The Press Roundup

 

The Press Roundup

Curated Summary

February 3, 2024 (Saturday)

Japan’s nuclear follies (The Diplomat)

• Nuclear energy was promoted as the only option to combat climate change at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates. However, the recent Noto earthquake in Japan highlighted the risks associated with operating nuclear power plants, especially in seismically active regions like Japan.
• The Noto earthquake caused the idled Shika nuclear plant on the Noto Peninsula to shake beyond design specifications. While there was no major damage reported, two backup generators failed and there was a temporary loss of power in one of the cooling pools.
• The electricity supply on the quake-stricken Noto Peninsula took a month to restore, and thousands of residents will be without water until mid-March. Additionally, around 14,000 residents remain displaced in evacuation shelters with grim conditions.
• The Shika nuclear plant has been shut down since the Fukushima disaster in 2011, but electricity is still essential for cooling the spent fuel rod pools. If cooling is interrupted, there is a risk of the rods exploding and releasing radiation. This could lead to the evacuation of Kanazawa, a nearby city with a population of 465,000, and have devastating effects on the regional economy and tourism.

Indian Army’s year of technological advancement in 2024 (Observer Research Foundation)

• The Indian Army is preparing for a substantial modernization effort in response to changing warfare and geopolitical dynamics in the region.
• The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Manoj Pande, stated that 2024 will be the year of technology absorption for the Indian Army, emphasizing a focus on technological advancements.
• The integration of drones and counter-drone systems across infantry, artillery, and armored battalions reflects the army's forward-looking stance.
• The establishment of Command Cyber Operations Support Wings (CCOSWs) highlights the army's commitment to enhancing cyber capabilities.
• The army is adapting to emerging threats through the reorientation of crucial arms, such as artillery, and the infusion of fresh human resources through Agniveer recruits.

TTP’s new strategy (Tribune)

• The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is attempting to create a bond between the Baloch and Pashtun populations, in order to pit them against the military and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the country.
• The TTP has issued a policy statement criticizing security institutions for attacking and raiding the home of a former parliamentarian, using the ethnic dimension of the victim to gain sympathy for their cause.
• The TTP is expanding its reach to the downtrodden or poor sections of society, appealing to them to support the organization against law enforcement agencies, which they portray as representing tyranny and oppression.

SIFC okays FBR reforms, 2030 canals vision (Dawn)

• The apex committee of Special Investment and Facilitation Council (SIFC) reviewed initiatives and gave principal approval for Strategic Canals Vision 2030 and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reforms.
• Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expressed hope that the incoming elected government would continue the policies set by the SIFC.
• Progress on ongoing projects and policy initiatives were shared during the meeting, with relevant ministries presenting plans for attracting investment.
• The SIFC apex committee commended the steps taken to build a sustainable ecosystem for attracting investments and improving macro and micro-economic conditions.

Vayu Shakti-24: 120 aircraft, including 77 fighter jets, to flex muscle in Rajasthan (Mint)

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct an exercise called Vayu Shakti-24 in Rajasthan, involving more than 120 aircraft, including 77 fighter jets. The exercise aims to showcase the offensive and defensive capabilities of the air force by day and night.
• The exercise will take place at the Pokhran air-to-ground range near Jaisalmer on February 17. The IAF will deploy its frontline assets, including Rafale fighter jets, Mirage-2000s, Sukhoi-30 MKIs, light combat aircraft Tejas, Jaguars, Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, Apache attack helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and surface-to-air missile systems.
• During the exercise, the IAF plans to drop 40 to 50 tonnes of ordnance in a one to two-kilometre radius. The platforms participating for the first time include Rafales, Prachand light combat helicopters, and Samar surface-to-air weapon systems.
• The exercise will demonstrate the IAF's capability to deliver weapons with precision, on time, and with devastating effect while operating from multiple air bases. It will also showcase joint operations with the army.

What we know about US retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria (BBC)

·       US forces have conducted airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for an attack that killed three US troops in Jordan. The attack targeted Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force and allied militia groups. The strikes were carried out using numerous aircraft, including B-1 "long-range bombers flown from the United States," and a total of 85 targets at seven sites were hit. Over 125 precision munitions were used in the operation. The US is confident that the locations struck were significant in degrading the capability of the targeted groups.

·       The targets of the airstrikes included command and control operations, munition supply chain facilities, logistics hubs, and drone storage units of militia groups and their IRGC sponsors who facilitated attacks against US and coalition forces. The facilities struck were located in Syria and Iraq. The attack did not target Iranian soil or an Iranian warship in the Red Sea.

·       US President Joe Biden stated that the US attacks will continue at times and places of their choosing, emphasizing that the US does not seek conflict but will respond to harm against Americans. Critics have argued that the strikes should have occurred earlier.