THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
RUSSIA & EUROPE
I. EU to Sanction Russia Over Poisoning and Belarus Leader Over Crackdown
https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-sanctions-belaruss-lukashenko-over-violent-crackdown-11602505608
II. Belarus Will Not Be Broken
https://visegradinsight.eu/belarus-will-not-be-broken/
III. Saudi Arabia fails to join UN human rights council but Russia and China elected
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/13/saudi-arabia-fails-to-join-un-human-rights-council-but-russia-and-china-elected
IV. Two months after pioneering ‘Sputnik V’ launched, Putin announces registration of 2nd Russian Covid-19 vaccine, says 3rd on way
https://www.rt.com/russia/503473-second-covid-vaccine-anouncement/
V. Russia sees no prospect of prolonging New START treaty with US, but is not closing door on negotiations – Foreign Minister Lavrov
https://www.rt.com/russia/503477-russia-us-new-start-lavrov/
VI. EU sanctions 6 senior Russian officials over Navalny case, claims they knew about alleged Novichok poisoning of opposition figure
https://www.rt.com/russia/503572-russian-officials-sanctioned-navalny-case/
VII. Telephone conversation with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64204
MULTILATERALISM
I. ‘Staggering’ rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years, new disaster research shows
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075142
II. New agreement in Iraq signals ‘a first and important step’ toward a better future
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075102
III. UN chief welcomes Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1075132
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
I. SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
II. Challenges facing economic recovery
https://www.dawn.com/news/1584608/challenges-facing-economic-recovery
III. Pakistan unlikely to avail $4.5bn Islamic Trade Finance Corporation facility
https://www.dawn.com/news/1584755/pakistan-unlikely-to-avail-45bn-islamic-trade-finance-corporation-facility
IV. The ticking time bomb of circular debt
https://www.dawn.com/news/1584617/the-ticking-time-bomb-of-circular-debt
V. Remittances surge 31pc to $7.14bn
https://www.sbp.org.pk/
VI. Impact of COVID-19 and Locust Swarms on Farm Households in Sindh, Pakistan: Analysis of Data from a Cross-Sectional Survey
https://www.adb.org/publications/impact-covid-19-locust-swarms-sindh-pakistan
VII. IMF WEO REPORT forecasts 1pc growth, rising unemployment for Pakistan
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO#:~:text=Description:%20Global%20growth%20is%20projected%20to%20rise%20from%20an%20estimated,World%20Economic%20Outlook%20%28WEO%29
VIII. Air pollution could worsen Covid-19 outbreak in South Asia
https://www.dawn.com/news/1584664/air-pollution-could-worsen-covid-19-outbreak-in-south-asia
IX. World Bank Approves $12 Billion for COVID-19 Vaccines
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/10/13/world-bank-approves-12-billion-for-covid-19-vaccines?cid=ECR_TT_worldbank_EN_EXT
X. The Hunger Virus: ” Abysmally low” funding for 55m people facing extreme hunger in seven worst-affected countries
https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/hunger-virus-abysmally-low-funding-55m-people-facing-extreme-hunger-seven-worst
XI. Tax intake: Pakistan to face additional hurdles: Moody’s
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40025691
XII. Climate change: Better warning systems needed for extreme weather – UN
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-54514008