THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I. How Will Biden’s Team Handle China?
https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/11/25/how-biden-team-handle-china-diplomacy-national-security-beijing/
II. Competition with China Could Be Short and Sharp
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-12-17/competition-china-could-be-short-and-sharp
III. There Is Only One Way Out of Afghanistan
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-12-09/there-only-one-way-out-afghanistan
IV. Revisiting Pakistan’s tangle of contradictions and violence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/revisiting-pakistans-tangle-of-contradictions-and-violence/2020/12/11/b4018008-1d35-11eb-ba21-f2f001f0554b_story.html
V. Pakistan ‘opens secret normalisation talks’ with Israel
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201218-pakistan-opens-secret-normalisation-talks-with-israel/
VI. Taliban team in Pakistan as calls grow for Afghan cease-fire
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/16/taliban-team-in-pakistan-as-calls-grow-for-afghan-/
VII. Anti-Modi Kashmiri alliance wins majority of seats in polls
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/22/anti-modi-kashmiri-alliance-wins-majority-of-seats/
VIII. Pakistan warns India planning ‘surgical strike’ against it
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/18/pakistan-warns-india-planning-surgical-strike-agai/
IX. The U.S. Stays Tough on China
https://stratfor.com/
X. Jon Kyl & Tim Morrison: Biden faces big decisions on nuclear arms control — here’s what he should do
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/nuclear-arms-control-biden-jon-kyl-tim-morrison
XI. How U.S. agencies’ trust in untested software opened the door to hackers
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/19/how-federal-hack-happened-448602
XII. Biden’s internationalism
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276743/bidens-internationalism
XIII. Additional Restrictions on the Issuance of Visas for People’s Republic of China Officials Engaged in Human Rights Abuses
https://www.state.gov/additional-restrictions-on-the-issuance-of-visas-for-peoples-republic-of-china-officials-engaged-in-human-rights-abuses/
RUSSIA & EUROPE
I. President Vladimir Putin Calls for Urgent Response to Western Missiles Deployment at Russian Borders
https://sputniknews.com/russia/202012211081525887-president-vladimir-putin-calls-for-urgent-response-to-western-missiles-deployment-at-russian/
II. Russia hits EU with sanctions in backlash over Navalny sting
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55409892
III. Putin signs legislation strengthening lifetime immunity from prosecution for former Russian presidents & their family members
https://www.rt.com/russia/510483-putin-law-immunity-presidents/
IV. With less than seven weeks left before New START arms treaty expires, Russia once again urges US to sign extension
https://www.rt.com/russia/510547-new-start-arms-treaty-expiration/
V. The Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline raises Russia’s stakes in South Asia
https://tribune.com.pk/article/97245/the-pakistan-stream-gas-pipeline-raises-russias-stakes-in-south-asia
VI. S-400 deal – Did Russia ditch India by delaying start of supply to end-2021_ China has already placed S-400 missiles system in Tibet aimed at Ladakh
https://www.pgurus.com/s-400-deal-did-russia-ditch-india-by-delaying-start-of-supply-to-end-2021-china-has-already-placed-s-400-missiles-system-in-tibet-aimed-at-ladakh/
VII. Russia Sent ‘300 Military Instructors’ to C.Africa – Ministry
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2020/12/22/russia-central-african-republic-military-instructors-a72449
VIII. Joint Ministerial Statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/90907/Joint
IX. Anti-Pakistan Content Costs Indian TV Channel Both Money & Reputation In The UK Over ‘Hate Speech’
https://eurasiantimes.com/arnab-goswamis-republic-bharat-slapped-with-a-20000-fine-in-uk-for-hate-speech/
X. On cusp of Brexit trade deal, EU and UK hash out final details
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2020/12/24/on-cusp-of-brexit-trade-deal-eu-and-uk-hash-out-final-details
XI. Russian and Chinese bombers fly joint patrol over Pacific
https://apnews.com/article/beijing-vladimir-putin-moscow-russia-east-china-sea-dfe0b31a067eea6311109922c1c263aa
MULTILATERALISM
I. How Far Will Biden Go With the UN?
https://www.passblue.com/2020/12/16/how-far-will-biden-go-with-the-un/
II. Global challenges require global solutions, UN chief tells German parliament
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080372
III. Two billion COVID vaccine doses secured, WHO says end of pandemic is in sight
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080422
IV. Pakistan warns India against ‘false flag’ operations in Kashmir after UN vehicle attack
https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1780436/pakistan
V. UNGA adopts Pakistan-sponsored resolution on self-determination
https://www.dawn.com/news/1596375/unga-adopts-pakistan-sponsored-resolution-on-self-determination
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
I. SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
II. Current account posts fifth monthly surplus of $447m in November
https://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
III. Pakistan for free trade with Kabul, CARs: Razak
https://www.dawn.com/news/1597166/pakistan-for-free-trade-with-kabul-cars-razak
IV. PM Imran Khan pleased with ‘accelerating’ response to Roshan Digital Account
https://www.geo.tv/latest/326209-pm-imran-khan-thanks-overseas-pakistanis-for
V. Pakistan inches closer to IMF programme revival
https://www.geo.tv/latest/325991-pakistan-inches-closer-to-imf-programme-revival
VI. Pakistan’s IT exports show a 40% growth in July-Nov FY21
https://www.techjuice.pk/pakistans-it-exports-show-a-40-growth-in-july-nov-fy21/
VII. BAT to move Business Shared Services operations from Malaysia to Pakistan
https://nation.com.pk/23-Dec-2020/bat-to-move-business-shared-services-operations-from-malaysia-to-pakistan
VIII. Pakistan needs $6bn for water supply, sanitation: ADB
https://www.adb.org/publications/asian-water-development-outlook-2020#:~:text=and%20the%20Pacific-,Asian%20Water%20Development%20Outlook%202020:%20Advancing%20Water,across%20Asia%20and%20the%20Pacific&text=The%20Asian%20Water%20Development%20Outlook,,%20and%20water-related%20disaster.
IX. The heart of the ballooning deficit
https://www.dawn.com/news/1596841/the-heart-of-the-ballooning-deficit
X. Mining firm moves Virgin Islands court for enforcement of Reko Diq award against Pakistan
https://www.dawn.com/news/1597596/mining-firm-moves-virgin-islands-court-for-enforcement-of-reko-diq-award-against-pakistan
XI. Unhappy X’mas
https://www.dawn.com/news/1597547/unhappy-xmas
XII. China seeks additional guarantees for $6b new loan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2277059/china-seeks-additional-guarantees-for-6b-new-loan
XIII. Pakistan gets $526 million G-20 debt relief
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2276886/pakistan-gets-526-million-g-20-debt-relief
XIV. Smuggling impedes trade between Pakistan, Iran
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2277151/smuggling-impedes-trade-between-pakistan-iran
XV.UAE keen to lift trade ties with Pakistan
https://southasiamonitor.org/index.php/pakistan/uae-keen-lift-trade-ties-pakistan
XVI. Heavily in debt
https://www.dawn.com/news/1596613/heavily-in-debt
XVII. Gas pressure will ‘improve’ after arrival of delayed LNG cargo today: ministry
https://www.geo.tv/latest/325629-petroleum-division-says-gas-pressure-to-improve-as-delayed-lng-cargo-to-arrive-today
XVIII. Afghan delegation due next week to discuss trade agreements
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/762258-afghan-delegation-due-next-week-to-discuss-trade-agreements
XIX. OGDC finds fresh oil, gas reserves in K-P
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2277157/ogdc-finds-fresh-oil-gas-reserves-in-k-p
XX. Oil edges higher after Brexit deal, gains capped by pandemic
https://www.reuters.com/article/global-oil-int/oil-holds-above-50-barrel-on-u-s-stocks-draw-brexit-deal-hopes-idUSKBN28Y07X
XXI. Stocks shrug off Trump’s stimulus threat; pound jumps on Brexit trade deal hopes
https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/stocks-shrug-off-trumps-stimulus-threat-pound-jumps-on-brexit-trade-deal-hopes-2
XXII. Cabinet allows incentives for electric vehicles
https://www.dawn.com/news/1597556/cabinet-allows-incentives-for-electric-vehicles
XXIII. Climate change: 2021 will be cooler but still in top six warmest
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55365414
XXIV. Working With Nature Is The Best Way To Tackle The Impacts Of Climate Change
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikescott/2020/12/24/working-with-nature-is-the-best-way-to-tackle-climate-change-impacts/?sh=6ba33498615e/
XXV. Planet-warming trend continues: 2020 closes hottest decade on record – UN weather agency
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080882
XXVI. Kashmir’s ‘Red Gold’ Saffron Crop Has Halved and Climate Change Maybe the Reason
https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/kashmirs-red-gold-saffron-crop-has-halved-and-climate-change-maybe-the-reason-3205229.html
