THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I. W New round of Afghan-Taliban peace talks off to a slow start
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jan/8/new-round-of-afghan-taliban-peace-talks-off-to-a-s/
II. I’m haunted by Daniel Pearl’s Murder
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/07/opinion/daniel-pearl-killing.html
III. US reaffirm ‘long-term’ security partnership with Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2279187/us-reaffirms-long-term-security-partnership-with-pakistan
IV. Declassified United States Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IPS-Final-Declass.pdf
V. A Mob and the Breach of Democracy: The Violent End of the Trump Era
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/trump-congress.html
VI. Secret Is Out: Russia Weaponized and Trained Dolphins and Whales
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/secret-out-russia-weaponized-and-trained-dolphins-and-whales-176151
VII. After the foundational agreements: An agenda for US-India defense and security cooperation
https://www.brookings.edu/research/after-the-foundational-agreements-an-agenda-for-us-india-defense-and-security-cooperation/
VIII. Pelosi Calls Milley To Discuss Keeping Nukes From Trump
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/01/pelosi-calls-milley-discuss-keeping-nukes-trump/171283/
IX. Joe Biden should end the US pretence over Israel’s ‘secret’ nuclear weapons
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/31/joe-biden-us-pretence-israel-nuclear-weapons
X. In North Korea, Kim Jong Un Takes a Hard Line on U.S. Ties, Weapons
https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/north-korea-kim-jong-un-takes-hard-line-us-ties-weapons
MULTILATERALISM
I. U Get COVID-19 vaccinations for ‘high-risk’ populations underway within 100 days worldwide, Tedros urges
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081852
II. Close ‘disgraceful’ Guantánamo camp – UN experts urge incoming US administration
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081842
III. Serious repercussions likely to follow US plan to designate Yemen combatants terrorists, UN warns
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081822
IV. UNSC members rebuff India’s bid to secure leadership of key panels
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/772590-unsc-members-rebuff-india-s-bid-to-secure-leadership-of-key-panels
V. UN human rights expert ‘cautiously’ welcomes UK court’s refusal to extradite Julian Assange
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081442
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
I. SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
II. Pakistan plans to revive stalled IMF loan programme by increasing its power tariff
https://www.geo.tv/latest/329987-pakistan-plans-to-revive-stalled-imf-loan-programme-by-increasing-its-power-tariff
III. Japan taking action against illegal car trade in Pakistan
https://www.geo.tv/latest/330012-japan-taking-action-against-illegal-car-trade-in-pakistan
IV. PM Imran launches Pakistan’s first instant digital payment system to boost formal economy
https://www.dawn.com/news/1600960
V. Hafeez pins hopes on spectrum sale fetching maximum price
https://www.dawn.com/news/1601563/hafeez-pins-hopes-on-spectrum-sale-fetching-maximum-price
VI. ‘Welcome sign’: Pakistani textile unit acquires manufacturing facility in US
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/773682-welcome-sign-pakistani-textile-unit-acquires-manufacturing-facility-in-us
VII. SBP governor optimistic about Pakistan’s economic outlook despite coronavirus pandemic
https://reutersevents.com/events/next/
VIII. Big industry expands 14.5pc in November 2020
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/01/13/big-industry-expands-14-5pc-in-november-2020/
IX. Private sector urged to explore African market
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280012/private-sector-urged-to-explore-african-market
X. Moody’s sees 1.5% GDP growth
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2279863/moodys-sees-15-gdp-growth
XI. Food inflation continues to persist
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280009/food-inflation-continues-to-persist
XII. OGRA grants licences to two virtual pipeline firms
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2280008/ogra-grants-licences-to-two-virtual-pipeline-firms
XIII. Nationwide outage exposes energy sector discrepancies
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2279915/nationwide-outage-exposes-energy-sector-discrepancies
XIV. Time to walk on a different path
https://www.dawn.com/news/1600798/time-to-walk-on-a-different-path
XV. Oil Rises Above $56 As Tighter Supply Offsets Virus Concern
http://www.businessworld.in/article/Oil-Rises-Above-56-As-Tighter-Supply-Offsets-Virus-Concern/12-01-2021-364618/
XVI. Govt to help cope with climate change challenges in Gilgit-Baltistan
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/774549-govt-to-help-cope-with-climate-change-challenges-in-gilgit-baltistan
XVII. Step up action and adapt to ‘new climate reality’, UN environment report urges
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1082072
XVIII. Top scientists warn of ‘ghastly future of mass extinction’ and climate disruption
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/13/top-scientists-warn-of-ghastly-future-of-mass-extinction-and-climate-disruption-aoe
XX. Climate change: US emissions in 2020 in biggest fall since WWII
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-55632050
XXI. 2020 Tied for Warmest Year on Record, NASA Analysis Shows
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3061/2020-tied-for-warmest-year-on-record-nasa-analysis-shows/
