THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  US gives 5m more Pfizer doses to Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335261/us-gives-5m-more-pfizer-doses-to-pakistan
Ø  US thanks Pakistan for hosting ‘vital’ OIC summit on Afghanistan
https://www.dawn.com/news/1665234
Ø  The Evolution and Future of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/12/21/evolution-and-future-of-tehrik-e-taliban-pakistan-pub-86051
Ø  Pakistan to Rally Muslim Countries to Help Afghanistan
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistan-to-rally-muslim-countries-to-help-afghanistan/2021/12/18/eae36f92-5fc8-11ec-b1ef-cb78be717f0e_story.html
Ø  Changing climate parches Afghanistan, exacerbating poverty https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/changing-climate-parches-afghanistan-exacerbating-poverty/2021/12/23/5704213c-63b9-11ec-9b51-7131fa190c5e_story.html
Ø  Biden’s weak defense of democracy
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/dec/22/bidens-weak-defense-of-democracy/
Ø  Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/18/us/airstrikes-pentagon-records-civilian-deaths.html
Ø  Report: Nuclear Security in South Asia: Regional Views on Prospects and Priorities
https://www.stimson.org/2021/nuclear-security-in-south-asia-regional-views-on-prospects-and-priorities/
Ø  Report: Toward a Mature Defense Partnership: Insights from a U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue
https://www.stimson.org/2021/toward-a-mature-defense-partnership-insights-from-a-u-s-india-strategic-dialogue/
Ø  Complex Calculations Shape Pakistan-TTP Negotiations
https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/12/complex-calculations-shape-pakistan-ttp-negotiations.html
Ø  Biden’s Southeast Asia Policy Still Has Much to Prove
https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/12/bidens-southeast-asia-policy-still-has-much-to-prove.html
Ø  It’s Time for the West to Engage with the Taliban
https://www.rand.org/blog/2021/12/its-time-for-the-west-to-engage-with-the-taliban.html
Ø  A Conversation With Jake Sullivan
https://www.cfr.org/event/conversation-jake-sullivan
Ø  Security Council paves way for aid to reach desperate Afghans
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108642
Ø  UN envoy outlines ‘possibilities for progress’ in Syria next year
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108462
Ø  In a world of choices, ‘let us choose peace’, urges UN chief
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108362
Ø  ‘UN stands with the people of Lebanon’, declares Guterres
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108312
Ø  Afghanistan economy in ‘freefall’, threatening to take entire population with it
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108372
Ø  Iran: UN independent experts condemn secret execution of Kurdish prisoner
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108652
Ø  Experts call for immediate release of Kashmiri human rights defender
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108592      

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Germany to grant €13.5mln to help Pakistan fight climate change
https://www.thenews.com.pk/amp/917660-germany-to-grant-13-5mln-to-help-pakistan-fight-climate-change
Ø  Russia, India and China (RIC) Summit may take place in the near future – Presidential aide
https://tass.com/politics/1375987
Ø  India deploys first battery of S-400 air defence system in western Punjab state
https://tass.com/defense/1378439
Ø  CoronaVirus cases reach record high in France and UK
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/23/omicron-less-likely-to-put-you-in-the-hospital-studies-say
Ø  Putin speaks on Security guarantees, Russia’s relations with West
https://tass.com/politics/1380203
Ø  Putin says insulting Prophet Muhammad isn’t artistic freedom
https://tass.com/society/1380235
Ø  Aid to Afghanistan need to be provided by US coalition, says Putin
https://tass.com/world/1380161
Ø  Russia strives for united international position on recognizing the Taliban government – Putin
https://tass.com/politics/1380147
Ø  Call on the FM by the UK Deputy Leader of Opposition & Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
https://mofa.gov.pk/call-on-the-foreign-minister-by-the-uk-deputy-leader-of-opposition-and-deputy-leader-of-the-labor-party/
Ø  Russia causing ‘severe deterioration’ of European security – EU
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/23/eu-russia-european-security-josep-borrell

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
Ø  FDI rises 12pc to $798m in July-November
https://www.dawn.com/news/1664449/fdi-rises-12pc-to-798m-in-july-november
Ø  Non-textile exports jump 25pc in July-November
https://www.dawn.com/news/1664628/non-textile-exports-jump-25pc-in-july-november
Ø  Debate on development strategy
https://www.dawn.com/news/1664816/debate-on-development-strategy
Ø  Foreign loans surge to $4.6b in five months
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335384/foreign-loans-surge-to-46b-in-five-months
Ø  Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2020-2025 gets approval
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335031/strategic-trade-policy-framework-2020-2025-gets-approval
Ø  Current account gap widens to $1.9b
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334877/current-account-gap-widens-to-19b
Ø  IMF to take up sixth review of its programme on Jan 12
https://www.dawn.com/news/1665482/imf-to-take-up-sixth-review-of-its-programme-on-jan-12
Ø  Govt Building on geo-economic narrative
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334685/building-on-geo-economic-narrative
Ø  Govt gets $4.6bn foreign loans in five months
https://www.dawn.com/news/1665491/govt-gets-46bn-foreign-loans-in-five-months
Ø  $1.54bn ADB loan for energy sector reforms, uplift projects
https://www.dawn.com/news/1665290/154bn-adb-loan-for-energy-sector-reforms-uplift-projects
Ø  Pakistan, China join hands for new wheat varieties
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335208/pakistan-china-join-hands-for-new-wheat-varieties
Ø  A double dose of monetary tightening
https://www.dawn.com/news/1664823/a-double-dose-of-monetary-tightening
Ø  Govt slashes sales tax on local electric vehicles from 17% to 1%
https://www.geo.tv/latest/389216-govt-slashes-sales-tax-on-local-electric-vehicles-from-17-to-1
Ø  Fiscal devolution
https://www.dawn.com/news/1664821/fiscal-devolution
Ø  Revised SBP bill vague on inflation
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335383/revised-sbp-bill-vague-on-inflation
Ø  WB to lend $195 million to boost DISCOs efficiency
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335434/wb-to-lend-195-million-to-boost-discos-efficiency
Ø  ‘Exploitation of mineral sector can enhance exports, boost growth’
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334233/exploitation-of-mineral-sector-can-enhance-exports-boost-growth
Ø  Another body set up to solve economic problems https://tribune.com.pk/story/2334151/another-body-set-up-to-solve-economic-problems
Ø  Oil prices stable as positive Covid news balances curbs
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2335314/oil-prices-stable-as-positive-covid-news-balances-curbs
Ø  Environmental experts say climate change adversely impacting on Pakistan’s economy, health
https://www.bolnews.com/latest/2021/12/environmental-experts-say-climate-change-adversely-impacting-on-pakistans-economy-health/
Ø  Pakistan at bottom among countries striving for secure energy future
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/918837-pakistan-at-bottom-among-countries-striving-for-secure-energy-future