CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (May 2-8, 2026)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Dar says Pakistan’s focus is now on making US-Iran ceasefire permanent

https://www.dawn.com/news/1998066

Ø  Pakistani source confirms US, Iran closing in on one-page memo to end war

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistani-source-confirms-us-iran-closing-one-page-memo-end-war-2026-05-06/

Ø  Pakistan, US eye fair trade deal

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606724/pakistan-us-eye-fair-trade-deal

Ø  Iran expected to respond to US proposal on Thursday through Pakistan as talks advance

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1401682-iran-expected-to-respond-to-us-proposal-on-thursday-through-pakistan-as-talks-advance

Ø  Project Freedom: The “Bold Move” to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

https://www.hudson.org/national-security-defense/project-freedom-bold-move-reopen-strait-hormuz-rebeccah-heinrichs

Ø  UN body projects Pakistan’s economic growth at 2.6% for FY26, 3.1% for FY27

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2026/05/07/un-body-projects-pakistans-economic-growth-at-2-6-for-fy26-3-1-for-fy27/

Ø  Security Council holds closed-door talks following attacks on United Arab Emirates

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167453

Ø  More than 70 civilians killed in Ukraine in less than a week

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167454

Ø  Gaza flotilla: Aid delivery ‘not a crime’, UN rights office tells Israel

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167450

Ø  Hormuz crisis strangling global economy, Guterres warns, demanding solutions to end stalemate

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167411

Ø  Fighting and displacement in Lebanon; call for ‘sustained access’ in Gaza

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167437

Ø  Uncertainty continues over safety in the Strait of Hormuz

https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167432

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  NATO chief says Europeans have ‘gotten the message’ from Trump on defence

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/4/nato-chief-says-europeans-have-gotten-the-message-from-trump-on-defence

Ø  Romania PM Ilie Bolojan’s government toppled in no-confidence vote

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/5/romania-pm-ilie-bolojans-government-toppled-in-no-confidence-vote

Ø  US plans to hike tariffs on EU cars to 25% will hit luxury market the most

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/5/us-plans-to-hike-tariffs-on-eu-cars-to-25-will-hit-luxury-market-the-most

Ø  French warship moves towards Red Sea as Paris eyes Hormuz mission

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/7/french-warship-moves-towards-hormuz-for-possible-defensive-mission

Ø  UK elections – early results and takeaways; will Starmer have to resign?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/8/uk-elections-early-results-and-takeaways-will-starmer-have-to-resign

Ø  The disaster unfolding on Russia’s Black Sea coast is of its own making

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/5/8/the-disaster-unfolding-on-russias-black-sea-coast-is-of-its-own-making

Ø  Trump announces three-day ceasefire in Russia-Ukraine war

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/8/trump-announces-three-day-ceasefire-in-russia-ukraine-war

Ø  Vladimir Putin is losing his grip on Russia

https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2026/05/06/vladimir-putin-is-losing-his-grip-on-russia

Ø  Europe Without America

https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2026/05/europe-trump-iran-war-nato/687051/

Ø  Germany says US troop drawdown should spur Europe, but top Republicans worried

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-troop-drawback-underlines-european-defence-responsibility-german-minister-2026-05-02/

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

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

Ø  When tax zealotry chokes export growth

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606215/when-tax-zealotry-chokes-export-growth

Ø  ‘Illicit cigarettes cost Rs350b a year’

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606910/illicit-cigarettes-cost-rs350b-a-year

Ø  IMF unlocks critical $1.32bn for Pakistan as economic reforms show measurable progress

https://www.geo.tv/latest/663510-imf-board-approves-pakistans-review-unlocking-12bn-loan

Ø  Taxation with equity

https://www.dawn.com/news/1998809/taxation-with-equity

Ø  Still in stabilisation mode

https://www.dawn.com/news/1997183/still-in-stabilisation-mode

Ø  Oil jumps after renewed US-Iran fighting, then pares gains

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-oil-prices-jump-us-iran-hostilities-2026-05-07/

Ø  Pakistan needs structured migration pathways

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606552/pakistan-needs-structured-migration-pathways

Ø  Green hydrogen for energy security

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606218/green-hydrogen-for-energy-security

Ø  500MW floating solar project planned

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606726/500mw-floating-solar-project-planned

Ø  ‘A calamity’: Why is a record heatwave sweeping South Asia?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/8/a-calamity-why-is-a-record-heatwave-sweeping-south-asia

Ø  Climate uncertainty reshapes life in Pakistan as tree planting efforts shift towards survival

https://www.dawn.com/news/1996674

Ø  Shifting climate tone

https://www.dawn.com/news/1998580

Ø  Pakistan’s climate crisis has a degree problem

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2606880/pakistans-climate-crisis-has-a-degree-problem

Ø  IMF Board expected to clear $200m for Pakistan amid climate finance push

https://mettisglobal.news/IMF-Board-expected-to-clear-200m-for-Pakistan-amid-climate-finance-push-60279

Ø  Human capital ranking falls

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605914/human-capital-ranking-falls

Ø  RLNG disruption: a bane?

https://www.dawn.com/news/1997175/rlng-disruption-a-bane

Ø  Layers of climate resilience

https://www.dawn.com/news/1998251/layers-of-climate-resilience