The Press Roundup

January 20, 2024 (Saturday)

Curated Summary

Ukraine Targets Russian oil plants, aiming to disrupt military operations (The New York Times)

  • Ukraine carried out a drone attack on an oil depot in Russia, marking the fourth attack on Russian oil facilities in the past three weeks.

  • The attacks are part of Ukraine's strategy to disrupt Russia's military capabilities by targeting the facilities that supply fuel to tanks, fighter jets, and other critical military equipment.

  • While these attacks may not have a significant impact on the overall fighting, they are important for Ukraine as it seeks to inflict damage away from the front line.

  • Ukraine has been using guerrilla tactics, including sabotage activities against railway infrastructure and ammunition depots, due to a lack of weapons and troops to regain the initiative on the ground.

Biden says Netanyahu not opposed to all two-state solutions for Palestinians (Times Live)

  • US President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting a non-militarized government as one path.
  • Biden stated that a two-state solution is not impossible while Netanyahu is in office and that there are different types of two-state solutions possible, noting that some United Nations members do not have military forces.
  • Biden expressed confidence in being able to work out conditions on Israel aid despite Netanyahu's comments rejecting a two-state solution.
  • Biden and Netanyahu do not see eye-to-eye on Palestinians having a state, but Biden has advocated for a two-state solution with Israel's security guaranteed.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be opening a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Ram on the site of a demolished mosque in Ayodhya, India. The temple is still under construction, but an idol of the deity has been installed at the main sanctum. The consecration ceremony will be led by Mr. Modi on January 22.
  • The event has sparked controversy, with critics accusing Modi of mixing religion with politics and going against the secular credentials of the country. They argue that the temple's construction and the government's policies, such as banning beef and pushing discriminatory citizenship laws, promote Hindu supremacy and violate the rights of religious minorities.
  • Supporters of the temple view it as a moment of renaissance for the country and a long-awaited fulfillment of their religious aspirations. The temple is seen as a symbol of Hindu nationalism and a departure from India's secular state.
  • The event has generated fervor among the Indian population, with saffron flags associated with right-wing Hindu nationalists being flown and merchandise featuring the image of Rama being sold.

Netanyahu is turning against Biden (The New York Times)

  • President Biden's support for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu is costing him with his own progressive base, while Netanyahu is turning on Biden in ways that could win Trump fresh support from right-wing American Jews.
  • Netanyahu plans to frame his campaign to stay in power by positioning himself as the only Israeli leader strong enough to resist the Americans and the Arabs who want to force a Palestinian state on Israel. He claims that only he can protect Israel from Biden's plans for Gaza to become part of a Palestinian state, along with the West Bank, governed by a transformed Palestinian Authority.
  • Despite the disastrous Hamas attack on Oct. 7 happening on his watch, Netanyahu is using this argument to rally support for his re-election bid.

The high-stakes diplomatic scramble to avert an Israel-Lebanon war (The Washington Post)

  • Israel is planning to escalate its fight with Hezbollah if a long-term border agreement cannot be reached with Lebanon in the next few weeks. The Biden administration and European countries are trying to avoid a full-scale war in Lebanon. Israel has not set a hard deadline for military action, but the window for negotiations is narrowing.
  • Israel has proposed a preliminary solution to the conflict, which involves Hezbollah withdrawing its troops a few miles north and the Lebanese army increasing its presence in the area to create a de facto buffer zone between the militants and the Israeli border.
  • The talks led by White House envoy Amos Hochstein provide the possibility of a detente and a road map for the two sides to follow once the fighting subsides in Gaza. However, there is no indication of an imminent cease-fire.
  • A border deal would allow displaced Israelis to return to their homes in the north, which is a priority for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Authorities in Lebanon also need a deal they can sell to the weary public.

Ukraine's chief spy argues that its security deal with Britain is a game-changer (The Economist)

  • Russia’s goals in Ukraine go beyond its borders.
    • Russia aims to create a new global order where major powers, including Russia, have more influence.
    • A Russian victory in Ukraine would set a precedent for other revisionist states and weaken Western influence.
  • Ukraine is key to deterring Russia and its allies.
    • Defeating Russia in Ukraine would significantly undermine its global goals.
    • Supporting Ukraine’s defense is the most effective way for the West to stop Russia and its allies.
  • The security agreement between Ukraine and Britain is a major step.
    • It is the first such agreement between Ukraine and a major power, marking a significant shift in Western support.
    • It could pave the way for similar agreements with other countries, moving Ukraine closer to NATO.
  • Continued Western support is crucial for Ukraine’s victory.
    • Ukraine needs comprehensive and prolonged support to repel Russian aggression.
    • Joint efforts from Western countries can have a major impact on the war and deter Russia’s future ambitions.

'We have narratives but no proof of Balakot's success': Former high commissioner to Pakistan (The Wire)

  • India's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria, stated in an interview that there is no proof of the success of the Balakot strike, and it is unlikely that we will ever know for sure.
  • Bisaria also mentioned that the Pulwama attack was a result of the terrorists' luck in finding an unprotected target in a convoy of vehicles.
  • The former envoy accepted that there are narratives but no proof of the success of the Balakot strike, despite quoting a statement by the foreign secretary at the time that claimed a large number of JeM terrorists were eliminated.
  • There is a growing trend of predicting the imminence of World War III and the westward march of Moscow's forces, with some suggesting that Vladimir Putin will attack a NATO country in the future.
  • The assumption behind these predictions is that if Russia has the capability to attack the West, it will do so.
  • Some argue that NATO must build up its military forces within a narrow window of opportunity to guarantee deterrence against a potential Russian attack.
  • Others suggest that NATO countries on the eastern flank should prepare for confrontation within a shorter time period.
  • These predictions presuppose that Russia can maintain or exceed its current defense spending and sustain its industrial production, while ordinary Russians accept a decline in their standard of living.
  • If these conditions are met, there is a risk to the West, but it is not entirely ruled out.
  • Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has undertaken a transformative modernization initiative, including the induction of hypersonic missiles, to enhance its combat capability and address regional security challenges.
  • The hypersonic missiles possessed by PAF can travel at speeds between 5 and 25 times the speed of sound, making them difficult to intercept by traditional missile defense systems.
  • The modernization move by PAF aims to counter growing threats in the current geostrategic scenario and rebalance power dynamics in the region. It includes the acquisition of modern systems, indigenization, and the development of niche technologies.
  • Pakistan's all-weather friend Beijing and rival neighbor India already possess hypersonic and directed-energy weapons, with intentions to further develop such technology.
  • The CM-400AKG hypersonic missile, which Pakistan acquired a couple of years ago for JF-17 Thunder jets, is likely the hypersonic missile mentioned in the announcement.

The people have a right to climate data (The New York Times)

  • Climate scientists are being approached by strategic consultants, financial investment analysts, and reinsurers for climate data, analysis, and computer code.
  • Venture capitalists are investing hundreds of millions of dollars into climate intelligence, including climate analytics, to meet the growing demand for information about climate risks.
  • The commodification of climate science is leading to the creation of private risk assessments, which are often expensive and only accessible to those who can afford them.
  • The author believes that climate information should be treated as a public good and fears that hiding information about climate risks behind paywalls will compound disadvantage and leave the most vulnerable exposed.
  • Despite the availability of public information, it is often technical and not easily understandable for individuals trying to evaluate their personal exposure to climate risks.

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