Ethiopian Army Captures Three Towns In Tigray
The Ethiopian government declared on Tuesday that its military has taken control of the towns of Shire, Alamata, and Korem from rebel forces in the war-torn Tigray region. The gains were allegedly achieved without the need for fighting in urban areas.
Tigray officials had previously conceded the loss of Shire, one of the region's biggest towns and the home of thousands already displaced from other areas by the conflict. The UN has expressed concern about air strikes carried out by the federal government in the region.
Establishment-critical narrative
The international community has enabled the federal government to wage this genocidal war, commit atrocities, and eliminate the people of Tigray in a heinous attempt to control the region and ultimately redraw the Horn of Africa. Foreign actors have failed to solve this crisis – the only way to put an end to this conflict is to allow Tigrayans to decide whether they want to remain in Ethiopia or become an independent nation.
Pro-establishment narrative
The federal government and many other actors have attempted to send humanitarian aid and essential goods to help the people of Tigray during this conflict, but the so-called Tigrayan rebel forces have looted and confiscated deliveries for their own benefit. They're terrorists who've been prolonging the war in order to avoid facing accountability for the atrocities they've committed for 27 years.
Nerd narrative
There's a 60% chance that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will experience a significant leadership disruption before 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
North Korea Fires Artillery Shells In ‘Grave Warning’ to Seoul
A spokesman for the Korean People's Army (KPA) for North Korea confirmed that Pyongyang fired 100 more artillery shells off its west coast on Wednesday. The North claimed this move was in response to Seoul's firing of multiple rocket launchers near the border of both nations and characterized its response as a "grave warning."
This development comes after the North test-fired about 250 rounds of artillery from its east and west coasts on Tuesday.
Republican narrative
You cannot blame Kim Jong-un for flexing North Korea’s military muscle when Biden is recklessly saber-rattling with Taiwan and China. How does Kim know the US will not also team up with South Korea for an invasion of the North? Trump's relationship with and policies towards North Korea maintained stability in the Korean Peninsula.
Democratic narrative
Kim Jong-Un's geopolitical actions have been erratic, and his missile launches are destabilizing the Peninsula. Instead of provoking a confrontation, Kim should take the Biden administration up on its offer to meet without preconditions, and settle any of his grievances peacefully. Biden is showing strength and prudence in the region.
Nerd narrative
There's a 17% chance that North Korea and South Korea will be recognized as a single sovereign state by 2045, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: Iran to Ship Missiles, More Drones to Russia
According to several unnamed senior Iranian officials and diplomats, Iran has allegedly promised to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles, along with sending more drones, including explosive “kamikaze” type drones.
Russian officials reportedly met with their Iranian counterparts on Oct. 6 and asked for more drones and Iranian ballistic missiles of the more advanced Fateh and Zolfaghar weapons class.
Pro-establishment narrative
The Iranian UAVs already transferred to Russia and used in Ukraine – as well as those reportedly pledged – are weapons that breach UN Security Council resolution 2231, which prohibits Iran from transferring certain military technologies. Iran is intentionally violating the rules-based order, and should remain embargoed.
Establishment-critical narrative
Claims that Iran is providing Russia with drones to use in Ukraine are baseless allegations fuelled by the political agendas of Western media. Tehran has intentionally refrained from providing weaponry to either side in the Ukrainian conflict, and the West should stop meddling in its neutral stance.
US Midterms: Biden Vows Push To Restore Abortion Rights
Three weeks ahead of the midterms, US Pres. Joe Biden on Tuesday pledged that he would push Congress to codify abortion rights in federal law if Democrats control the legislature next year.
Speaking at a Democratic National Committee event in Washington, he promised that, if the Democrats expand their majority in the Senate and maintain control of the House in November's elections, the first bill he'll send to the next Congress will be legislation to reinstate the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade.
Republican narrative
Things don't look good for the Democrats. While an increasing number of US citizens are concerned about rising inflation and the energy crisis, Biden still seems to believe that he can score points with voters by pulling the abortion card. This desperate speech, made so close to the midterms, is the final proof that Biden and his entire party are completely out of touch with reality and ignorant of the real concerns of working Americans.
Democratic narrative
It's utterly hypocritical for the Republicans to present themselves as the advocates of working families when they are the ones who primarily represent corporate interests. However, as right as Biden is to stand up for reproductive rights, the issue will probably not be decisive for the election. Democrats must not fail to credibly demonstrate that they are the party that stands for democracy and economic justice - their reelection is crucial to the security and safety of the poorest Americans.
Nerd narrative
There is a 42% chance that Republicans will win both the House and Senate in the 2022 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 238: New Russian Commander in Ukraine Announces Kherson Evacuations Amid 'Tense' Situation in Region
In his first televised comments since being appointed the new commander of Russia's forces in Ukraine, Gen. Sergei Surovikin on Tuesday stated that his troops would assist in evacuating residents of the Kherson region. The announcement comes amid growing suspicion that Ukrainian forces are poised to launch a counterattack in an attempt to retake the territory.
Surovikin described the current military situation as "tense," stating: "The enemy continually attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops." He added: "Further actions and plans regarding the city of Kherson will depend on the developing military-tactical situation, which is not easy. We will act consciously, in a timely manner, without ruling out difficult decisions."
Anti-Russia narrative
Amid the prospect of further humiliation and defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian military, Russia is now planning to forcibly deport the residents of Kherson. This is an illegal and desperate attempt to cement Moscow's shaky territorial gains by repopulating the region with soldiers and traitors.
Pro-Russia narrative
These are voluntary evacuations intended to protect the residents of Kherson from Ukrainian attacks. Kyiv's missile strikes on the Kakhovka hyropower plant have already put the region at serious risk of flooding - Russian forces are now aiding humanitarian interests by offering evacuation free of charge.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Ukraine will regain control of Kherson by Dec. 30, 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US to Release 15M Barrels of Oil from Reserves
On Wednesday, US Pres. Biden announced the release of 15M barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), with additional drawdowns possible this winter. He also disclosed plans to replenish reserves once crude oil prices are down to $70 a barrel.
The measure, which reportedly completes the 180M barrel release authorized by Biden earlier this year, is part of the largest-ever dip into the emergency oil reserves as Biden looks for ways to calm energy markets and shield the US economy from shocks caused by skyrocketing oil prices.
Republican narrative
This administration has continued to fumble the current oil crisis. When oil prices go down, Biden takes credit for it; when oil prices go up, Biden blames external factors. As Americans suffer from high prices at the pump, Biden has systematically handicapped the US's oil production and refinement, mishandled geopolitical crises, and antagonized America's oil-producing allies, such as Saudi Arabia.
Democratic narrative
The Biden admin. has been doing everything it can to stabilize oil markets, and this decision is no different. Contrary to popular rhetoric, Biden isn't to blame for a global issue caused by a myriad of factors that are largely out of his control. Despite this, Biden has shown his support for combating rising pump prices and will continue to do so, as exhibited by this latest announcement.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the price of oil will be at least $92.4 per barrel by December 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US Jury Acquits Trump Dossier Source Danchenko
On Tuesday, Igor Danchenko, a Russian researcher accused of lying to the FBI about the sources for the so-called “Steele dossier” that alleged a Trump-Russia collusion, was acquitted on four counts in federal court.
Danchenko’s case was the third brought by Special Counsel John Durham concerning the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation into alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. One of Durham’s previous cases ended in an acquittal, with a second ending with a guilty plea.
Democratic narrative
What an embarrassment this turned out to be for Durham, who personally handled most of the arguments and questioning in this case. He couldn’t even stop some of his own witnesses from providing testimony that helped Danchenko’s defense. Trump’s special counsel is now for-3, proving he’s barking up the wrong tree in pursuit of government corruption.
Pro-Trump narrative
Danchenko’s acquittal isn’t the story here; the focus should be on the FBI misconduct this trial uncovered. The FBI offered Steele $1M for evidence that verified the dossier’s claims, a futile move as neither party could prove any of the salacious allegations. While knowing the dossier wasn’t credible, the FBI still used it to obtain warrants and fuel the unjustified persecution of Trump. The FBI must be made to answer for this.
Sweden Drops 'Feminist Foreign Policy'
Sweden's new right-wing government on Tuesday announced it will scrap the country's "feminist foreign policy," calling it counterproductive. It was first launched in 2014 by former foreign minister Margot Wallström.
The policy was designed to advance gender equality as a basic goal of Sweden's foreign policy. It was seen as a condition for attaining the Nordic nation's objectives of achieving peace, security, and sustainable development.
Right narrative
Scrapping the "feminist" part of Sweden's foreign policy will make very little difference in national security realities. There are pressing issues concerning NATO — including complex dynamics with Turkey and Kurdish groups that must be worked out for accession to be successful. By scrapping this label, Sweden's foreign policy remains prioritized but loses the hypocrisy.
Left narrative
It's not surprising that Sweden's far-right government — led by a party formed out of a neo-Nazi movement — is tearing down the nation's groundbreaking foreign policy achievement on gender equity. All the successes this policy has built are being thrown out the window in the name of reactionary conservatism.
US Rolls Out Nearly $3B for EV Battery Production
On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced it's awarding $2.8B in Dept. of Energy (DOE) grants to 20 manufacturing companies in 12 US states to boost domestic electric vehicle (EV) battery production.
Funds will also be used in the White House's (WH) American Battery Material Initiative to develop enough battery-grade lithium, graphite, and nickel, and the first large-scale commercial lithium processing facility.
Democratic narrative
Biden promised to enact the greatest climate change legislation in US history, and he's certainly living up to that promise. Not only is the president guiding America toward a renewable future, but he's also creating jobs for Americans that used to be shipped to other countries.
Republican narrative
Don't be fooled; this announcement is a political stunt solely meant to buy Democrat votes before the midterms. While Biden flashes his EV battery grants before your eyes, he wants you to ignore that he's currently releasing millions of barrels of oil in a failed attempt to fight inflation. He doesn't care about the environment or your pocketbook, only power.
US Midterms: Rubio, Demings Clash in Florida Senate Debate
In Florida's Senate debate on Tuesday, Sen. Marco Rubio (R) and Congresswoman Val Demings (D) carved out their positions on several hot-button topics, including gun restrictions and abortion.
On guns, Demings accused Rubio of doing “nothing to help address gun violence” and breaking promises he made to the families of victims of a 2018 mass shooting that left 17 people dead in Parkland, Florida.
Democratic narrative
Despite being at a disadvantage by running in ever-redder Florida, Demings is within striking distance in this race. Rubio, a career politician stuck on reelection autopilot, has nothing to offer other than flimsy policies and empty promises he can't — or won't — act on. With her background and stable ideas, Demings may be the change that Florida needs.
Republican narrative
There's nothing stable about Demings' ideas, as highlighted by her extreme position on abortion, which would allow for an exception late into a mother’s term – a view supported by just a minority of Americans. The Democrat proved she lacks substance and resorted to personal attacks in an attempt to gain favor — a cheap tactic that will unmistakably backfire.