THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA& THE UNITED NATIONS |
Ø US says watching Pakistan political unrest with ‘concern’
https://www.dawn.com/news/1769258 Ø US again rejects claim of regime change in Pakistan https://arynews.tv/us-again-rejects-claim-of-regime-change-in-pakistan/ Ø US backs direct talks between Pakistan and India after Sharif’s statement Ø Republicans are turning against aid to Ukraine https://www.brookings.edu/articles/republicans-are-turning-against-aid-to-ukraine/ Ø Joe Biden makes his big Middle East push: a Saudi Arabia-Israel pact Ø 4 US Navy Destroyers Respond to Russian and Chinese Ships near Alaska Ø Why the new alliance between the U.S., UK, and Australia is so important to Indo-Pacific security https://riponsociety.org/article/proving-the-benefits-of-aukus/ Ø How Was Afghanistan Lost to the Taliban – Again? https://www.cnas.org/publications/podcast/how-was-afghanistan-lost-to-the-taliban-again Ø Report: Sanctions by the Numbers: 2022 Year in Review https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/sanctions-by-the-numbers-2022-year-in-review Ø The Crucial Question Surrounding Ukraine’s NATO Admission Ø China and India are at odds over BRICS expansion Ø It’s official: July 2023 was the warmest on record https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139527 Ø Negotiated solution only way to end Sudan war: senior UN official https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139612 Ø UN: Deal reached with Syria to reopen main border crossing from Türkiye https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139577 Ø UN pushes disarmament talks amid fears that drums of nuclear war are beating again https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/08/1139442 Ø Food systems contribute to solving ‘world’s most important challenges’ https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/07/1138992 Ø Empowering women through social protection: UN rights office https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/07/1138997 Ø Report: OHCHR’s overview on the right to social security/social protection |
RUSSIA & EUROPE |
Ø President Duda sets Poland parliamentary election date for October 15 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/8/president-duda-sets-poland-parliamentary-election-date-for-october-15 Ø EU ‘exploits’ human rights issue to put pressure on countries – Russian Foreign Ministry Ø UK announces deal with Türkiye to tackle irregular migration Ø Germany ends projects in Bosnia’s Serb republic over secessionist moves Ø Borrell twisting facts in statements about grain deal, says Russian Foreign Ministry Ø Poland to send up to 10,000 soldiers to border with Belarus Ø China says CIA spy uncovered after recruitment by US in Italy Ø Putin submits to Duma amendments to rules of notifying Council of Europe of martial law Ø Russia, Chinese foreign ministers discuss Ukrainian crisis, bilateral ties in phone call Ø Senior diplomat to visit Tehran on August 7-8 to discuss JCPOA, Iran’s work with BRICS Ø Food prices rise after Russia ends grain deal, India restricts rice exports Ø Saudi Arabia kicks off Ukraine talks that exclude Russia Ø Deal struck to send second-hand Leopard 1 tanks from Belgium to Ukraine Ø Ukraine orders civilian evacuation of Kharkiv areas as Russians advance Ø Russia to discuss with BRICS partners outcome of consultations on Ukraine – diplomat Ø $24bn for Ukraine tops Biden budget request ahead of looming showdown Ø No date set for Putin’s visit to Türkiye, which could take place in August – Erdogan Ø OPEC+ countries cut oil output by 1.14mln bpd in July to 35.9 mln bpd – IEA Ø Russia boosts oil export revenues by $2.5 bln in July to $15.3 bln – IEA Ø Tajikistan set to boost trade with Russia despite Western sanctions – government Ø First group of Chinese tourist come to Russia under visa-free group agreement Ø Ukraine to open ‘humanitarian corridor’ for ships stuck in Black Sea ports Ø Russia tops list of oil exporters to India, China in June – OPEC |
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS |
Ø SBP Weekly Data Report http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp Ø Rising poverty, food insecurity, inflation continue to haunt Pakistanis, says MoF Ø IMF ‘willing to work’ with prolonged caretaker setup https://www.geo.tv/latest/504234-imf-likely-to-work-with-prolonged-caretaker-setup Ø Remittances plummet to five-month low in July https://tribune.com.pk/story/2430199/remittances-plummet-to-five-month-low-in-july Ø Pakistan’s textile industry bears brunt of economic woes https://www.geo.tv/latest/503562-pakistans-textile-industry-bares-brunt-of-economic-woes Ø Stubborn stagflation amid hazy political outlook https://www.dawn.com/news/1768857/stubborn-stagflation-amid-hazy-political-outlook Ø Why are reforms so elusive? https://tribune.com.pk/story/2429567/why-are-reforms-so-elusive Ø Inflation, where will you move? https://www.dawn.com/news/1768858/inflation-where-will-you-move Ø Plan C: rethinking Pakistan’s economic growth strategies https://tribune.com.pk/story/2429568/plan-c-rethinking-pakistans-economic-growth-strategies Ø Oil prices fall slightly, investors weigh China data against OPEC optimism https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-prices-tick-higher-opec-demand-optimism-2023-08-11/ Ø Balochistan in hot water https://www.dawn.com/news/1769339 Ø Importance of farm mechanisation https://www.dawn.com/news/1768856/importance-of-farm-mechanisation Ø UN Climate Change Conference-2023: ‘Concerned’ world community to provide special financial aid to Pakistan: UAE envoy https://www.brecorder.com/news/40257387 Ø Pakistani children at ‘extremely high risk’ of climate-change impacts, warns UN Ø Pakistan among regions at greatest risk of ‘wet-bulb’ temperatures driven by climate change https://www.arabnews.com/node/2352831/pakistan Ø Scientists look beyond climate change and El Nino for other factors that heat up Earth https://apnews.com/article/hot-summer-climate-change-el-nino-9c5151f2fca2cd77d92a1c7bc61a0035 |