THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I. PM Imran congratulates newly sworn in US President Joe Biden
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602591/pm-imran-congratulates-newly-sworn-in-us-president-joe-biden
II. What Biden’s Defence Secretary Said About Future Relations With India, Pakistan
https://thewire.in/diplomacy/what-bidens-defence-secretary-said-about-future-relations-with-india-pakistan
III. For Joe Biden, an Experienced Foreign Policy Team
https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/01/for-joe-biden-an-experienced-foreign-policy-team.html
IV. Joe Biden Could Rescue The Last Nuclear Treaty—But Don’t Expect Him To Negotiate A New One
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/01/21/joe-biden-russia-start-nuclear-treaty/?sh=15e55b5a8b5d
V. New Pods Will Allow Reaper Drones To Hunt Submarines And Launch Small Weapons And Drones
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38843/new-pods-will-allow-reaper-drones-to-hunt-submarines-and-launch-small-weapons-and-drones
VI. In declassified US’ secret Indo-Pacific strategy, India is central, Pakistan has fallen out
https://theprint.in/opinion/a-lot-has-changed-in-us-strategic-outlook-india-at-centre-of-plan-pakistan-has-fallen-out/587342/
VII. Pakistan urges Biden to stick to Afghan troop withdrawal
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/21/pakistan-calls-for-us-to-stay-course-on-afghan-peace-talks
VIII. Time to heal
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602846/time-to-heal
RUSSIA & EUROPE
I. Europe can only fix its relationship with Africa if it exorcises its colonial ghosts
https://www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2021/jan/19/europe-relationship-africa-colonial-racism-eu
II. China and EU poised to sign long-delayed investment deal
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/29/china-and-eu-poised-to-sign-long-delayed-investment-deal
III. Nord Stream 2: MEPs call for halt to Russian gas pipeline
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55756282
IV. UK accused of ‘petty’ behaviour in EU diplomat row
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-55753669
V. Experts: the United States uses Russia as an enemy for the unity of the West and avoiding criticism
https://tass.ru/politika/10517377
VI. Zakharova called on the EU to lift sanctions against Syria, exacerbating the crisis in the republic
https://tass.ru/politika/10517417
VII. What Biden’s Team Tells Us About His Russia Policy
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/01/19/what-bidens-team-tells-us-about-his-russia-policy-a72654
VIII. Russia and U.S. Must Not Squander Chances For Cooperation
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/01/21/russia-and-us-must-not-squander-chances-for-cooperation-a72660
IX. Patrushev discussed with his Iranian counterpart cooperation between the two countries and the Afghan settlement
https://tass.ru/politika/10516819
X. Biden seeks five-year extension of New START arms treaty with Russia
https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/biden-seeks-five-year-extension-of-new-start-arms-treaty-with-russia/
XI. Russian leftist political parties unite into new electoral bloc ahead of national vote later this year
https://www.rt.com/russia/513195-political-parties-electoral-block/
MULTILATERALISM
I. UN, ICRC warn of famine over Houthis’ ‘terrorists’ designation
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/14/un-aid-chief-warns-naming-houthis-terrorists-a-famine-threat
II. Political chief highlights crucial cooperation between UN and the Arab League
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082422
III. UN rights office ‘deeply troubled’ by Russian activist Aleksei Navalny’s arrest
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082392
IV. UN adopts Pakistan-sponsored resolution on protection of religious sites
https://www.geo.tv/latest/331233-un-adopts-pakistan-sponsored-resolution-on-protection-of-religious-sites
V. Violent attempt at US Capitol to ‘overturn’ election, shocking and incendiary: independent UN experts
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082382
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
I. SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
II. SBP most likely to keep policy rate unchanged for third time
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/776801-sbp-most-likely-to-keep-policy-rate-unchanged-for-third-time
III. Telecom sector’s tax contribution increased by 129% in FY20: PTA
https://www.pta.gov.pk/assets/media/annual_report_2020_15012021.pdf
IV. China to gift half a million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280838/china-to-gift-half-a-million-covid-19-vaccine-doses-to-pakistan
V. Pakistan gets $5.7b in foreign loans
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280736/pakistan-gets-57b-in-foreign-loans
VI. LNG firm moves international court against PSO
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280647/lng-firm-moves-international-court-against-pso
VII. LNG company backs out of deal, Pak in gas crisis
https://nation.com.pk/17-Jan-2021/pakistan-s-gas-woes-to-likely-continue-as-lng-company-backs-out-of-deal
VIII. No gas for captive power plants, new connections for industry
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602858/no-gas-for-captive-power-plants-new-connections-for-industry
IX. C/A turns negative in December after five-month surplus
https://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/Balancepayment_BPM6.pdf
X. Pakistan’s exports to 10 countries decline
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/775596-pakistan-s-exports-to-10-countries-decline
XI. The galloping gap
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602006/the-galloping-gap
XII. Right of Way policy for telecom sector approved
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602693/right-of-way-policy-for-telecom-sector-approved
XIII. Border trade ranking improves to 111th: FBR
https://www.dawn.com/news/1602505/border-trade-ranking-improves-to-111th-fbr
XIV. ECNEC approves Rs70b healthcare package
https://www.geo.tv/latest/331213-ecnec-approves-rs75b-healthcare-package
XV. Pakistan looking for strong trade, investment ties with US: Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan
https://www.geo.tv/latest/331198-pakistan-looking-for-strong-trade-investment-ties-with-us-ambassador-asad-majeed-khan
XVI. Oil import bill shrinks 22.3pc in 1st half of FY21
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/01/19/oil-import-bill-shrinks-22-3pc-in-1st-half-of-fy21/
XVII. Biden returns US to Paris climate accord hours after becoming president
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/20/paris-climate-accord-joe-biden-returns-us
XVIII. Secretary-General welcomes US return to Paris Agreement on Climate Change
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082602
XIX. Climate change will be sudden and cataclysmic. We need to act fast
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/01/climate-change-sudden-cataclysmic-need-act-fast/
