THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Pakistan Seeks US Help Against Pakistani Taliban in Afghanistan

https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-seeks-us-help-against-pakistani-taliban-in-afghanistan/7397076.html

Ø  US says has no role in choosing political leaders in Pakistan

https://www.nation.com.pk/13-Dec-2023/us-says-has-no-role-in-choosing-political-leaders-in-pakistan

Ø  With COAS in Washington, US reaffirms Pakistan’s ‘ally’ status

https://www.dawn.com/news/1797413/with-coas-in-washington-us-reaffirms-pakistans-ally-status

Ø  Pakistan’s Army Chief Comes to Washington

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/13/pakistan-army-chief-visit-washington-asim-munir/

Ø  Congress Should Ask Hard Questions About Israel Aid

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/12/13/united-states-congress-israel-military-aid-funding-scrutiny/

Ø  America’s Indo-Pacific Alliances Are Astonishingly Strong

https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2023/12/americas-indo-pacific-alliances-are-astonishingly-strong.html

Ø  China’s Global Energy Interconnection

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA2490-1.html

Ø  Gaza ceasefire ‘in everybody’s interest’: UN humanitarian coordinator

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144752

Ø  INTERVIEW: ‘Climate of division’ creating more challenging environment for UN peacekeeping

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144727

Ø  UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144717

Ø  COP28: UN says staggering $7 trillion spent every year on investments that fuel climate change

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144597

Ø  Global Refugee Forum opens amid ‘crisis of humanity’

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144767

Ø  COP28 ends with call to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels; UN’s Guterres says phaseout is inevitable

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144742

Ø  ‘Rebuild a foundation of hope’ for global human rights: Türk

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/12/1144697

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Zelenskyy hails ‘victory’ as EU agrees to open Ukraine membership talks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/14/zelenskyy-hails-victory-as-eu-agrees-to-open-membership-talks-for-ukraineØ  Hungary blocks $54bn EU financial aid for Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/15/hungary-blocks-54bn-eu-financial-aid-for-ukraine

Ø  Finland set to again shut its entire border with Russia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/14/finland-set-to-again-shut-its-entire-border-with-russia

Ø  Ireland’s prime minister urges EU leaders to call for Gaza ceasefire
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/14/irelands-prime-minister-urges-eu-leaders-to-call-for-gaza-ceasefire

Ø  Armenia and Azerbaijan exchange prisoners in step towards normalization
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/13/armenia-and-azerbaijan-exchange-prisoners-in-step-towards-normalisation

Ø  Zelenskyy urges new Ukraine aid, as Biden warns funding delay helps Putin
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/13/zelenskyy-urges-new-ukraine-aid-as-biden-warns-funding-delay-helps-putin

Ø  UK’s Sunak wins parliament vote on deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/12/uks-sunak-wins-parliament-vote-on-deporting-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda

Ø  Poland’s new PM promises to push for full Western support of Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/12/polands-donald-tusk-says-hell-push-for-western-support-for-ukraine

Ø  EU set to approve budgetary aid to Ukraine worth 50 billion euro in January – EC president
https://tass.com/world/1721557

Ø  Austria unblocks 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions, but it is yet to be approved
https://tass.com/world/1721515

Ø  Direct Line and Vladimir Putin’s Press Conference
https://tass.com/direct-line-and-vladimir-putins-press-conference

Ø  Russia ready to resume dialogue with US, but groundwork needed first – Putin
https://tass.com/politics/1720935

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.aspØ  Revitalising Pakistan’s export engine, economic activity

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449563/revitalising-pakistans-export-engine-economic-activity

Ø  Pakistan expects $4.5bn in inflows this year: FinMin Akhtar

https://www.geo.tv/latest/522900-pakistan-expects-45bn-in-inflows-this-year-finmin-akhtar

Ø  High external funding risks remain: Fitch

https://www.dawn.com/news/1797681/high-external-funding-risks-remain-fitch

Ø  SBP holds key rate for fourth time in a row

https://www.dawn.com/news/1797449/sbp-holds-key-rate-for-fourth-time-in-a-row

Ø  IMF wants increase in tax on salaried class

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2450073/imf-wants-increase-in-tax-on-salaried-class

Ø  IMF board to review loan deal on Jan 11

https://www.dawn.com/news/1796334/imf-board-to-review-loan-deal-on-jan-11

Ø  ADB keeps growth forecast at 1.9%

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2449939/adb-keeps-growth-forecast-at-19

Ø  Privatisation is not a silver bullet

https://www.dawn.com/news/1796910/privatisation-is-not-a-silver-bullet

Ø  Oil prices on track for first weekly rise in two months

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-track-first-weekly-rise-two-months-2023-12-15/

Ø  Climate Change: Paving The Way For A Sustainable Tomorrow

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40278773

Ø  Security of energy supplies

https://www.dawn.com/news/1796911/security-of-energy-supplies

Ø  New climate finances

https://www.dawn.com/news/1797705/new-climate-finances

Ø  Pakistan’s children are feeling the human toll of climate change: stunted growth and school dropouts

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-12/pakistan-climate-change-disasters-child-malnourishment-education/103059696

Ø  Climate Examining COP28’s potential impact on climate change

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67701544