THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1. The U.S. is pulling out of Afghanistan. Don’t expect an al-Qaeda reboot.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/01/us-is-pulling-out-afghanistan-dont-expect-an-al-qaeda-reboot/

2. US to revive duty-free zones in Pakistan, Afghanistan
https://www.dawn.com/news/1621188

3. Day 1 of the End of the U.S. War in Afghanistan
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/world/asia/afghanistan-us-military-withdrawal.html

4. The War in Afghanistan: How It Started and How It Is Ending
https://www.nytimes.com/article/afghanistan-war-us.html

5. The Afghanistan Endgame Is Also A Beginning
https://www.memri.org/reports/afghanistan-endgame-also-beginning

6. America’s Military Risks Losing Its Edge
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2021-04-20/flournoy-americas-military-risks-losing-its-edge

7. Joint Statement on the Extended “Troika” on Peaceful Settlement in Afghanistan
https://www.state.gov/joint-statement-on-the-extended-troika-on-peaceful-settlement-in-afghanistan/

8. Blinken rejects claims of ‘cold war’ between U.S. and China
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-05-05/Blinken-rejects-claims-of-cold-war-between-China-and-U-S-FT-100squws89i/index.html

9. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
https://www.blinkist.com/en/share/insights/5ed146556cee070006660bdc?referrer_token=79d9207923a4&utm_campaign=chapter&utm_medium=bk_blink&utm_source=bk_loop

10. US and Nato start to formally withdraw troops from Afghanistan
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-56955702

RUSSIA & EUROPE

1. Kurz suggests Putin look into Vienna as venue for potential Russia-US summit
https://tass.com/world/1285529

2. Hungary to provide $84 million credit line, scholarships to Pakistani students
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2297644/hungary-to-provide-84m-credit-line-scholarships-to-pakistani-students

3. G7 ends talks with criticism of China and Russia
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/5/g7-ends-talks-with-criticism-of-china-and-russia

4. UK and India announce $1.4 billion private sector investments
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/5/4/uk-and-india-announce-1-3bn-private-sector-investments

4. Extended ‘Troika’ urge Taliban to shun violence
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/extended-troika-urge-taliban-to-shun-violence/2226516

5. EU Parliament adopts resolution for review of Pakistan’s GSP+ status over Blasphemy Law abuse
https://www.dawn.com/news/1621254

MULTILATERALISM

1. Pakistan National Human Development Report 2020
https://www.pk.undp.org/content/pakistan/en/home/library/human-development-reports/PKNHDR-inequality.html

2. Pandemic showcases need for partnerships: ECOSOC President
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091142

3. COVID-19 makes universal digital access and cooperation essential: UN tech agency
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1063272

4. Address inequalities to end AIDS by 2030, UN chief says in new report
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/04/1091032

5. Free press ‘a cornerstone’ of democratic societies, UN says
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091132

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

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

2. Next budget should focus on development, inflation control, directs PM Imran Khan
https://www.geo.tv/latest/348432-next-budget-should-focus-on-development-inflation-control-directs-pm-imran-khan

3. IMF bailout package: Tarin rules out new taxes, hike in tariffs
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2298454/imf-bailout-package-tarin-rules-out-new-taxes-hike-in-tariffs

4. Trade deficit widens by 21.6pc in 10MFY21
https://www.dawn.com/news/1622304/trade-deficit-widens-by-216pc-in-10mfy21

5. Pakistan inflation rate rises to 11.10% in April: PBS
https://www.geo.tv/latest/348219-pakistan-inflation-rate-rises-to-1110-in-april-pbs

5. Islamabad, Riyadh to ink loan deal
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2297461/islamabad-riyadh-to-ink-loan-deal

6. Exports cross $2bn for seventh consecutive month
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/05/02/exports-cross-2bn-for-seventh-consecutive-month/

7. External debt servicing to stay above $10bn next fiscal
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2021/05/05/external-debt-servicing-to-stay-above-10bn-next-fiscal/

8. First-ever shipment from Pakistan under TIR reaches Tashkent
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/830352-under-tir-system-first-ever-shipment-from-pakistan-reaches-tashkent-razak

9. Govt plans imports to build wheat reserves
https://www.dawn.com/news/1621897/govt-plans-imports-to-build-wheat-reserves

10. US senators introduce bill for duty-free economic zones along Pak-Afghan border
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/829314-us-senators-introduce-bill-for-duty-free-economic-zones-along-pak-afghan-border

11. State Bank gives Rs36bn financing for renewable energy adoption
https://www.dawn.com/news/1622092/state-bank-gives-rs36bn-financing-for-renewable-energy-adoption

12. The controversial amendments to the SBP Act
https://www.dawn.com/news/1621760/the-controversial-amendments-to-the-sbp-act

13. Pakistan: Spending Needs for Reaching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/04/29/Pakistan-Spending-Needs-for-Reaching-Sustainable-Development-Goals-SDGs-50285

14. Amazon has added Pakistan to its approved seller list: Shahbaz Gill
https://www.geo.tv/latest/348981-amazon-has-added-pakistan-to-its-seller-list-shahbaz-gill

15. Four Questions About Debt and Financing Risks from COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2021/04/27/na042821-4-questions-about-debt-and-financing-risks-from-covid-19-in-mena

16. “Health in Pakistan as a percentage of the GDP is one of the lowest in the world”
https://aurora.dawn.com/news/1144032/interview-javed-ghulam-mohammad-group-md-ceo-martin-dow-group

17. US backs giving poorer countries access to Covid-19 vaccine patents, reversing stance
https://www.dawn.com/news/1622311/us-backs-giving-poorer-countries-access-to-covid-19-vaccine-patents-reversing-stance

18. Oil ends little changed, U.S. oil inventories fall
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/oil-jumps-steep-drop-us-crude-stocks-2021-05-05/

19. Helpdesk Report: K4D – Areas and population groups in Pakistan most exposed to combined effects of climate change, food insecurity and COVID-19
https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/helpdesk-report-k4d-areas-and-population-groups-pakistan-most-exposed-combined

20. Climate change: Promises will mean rise of 2.4C – study
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56984691

21. Food security challenges for Pakistan during COVID‐19 pandemic: An overview of the response plan
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wfp2.12026

22. Conflict, COVID-19, climate change send hunger to 5-year high
https://www.devex.com/news/conflict-covid-19-climate-change-send-hunger-to-5-year-high-99844

23. Glaciers, sea levels and climate change: What mass-melting means
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/climate-change-shrinking-glaciers-highlight-need-for-more-government-interventions/

24. Biden’s Climate Change Plan and Europe’s Super League
https://hbr.org/podcast/2021/05/bidens-climate-change-plan-and-europes-super-league