The Daily Brief: US Sanctions Eritrean Ruling Party Over Ethiopia Crisis

The Biden Administration has announced sanctions on Eritrea’s military and sole ruling party for “contributing to the crisis and conflict” in Ethiopia.

Published

1 year ago

13 November 2021

Saira Shah and Ramlah Malhi

Summary:

A years-old Ethiopian conflict over land and authority local militia and government officials has grown increasingly violent in recent weeks.
In recent days, the battle between the Ethiopian central government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has become a major cause for international concern as thousands of civilians are displaced and the country falls to chaos.
Ethiopia appears to be on the brink of implosion with a nationwide state of emergency declared this month and government officials preparing civilians for the possibility of civil war.
The US has sanctioned Eritrea for being an active member in the Ethiopian conflict by working with the Ethiopian government to battle the TPLF in Tigray.
The US has sanctioned the Eritrean Defence Force (EDF) and People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) in an effort to increase pressure on Eritrea such that they withdraw from Tigray thereby decreasing some of the violence in the region.
The Biden Administration also sanctioned two individuals and two entities with ties to the EDF and PFDJ, however they did not sanction any groups or individuals with direct ties to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed or the TPLF, 2 major players in the conflict.

Tweets:

The United States is designating six Eritrean entities and individuals in connection with the ongoing violence in Ethiopia. The Eritrean presence in Ethiopia has exacerbated the conflict and hindered humanitarian access. Eritrea must withdraw troops immediately.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 12, 2021

Official Statement on foreign mercenaries involved in Abiy’s genocidal campaign on the people of Tigray: pic.twitter.com/A06B3ggJ6p
— Getachew K Reda (@reda_getachew) November 12, 2021

Millions throng #Ethiopia streets protesting misreporting of facts by western media on #Tigray conflict. US and West are blamed 4 supporting #TPLF a terrorist group fighting 4 supremacy or destroy Ethiopia. US not pleased that Abiy wants Africa to eliminate western aid dependency pic.twitter.com/zWZKZODN4C
— Kungu Al-mahadi Adam (@adam_kungu) November 7, 2021

Climate Talks Go Past Over Time, Deadlock Over Coal and Renewable Energy Costs

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Negotiators at the COP26 climate summit went over time as nations struggled to find a common ground on agreements to phase out coal and other fossil fuels.
There was also no general consensus on when to update emission-cutting pledges or how to cover the costs of switching to renewable energy.
Negotiations for a climate deal extended to Friday night, going over the allotted time. The anticipated deal is expected to have watered down commitments to ending the use of fossil fuels.

Tweet:

Emotional intervention from Frans Timmermans at #CoP26 as he holds up a photograph of his baby grandson, who will be 31 in 2050.

"If we fail…he will fight with other human beings for water and food…This is personal, this is not about politics." pic.twitter.com/9LFGN9HiSk
— Daniel Murray (@DanielTMurray) November 12, 2021

Amsterdam Closes Again As COVID Worries Sparks

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Prime Minister Mark Rutte decided to have a lockdown for the next 3 weeks as a prevention with COVID cases rising.
Supermarkets and nightclubs will all close early and have special hours. However there are people who are protesting against the new lockdown rules.
New infection rates have topped 16,000 in a day. The numbers are increasing daily and the government is looking into putting restrictions for indoor gatherings with this new surge in COVID cases.

UN Looking to End Chaos in Libya by Re-establishing Democracy

Libya-10-Governorates.png: Bejnarderivative work: R9, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The UN is looking forward to having a peaceful election so the country can have a leader through democracy and end the bloodshed and chaos in the country.
The UN is pushing December 24th, 2021 as the date of the elections but there are so many questions left unanswered as to which political party will run the elections and who will make sure the elections are safe and just.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah mentioned that he is trying his best to set new rules to make sure that the elections run smoothly but the new electoral rules and guidelines are being scrutinized by the opposing political party.

Tweet:

“Libya today is closer than it has been for many years to solving its internal crisis & breaking the cycle of political transitions.

We cannot miss this opportunity."

— @antonioguterres ahead of country's landmark elections next month. https://t.co/ObwD28oKjk
— United Nations (@UN) November 12, 2021

Turkey Pulls Belarus Flights

Iraq, Yemen and Syria have been stopped by Turkey officials from traveling to Belarus to help ease the EU border crisis.
The European Union is asking other countries to follow in suit of Turkey.
The EU is accusing Belarus for creating this crisis to pressure the EU. Belarus has also threatened to cut off gas supplies to the EU in case they impose sanctions.

75 Hour Work Week for SheIn Workers

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In Guangzhou workers are reportedly being overworked. The local law limits work weeks to 40 hours however, SheIn workers have been working 75 hours per week.
SheIn has claimed no knowledge of this and has said to have started an investigation to look into the working situation in their production houses.
SheIn has grown tremendously amongst youth shoppers, supplying fashionable attire for affordable prices; however, some fashion experts have spoken out against such companies and their working conditions.

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.

Saira is a Muslim American with a passion for writing, economics, and justice. With a background as a UC Berkeley graduate with a bachelors in economics allows her to quantitatively analyze critical developments from around the globe as well as their long term impacts on financial systems and social welfare. She is dedicated to reporting in an investigative, honest and compassionate manner to give voice to those who need it most.

Daily Brief

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

Published

7 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

8 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

8 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

8 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

8 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

8 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.