fate of Palestine
Thursday negotiation to reach a hostage deal and return of sanity is waited anxiously by relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
CNN reported that the Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the proposed ceasefire deal a “surrender deal” on Friday. His post on social media platform X reads: “I call on the Prime Minister not to fall into this trap and not to agree to a shift, even the slightest, from the red lines he set just recently, and they are also very problematic”. Other right-wing coalition members have prepared to walk out the coalition if Netanyahu agrees to deal. So, till Thursday and beyond that the preparations are almost thought out to finish off the pending ‘work’ and a hidden resolve to fail the negotiations. It ( the successful negotiations) will increase the stature of the new Hamas leader, make him and other partner countries free to plan revenge, and can not wipe out of Gaza Strip. Approaching American elections, too, play a part in it. Until then, no proper attention and decisive action are likely for anxious relatives of hostages and terrified Palestinians or two state theory and a war! Link to CNN news given below 🔻
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/11/middleeast/hamas-sinwar-ceasefire-netanyahu-intl/index.html
Public Protests Against Lithium mining in Serbia
Lithium is a key component required in the making of rechargeable batteries utilized in mobiles, laptops, digital cameras, and electrical vehicles. So, while the importance of electric vehicles as green sources helping in pollution reduction by replacing fossil fuels can not be denied, the collateral damage it causes to ecology and environment also can not be neglected.
Hundreds of millions of gallons of fresh water are needed to extract Lithium hidden in salt water. Its effects are decreasing water level, affecting aquifers, and fissures in the ground. Sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide used in the extraction of Lithium penetrates water and soil poisoning ecosystems endangering aquatic life.
Head of the environmental unit of Chile’s Atacama Indigenous Council, Francis Mandoca, states that lithium mines ruin one zone to satisfy another. Link 🔻
https://www.mining-technology.com/analyst-comment/lithium-mining-negative-environmental-impact/
People of Serbia are protesting a mining project of Lithium extraction in Western Serbia by ‘Rio Tinto’- a multinational metal and mining corporation.
The process was halted two years ago due to protests from environment protection groups in Serbia. The Serbian Government reinstated mining license to ‘ Rio Tinto’. The controversial decision cause widespread public demonstrations. The government officials terming the protests as an attempt to bring down the President Vucic government. President Vucic stated that his government has received information from Russia that a coup is planned against him. The link to the news is given below ⬇️
Shift in the war? The unprecedented Ukraine incursion into Russia.
The Russian army has launched counterterrorism operation in response to the unexpected 13 km Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. The Ukrainian attack caught Russia off guard, and it is unprecedented in the two and half years since Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022.
The Institute for The War, ISW in the US, in its Russian offensive campaign assessment, reported that – 🔻
‘The Russian National Antiterrorism Committee announced a counterterrorism operation in Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk blasts on August 9 in response to the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk, Oblast. The Federal Security Service (FSB) Head and National Antiterrorism Committee Chairperson Alexander Bortnikov announced counterterrorism operations in Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk oblasts in response to “sabotage and reconnaissance units” conducting “terrorist acts” in Russia and “units of the Ukrainian armed forces” conducting a “terrorist attack” in Kursk Oblast.’ – ISW, Russian Offensive campaign Assessment August 10, 2024.
The Russian Nuclear Agency said that the Ukrainian attack poses a direct threat to the Kursk nuclear power plant. The history seems to be repeating itself as it was the Ukrainian Russian – held nuclear power plant of Zaporizhzhia that faced the same threat in 2022-23.
The war seemed to be shifted after the recent Russian success on the eastern border land of Ukraine. An embolden Ukraine with new weaponry and funds from the NATO and the US started to attack deep inside Russia. The war is becoming increasingly technical with war automation technics employed by both sides facing shortages of required manpower.
But the attacks on civil sites are continuing along with targeted air, naval, and army bases. Human life is under constant threat. The Russian population in Belogorod, Bryansk, and the Kursk region have started to leave the area, fearing more attacks by the Ukrainian army. With NATO encircling Russia completely from European borders and its resolve to back Ukraine in the recently concluded Washington summit joined by sudden spurt in Ukrainian aggression, Russians may start negotiations It’s not that no efforts were undertaken for negotiations before. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent interview to BBC told that 2024 may see the end of the hot stage of war and it doesn’t mean that all territories are won back by force and the power of diplomacy can help. Ukraine foreign affairs officials have visited China too for engaging Russia into negotiations. However,the success of the negotiations remains doubtful as President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov indicated earlier that negotiations can be fruitful as long as Russian territorial claims are recognized.
Reference- http://www.stimson.org. A link is provided below for further analysis 🔻
(While de-escalation of the Ukraine War seems near – it is unclear what sustained peace in the region will look like. https://www.stimson.org/2024/european-security-post-ukraine-war/)
For detailed coverage, follow the link 🔻
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/10/europe/ukraine-putin-embarrasses-surprise-assault-analysis-intl/index.html
Ukraine President Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers are fighting inside Russia. Link🔻
1️⃣https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/11/world/ukraine-zelensky-confirms-russian-incursion-intl/index.html
2️⃣https://www.voanews.com/z/4047
US Elections: Joe Biden starts the’Kamala Harris’ campaign from Pennsylvania .
Biden also vindicated the choice selection of Tim Walz as an election mate and vice president nominee for US president aspirant Kamala Harris. “He’s my kind of guy, he’s real, he’s smart, I’ve known him for several decades. I think it’s a hell of a team,” said Biden.- Reuters.
The link is given below ⬇️
Biden to campaign for Harris in battleground state Pennsylvania – https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-campaign-harris-battleground-state-pennsylvania-2024-08-11/
the-curators.org 