Modi’s third term: Pakistan’s outreach to India

Meanwhile, The Daily Times (June 25) strongly criticised India over the Kashmir issue, saying, “Prime Minister Modi’s authoritarian tendencies have been on full display in his handling of the Kashmir issue over the years…If the Indian government is not ready to read the writing on the blood-stained wall, perhaps the international community can play its natural role in holding the Indian government accountable for its actions.”

Julian Assange is a free man

On June 26, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange pleaded guilty to espionage and returned free to his native Australia. The prevailing media tone has been one of praising Assange’s work as a journalist and condemning the US actions he exposed.

News International (June 27) stated, “In the end, the United States, like other so-called ‘authoritarian governments’, is intent on keeping its dirty work secret and its hands dirty… As for professional journalists and other media workers interested in pursuing the truth wherever it leads, the trial of Assange and his ilk makes it clear that they have no friends other than their own countrymen.”

The Nation (June 26) praised Assange’s work, believing that “the leaks will be remembered forever and his work speaks to the journalistic calling. Even if he does not continue, other brave journalists will take up his mission.”

Trump vs Biden

The United States is scheduled to hold an election this November. Democratic candidate and current President Joe Biden and Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump faced off in the first presidential debate of 2024. Media reports are as follows:

The Daily Times (June 29) commented, “That two veteran politicians turned an important forum for the candidates to debate national policy into a chaotic shouting match filled with personal attacks and insults is a damning commentary on the state of democracy in this pioneering country of the free world. Neither man really knew what he was talking about.”

News International (29 June) agreed, examining the bigger issue of competence, stating, “In some ways, Trump and Biden together are a perfect metaphor for 21st century America: old and incompetent, criminal and unprincipled, selfish and stubborn, past their best. That these two are still in the top positions only proves the widespread incompetence and dishonesty all around them.”

Heat wave damage in Pakistan

Like India, the heatwave has not gone unnoticed in Pakistan. According to Edhi Mortuary, 427 bodies have been brought in in the past four days alone, mostly from “poor areas with long periods of power outages.” Temperatures have risen to over 40 degrees Celsius, and with high humidity in Karachi, it feels like 49 degrees Celsius. Media are reminding stakeholders of the 2015 heatwave tragedy, when 1,500 people died from heatstroke and thousands more suffered from heat stress, to ensure it does not happen again.

According to the Dawn (27 June), “In a civilised world, these figures would sound the death knell for this government…Lessons and action are overdue. The government must put a national strategy into action immediately.”

The Express Tribune (June 26) has pointed out the gaps in implementation and urged authorities to take action. It said, “Despite a consistent rise in temperatures across the country, funding for heatwave-related climate disasters remains deprioritized…Heatwave management plans are in place but their implementation is inconsistent…With no focus on creating green spaces, people’s plight will only worsen. Authorities need to realise that the climate is changing rapidly across the country and start planning ahead.”

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