THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
I. Opinion: Afghanistan’s ambassador: The U.S. must help us build peace for generations to come
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/01/26/biden-afghanistan-ambassador-taliban-peace-troops/
II. Biden’s Nightmare May Be China
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/opinion/sunday/foreign-policy-china.html
III. Man accused of beheading U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl ordered released by Pakistani court
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/daniel-pearl-pakistan-accused-released/2021/01/28/85e3ad14-6140-11eb-a177-7765f29a9524_story.html
IV. Report: After the Foundational Agreements: An Agenda for US-India Defense and Security Cooperation, by Joshua T. White
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FP_20210111_us_india_white.pdf
V. Yang Jiechi: China ready to work with U.S. to strengthen ties
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-02-02/Senior-Chinese-diplomat-delivers-video-address-on-China-U-S-relations-XxTphngy7S/index.html
VI. Former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke on China-U.S. relations
https://newsus.cgtn.com/news/2021-02-03/Former-U-S-Ambassador-to-China-talks-about-China-U-S-relations-Xzo5hDaztK/index.html
VII. ‘This is going to be quite a show’: Biden’s arms control team eyes nuclear policy overhaul
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/27/biden-nuclear-weapons-policy-463335
VIII. As the U.S. Prepares to Talk With Iran, Israel Prepares a Military Option
https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/us-prepares-talk-iran-israel-prepares-military-option
IX. US to finalize procedures on New START extension by Feb 5, says Department of State
https://tass.com/world/1250681
X. Violence May Delay U.S. Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/29/world/asia/afghanistan-withdrawal-ghani-biden.html
RUSSIA & EUROPE
I. Press review: What awaits US-Russian dialogue on arms control and Myanmar rocked by coup
https://tass.com/pressreview/1251533
II. Russia halts dialogue with Chile on station for monitoring outer space
https://tass.com/science/1251509
III. France is arming India to teeth
https://nation.com.pk/01-Feb-2021/france-arming-india-to-teeth
IV. Zircon hypersonic missile trials to wrap up in 2021
https://tass.com/defense/1250443
MULTILATERALISM
I. Secretary-General’s press conference on his Priorities for 2021
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2021-01-28/secretary-generals-press-conference-his-priorities-for-2021
II. Consecutive drop in new COVID-19 cases ‘encouraging news’: WHO
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1083522
III. UN urges countries to repatriate 27,000 children from Syria camp
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/30/un-urges-countries-to-repatriate-27000-children-from-syria-camp
IV. UN labour arm ILO warns of ‘lost lockdown generation’
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/25/un-labour-arm-ilo-warns-of-lost-lockdown-generation
V. People’s Climate Vote: Majority sees climate change as emergency
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/1/27/64-of-people-surveyed-say-climate-change-calls-for-urgent-action
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
I. SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
II. Roshan digital accounts attract $400m in four months
https://www.dawn.com/news/1605200/roshan-digital-accounts-attract-400m-in-four-months
III. Treasury bills attract $7m foreign investment in fresh auction
https://www.dawn.com/news/1605370/treasury-bills-attract-7m-foreign-investment-in-fresh-auction
IV. Pakistan’s exports cross $2bn mark in 4 consecutive months ‘first time in 8 years’: Dawood
https://www.geo.tv/latest/332856-pakistans-exports-cross-2bn-mark-in-4-consecutive-months-first-time-in-8-years-dawood
V. PM Imran Khan shares ‘more good news on economic front’
https://www.geo.tv/latest/332626-pm-imran-khan-shares-more-good-news-on-economic-front
VI. Saudi Arabia, UAE retain $2b financial support
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282591/saudi-arabia-uae-retain-2b-financial-support
VII. Asian Development Bank sells PKR-linked bonds for $10 million
https://www.geo.tv/latest/332377-asian-development-bank-sells-pkr-linked-bonds-for-10-million
VIII. FBR surpasses seven-month tax target by Rs17bn
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/782286-fbr-surpasses-jan-tax-target-by-rs-17-bn
IX. Tourism attracts hefty investment
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282541/tourism-attracts-hefty-investment
X. Dissecting external-sector gains
https://www.dawn.com/news/1604719/dissecting-external-sector-gains
XI. Pakistan, Uzbekistan to negotiate PTA
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282691/pakistan-uzbekistan-to-negotiate-pta
XII. PSM privatisation process to end by September, SC told
https://www.dawn.com/news/1605583/psm-privatisation-process-to-end-by-september-sc-told
XIII. Waves shows interest in buying Heavy Electrical Complex
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/783635-waves-shows-interest-in-buying-heavy-electrical-complex
XIV. CCOE refuses to endorse IPP deal in haste
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282688/ccoe-refuses-to-endorse-ipp-deal-in-haste
XV. Pakistan’s fiscal deficit widens to Rs1.13tr in 6MFY21
https://www.dawn.com/news/1605371/pakistans-fiscal-deficit-widens-to-rs113tr-in-6mfy21
XVI. Cotton production falls by 34pc, lowest in 30 years
https://www.dawn.com/news/1605373/cotton-production-falls-by-34pc-lowest-in-30-years
XVII. Each Pakistani now owes Rs175,000
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282685/each-pakistani-now-owes-rs175000
XVIII. ‘Diamer-Bhasha dam to change fortune’
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2282684/diamer-bhasha-dam-to-change-fortune
XIX. Oil rises on economic optimism, tightening supplies
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil/oil-gains-on-continued-opec-cuts-and-u-s-stocks-draw-idUSKBN2A4076
XX. Climate change: Earth’s ice melting away at record rate
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/perspective/20210203-climate-change-earth-s-ice-melting-away-at-record-rate
XXI. What climate change will mean for US security and geopolitics
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/02/04/what-climate-change-will-mean-for-us-security-and-geopolitics/
XXII. Biden’s climate agenda: Is this the beginning of the end for fossil fuels?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55872331
