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US Flies Nuclear-Capable Bombers Amid Tensions With N. Korea

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South Korea’s SEOUL — On Wednesday, the United States sent nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Korean Peninsula in a show of force against North Korea amid fears that the North will perform a nuclear test.

According to South Korea’s Defense Ministry, the long-range bombers took part in joint aerial exercises over the Korean Peninsula with US and South Korean fighter aircraft. According to the statement, it was the first dispatch of US B-52 bombers to the peninsula in a month.

The exercises “demonstrate the (South) Korea-US alliance’s strong resolve and perfect readiness to respond to any provocation by North Korea swiftly and overwhelmingly,” said Lt. Gen. Park Ha Sik, commander of the South Korean air force operation command.

The South Korean and US militaries have increased their joint military exercises in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

Last month, the allies performed their largest field exercises in five years and computer simulations. The US also sent the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz for joint naval training with South Korea last week and anti-submarine exercises between the US, South Korea, and Japan this week.

North Korea views such exercises as provocations demonstrating its adversaries’ intent to attack the North. On March 6, a day after the last B-52 bomber flight to the peninsula, Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, cautioned that her country was prepared to take “quick, overwhelming action” against the US and South Korea.

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The United States sent nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has since conducted nuclear-capable missile tests aimed at South Korea and the United States. They included the North’s longest-range intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17, a nuclear-capable underwater drone in development, and cruise missiles and bombers launched from a submarine.

Last week, North Korea revealed a new battlefield nuclear warhead designed to fit on short-range weapons aimed at South Korea. This sparked conjecture that it may want to conduct its first nuclear test since 2017, as its previous two nuclear test detonations occurred after it revealed other new warheads. If carried out, it would be the North’s seventh nuclear test.

It is unclear whether North Korea has operational bombers nuclear-armed rockets. According to some experts, a nuclear detonation would be used to test a miniaturized warhead for short-range missiles, as the country’s recent weapons tests have concentrated on weapons that put key military installations in South Korea, including US military bases, within striking distance.

North Korea will not return to denuclearization talks with the United States unless Washington abandons hostile policies toward the North, an obvious reference to joint military exercises with South Korea and US-led international economic sanctions. Some observers believe Kim intends to use his growing weapons arsenal to pressure Washington to recognize it as a nuclear power and remove the sanctions.

According to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, the chief nuclear envoys of South Korea, the United States, and Japan will meet in Seoul on Friday to discuss how to react to the tensions caused by North Korea’s recent weapons tests.

During a policy meeting, south Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that security collaboration among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo is critical in dealing with North Korean nuclear threats and other challenges. He stated that South Korea must strengthen its preemptive strike bombers, missile defense, retaliatory attack capabilities, and the alliance’s deterrence capability.

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SOURCE – (AP)

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US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

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LONDON / CHINA— The U.S. and British governments imposed sanctions on Monday against a firm and two people tied to the Chinese government for a series of malicious cyberattacks on the U.K.’s election watchdog and politicians in both countries.

Officials claimed those sanctioned were responsible for a hack that may have gotten access to information on tens of millions of U.K. voters kept by the Electoral Commission, as well as cyber espionage against politicians who have been vocal about the China danger.

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US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

According to the Foreign Office, the hack of the election rolls “has not had an impact on electoral processes, has not affected the rights or access to the democratic process of any individual, nor has it affected electoral registration.”

The Electoral Commission stated in August that it discovered a breach in its system in October 2022 but added that “hostile actors” have been able to access its systems since 2021.

At the time, the watchdog stated that the data included registered voters’ names and residences. However, it stated that much of the information was already in the public domain.

In Washington, the Treasury Department sanctioned Wuhan Xiaoruizhi Science and Technology business Ltd., describing it as a Chinese Ministry of State Security front business that has “served as cover for multiple malicious cyberoperations.”

It cited two Chinese nationals, Zhao Guangzong and Ni Gaobin, who worked for the Wuhan company for cyber operations that targeted vital infrastructure sectors in the United States, “directly endangering U.S. national security.”

Separately, British cybersecurity officials reported that Chinese government-affiliated hackers “conducted reconnaissance activity” against British legislators critical of Beijing in 2021. They stated that no parliamentary accounts were successfully compromised.

Three legislators, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, told reporters on Monday that they had been “subjected to harassment, impersonation, and attempted hacking from China for some time.” Duncan Smith stated that in one instance, hackers impersonating him used bogus email accounts to send messages to his contacts.

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US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

The lawmakers are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international pressure group dedicated to resisting Beijing’s expanding influence and exposing alleged human rights violations by the Chinese government.

Before the announcement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that China is “behaving in an increasingly assertive way abroad” and is “the greatest state-based threat to our economic security.”

“It’s appropriate that we take precautions to protect ourselves, and that’s what we’re doing,” he said without revealing any specifics.

China opponents, notably Duncan Smith, have long urged Sunak to adopt a stronger stance on China, labeling it a threat rather than a “challenge” to the United Kingdom, but the government has refrained from using such harsh rhetoric.

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US And UK Announce Sanctions Over China Linked Hacks On Election Watchdog And Lawmakers

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the findings, saying that countries should base their assertions on evidence rather than “smear” others without a factual basis.

“Cybersecurity issues should not be politicized,” ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated. “We hope all parties will stop spreading false information, take a responsible attitude, and work together to maintain peace and security in cyberspace.”

SOURCE – (AP)

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Thailand Sends Aid To War-Torn Myanmar, But Critics Say It Will Only Help Junta

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Mae Sot, Thailand — Thailand delivered its first consignment of humanitarian aid to war-torn Myanmar on Monday, which officials hope will be a continued effort to alleviate the condition of millions of people uprooted by the conflict.

However, critics argue that the relief will only help those in areas controlled by the Myanmar military, giving them a propaganda boost while leaving the great majority of displaced people in contested areas without access to assistance.

Myanmar is embroiled in a national armed conflict that began in February 2021, when the army deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected administration and crushed huge nonviolent protesters demanding a return to democracy. The conflict has uprooted millions of people and devastated the economy.

Thailand Sends Aid To War-Torn Myanmar, But Critics Say It Will Only Help Junta

Thailand transported 10 trucks from the northern province of Tak across the border, delivering roughly 4,000 bundles of aid to three towns in Kayin State, also known as Karen State. The aid will be handed to approximately 20,000 displaced persons.

The shipments contained:

  • Help is valued at approximately 5 million baht ($138,000).
  • Primarily food.
  • Quick beverages.
  • Other necessities such as toiletries.

According to UN agencies, more than 2.8 million people in Myanmar have been displaced, the majority of them as a result of conflict that erupted following the army’s takeover. They claim 18.6 million people, including 6 million children, require humanitarian assistance.

Carl Skau, Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations World Food Programme, stated earlier this month that one out of every four displaced people faces extreme food insecurity.

The Thai Red Cross is leading the initiative for what has been dubbed a humanitarian corridor, with funds from Thailand’s Foreign Ministry and logistical help from the army, which has traditionally played a significant part in border activities.

Thailand and Myanmar’s Kayin State officials attended a send-off ceremony by Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The Red Cross of Myanmar will coordinate the humanitarian delivery.

Drivers from Myanmar drove the trucks across the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, which spans the Moei River on the border.

“That corridor puts humanitarian aid in the hands of the junta because it goes into the hands of the junta-controlled Myanmar Red Cross,” Tom Andrews, the United Nations independent human rights specialist on Myanmar, said last week.

“So we know that the junta weaponizes these resources, including humanitarian aid, and uses them to their military strategic advantage. The truth is that the junta is to blame for the dire need for humanitarian relief.”

thailand

Thailand Sends Aid To War-Torn Myanmar, But Critics Say It Will Only Help Junta

Andrews stated that the places in severe need are “conflict zones in which the junta has no influence or control whatsoever.” So they are the topics we should concentrate on.”

Large regions of the country, particularly along the border, are now contested or held by anti-military resistance forces, including pro-democracy fighters associated with armed ethnic minority organizations that have been fighting for greater autonomy over decades.

According to Thai officials, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management will monitor the distribution process to ensure its fairness and equality.

Following the event, Vice Foreign Minister Sihasak stated that the relief is likely to be delivered to the three towns on the same day, and Myanmar will provide images to confirm delivery.

“I’d like to highlight that this humanitarian help is unrelated to Myanmar’s politics or hostilities. “I believe that people should prioritize the interests of the Myanmar people,” he remarked. “Of course, if the initiative today is carried out smoothly and meets the objectives that we set, Thailand as a neighbor will see how we can expand the help to other areas.”

Thailand began the humanitarian corridor project in January, with cooperation from Myanmar and other ASEAN states, at an ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat in Laos.

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara stated that ASEAN must vigorously seek to execute what it refers to as the Five-Points Consensus, which was reached just a few months after the army took over in 2021.

The accord called for an immediate cessation of violence, talks among all relevant parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, humanitarian relief through ASEAN channels, and the special envoy’s visit to Myanmar to meet with all concerned parties.

thailand

Thailand Sends Aid To War-Torn Myanmar, But Critics Say It Will Only Help Junta

However, although originally agreeing to the consensus, Myanmar’s generals failed to act on it, leaving ASEAN appearing weak.

Dulyapak Preecharush, a Southeast Asia Studies professor at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said the aid project is a good start for Thailand, which has been “quiet and inactive” about Myanmar.

“The readiness of Thailand to deliver the aid is not an issue, but when the aid is delivered to Myanmar, it will face obstacles from violent fighting and different stakeholders who will have their gains and losses.”

Sihasak stated that Thailand expects the aid to be given equitably and honestly and that its distribution will contribute to the peace process in Myanmar by creating a “good atmosphere” for the country.

SOURCE – (AP)

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The UN Security Council Is Scheduled To Vote On A Resolution Seeking A Ramadan Cease-Fire.

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United Nations: The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution calling for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but the U.S. has cautioned that the measure could jeopardize talks to end Israeli-Hamas hostilities.

Russia and China, which vetoed a US-sponsored resolution Friday calling for “an immediate and sustained cease-fire” in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, support the resolution that the ten elected council members have proposed.

The 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations issued a statement Friday night calling on all 15 council members “to act with unity and urgency” and vote for the resolution “to halt the bloodshed, preserve human lives, and avert further human suffering and destruction.”

The Arab Group declared, “It is long past time for a cease-fire.” Ramadan begins on March 10 and ends on April 9.

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The UN Security Council Is Set To Vote On A Resolution Demanding A Ramadan Cease-Fire

The council is scheduled to vote on the motion on Monday morning. According to a United Nations ambassador, the vote was originally slated for Saturday morning but was postponed early Saturday.

Many members are hoping that the United Nations’ most powerful body, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, will demand an end to the war that began on October 7 when Gaza’s Hamas rulers launched a surprise attack into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 more.

Since then, the Security Council has passed two resolutions on Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian situation, but neither has called for a cease-fire.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict has killed over 32,000 Palestinians. It makes no distinction between civilians and fighters in its tally but claims women and children account for two-thirds of the dead.

Gaza is also facing a terrible humanitarian situation, with an international hunger agency warning this week that “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza and that an escalation of the war might push half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents to the edge of starving.

The brief resolution for a vote on Monday calls for an emergency humanitarian cease-fire during Ramadan, “leading to a permanent sustainable cease-fire.” It also calls for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and underscores the critical need to safeguard people and supply humanitarian supplies throughout the Gaza Strip.

Following Friday’s vote, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council that the resolution’s current phrasing “fails to support sensitive diplomacy in the region.” Worse, it may provide Hamas with a reason to withdraw from the current agreement.”

“We should not move forward with any resolution that jeopardizes the ongoing negotiations” being carried out by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, she said, adding that if diplomacy is not backed, “we may once again find this council deadlocked.”

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The UN Security Council Is Set To Vote On A Resolution Demanding A Ramadan Cease-Fire

“I sincerely hope that does not happen,” Thomas-Greenfield remarked.

The U.S. has blocked three resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, the most recent being an Arab-backed move. In a vote on February 20, 13 members backed the proposition, with one abstention.

In late October, Russia and China blocked a US-sponsored resolution calling for pauses in fighting to deliver relief, civilian protection, and an end to Hamas’ arming. They stated that it did not represent global calls for a cease-fire.

They blocked the U.S. resolution again on Friday, calling it unclear and not the direct demand to cease the fighting many worldwide want.

A crucial concern was the odd language that stated that the Security Council “determines the imperative of an immediate and sustained cease-fire.” The language was not a simple “demand” or “call” to end hostilities.

The Security Council vote became another battle between world powers embroiled in tense issues overseas, with the United States criticized for not being tough enough on its friend Israel, even as tensions between the two countries escalated.

Before the voting, Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stated that Moscow supports an immediate cease-fire, but he questioned the watered language, which he described as philosophical phrasing unfit for a U.N. resolution.

He accused U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of “deliberately misleading the international community” in their support for a cease-fire.

“This was some kind of empty rhetorical exercise,” Nebenzia explained. “The American product is highly politicized, with the express objective of appealing to voters by mentioning a cease-fire in Gaza… and to maintain Israel’s impunity, while its draft crimes are not even being investigated.”

Zhang Jun, China’s U.N. ambassador, stated that the U.S. plan established preconditions and fell far short of the expectations of council members and the world community.

“If the U.S. was serious about a cease-fire, it wouldn’t have vetoed multiple council resolutions repeatedly,” he told reporters. It wouldn’t have taken such a detour and played a game of words while being ambiguous and evasive on critical issues.”

The council’s 15 members voted 11 in favor and three against ramadan cease fire, including Algeria, the Arab representative. There was one abstention from Guyana.

Following the vote, Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia and China of vetoing the resolution for “deeply cynical reasons,” claiming they couldn’t bring themselves to denounce Hamas’ terrorist strikes in southern Israel on October 7, as the resolution would have done for the first time.

ramadan

The UN Security Council Is Set To Vote On A Resolution Demanding A Ramadan Cease-Fire

Another “petty” reason, as she put it, is that “Russia and China simply did not want to vote for a resolution that was penned by the United States, because it would rather see us fail than to see this council succeed.” She accused Russia of once again placing “politics over progress” and having “the audacity and hypocrisy to throw stones” after conducting an unjustified invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The resolution does indicate a shift by the United States, which has found itself at odds with much of the world, including Israel’s friends, as they urge for an end to war.

In prior resolutions, the United States has tightly tied calls for a cease-fire to demands for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Using ambiguous language, this resolution continued to link the two issues, although not as tightly.

SOURCE – (AP)

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