CSP WEEKLY UPDATES (October 15-21, 2022)

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA & THE UNITED NATIONS

Ø  Pakistan hits back at Biden’s ‘dangerous nation’ comment
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/pakistan-hits-back-at-bidens-dangerous-nation-comment/2022/10/15/033c1b4c-4ca0-11ed-8153-96ee97b218d2_story.html

Ø  Party gatherings give a window into Biden’s mind, from nukes to Pelosi
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/10/19/party-gatherings-window-biden-mind/

Ø  Under Pressure: The Present and Future of International Order
https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/under-pressure-the-present-and-future-of-international-order

Ø  AUKUS Has Big Technology Hurdles with Some Very Big Rewards
https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/aukus-has-big-technology-hurdles-with-some-very-big-rewards

Ø  Sharper: The State of AI
https://www.cnas.org/publications/commentary/sharper-the-state-of-ai

Ø  US backtracks on Pakistan, US State Dept says it can secure nukes
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/us-backtracks-on-pakistan-us-state-dept-says-it-can-secure-nukes20221018042957/

Ø  When Do Protests Succeed? The Case of Iran and the Arab World
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/article/when-do-protests-succeed-case-iran-and-arab-world

Ø  ‘Undeniable need for accountability’ in Ukraine as violations mount
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129652

Ø  Report: UN Commission has found an array of war crimes, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been committed in Ukraine
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/10/un-commission-has-found-array-war-crimes-violations-human-rights-and

Ø  Killings and detentions of children in Iran must end, UN child rights committee urges
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129612

Ø  Business leaders deliver bold solutions to unlock long-term investment in SDGs
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129467

Ø  Report: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022
https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/

Ø  Global food crisis: Let’s move from ‘despair to hope and action’, urges Guterres
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/10/1129547

Ø  Report: Trade & Development Report 2022
https://unctad.org/tdr2022

Ø  Report: State of Climate Services Report
https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/climate-change-puts-energy-security-risk

RUSSIA & EUROPE

Ø  Floods jeopardize Pakistan’s food security — expert
https://tass.com/economy/1525495

Ø  Why did Putin impose martial law in occupied Ukrainian regions?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/20/what-does-putin-martial-law-mean-and-what-next-for-ukraine-war

Ø  Energy crisis: Fuel shortages could be a ‘blessing’ for the climate, says UN weather chief
https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/12/energy-crisis-fuel-shortages-could-be-a-blessing-for-the-climate-says-un-weather-chief

Ø  Energy crisis: EU still split on gas cap as Germany and the Netherlands join forces to oppose
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/12/energy-crisis-eu-still-split-on-gas-cap-as-germany-and-the-netherlands-join-forces-to-oppo

Ø  Energy crisis: Germany’s Scholz extends nuclear power plants’ lifespan in ‘snub’ to Greens
https://www.euronews.com/2022/10/18/energy-crisis-germanys-scholz-extends-nuclear-power-plants-lifespan-in-snub-to-greens

Ø  Energy crisis: Spain and France announce new deal to build underwater gas pipeline
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/10/20/spain-and-france-announce-new-deal-to-build-underwater-gas-pipeline

Ø  Grain deal extension depends on results for Russia, which are now moderate — diplomat
https://tass.com/politics/1525113

Ø  Claims of Iran’s drone supplies to Russia hamper JCPOA talks — diplomat
https://tass.com/politics/1525121

Ø  More than $1 billion worth of NATO weapons for Kiev ends up on black market — Russia’s MFA
https://tass.com/politics/1525343

Ø  Russia follows 20th CPC Congress and intends to step up cooperation with China — diplomat
https://tass.com/politics/1525445

Ø  Pakistan finance minister says it may buy discounted Russian oil
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2022/10/19/pakistan-foreign-minister-says-it-may-buy-discounted-russian-oil

Ø  Mass drone attacks in Ukraine foreshadow the ‘future of warfare’
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/20/mass-drones-are-a-worry-for-the-future-of-warfare

Ø  Liz Truss gone: Who will become the UK’s new prime minister?
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/20/liz-truss-has-resigned-who-could-become-the-uks-new-pm

Ø  Israel, Ukraine discuss air defence systems after drone strikes
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/21/israel-ukraine-in-dialogue-about-air-defence-systems

Ø  EU fails to agree on cap on gas prices after 11 hour summit
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/21/eu-fails-to-agree-cap-on-surging-gas-prices-after-11-hour-summit

Ø  White House says Iran helping Russia ‘on the ground’ in Crimea
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/20/white-house-says-iran-helping-russia-on-the-ground-in-crimea

Ø  EU agrees on new sanctions over Iranian drones in Ukraine
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/20/eu-agrees-new-sanctions-over-iranian-drones-in-ukraine

POLITICAL ECONOMY & NON-TRADITIONAL THREATS

Ø  Current account deficit shrinks 37% to $2.2bn in first quarter of FY23
https://www.geo.tv/latest/447315-current-account-deficit-shrinks-37-to-22bn-in-first-quarter-of-fy23

Ø  Steering through troubled waters
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715427/steering-through-troubled-waters

Ø  Pakistan’s dollar bonds become highly volatile
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2382693/pakistans-dollar-bonds-become-highly-volatile

Ø  Pakistan seeks rescheduling of $27bn bilateral debt: Ishaq Dar
https://www.geo.tv/latest/446345-pakistan-seeks-rescheduling-of-27-bln-bilateral-debt-finance-minister

Ø  Pakistan’s troubles justify slump in bond prices, says JPMorgan
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715938/pakistans-troubles-justify-slump-in-bond-prices-says-jpmorgan

Ø  Imports of petroleum, food rise to $7.5bn
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715741/imports-of-petroleum-food-rise-to-75bn

Ø  Pakistan will have to take ‘tough’ decisions for economic recovery: World Bank
https://www.geo.tv/latest/447507-pakistan-will-have-to-take-tough-decisions-for-economic-recovery-world-bank

Ø  Exchange rate and price mechanism
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381912/exchange-rate-and-price-mechanism

Ø  The worsening cycle
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715446/the-worsening-cycle

Ø  ADB to ink $1.5bn loan for Pakistan today
https://www.geo.tv/latest/447501-adb-to-ink-15bn-loan-for-pakistan-today

Ø  Reforms: more action needed
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381914/reforms-more-action-needed

Ø  A risky bet
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715449/a-risky-bet

Ø  Trade Act 2022 welcomed
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381630/trade-act-2022-welcomed

Ø  Intertwined: energy and national security
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715419/intertwined-energy-and-national-security

Ø  Pakistan seeks billions of dollars in new loans after floods: Financial Times
https://www.geo.tv/latest/447151-pakistan-seeks-billions-of-dollars-in-new-loans-after-floods-financial-times

Ø  Pakistan’s grid failures reinforce need for investment
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381913/pakistans-grid-failures-reinforce-need-for-investment

Ø  Groundwater export
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715448/groundwater-export

Ø  New hydel projects to produce over 11,000MW
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2382074/new-hydel-projects-to-produce-over-11000mw

Ø  Floods spike Pakistan poverty rate: WB
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715252/floods-spike-pakistan-poverty-rate-wb

Ø  Oil wavers as rate hike talk offsets fading China demand hopes
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/oil-near-flat-inflation-concerns-contend-with-potential-quarantine-easing-china-2022-10-21/

Ø  After us, the deluge
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2381915/after-us-the-deluge

Ø  Dysfunctional drainage
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715441/dysfunctional-drainage

Ø  Floods wreck third of cotton crop
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2382071/floods-wreck-third-of-cotton-crop

Ø  Climate justice at home
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715974/climate-justice-at-home

Ø  Pakistan to take up climate financing issue at COP27, says minister
https://www.dawn.com/news/1715786

Ø  Most diseases worsened by climate change, new research reveals. Here’s what we can do about it
https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/10/20/most-diseases-worsened-by-climate-change-new-research-reveals-heres-what-we-can-do-about-i