CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (July 30-August 5, 2022)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Pakistan played ‘absolutely no role’ in al Qaeda chief Zawahiri’s killing
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369145/pakistan-played-absolutely-no-role-in-al-qaeda-chief-zawahiris-killing

Ø  Pakistan’s Narrative Problem
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/08/02/imran-khan-protests-pakistan-politics-economy/

Ø  Biden: Killing of al-Qaida leader is long-sought ‘justice’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-to-speak-on-operation-against-al-qaida-in-afghanistan/2022/08/01/00405652-11df-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html

Ø  Biden says ‘justice has been delivered’ with killing of al-Qaeda’s Zawahiri
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/01/senate-democrats-biden-pelosi-taiwan/

Ø  EXPLAINER: A look at the missile that killed al-Qaida leader
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/explainer-a-look-at-the-missile-that-killed-al-qaida-leader/2022/08/03/a1a0fe2c-12e1-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html

Ø  UN chief warns world is one step from `nuclear annihilation’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-chief-warns-world-is-one-step-from-nuclear-annihilation/2022/08/01/24806fda-11ac-11ed-8482-06c1c84ce8f2_story.html

Ø  IMF Disbursement: Is It A Phone Call Away?
https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2022/08/03/imf-disbursement-is-it-a-phone-call-away/

Ø  Al Qaeda Leader Zawahiri Killed in U.S. Drone Strike in Afghanistan
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11976  

Ø  Humanity’s just one misunderstanding away from ‘nuclear annihilation’ warns UN chief
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1123752

Ø  Ukraine: Prospects for end to war look bleak, despite ‘encouraging’ grain deal
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/07/1123622

Ø  Climate change: New approach needed to gauge animal health impact on emissions
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/07/1123022

Ø  ‘Grotesque greed’: UN chief Guterres slams oil and gas companies
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/3/grotesque-greed-un-chief-slams-oil-and-gas-companies

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  The Ukrainian Muslims fighting against Russia
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/8/4/the-ukrainian-muslims-fighting-against-russia

Ø  Three soldiers killed in renewed Nagorno-Karabakh fighting
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/4/soldiers-killed-nagorno-karabakh-fighting-azerbaijan-armenia

Ø  What’s behind the renewed tensions between Serbia and Kosovo?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/4/whats-behind-the-renewed-tensions-between-serbia-and-kosovo

Ø  US Senate ratifies Finland and Sweden’s NATO accession
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/4/us-senate-ratifies-finland-and-sweden-accession-to-nato

Ø  Zelenskyy urges China’s Xi to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/4/zelenskyy-urges-chinas-xi-to-help-end-russias-war-in-ukraine

Ø  First Ukraine grain ship passes inspection in Istanbul
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/3/first-ukraine-grain-ship-passes-bosphorus-en-route-to-lebanon

Ø  ‘The turbine works’: Germany’s Scholz blames Russia in energy row
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/3/germanys-scholz-blames-russia-in-energy-row-says-tribune-works

Ø  Russia accuses US of ‘destabilization’ over Pelosi Taiwan trip
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/8/2/russia-accuses-us-of-destabilisation-over-pelosi-taiwan-trip

Ø  US announces $550m in military aid to Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2022/8/1/ukraine-russia-live-first-grain-shipment-to-depart-odesa-port

Ø  Russia’s Gazprom cuts off gas supplies to Latvia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/30/russias-gazprom-cuts-off-gas-supplies-to-latvia

Ø  France’s Macron talks energy with Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Paris
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/29/frances-macron-talks-energy-with-saudi-crown-prince-mbs-in-paris

Ø  Spain inflation highest since 1984; new record for eurozone area
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/7/29/spain-inflation-hits-38-year-high-in-july-data

Ø  EU renews sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2023 – EU Council
https://tass.com/world/1485061

Ø  Japan increased LNG import from Russia in June – Finance Ministry
https://tass.com/economy/1483143

Ø  Kremlin calls military manoeuvres in Asia-Pacific Region China’s sovereign right
https://tass.com/politics/1489337

Ø  Putin, Erdogan to discuss bilateral cooperation, Ukrainian crisis on Friday
https://tass.com/politics/1489661

Ø  Macron calls Russia ‘one of the last imperial colonial powers’ on Africa visit
https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220728-marcon-calls-russia-one-of-last-imperial-colonial-powers-in-benin-visit

Ø  China summons European diplomats over statement on Taiwan
https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-asia-beijing-b252479810add6a225fa1e4a6d441983

Ø  German leader says gas pipeline part is ready for Russia
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-health-olaf-scholz-government-and-politics-b6121ee5d834239d8637f196bee1fe08

Ø  EU launches support package for Pakistan under Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) 2021-2027
https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/pakistan/press-release-european-union-launches-support-package-pakistan-under-multi_en?s=175

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  Pakistan has fulfilled last prior action after increasing oil levy: IMF
https://www.geo.tv/latest/431278-pakistan-meets-last-prior-action-after-increasing-oil-levy-imf

Ø  Service trade deficit doubles to $5.2bn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1703146/service-trade-deficit-doubles-to-52bn

Ø  Structural inflation and stabilisation
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2368846/structural-inflation-and-stabilisation

Ø  After 22 months, exports tumble 24pc in July
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702943/after-22-months-exports-tumble-24pc-in-july

Ø  Crisis stems from lack of education
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2368847/crisis-stems-from-lack-of-education

Ø  World Bank blocks $335m loans
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369500/world-bank-blocks-335m-loans

Ø  Foreigners withdraw over $28m from T-bills, bonds in July
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702810/foreigners-withdraw-over-28m-from-t-bills-bonds-in-july

Ø  Mountains of debt weaken the rupee
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702645/mountains-of-debt-weaken-the-rupee

Ø  Trade gap shrinks significantly
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369167/trade-gap-shrinks-significantly

Ø  Selling state-owned entities through G2G
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702635/selling-state-owned-entities-through-g2g

Ø  Govt puts tighter fiscal controls in place
https://www.dawn.com/news/1703316/govt-puts-tighter-fiscal-controls-in-place

Ø  SBP believes rupee is undervalued
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2369369/sbp-believes-rupee-is-undervalued

Ø  Oil prices steady as market juggles supply shortage, demand worries
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/oil-prices-extend-losses-demand-worries-2022-08-05/

Ø  Policy for solar panel manufacturing in the offing
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702423/policy-for-solar-panel-manufacturing-in-the-offing

Ø  A case for indigenous coal
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702647/a-case-for-indigenous-coal

Ø  ‘Natural disaster losses hit $72bn’
https://www.dawn.com/news/1702942/natural-disaster-losses-hit-72bn

Ø  Heatwaves, rains, floods: Climate change is here and Pakistan needs to act now
https://www.geo.tv/latest/431060-heatwaves-rains-floods-climate-change-is-here-and-pakistan-needs-to-act-now

Ø  Adaptation over mitigation
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/978841-adaptation-over-mitigation

Ø  Pakistan’s deadly monsoon season worsened by climate change
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2132171/world

Ø  Climate Endgame: Exploring catastrophic climate change scenarios
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2108146119