CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (February 4-10, 2023)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  US should be very engaged with Pakistan in stopping terrorism: Senator Booker
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1038899-us-should-be-very-engaged-with-pakistan-in-stopping-terrorism-senator-booker

Ø  Pakistan-US anti-terror talks from next month, says Bilawal
https://www.dawn.com/news/1735198

Ø  Report: Temperatures rising: The struggle for bases and access in the Pacific Islands
https://www.brookings.edu/research/temperatures-rising-the-struggle-for-bases-and-access-in-the-pacific-islands/

Ø  Report: Geostrategic competition for military basing in the Indian Ocean region
https://www.brookings.edu/research/geostrategic-competition-for-military-basing-in-the-indian-ocean-region/

Ø  The Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan: Selected Issues for the 118th Congress
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12268

Ø  Afghan Women and Girls: Status and Congressional Action
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11646

Ø  China’s Balloon Could Be America’s Awakening
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/07/china-spy-balloon-us-national-security/

Ø  Türkiye, Syria quake latest: full scale of disaster still unfolding, UN humanitarians warn
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133222

Ø  Global growth will be weak in 2023 before rebounding next year: IMF
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/01/1133042

Ø  Earthquake disaster: ‘We must put people first’ urges Guterres in race to save lives
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133322

Ø  UN rights chief appeals for Israelis and Palestinians to end ‘illogic of escalation’
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133127

Ø  The Persistent Threat of Nuclear Crises Among China, India and Pakistan
https://www.usip.org/publications/2023/02/persistent-threat-nuclear-crises-among-china-india-and-pakistan

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says French-German meeting with the Ukrainian leader in Paris did not help ‘unity’.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/9/italy-prime-minister-irked-by-inappropriate-zelenskyy-meeting

Ø  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wraps up whistle-stop wartime trip aimed at securing more arms from the West.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/9/ukraines-president-says-europe-has-promised-jets-as-uk-hesitates

Ø  Antonio Guterres says prospects of ‘further escalation and bloodshed’ in the Russia-Ukraine war keep growing.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/6/un-chief-warns-of-wider-war-as-ukraine-conflict-intensifies

Ø  Move comes after the bloc found new supplies of diesel from the US, Middle East and India to replace Russian energy.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/5/europe-bans-russian-diesel-and-other-oil-products-over-ukraine

Ø  Charlie Hebdo slammed for mocking Türkiye earthquake victims
https://www.trtworld.com/article/65268

Ø  Türkiye warns of action if Western consulate closures continue
https://www.trtworld.com/article/65229

Ø  Italy to enhance economic ties with Pakistan: Sheheryar
https://pakobserver.net/italy-to-enhance-economic-ties-with-pakistan-sheheryar/

Ø  Pakistan and the Netherlands hold 10th round of Bilateral Political Consultations at the Hague
https://mofa.gov.pk/pakistan-and-the-netherlands-hold-10th-round-of-bilateral-political-consultations-at-the-hague/

Ø  5th Round of Annual Bilateral Consultations between Pakistan and Spain
https://mofa.gov.pk/5th-round-of-annual-bilateral-consultations-between-pakistan-and-spain/

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  Borders have been closed for nearly three years, separating families and disrupting tourism and other businesses.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/3/china-to-reopen-borders-with-hong-kong-macau-after-covid-closure

Ø  Shares plunge 568 points as staff-level agreement with IMF delayed https://www.dawn.com/news/1736383/shares-plunge-568-points-as-staff-level-agreement-with-imf-delayed

Ø  ‘Difficult times’: PM Shehbaz says Pakistan has established a Rs10bn relief fund for quake-hit Turkiye
https://www.dawn.com/news/1736378/difficult-times-pm-shehbaz-says-pakistan-has-established-a-rs10bn-relief-fund-for-quake-hit-turkiye

Ø  Better allocation of resources, talent a must for Pakistan’s economy to grow sustainably: World Bank
https://www.dawn.com/news/1736385/better-allocation-of-resources-talent-a-must-for-pakistans-economy-to-grow-sustainably-world-bank

Ø  Pumps run out of petrol in Punjab
https://www.dawn.com/news/1736318/pumps-run-out-of-petrol-in-punjab

Ø  High hopes of loan inflows drive rupee recovery
https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/21635968317-1/21635968317-1.jpg

Ø  PSO receivables hit Rs717b
https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/oil-gas-11647715064-1/oil-gas-11647715064-1.jpg

Ø  Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves fall below $3b
https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/711926-SBPcopy-1400793952/711926-SBPcopy-1400793952.jpg

Ø  IMF welcomes PM Shehbaz’s commitment to implement policies needed to safeguard macroeconomic stability
https://pakobserver.net/imf-welcomes-pm-shehbazs-commitment-to-implement-policies-needed-to-safeguard-macroeconomic-stability/

Ø  Government allocates Rs118.4b for road safety in PSDP-2022-23: Dar
https://pakobserver.net/govt-allocates-rs118-4b-for-road-safety-in-psdp-2022-23-dar/

Ø  Capacity building of farmers crucial in elevating agri uplift in Balochistan: Ali
https://pakobserver.net/capacity-building-of-farmers-crucial-in-elevating-agri-uplift-in-balochistan-ali/

Ø  IRSA releases 81,300 cusecs water
https://pakobserver.net/irsa-releases-81300-cusecs-water-2/

Ø  China’s warming economy new impetus to global growth
https://pakobserver.net/chinas-warming-economy-new-impetus-to-global-growth/