city of Rawalpindi. He was released a couple of weeks ago but was soon readmitted because of his deteriorating condition.
Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/10/10/abdul-qadeer-khan-pakistan-nuclear-weapons/

Tweets:

Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr A Q Khan. He was loved by our nation bec of his critical contribution in making us a nuclear weapon state. This has provided us security against an aggressive much larger nuclear neighbour. For the people of Pakistan he was a national icon.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 10, 2021

187 Migrants Found in Abandoned Trailer

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An abandoned trailer packed with 187 migrants from Central America was found by Mexican authorities on Sunday.
These migrants are fleeing places such as El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras due to violence and financial issues.
In December, Mexican authorities were able to save 110 migrants who were trapped inside a trailer in Veracruz. The migrants were trying to reach the United States.
Sources:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/30/americas/mexico-migrants-rescued/index.html

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

Salman Rushdie Severely Stabbed due to his Publication of the Book “The Satanic Verses”

Published

4 months ago

14 August 2022

Aiyza Alladin

Salman Rushdie, an author, was severely stabbed in his neck and abdomen on stage by a suspect named Hadi Matar, causing him to be on a ventilator and potentially losing an eye.
An Iranian leader back in the 20th century wanted Rushdie killed because of his novel, Satanic Verses, that many Muslims found disrespectful. This led Salman to go into hiding for almost a decade.
Translators from different countries reading this book were harshly stabbed to death when the book came out and Iranian leader, Ayatollah Khomeini called for Salman’s execution for three million dollars.
The Iranian government has not yet responded to this issue, but many Iranians in the media claim him to be an apostate who later became an atheist.

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

China Threatens Consequences if Pelosi Visits Taiwan

Published

4 months ago

2 August 2022

Aiyza Ahmad

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has landed inTaiwan. Prior to the visit, China’s Foreign Ministry has voiced their disapproval, stating that “China will take resolute responses and strong countermeasures to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized in response that “The speaker will make her own decisions about whether or not to visit Taiwan,” and that the US is looking to Beijing to “act responsibly and not to engage in any escalation going forward.”
The US has made it clear that members of Congress routinely visit Taiwan and that this trip is non-threatening and has precedent. Even so, some officials have expressed concern that China may invade Taiwan’s air defense zone or send missiles near Taiwan in retaliation.
Pelosi has criticized China’s leadership and vocalized support for Taiwan in the past. She is currently on her tour of Asia, with scheduled visits to Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

The US side needs to fulfill President Biden’s commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence” and refrain from arranging for a visit by Speaker Pelosi to Taiwan. pic.twitter.com/hK7PKmuLmz
— Spokesperson发言人办公室 (@MFA_China) August 1, 2022

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

First Grain Ship Departs Ukraine After Six Months of Russian Blockade

Published

4 months ago

2 August 2022

Aiyza Ahmad

The first shipment of grain departed the port of Odesa on Monday after Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian ports for the last six months trapped around 20 million metric tons of wheat and corn.
Russia recently made a deal with Ukraine, brokered by the UN and Turkey, allowing grain exports to resume, appeasing fears of a global food supply crisis and rising prices.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba celebrated the shipment, calling it a “day of relief for the world, especially for our friends in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was more hesitant to celebrate the shipment, stating “it is too early to draw any conclusions and make any forecasts” and he wants to “see how the agreement works and whether security will be really guaranteed.”

Welcome the departure of the first grain shipment from Ukraine & the resumption of the grain trade. Planned departure of more grain should hopefully bring intl. grain prices down, aid humanitarian purchases & have a positive impact on poor people going hungry in poor countries.
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) August 1, 2022

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

Concerns Rise As US Teeters on the Brink of Recession

Published

4 months ago

1 August 2022

Kinza Azim

US Stock Market Investing in the United States

The US economy declines for the second quarter in a row, causing, what other countries would consider, an economic recession.
The prices for groceries, gas, and other basics are rising at the fastest pace since 1981. The US Central Bank is quickly trying to raise borrowing costs in order to cool the economy and ease the prices on goods, but with the contraction, at the annual rate of 0.9% in the 3 months to July, many are still getting concerned.
President Biden struggles to convince the public that the economy is sound, with the unemployment rate at a low 3.6%. But with inflation in the US hitting 9.1% in June, the fastest price appreciation in 4 months, consumer spending has slowed at an annual rate of 1%.
Many other countries, such as China and the UK, have been hit harder by the surge in energy prices and the War in Ukraine, causing risks from abroad. Other countries are facing much more serious problems and once they’re hit, their problems can spill over and affect the US.

US Economy in technical recession as GDP shrinks for a second quarter. Q2 GDP fell at a 0.9% annualized rate as inventories, residential investment subtract from growth after a 1.6% decline in the first three months of the year. pic.twitter.com/5cXb6uNyWT
— Holger Zschaepitz (@Schuldensuehner) July 28, 2022

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

North Korea Could Possibly Be Preparing another Nuclear Test

Published

4 months ago

1 August 2022

Kinza Azim

North Koreas ballistic missile North Korea Victory Day 2013 01

North Korea could be preparing a seventh nuclear test, especially after Mr. Kim announced that the country is fully ready for any military confrontation with the US at a Korean War Anniversary event.
A US special representative in North Korea states that Jong-Un has tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year—31 to 25. Jong-Un also stated that threats from the US required North Korea to achieve the urgent historical task of strengthening its self-defense.
Jong-un also stated that South Korea is reviving a plan to counter North Korea’s threat by mounting precautionary strikes; in June alone, South Korea launched 8 missiles of its own.
The North Korean regime is especially angry with South Korea’s new president Yoon Suk-yeol and his so-called Kill Chain strategy. This strategy allows South Korea to launch ballistic missiles and air strikes on North Korean targets if it ever feels threatened.
North Korea has also not been getting as much engagement with Washington ever since Biden replaced Trump, and could be hinting at some sort of deliberate escalation by the North, and preparations have been underway at the Punggye Ri test site since March.

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.

Daily Brief

Russia Limits Gas Supply to Germany

Published

4 months ago

28 July 2022

Aiyza Ahmad

Gazprom, a major Russian energy provider, has stated it will reduce the supply of gas to Germany by half via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline due to repair work.
Germany has said that they see no technical reason for the decrease in gas supply. The European Union continues to accuse Russia of weaponizing energy, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stating, “This is an open gas war that Russia is waging against a united Europe.”
Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement to allow the export of grain via the Black Sea after Russia continued to block millions of tonnes from being exported. The next day, Russia struck missiles at the port, some of which hit the infrastructure of the port.
The US and Ukraine are optimistic that the agreement will still be implemented, with the US State Department stating, “Despite these attacks, we do understand that the parties are continuing preparations to open Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for food and fertilizer exports…we also continue to expect that the Black Sea agreement will be implemented.”

With Nord Stream 1 flowing at just 20% of capacity from July 27, Germany will NOT have enough natural gas to make it throughout the whole winter **unless big demand reductions are implemented**. Berlin will need to activate stage 3 of its gas emergency program #ONGT #EnergyCrisis
— Javier Blas (@JavierBlas) July 25, 2022

Yesterday, #Istanbul agreement on Ukrainian grain exports via Black Sea ports, facilitated by UN and Turkish efforts, was reached.

Today, Russian missiles hit port of Odesa.

That’s all you need to know about deals with Russia. The world must help Ukraine fight the aggressor.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) July 23, 2022

All views expressed in this editorial are solely that of the author, and are not expressed on behalf of The Analyst, its affiliates, or staff.