CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (June 17-23, 2023)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2422943/us-ambassador-asks-for-pakistans-plan-b

Ø  U.S. envoy Blome witnesses remarkable success of U.S.-Pakistan collaboration at Gomal Zam Dam

https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/06/20/u-s-envoy-blome-witnesses-remarkable-success-of-u-s-pakistan-collaboration-at-gomal-zam-dam/

Ø  Pakistan asks US to help resuscitate stalled IMF programme

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1083085-pakistan-asks-us-to-help-resuscitate-stalled-imf-programme

Ø  Why the Pakistan crisis spells trouble for our region

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/why-pakistan-crisis-spells-trouble-our-region

Ø  Smart Take | What to Expect from Indian Prime Minister Modi’s US Visit

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/video/smart-take-what-expect-indian-prime-minister-modis-us-visit

Ø  A look at India-US relations as Prime Minister Modi visits the White House

https://www.brookings.edu/podcast-episode/a-look-at-india-us-relations-as-prime-minister-modi-visits-the-white-house/

Ø  As Modi visits White House, India’s reliance on Russian arms constrains him

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/20/modi-india-russia-military-equipment/

Ø  US welcome of India’s Modi is darkened by rights record

https://rollcall.com/2023/06/20/us-welcome-of-indias-modi-is-darkened-by-rights-record/

Ø  Experts react: Blinken makes the rounds in Beijing. Will there be a US-China thaw?

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/experts-react/experts-react-blinken-makes-the-rounds-in-beijing-will-there-be-a-us-china-thaw/

Ø  How Climate Change Will Reshape Economic Statecraft

https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/06/20/how-climate-change-will-reshape-economic-statecraft-pub-89978

Ø  Report: India-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47597

Ø  Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12373

Ø  UN Counter-Terrorism Week: Preventing violent extremism

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1138002

Ø  Afghanistan mission chief to Taliban: Bans on women and girls cost you legitimacy at home and abroad

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137962

Ø  MINUSCA chief to Security Council: Decade-long cycle of conflict can be broken

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137947

Ø  Israel-Palestine: UN envoy ‘deeply alarmed by continuing cycle of violence’

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137932

Ø  Iran update on human rights

https://www.ohchr.org/en/statements/2023/06/iran-update-human-rights

Ø  Afghanistan: Taliban ‘may be responsible for gender apartheid’ says rights expert

https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/06/1137847

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  EU summons Kosovo & Serbia leaders for emergency talks
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/22/eu-summons-kosovo-and-serbia-leaders-for-emergency-talks

Ø  ‘Furious resistance’: Ukraine counteroffensive slowed by Russia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/21/furious-resistance-ukraine-counteroffensive-slowed-by-russia

Ø  ‘Ego trip’: African peace mission criticised in South Africa
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/6/22/ego-trip-african-peace-mission-criticised-in-south-africa

Ø  Paris Air Show kicks off with record order from India’s IndiGo
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/6/19/paris-air-show-kicks-off-with-record-order-from-indias-indigo

Ø  India interested in Russia’s Podsolnukh coastal radar station – defence cooperation agency
https://tass.com/defense/1636501

Ø  Senior Russian diplomat hints Washington holding secret talks with Tehran to renew JCPOA
https://tass.com/politics/1636443

Ø  Kiev was close to peace treaty in 2022, West wrecked talks – Putin’s aide
https://tass.com/politics/1636265

Ø  EU agrees new sanctions against Russia, targeting Chinese companies suspected of circumvention
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/21/eu-agrees-new-sanctions-against-russia-targeting-companies-suspected-of-circumvention

Ø  EU imports of Russian oil plunge by 90% as a result of sweeping bans
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/19/eu-imports-of-russian-oil-plunge-by-90-as-a-result-of-sweeping-bans

Ø  Germany to meet 2% NATO spending threshold next year, Scholz announces
https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/22/germany-to-meet-2-nato-spending-threshold-next-year-scholz-announces

Ø  EU blocks Ukraine grain imports to five countries including Poland
https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/14/eu-blocks-ukraine-grain-imports-to-five-countries-including-poland

Ø  EU allocates €20 million to help Egypt manage influx of refugees fleeing Sudan
https://www.euronews.com/2023/06/19/eu-allocates-20-million-to-help-egypt-manage-influx-of-refugees-fleeing-sudan

Ø  NATO Secretary General visits exercise Air Defender in Germany
https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_216075.htm?selectedLocale=en

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  PM Shehbaz presses West to be ‘fair’ to needy countries

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761261/pm-shehbaz-presses-west-to-be-fair-to-needy-countries

Ø  Under Plan B, Pakistan to seek $3-4bn from friendly countries

https://www.geo.tv/latest/493965-under-plan-b-pakistan-to-seek-3-4bn-from-friendly-countries

Ø  On debt row

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761064

Ø  To appease IMF, exchange rate gap slashed further

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2422834/to-appease-imf-exchange-rate-gap-slashed-further

Ø  Over $7bn lost in exports, remittances

https://www.dawn.com/news/1760422/over-7bn-lost-in-exports-remittances

Ø  Pakistan’s default odds rise as IMF sours on bailout: Bloomberg

https://www.geo.tv/latest/494448-httpswwwthenewscompkprint1082437-pakistan-s-default-odds-rise-as-imf-sours-on-bailout-bloomberg

Ø  Stagflation silence

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761276

Ø  Pakistan to reach only 50% of its $5bn IT exports target

https://www.geo.tv/latest/494891-pakistan-to-reach-only-50-of-its-5bn-it-exports-target

Ø  Managing trade deficit via three-pronged strategy

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2422415/managing-trade-deficit-via-three-pronged-strategy

Ø  Foreign direct investment dips 21pc

https://www.dawn.com/news/1760939/foreign-direct-investment-dips-21pc

Ø  In meeting with IMF chief, PM Shehbaz urges lender to release funds

https://www.geo.tv/latest/494925-in-meeting-with-imf-chief-pm-shehbaz-urges-to-release-funds

Ø  ‘Geopolitics’ and the IMF: Delusion or myopia?

https://www.dawn.com/news/1760961/geopolitics-and-the-imf-delusion-or-myopia

Ø  Lack of steps to revive economy

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2422414/lack-of-steps-to-revive-economy

Ø  LNG shortage — a nightmare for inflation-weary Pakistanis

https://www.geo.tv/latest/494906-lng-shortage-a-nightmare-for-inflation-weary-pakistanis

Ø  WB, IMF take steps to boost crisis financing

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761219/wb-imf-take-steps-to-boost-crisis-financing

Ø  Oil plunges 4% as interest rate hikes outweigh lower US oil supplies

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-steady-after-surprise-dip-us-crude-stocks-offsets-demand-fears-2023-06-22/

Ø  ‘Carbon credits auction for Pakistan oversubscribed

https://www.dawn.com/news/1760239/carbon-credits-auction-for-pakistan-oversubscribed

Ø  Budget 2024 & food security

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761065/budget-2024-food-security

Ø  ‘End fossil fuel financing’

https://www.dawn.com/news/1761082/end-fossil-fuel-financing

Ø  Climate Change in Pakistan: From Vulnerability to Resilience

https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/06/23/climate-change-in-pakistan-from-vulnerability-to-resilience/

Ø  Climate change threatens human health: Urgent action needed to address inequities and reduce carbon footprint

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230622/Climate-change-threatens-human-health-Urgent-action-needed-to-address-inequities-and-reduce-carbon-footprint.aspx

Ø  Migration and climate change conspire to dent human certainty

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2326266