The Press Roundup

 

January 12, 2024 (Friday)

Curated Summary

Russia condemns US and UK for irresponsible strike on Yemen (U.S. News)

• Russia condemned the US and Britain for their military strikes on Yemen, calling it an irresponsible adventure that could sow chaos in the Middle East. Russia, being an ally of Iran and a partner of key Arab powers, called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the issue.
• Russia criticized the attack on Yemen, stating that it took place without a mandate from the United Nations and was thus an illegal "adventure" by the US and its allies. Russia and China abstained from a UN Security Council resolution that demanded the Houthis cease their attacks on shipping.
• Russia shared the concerns of Saudi Arabia and others in the region over the strikes and called for restraint and avoiding escalation.
• Iran also condemned the US-led strikes as illegal and escalatory.
• The US presented the strikes as part of an international effort to restore the free flow of trade in a key shipping route between Europe and Asia. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands supported the operation.

Bloodied and exhausted: Ukraine's effort to mobilize more troops hit trouble (Politico)

• Ukraine's parliament has withdrawn a mobilization bill that aimed to supply more troops to the front, due to flaws in its drafting.
• The bill generated controversy for its proposals to cut the draft age from 27 to 25, limit deferrals for men with slight disabilities, and increase penalties for draft-dodgers.
• Some parliamentarians argued that the bill was not clearly formulated and included human rights violations.
• The defense minister stated that the bill will be revamped and resubmitted for government approval in the near future, emphasizing its importance for the defense of the state and the soldiers at the front.
• The military has expressed the need for an additional half-million men this year.

Fresh resolution seeking 3 month delay in polls submitted to Senate (The News)

• Senator Hidayat Ullah has submitted a resolution to delay the February 8 general elections due to "security challenges" and concerns over the targeting of candidates. The resolution calls for a three-month postponement and has been supported by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Jamaat-e-Islami senators.
• The Senate unanimously passed a resolution to postpone the general elections on February 8, citing extreme weather conditions in hilly areas and the deteriorating security situation. The resolution was moved by independent lawmaker Senator Dilawar Khan, who mentioned severe winter season, security threats to political leaders, and a security alert of attacks on rallies as reasons for the postponement.

Indian Army Chief addresses press on security measures and Agnipath scheme (Force)

• General Pande emphasized the importance of local support and community engagement in the Rajouri-Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
• He reiterated the Army's commitment to respect for human rights and a "zero tolerance" policy for human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir.
• General Pande provided an update on the Agnipath scheme, stating that its integration of Agniveers in units is progressing well, despite some challenges in training and management.
• Measures are being taken to improve intelligence, both human and technical, in Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on outreach to the local population and the deployment of additional forces in troubled areas.
• The situation on the northern border with China was described as "stable but sensitive," with ongoing talks to address balance issues and high operational preparedness.

Blinken says path to Palestinian state can stabilize region, isolate Iran (Aljazeera)

• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the need for a path to Palestinian statehood, stating that it can stabilize the Middle East and isolate Iran. He mentioned two paths for the region, one involving Israel's integration with security assurances and commitments, along with a pathway to a Palestinian state, and the other path being the continuation of terrorism and destruction by groups backed by Iran. This approach aims to marginalize Iran and its proxies in the region.
• Blinken's visit to the Middle East aimed to prevent the Gaza war from escalating into a regional conflict. He met with allies such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey. The ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanon border, as well as the attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen, pose threats to regional stability. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution demanding the Houthis to cease all attacks. US forces in Iraq and Syria have also faced increased attacks.

"Ilm Da Tolo Dapara" initiative unveiled (The Express Tribune)

• The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has launched an initiative called 'Ilam Da Tolo Dapara' to improve education in the newly merged tribal districts, with a focus on enhancing literacy rates.
• The initiative aims to revive dysfunctional educational institutions in these regions and promote education for both males and females, recognizing the importance of inclusivity for holistic societal development.
• Dr. Aamer Abdullah, the Caretaker Minister for Newly Merged Districts Affairs, Industries, Commerce, and Technical Education, has emphasized the urgency of launching the campaign and the need for strict supervision to ensure its effectiveness.
• To facilitate the initiative, a district-level task force comprising experts in literacy will be established to oversee and guide the campaign, ensuring targeted efforts aligned with the unique needs of each district.

'Election Engineering': Is Pakistan's February vote already rigged? (Aljazeera)

• Concerns are rising among analysts and sections of the political class that the upcoming general elections in Pakistan might be highly manipulated, with critics pointing to the crackdown by state authorities against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and its leader, Imran Khan, as evidence of widespread rigging .
• Imran Khan, the charismatic leader of PTI and former cricket captain, has been in jail since August 2023, facing multiple charges including corruption, revealing state secrets, and attacks on military facilities by his supporters. He denies all the charges .
• Many leaders of PTI have quit the party, possibly under duress, and some are currently underground to avoid arrest. Others have defected and joined rival political parties .
• The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has rejected the nomination papers of multiple PTI nominees, including Imran Khan himself.

Pakistan's 'Flat Trajectory' Fatah-II missile a formidable threat to India's S-400 missile system - Experts (The Eurasian Times)

• Pakistan has recently tested its indigenous long-range precision strike weapon, the Fatah-II, which has a range of approximately 249 miles (400 km) and is positioned as a potential challenge to India's S-400 missile defense systems.
• The Fatah-II is a two-round guided multiple-launch rocket system mounted on the Chinese Taian TAS5450 eight-wheel drive chassis. It incorporates advanced features such as state-of-the-art avionics, a sophisticated navigation system, and a refined pathfinding mechanism.
• The Fatah-II utilizes cutting-edge navigation and avionics technologies, including the integration of satellite and inertial navigation systems, to achieve a high level of accuracy with a circular probable error (CEP) of less than 10 meters.
• The successful test of the Fatah-II enhances the Pakistani military's capability to engage strategic targets within a range of 400 kilometers, such as bridges and air defense units. It complements existing missile models in Pakistan's arsenal.

Saindak copper, gold mine project expands with official inauguration (Samaa)

• Inauguration ceremony marked crucial milestone in fostering comprehensive collaboration between China and Pakistan.
• The Saindak copper and gold mine expansion project was officially inaugurated. Mr. Zhang Zhijun, Chairman of MCC Resources Development Company (Private) Limited, presided over the ceremony.
• This expansion project is expected to increase metal processing capabilities, boost local employment opportunities, and contribute to the social and economic development of Balochistan.

Papua New Guinea declares state of emergency after 16 are killed in rioting (NBC News)

• Papua New Guinea's prime minister, James Marape, declared a state of emergency and suspended government and police officials after 16 people were killed in rioting in the country.
• The rioting was a result of a police and public sector protest over a pay cut that officials blamed on an administrative glitch.
• The rioting involved thousands of people in the streets of the capital, Port Moresby, with looting and black smoke seen in the city.
• Nine people were killed in Port Moresby and seven were killed in Lae, another city in Papua New Guinea.
• The prime minister has suspended the chief of police and top bureaucrats in the finance and treasury departments while a review is conducted into the cause of the riots.
• The police strike and the subsequent rioting highlight the ongoing struggle with violent crime in Papua New Guinea.

Iran seizes oil tanker involved in US-Iran dispute in Gulf of Oman (The Straits Times)

• Iran seized a tanker, St Nikolas, with Iraqi crude destined for Turkey, which was previously confiscated by the United States for carrying Iranian oil. It was boarded by armed intruders close to the Omani city of Sohar and its AIS tracking system was turned off as it headed towards the Iranian port of Bandar-e-Jask.
• The seizure of the vessel by Iran is seen as a retaliation for the previous seizure of the same vessel by the United States.
• The ship was seized by the United States in 2023 when it sailed under a different name, Suez Rajan. The United States claimed that the ship was carrying contraband Iranian oil to China in violation of U.S. sanctions.
• The ship loaded 145,000 metric tonnes of oil in the Iraqi port of Basra and was heading to Aliaga in western Turkey via the Suez Canal. Its operator, Empire Navigation, lost contact with the vessel.
• The incident occurred in the Gulf of Oman, closer to the Strait of Hormuz, between Oman and Iran, unlike previous attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.

Taiwan is about to choose its new president. What's at stake and how might China respond? (CNN)

• Taiwan's upcoming election is being closely watched due to China's increasing assertiveness and threats towards the self-ruled island. The world is interested in both the election outcome and China's response to it.
• China's President Xi Jinping has stated that Taiwan's unification with the mainland is a "historical inevitability" and could be achieved by force if necessary.
• The last change of government in Taiwan resulted in Beijing cutting off most communications with Taipei and increasing economic, diplomatic, and military pressure on the island. This has turned the Taiwan Strait into a major geopolitical flashpoint.
• China views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having controlled it. Xi Jinping has linked the mission of reunification to his mid-century goal of "national rejuvenation."
• The three candidates in Taiwan's election are all pledging to maintain peace and the status quo, which is what most people in Taiwan want. However, they have different visions for achieving this goal.

False Claims by Indian High Commissioner (The Nation)

• Ajay Bisaria, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan at the time of the Pulwama incident, has made false claims in his upcoming book.
• Bisaria claims that Pakistan released captured Indian pilot Abhinandan because of threats from India, but this is not true.
• Pakistan released Abhinandan as a peace overture and to de-escalate the situation between the two nuclear powers.
• The Pulwama attack was likely staged by India to reap political benefits.
• India's claims of a surgical strike in Balakot after the Pulwama attack are also false.
• Pakistan has always been against terrorism and has been at the forefront of the fight against terror.
• India has been supporting terrorism in Pakistan, as revealed by the capture of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav.
• The timing of Bisaria's claims is suspicious, as they come just before the Indian elections.