CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (January 25-31, 2025)

1251

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Trump 2.0: What the Donald’s second term means for US-Pakistan relations

https://www.dawn.com/news/1878714/trump-20-what-the-donalds-second-term-means-for-us-pakistan-relations

Ø  Trump era spells limited engagement for Pak-US ties: diplomats

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1275151-trump-era-spells-limited-engagement-for-pak-us-ties-diplomats

Ø  ‘US engagement with Pakistan to remain limited under Trump’

https://www.dawn.com/news/1887087

Ø  Will the Trump Administration Grant the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project a Sanctions Waiver?

https://thediplomat.com/2025/01/will-the-trump-administration-grant-the-iran-pakistan-pipeline-project-a-sanctions-waiver/

Ø  Trump refugee policy tests Pak-US ties

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2523693/trump-refugee-policy-tests-pak-us-ties

Ø  The Inaugural Address

https://www.whitehouse.gov/remarks/2025/01/the-inaugural-address/

Ø  Trump’s “America First” Is Not Realism

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/trumps-america-first-not-realism

Ø  Trump tells Putin to reach Ukraine ‘deal’ soon or US will increase sanctions

https://www.ft.com/content/64b7ee48-38e4-40c3-9b42-65b5c45325e7

Ø  After Day One: A High-Level Analysis of Trump’s First Executive Actions

https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/after-day-one-high-level-analysis-trumps-first-executive-actions

Ø  Donald Trump’s presidency presents Benjamin Netanyahu with a crisis that could be existential – here’s why

https://theconversation.com/donald-trumps-presidency-presents-benjamin-netanyahu-with-a-crisis-that-could-be-existential-heres-why-247861

Ø  Pakistan demands Israel withdraw from Lebanon, Syrian buffer zone and allow UN peacekeepers to operate

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2586875/pakistan

Ø  In Syria, top UN envoy highlights international backing for political transition

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159296

Ø  At Davos, Guterres slams backsliding on climate commitments

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159271

Ø  Guterres urges support for the Middle East amid current ‘turbulent period’

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159196

Ø  Climate emergency: 2025 declared international year of glaciers

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159236

Ø  Security Council briefed on challenges to peacekeeping in Lebanon, Syria

https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/01/1159156

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Alexander Lukashenko wins seventh straight term in ‘sham’ Belarus election

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/alexander-lukashenko-wins-seventh-straight-term-in-sham-belarus-election

Ø  Protests in Slovakia after Prime Minister Fico’s tilt towards Russia

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/25/slovaks-take-to-streets-as-pm-fico-tilts-towards-russia

Ø  Will the EU ease Syria sanctions? Inside the bloc’s dilemma

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/26/will-the-eu-ease-syria-sanctions-inside-the-blocs-dilemma

Ø  Denmark to pump $2bn into Arctic security as Trump eyes Greenland

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/28/denmark-to-pump-2bn-into-arctic-security-as-trump-eyes-greenland

Ø  UK military support to Israel ‘could be breach of international law’

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/28/uk-military-support-to-israel-could-be-breach-of-international-law

Ø  Danish PM says received European backing against Trump’s Greenland push

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/28/danish-pm-says-received-european-backing-against-trumps-greenland-push

Ø  Salwan Momika, Iraqi man who burned Quran in Sweden, killed in shooting

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/30/iraqi-man-who-burned-quran-in-swedish-protests-shot-dead

Ø  Russia claims nuclear plant targeted during massive Ukrainian drone attack

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/29/russia-claims-nuclear-plant-targeted-during-massive-ukrainian-drone-attack

Ø  Some EU states suggest resuming gas imports from Russia as part of Ukraine settlement — FT

https://tass.com/world/1906249

Ø  Russia sends appeal to US Congress, UN over rumors of assassination attempt on Putin

https://tass.com/politics/1906489

Ø  Russia may drop caps on nuclear arms, if US pushes ahead with missile defense effort — MFA

https://tass.com/politics/1906589

Ø  Russia withdraws military equipment from Syrian port, images show

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly5zmm186no

Ø  Russia tight-lipped on Syrian demand of al-Assad for military bases

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/29/russia-tight-lipped-on-syrian-demand-of-al-assad-for-military-bases

Ø  Will Iran and Russia’s Growing Partnership Go Nuclear?

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/russia/will-iran-and-russias-partnership-go-nuclear-trump

Ø  Europe’s Elon Musk Problem

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/03/musk-tech-oligarch-european-election-influence/681453/

Ø  Europe braces for ‘most extreme’ military scenario as Trump-Putin 2.0 begins

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/trump-putin-europe-war-ukraine-attack-baltic-germany-finland-sweden-rcna187924

Ø  Climate change increases threat of heat deaths in European cities

https://www.ft.com/content/3ecf6c02-1edf-402d-b015-daa32a87d68e

Ø  Commerce Minister Jam vows adherence to treaties for GSP+

https://www.dawn.com/news/1888362/commerce-minister-jam-vows-adherence-to-treaties-for-gsp

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp

Ø  Policy rate slashed for sixth time

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2524940/policy-rate-slashed-for-sixth-time

Ø  ‘Govt needs to be cautiously optimistic’

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525130/govt-needs-to-be-cautiously-optimistic

Ø  $20b WB lending may be insufficient

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525125/20b-wb-lending-may-be-insufficient

Ø  ‘Pakistan needs $100b financing’

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525363/pakistan-needs-100b-financing

Ø  Govt stuck in property tax debate

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525630/govt-stuck-in-property-tax-debate

Ø  Pakistan may become $1tr economy by 2035: World Bank vice president

https://www.geo.tv/latest/587491-pakistan-may-become-1tr-economy-by-2035-world-bank-vice-president

Ø  Pakistan faces annual loss of Rs5 trillion in maritime sector

https://www.geo.tv/latest/588127-pakistan-faces-annual-loss-of-rs5000bn-in-maritime-sector

Ø  Finance: Keeping the economy steady

https://www.dawn.com/news/1887934/finance-keeping-the-economy-steady

Ø  Fiscal potential of agricultural taxation

https://www.dawn.com/news/1887932/fiscal-potential-of-agricultural-taxation

Ø  Foreigners withdraw 87pc money from T-bills

https://www.dawn.com/news/1888560/foreigners-withdraw-87pc-money-from-t-bills

Ø  Microfinance on the verge of collapse?

https://www.dawn.com/news/1887935/microfinance-on-the-verge-of-collapse

Ø  US tariff threat limits oil prices

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/oil-steady-markets-await-clarity-tariffs-by-trump-canada-mexico-2025-01-30/

Ø  Climate revenue & investments

https://www.dawn.com/news/1888599/climate-revenue-investments

Ø  ‘Green taxonomy framework by April’: Aurangzeb

https://www.dawn.com/news/1888367/green-taxonomy-framework-by-april-aurangzeb

Ø  Agriculture: Circular bioeconomy — turning waste into wealth

https://www.dawn.com/news/1887933/agriculture-circular-bioeconomy-turning-waste-into-wealth

Ø  Pakistan may suffer $1.2tr climate losses by 2050: British envoy

https://www.geo.tv/latest/587244-pakistan-may-suffer-12tr-climate-losses-by-2050-british-envoy

Ø  Groundwater depletion in Pakistan puts millions at risk of water scarcity

https://tribune.com.pk/article/97908/groundwater-depletion-in-pakistan-puts-millions-at-risk-of-water-scarcity

Ø  Recognising eucalyptus as green gold

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2524673/recognising-eucalyptus-as-green-gold

Ø  Govt ratifies ME Green Initiative charter

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2525642/govt-ratifies-me-green-initiative-charter

Ø  Climate change is common enemy to blame

https://pakobserver.net/climate-change-is-common-enemy-to-blame/

Ø  Climate change made LA fires worse, scientists say

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9qy4knd8wo

Ø  Climate Change: A Growing Threat to Pakistan’s Agriculture

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/01/27/climate-change-a-growing-threat-to-pakistans-agriculture/

Ø  Private sector to lead mitigation challenges posed by climate change

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40344958/private-sector-to-lead-mitigation-challenges-posed-by-climate-change