THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  US monitoring Pakistan’s electoral process closely: State Dept

https://www.nation.com.pk/07-Feb-2024/us-monitoring-pakistan-s-electoral-process-closely-state-dept

Ø  With Imran Khan Jailed, Pakistan’s Election May Be Torpid, But the Aftermath Might Not Be

https://www.cfr.org/blog/imran-khan-jailed-pakistans-election-may-be-torpid-aftermath-might-not-be

Ø  Biden’s retaliatory strikes in Middle East come with significant political risk: Experts

https://www.cnas.org/press/in-the-news/bidens-retaliatory-strikes-in-middle-east-come-with-significant-political-risk-experts

Ø  US sees signs Iran is worried about escalating proxy attacks amid heightened tensions

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/01/politics/us-intelligence-iran-nervous-escalating-proxy-attacks/index.html

Ø  Russia, Putin, and Ukraine in 2024 with Fiona Hill

https://www.cnas.org/publications/podcast/russia-putin-and-ukraine-in-2024-with-fiona-hill

Ø  U.S. Airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, With Ray Takeyh and Robin Wright

https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/us-airstrikes-iraq-and-syria-ray-takeyh-and-robin-wright

Ø  War crimes fears over Israeli ground invasion of Rafah

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146242

Ø  UN rights office voices concern ahead of elections in Pakistan

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146277

Ø  Amid a funding crisis, UNRWA’s work in Lebanon could end by March

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146272

Ø  UN’s political chief warns of escalating toll as third year of war in Ukraine looms

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146297

Ø  Rafah a ‘pressure cooker of despair’ in Gaza; US ambassador to UN stresses vital role of UNRWA

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146157

Ø  Humanitarian response in Gaza ‘completely dependent’ on UNRWA, says relief chief

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1146067

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Europe farmers protests: EU scraps plans to halve pesticide use

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68218907

Ø  Farmers’ protests have erupted across Europe. Here’s why
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/03/europe/europe-farmers-protests-explainer-intl/index.html

Ø  Russia and Ukraine exchange 100 prisoners each after UAE mediation
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/9/russia-and-ukraine-exchange-100-prisoners-each-after-uae-mediation

Ø  Russia’s Putin and China’s Xi denounce US ‘interference’

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/8/russias-putin-and-chinas-xi-denounce-us-interference

Ø  Sweden closes probe into Nord Stream pipeline blast

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/7/sweden-ends-nord-stream-probe-citing-lack-of-jurisdiction

Ø  EU recommends ambitious 2040 climate target, goes light on farming

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/6/eu-recommends-ambitious-2040-climate-target-goes-light-on-farming

Ø  Russia and China slam US for Middle East strikes

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/6/china-and-russia-slam-us-strikes-on-iraq-syria-at-un

Ø  Putin currently sees Ukraine as US satellite state

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/15/thousands-of-tractors-block-berlin-traffic-over-plans-to-end-diesel-subsidy

Ø  Pakistan, Germany ink deals worth €45m

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455789/pakistan-germany-ink-deals-worth-45m

Ø  Putin currently sees Ukraine as US satellite state

https://tass.com/politics/1744117

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.aspØ  Economic recovery plan

https://www.dawn.com/news/1812582/economic-recovery-plan

Ø  Exports of services shrink in December

https://www.dawn.com/news/1811806/exports-of-services-shrink-in-december

Ø  Caretakers make record borrowing from banks

https://www.dawn.com/news/1811515/caretakers-make-record-borrowing-from-banks

Ø  Pakistan signs Roosevelt Hotel deal with US consortium

https://www.dawn.com/news/1810797/pakistan-signs-roosevelt-hotel-deal-with-us-consortium

Ø  Govt privatises loss-making PIA ahead of polls

https://www.geo.tv/latest/530249-govt-privatises-loss-making-pia-ahead-of-polls

Ø  DISCOs contribute Rs396b to debt

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455294/discos-contribute-rs396b-to-debt

Ø  S&P hints at upgrading Pakistan’s credit rating

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455686/sp-hints-at-upgrading-pakistans-credit-rating

Ø  Trade deficit shrinks to $13.1b

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2455303/trade-deficit-shrinks-to-131b

Ø  Oil price surges

https://www.dawn.com/news/1812550/oil-price-surges

Ø  The world just marked a year above a critical climate limit scientists have warned about

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/08/climate/global-warming-limit-climate-intl/index.html

Ø  As Pakistan votes, farmers want climate change action – not words

https://www.context.news/climate-risks/as-pakistan-votes-farmers-want-climate-change-action-not-words

Ø  Elections 2024: Pakistan’s Next Government Faces Pressing Environmental Issues

https://earth.org/elections-2024-pakistans-next-government-faces-pressing-environmental-issues/