The Roundup

World in Brief The Economist Roundup March 30, 2024 Three UN observers and a translator were injured by a shell in southern  Lebanon , drawing condemnation from António Guterres, the body’s secretary-general. The group had been patrolling the “Blue Line”, a buffer zone along the  Israel-Lebanon border . Lebanon said an Israeli drone had been responsible; Israel denied this. Meanwhile, Egyptian media reported that talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire in Gaza would restart in Cairo on Sunday. Chinese  manufacturing activity grew in March, the first such rise in six months. The manufacturing purchasing managers’ index was 50.8 this month, compared with 49.1 in February (anything over 50 denotes expansion). An increase in export orders explains the rise. Despite the positive news,  China’s  statistics agency warned that firms still face “insufficient market demand”. Ukraine  said that Russia launched 16 missiles and 11 drones in an overnight attack. The governor of the Lviv regi

  World in Brief The Economist Roundup March 30, 2024 Israeli  strikes killed dozens of  Palestinians  in Gaza, with intense fighting around al-Shifa hospital. The hospital, Gaza City’s largest, has been one of the few health-care facilities in the area to remain somewhat open, and has also been used as a shelter for displaced civilians. An official from America’s State Department told Reuters that  famine  might already be “present” in some areas of northern Gaza. On Thursday the UN’s top court warned that “famine is setting in” and ordered Israel to admit more food aid into the territory. Israel’s  High Court ordered a freeze on funding for religious institutions whose  ultra-Orthodox  students have not registered for military service despite being eligible for conscription. The ruling intensifies the in-fighting in the coalition government over whether young  Haredi  men should be  obliged to fight . Ultra-Orthodox parties want to codify an exemption in law, which many Israelis and

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 March 29, 2024 (Friday) GLOBAL Asia Pacific 1.        Russia Blocks Renewal of North Korea Sanctions Monitors . Russia vetoed the annual renewal of a panel of experts monitoring enforcement of longstanding United Nations sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. 2.        Japan Reinforces Air Defense with F-35 Jets Amidst Global Uncertainty . Japan has bolstered its air defense capabilities by adding the American-made F-35 fighter jets to its military arsenal. Amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape, these advanced aircraft represent a strategic move for Japan, enhancing its surveillance and combat readiness. Russia/Europe/West 3.        Germany Won't Give Ukraine Taurus to Avoid NATO-Russia War . German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Berlin will not give the long-range missiles requested by

  World in Brief The Economist Roundup March 28, 2024 Russia  claimed to have evidence linking the terrorist attack that killed more than 140 people in Moscow last week with “Ukrainian nationalists”. Russian investigators said the attackers received cash and cryptocurrencies from Ukraine; they said a suspect “involved in financing” the massacre had been detained. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, has tried to  implicate Ukraine  even after Islamic State  claimed responsibility . The  Palestinian Authority  announced a new cabinet after Mohammed Shtayyeh, the prime minister, resigned in February. His replacement,  Mohammed Mustafa , who will also serve as foreign minister, has vowed to lead a technocratic government. America wants the PA’s leadership to help unite Gaza and the West Bank. But many expect Mr Mustafa to  chiefly serve Mahmoud Abbas , the PA’s sclerotic four-term president. Russia  vetoed a UN resolution to extend the mandate of the panel that monitors whether  North Kore