July 15, 2023

Deadly Monsoon Rains in South Korea Respond to landslides and floods caused by torrential monsoon rains in South Korea, leaving seven dead and three missing. Thousands evacuated due to an overflowing dam.The local media reports suggest a rise in the death toll as heavy rainfall under intense monsoon lashed the country for the third consecutive day, causing massive destruction due to flooding in both urban and rural areas. The Goesan Dam began overflowing from the downpour, submerging low-lying villages nearby. The interior ministry issued evacuation orders this morning to over 6,400 residents in the central county. The seven people killed since Friday died in rain-related landslides and building collapse, it added. Two of the three people reported missing were swept away when a river overflowed in North Gyeongsang province, the ministry said. Moreover, the intense downpours caused power cuts across 4,000 households, with the landslides damaging residential areas, and destroying vegetation and infrastructure, Foreign Policy reported. The government issued a high-alert warning for more flooding to come this weekend as experts forecast as much as 100 millimetres of more showers. Train Services Suspended, Landslide Incident The Korea Railroad Corporation suspended all regular train services nationwide as of 2:00 pm (0500 GMT). However, KTX bullet trains continued to operate, with possible schedule adjustments. The ministry reported that slower operation might delay the bullet trains following a train derailment late on Friday. A landslide threw earth and sand over tracks in North Chungcheong province. During the incident, an engineer was injured, but no passengers were on board. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged officials to respond to river overflows and landslides “preemptively”, and requested support for rescue operations from the ministry of defence. Devastating climate change impacts the world as harsh weather and catastrophic monsoon rains affect different regions globally. Asia alone has reportedly witnessed over 100 deaths this month. The scientists say there is a bigger chance of heavier downpours across the globe due to climate change triggered by global warming, “because a warmer atmosphere holds more water”, a report published by BBC stated. Last week, the World Meteorological Organization declared the onset of El Niño — a weather event where sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise to at least 0.5°C above the long-term average — for the first time in seven years. This set the stage for a surge in global temperatures, as well as disruptive weather and climate patterns, the organisation said. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1090744-south-korea-devastating-monsoon-rains-landslides-kill-seven

Ukraine’s Grain Export Deal: Implications and Challenges Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin, in discussions with  has agreed to allow Ukraine to extend its grain export, potentially alleviating the ongoing global food crisis. Erdogan expressed confidence in extending deal with Putin, emphasizing their discussions’ agreement. The accord, set to expire next week, has significant implications for addressing food shortages worldwide. “We are preparing to welcome Putin in August, and we agree on the extension of the Black Sea grain corridor,” Erdogan noted. He emphasized the alignment between the two leaders on the matter. Moreover, observers view the agreement as vital for Ukraine’s grain exports and offering relief to food-scarce nations. However, the Kremlin has remained silent on the issue, refraining from making any official statements. It has emphasized that the extension of the deal would only be considered if certain conditions set by Russia are met. Black Sea Grain Initiative Challenges This ambiguity adds a layer of uncertainty to the situation, as the specific requirements for the deal’s extension remain undisclosed. Fulfilling conditions is crucial for the fate of Black Sea grain agreement and its impact on the global food crisis. UN & Turkey played key role brokering Black Sea Grain Initiative (July 2022) uniting Russia, Ukraine, and other stakeholders. Consequently, initiative tackled the global food crisis, worsened by Moscow’s invasion and blockade of Ukrainian ports. However, tensions have emerged in the ongoing discussions for renewing the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Putin consistently warns about potential non-renewal, citing export obstacles as the main reason behind his stance on the agreement. The extension of the Black Sea grain export deal has far-reaching consequences, as it plays a vital role in addressing the global food crisis. However, accord enables Ukraine to export grain to countries with food shortages, aiding in global food crisis. Grain Flow Boost & Extension Efforts Erdogan & Putin seek to boost grain flow from Ukraine, aiding Africa, Middle East & beyond, extending the agreement. The announcement by Erdogan comes at a critical juncture, as the deal’s expiration looms in the near future. Therefore, the agreement eased impact of Russia’s Ukraine invasion (Feb 2022), curbing grain exports disruptions and global food price hikes. Erdogan’s statement stresses shared Turkey-Russia commitment to extend Black Sea grain corridor, details undisclosed. However, president Putin’s August visit to Turkey adds significance to discussions on extending the deal. Extended grain export deal, with security companies in Lahore firms’ help, welcomed by international community, aiding grain-import reliant nations. Additionally, the development offers hope for impoverished nations, stabilizing grain prices and ensuring food availability. Source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1090546-erdogan-claims-putin-agreed-to-allow-ukraine-to-export-grain

Census and Delimitation Challenges in Pakistan ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Improvement Ahsan Iqbal, with the support of a said that if the elections are to be held during the stipulated time, then it could only be possible based on the last census carried out in 2017. Consequently, the federal minister made these remarks on Geo Information’s show “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath” when Shahzeb Khanzada asked about the legal issues arising due to the delay in notifying the digital census, which concluded on May 15. The provisional census results indicate the population has reached 250 million. Seats in the National Assembly must be allocated based on population as per the last official census (Article 51, Constitution). However, notified results by CCI leave insufficient time for ECP’s four-month delimitation process. Election preparations face challenges. Coalition govt lacks two-thirds majority in NA for constitutional amendment on seat adjustments. Ahsan Iqbal told the anchorperson that the census results were scheduled to be notified by April 30. Nevertheless, the minister mentioned that the provinces requested several extensions to the ultimate date because discrepancies were identified during the enumeration process. Therefore, the provinces sought additional time to address and rectify the issues to ensure accurate and reliable census results. Census, Delimitation, and Elections in Pakistan The committee of demographers recommended investigating areas with undercounts or overcounts in population. They sought assistance from SUPARCO for this purpose. However, the final census revealed an irregular increase in population in some areas. Therefore, they had to ensure the results’ genuineness as they were to be presented in CCI. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that even if the census is finalized immediately, it won’t be possible before July 30. Hence, after the new census, delimitation will proceed, and the ECP will make the final decision on the election date. Timely census & delimitation are crucial for on-time elections & fair representation in the National Assembly. Additionally, Federal minister, after rejecting Punjab and KPK polls, reveals CCI’s decision for fresh census-based elections. “If elections are to be held, they must be conducted based on the previous census. It isn’t possible to release the census results based on the new election schedule.” Therefore, the minister stated that a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, backed by a  confirms a transition to caretaker setup after the term ends. Moreover, he opposes poll delay, warning of prolonged uncertainty and an economic crisis. Source: https://thepakistancorner.com/elections-to-be-held-on-basis-of-2017-census-planning-minister/