Rassegna Stampa Internazionale 04/12/2023

Israele

(Guardian) Dozens attend protest in Tel Aviv against Israeli bombardment of Gaza

• It was the first time the families of some of those who had been abducted had come together with other activists. Another anti-government protest took place at Caesarea, where Benjamin Netanyahu’s estate is located.
• The anti-government demonstrations reflect a more somber mood among hostage families. The resumption of hostilities on Friday morning abruptly cut off the prospect of further releases.
• The main Hostages and Missing Families Forum has been careful not to politicize its response to the crisis. Nevertheless, the forum demanded an urgent meeting with Israel’s security cabinet, and said on Saturday that its request had not been granted.

Ucraina

(Guardian) Ukraine investigating ‘execution’ of surrendering troops by Russian forces

• Video shows two unarmed Ukrainian soldiers being shot dead as they emerged from dugout near Avdiivka. Video showed the Ukrainian soldiers’ last moments. One raised his arms in the air. Next, Russian service personnel gunned both men down at point-blank range.
• The public prosecutor’s office said it had launched an inquiry into the gruesome incident. 

Russia

(CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the country’s military to increase its number of troops by 170,000 (+15%), as Moscow’s war in Ukraine enters its 22nd month.

• The increase would take the overall number of Russian military personnel to more than 2.2 million, including 1.32 million troops, according to the decree published by the Kremlin Friday.
• Russia’s defense ministry said the increase would be implemented in stages through a recruitment drive, and that there were no plans for conscription or a new wave of mobilization.
• Putin’s decree marked the second such expansion of the army since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine: in August 2022, Putin ordered an increase of 137,000 troops by January 1, 2023. The next month, Putin ordered the immediate “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens that led to angry demonstrations – particularly in Russia’s ethnic minority regions – and prompted hundreds of thousands to flee the country.

(La Stampa) I servizi russi: “Abbiamo fermato un cittadino italo-russo per atti di sabotaggio”. Mosca lo accusa del devastante deragliamento di un treno nella regione di Ryazan

• Ruslan Sidiki, 34 anni, con doppia cittadinanza italiana e russa, è stato arrestato dai servizi di sicurezza russi.
• È accusato di sabotaggio ferroviario che ha causato il deragliamento di un treno e di un attacco con droni a una base militare.
• L’Fsb sostiene che sia stato reclutato dai servizi speciali ucraini. Sidiki è accusato di terrorismo internazionale e disastro ferroviario.

Europa

(Reuters) Paris attack near Eiffel Tower leaves German tourist dead and two hurt

• The man attacked a tourist couple on Saturday evening with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, a few feet from the Eiffel Tower, mortally wounding the German national.
• The suspect had shouted out "Allahu akbar" (God is Greatest) and told police he was upset because "so many Muslims are dying in Afghanistan and in Palestine" and was also upset about the Gaza situation.
• The suspect had in 2016 been sentenced to four years in prison for planning another attack, and had been on the French security services' watch list, the minister said, adding that he was also known for having psychiatric disorders.

Politica internazionale

Nord America

(CNN) The Biden administration has finalized a rule to significantly cut the US oil and gas industry’s emissions of methane

• The announcement came amid a wave of commitments at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai on Saturday, including a pledge from at least 117 countries to triple renewable energy by 2030. Vice President Kamala Harris also announced the US was committing another $3 billion to global climate action.
• The oil and gas industry is one of the main sources of global methane emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.
• The new US rule, which will be implemented by the Environmental Protection Agency, is expected to slash methane emissions by nearly 80% through 2038, compared to what they would have been without the rule.

Medio Oriente

(Associated Press) Pentagon says a US warship, commercial ships attacked in Red Sea. Houthis claim attacking 2 ships

• “We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available,” the Pentagon told The AP. The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating.
• The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone.
• Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming.

Asia e Pacifico

(Reuters) Philippines deploys vessels to monitor 'illegal' presence of Chinese boats in South China Sea

• The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has deployed two of its vessels in the South China Sea after monitoring an "alarming" increase in the number of Chinese maritime militia vessels at a reef within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• The Philippines is ramping up efforts to counter what it describes as China's "aggressive activities" in the South China Sea.
• China has accused the Philippines of enlisting "foreign forces" to patrol the South China Sea and stirring up trouble. Manila insists its maritime activities are within its rights.

(Reuters) Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Philippine bombing

• Philippine government vows to arrest perpetrators.
• Bombing follows military operations against Islamists.
• Monitoring intensified in southern Philippines, capital region.

Africa

(Reuters) UN political mission in Sudan to end on Sunday

• The United Nations Security Council voted to end UNITAMS, its political mission in Sudan, due to the Sudanese government's desire to terminate the mission's presence.
• The termination of UNITAMS removes a flawed tool for achieving stability in Sudan, potentially leaving an extended period without a U.N. Presence in the country.
• Despite the end of UNITAMS, various U.N. Humanitarian agencies will continue supporting Sudanese people and delivering aid.