THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS
Ø  US wants ‘expanded ties’ with Pakistan, Blinken assures Bilawal
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357159/us-wants-expanded-ties-with-pakistan-blinken-assures-bilawal
Ø  US offer strong support to rebuild Pakistan’s economy
https://www.dawn.com/news/1690253/us-offers-strong-support-to-rebuild-pakistans-economy
Ø  Bilawal, Blinken vow to boost Pak-US ties
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/958944-bilawal-blinken-vow-to-boost-pak-us-ties
Ø  Top US and Pakistan diplomats say they want stronger ties
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/top-us-and-pakistan-diplomats-say-they-want-stronger-ties/2022/05/18/c613c2d2-d6d5-11ec-be17-286164974c54_story.html
Ø  China, India and Pakistan: Tenuous Stability Risks Nuclear War
https://www.usip.org/publications/2022/05/china-india-and-pakistan-tenuous-stability-risks-nuclear-war
Ø  Report: https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/enhancing-
strategic-stability-in-southern-asia-final-report.pdf
Ø  United States Senate Hearing To Receive Testimony on Worldwide Threats
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22-40_05-10-2022.pdf
Ø  $19m US-Pak initiative launched
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/957388-19m-us-pak-initiative-launched
Ø  The Global Safety Net against Hunger Is Frailer Than You Think
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-global-safety-net-against-
hunger-is-frailer-than-you-think/2022/05/17/e6983790-d635-11ec-be17-
286164974c54_story.html
Ø  China’s Activities and Influence in South and Central Asia
https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/05/17/china-s-activities-and-influence-
in-south-and-central-asia-pub-87146
Ø  Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Food Security Ministerial
https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-at-the-food-security-
ministerial/
Ø  U.S.-China Technological “Decoupling”: A Strategy and Policy Framework
https://carnegieendowment.org/2022/04/25/u.s.-china-technological-
decoupling-strategy-and-policy-framework-pub-86897
Ø  Foreign Minister’s meeting with the Foreign Minister of Turkey on the
sidelines of the Ministerial meeting on “Global Food Security Call to Action”
in New York
https://mofa.gov.pk/foreign-ministers-meeting-with-the-foreign-minister-
of-turkey-on-the-sidelines-of-the-ministerial-meeting-on-global-food-security-
call-to-action-in-new-york/
Ø  Global Food Security Call to Action – Ministerial Meeting
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1g/k1grzeugy4
Ø  If We Don’t Feed People, We Feed Conflict, Secretary-General tells Global
Food Security Call to Action Ministerial Event, Warning Mass Hunger Looms
https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sgsm21285.doc.htm
Ø  World Meteorological Organization’s Report ‘a Dismal Litany of Humanity’s
Failure to Tackle Climate Disruption’, Secretary-General Says, in Message for
Launch
https://www.un.org/press/en/2022/sgsm21284.doc.htm
Ø  Report: https://reliefweb.int/attachments/96bc9d04-4f82-3f51-ab15-
822b673e4855/WMO%20Provisional%20Report%20on%20the%20State%
20of%20the%20Global%20Climate%202021.pdf
Ø   Nations must ‘act together, urgently and with solidarity’ to end crisis
of food insecurity
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1118562
Ø  State of the Global Climate 2021
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bbe6a05f6dae42f2a420cfdd7698e4b1
Ø  Report: https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&
id=22080#.YoXdZlRByUk  
RUSSIA & EUROPE
Ø  G7 countries may create a cartel to control Russian oil prices
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357697?from=top_main_3
Ø  The European Commission is looking for ways to use the frozen assets of Russia to help Ukraine
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357692?from=top_main_7
Ø  China proposes to expand BRICS
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357619?from=top_main_8
Ø  Russian Foreign Ministry: some African countries have requested assistance with food and fertilizers
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357792
Ø  Latvia says it will do without Russian gas
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357693
Ø  Swedish parliament calls for a halt to oil and gas imports from Russia
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357688
Ø  Scholz again blamed Russia for the global food crisis
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357607
Ø  UN: 3,811 civilians have died in Ukraine since the beginning of the military operation
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357571
Ø  European Commission expects average annual price of Brent crude at $103.6 in 2022
https://tass.com/economy/1451425
Ø  Germany ready to all scenarios of Russian gas supplies suspension – Economy Minister
https://tass.com/economy/1428349
Ø  Putin praises Russian Muslim servicemen in Ukraine for bravery and courage
https://tass.com/politics/1453219
Ø  Biden announces new military package for Ukraine
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357560
Ø  Britain to supply Ukraine with artillery, drones and anti-ship missiles
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357542
Ø  US Senate approves record $40 billion aid to Ukraine blocked by Senator Rand Paul
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357524
Ø  The chiefs of staff of the armies of Russia and the US discussed the conflict in Ukraine
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5357481
Ø  US fully backs Sweden and Finland NATO bids, Biden says
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61511396
Ø  Donbas region completely destroyed, Zelenskyy says
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61518209
Ø  Ukraine invasion could cause global food crisis, UN warns
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61503049
Ø  EU reveals its plans to stop using Russian gas
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61497315
Ø  More Russian oil going to east squeezes Iranian crude sales to China
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/19/more-russian-oil-going-east-squeezes-iranian-crude-sales-to-china
Ø  Russia says opening Ukraine ports would need review of sanctions
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/19/russia-says-opening-ukraine-ports-would-need-review-of-sanctions
Ø  EU deal reached on mandatory gas reserves for supply crisis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/19/eu-deal-reached-on-mandatory-gas-reserves-for-supply-crises
Ø  Finland against hosting nuclear weapons, NATO military bases: PM
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/19/finland-against-hosting-nuclear-weapons-nato-military-bases-pm
Ø  US embassy in Kyiv reopens after nearly three months of war
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/18/us-embassy-in-kyiv-re-opens-after-nearly-three-months-of-war
Ø  Pakistani FM meets his Italian counterpart on the sidelines of the Ministerial meeting on “Global Food Security Call to Actions” in New York
https://mofa.gov.pk/foreign-minister-meets-his-italian-counterpart-on-the-sidelines-of-the-ministerial-meeting-on-global-food-security-call-to-action-in-new-york/
POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS
Ø  SBP Weekly Data Report
http://www.sbp.org.pk/ecodata/index2.asp
Ø  Pakistan’s economy grew 5.97% in FY22: official data
https://www.geo.tv/latest/417735-pakistans-economy-grew-597-in-fy22 Ø  Govt agrees to implement IMF demands
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357462/govt-agrees-to-implement-imf-demands
Ø  Current account deficit narrows 39%
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357460/current-account-deficit-narrows-39
Ø  Govt imposes ‘complete’ ban on import of luxury items
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357126/govt-imposes-complete-ban-on-import-of-luxury-items
Ø  Record $3.1bn remittances sent in April
https://www.dawn.com/news/1689571/record-31bn-remittances-sent-in-april
Ø  Plan to set up Pak-China Technology Gateway
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357378/plan-to-set-up-pak-china-technology-gateway
Ø  Revised transit trade deal remains elusive
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357393/revised-transit-trade-deal-remains-elusive
Ø  Money & control
https://www.dawn.com/news/1690576/money-control
Ø  ADB reaffirms support to Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357047/adb-reaffirms-support-to-pakistan
Ø  Foreigners on selling spree in bond market
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2357045/foreigners-on-selling-spree-in-bond-market
Ø  GDP growth to range from 4.5-5.5%
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2356920/gdp-growth-to-range-from-45-55
Ø  Global economic outlook and Pakistan
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2356762/global-economic-outlook-and-pakistan
Ø  LSM sector grows 10.4% in Jul-Mar
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2356514/lsm-sector-grows-104-in-jul-mar
Ø  Oil falls on uncertainty over fuel demand recovery
https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/oil-steady-economic-worries-offset-possible-china-demand-rise-2022-05-20/
Ø  Wriggling through the energy riddle
https://www.dawn.com/news/1688759/wriggling-through-the-energy-riddle
Ø  Water worries
https://www.dawn.com/news/1689936/water-worries
Ø  Climate change is making record-breaking heatwaves in India and Pakistan 100 times more likely
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/18/asia/climate-india-pakistan-heatwave-intl/index.html
Ø  Grappling with climate change
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40174393/grappling-with-climate-change
Ø  Key climate change indicators set new records in 2021: report
https://www.dawn.com/news/1690521/key-climate-change-indicators-set-new-records-in-2021-report
Ø  Studies show climate change is increasingly driving extreme weather risks
https://www.axios.com/2022/05/19/climate-change-india-heat-japan-typhoon