BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

Posted by BW Actual on Dec 21st 2022

BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF

Ukraine

  • Pres. Zelensky paid a surprise visit to Washington DC - his first trip outside of Ukraine since the war began - to meet Pres. Biden and address the U.S. Congress as the war passes its 300th day. He plans to ask the U.S. for "weapons, weapons, and more weapons."
  • The NYT pointed out the contrast between the medal ceremonies Presidents Zelensky and Biden held yesterday: Zelensky traveled to Bakhmut to recognize soldiers mid-battle, while Putin honored pro-Russian figureheads from the safety of his office in Moscow.
  • U.S. intelligence says Russia's military leaders are divided on whether to stay on the offensive throughout the cold winter. Ukraine thinks they will.
China
  • China was already undercounting its COVID deaths by including only people who died after testing positive for the virus. Now its official tally will include only people who tested positive and died from respiratory failure, which will lead to an even lower count.
Afghanistan
  • The Taliban indefinitely banned women from studying in universities in Afghanistan to preserve their "honour" and the "national interest." As a dishonourably educated woman, it seems like bad logic to think that the "national interest" calls for shutting out half the voices in decision making positions.
South Africa
  • Having won the renewed support of his African National Congress (ANC) party, Pres. Ramaphosa began a campaign to rebuild public trust by calling for improved basic services for the poor. Support for the ANC has declined over time - in large part because of mistrust and poor public services.
Strategic Minerals
  • Zimbabwe took a page from DRC's book of bad economics by banning the export of raw lithium ores. The government wants to capture more value from the lithium supply chain by forcing ore mined in the country to be processed there too, but it lacks enough processing capacity to do that.
  • Because companies building processing plants in Zimbabwe are exempt from the ban, we'll probably see more companies launch plant construction projects they never intend to finish to win the exemption.