Daily News Brief

 

January 10, 2024 (Wednesday)

Asia Pacific

1.       Raytheon to Support Chile, Japan, US Sea Sparrow Missile Systems. Raytheon has signed a $34.3-million deal with the US Department of Defense to continue providing technical support for US warships’ Sea Sparrow missile systems.   The contract also includes support for those purchased by Chile and Japan.                                           

2.       China Satellite Launch Triggers Taiwan Emergency Phone Alert. Chinese state media said that Beijing had successfully launched the “Einstein Probe satellite using the Long March-2C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre”. This caused an alert in Taiwan as the rocket flew near the island.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Russian Ballistic Missiles Render Ukraine Air Defense Ineffective. Moscow may intensify its procurement of ballistic missiles from abroad, as they have been more difficult to intercept compared to their cruise missiles as Ukrainian air defenses could intercept only a “handful” of Russian ballistic missiles since 29 Dec, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

4.       Gabriel Attal Becomes France’s Youngest Prime Minister. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Gabriel Attal as the country’s new prime minister, making him the youngest (at 34 years) to hold the position.

India/South Asia

5.       Modi Govt Planning to Bomb Ram Temple to Put Blame on Pakistan, Muslims: Bihar MLA. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA, in Bihar Assembly, India, has said that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is planning to “organize a bomb blast” in the inauguration ceremony of Ram temple at Ayodhya in UP on 22 Jan.

6.       Indian Army ‘Allegedly’ Struck Thrice in Drone Attack on Prominent Camp near Myanmar Border: ULFA-I. One of the most well-known secessionists armed militant groups in Assam, called the United Liberation Front of Asom-I (ULFA-I) led by Paresh Baruah has said in an official statement that the Indian Army had allegedly resorted to a drone attack on one of its camps thrice in Myanmar close to the border with India

7.       Bhutan’s People’s Democratic Party Wins Election. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won the most seats in Bhutan’s parliamentary elections and will form the new government as residents hope politicians make good on promises to fix the economic crisis in the Himalayan nation.

IIOJK

8.       4 New Indian Army’s NCC Battalions to Be Raised in IIOJK. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the raising of four more National Cadet Corps (NCC) Units – three in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and one Ladakh.      

9.       Widespread Wheel Jam Strike Hits IIOJK Against Controversial Legislation. On the first day of a two day wheel jam, most of the traffic remained off the road in IIOJK against the legislation by Bharatiya Janata Party government imposing stern punitive measures including heavy fine on drivers for traffic accidents.

Afghanistan

10.      Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs in 2024 Require $3.06 Billion: OCHA. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that of the 23.7 million people in need of life-saving assistance, “humanitarian partners have prioritized 17.3 million people to receive well-coordinated multi-sectoral assistance in 2024, for which US$3.06 billion is required.”

11.      Islamic Emirate Wants Positive Relations with World. The Islamic Emirate Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said that the Islamic Emirate pursues a policy of engagement and positive relations with all world countries.

Middle East/Africa

12.      Egypt Rejects Israeli Request to Monitor Buffer Zone with Gaza. Egypt has rejected a proposal by Israel for greater Israeli oversight over the buffer zone on the Egypt-Gaza border and is prioritizing efforts to broker a ceasefire before working on post-war arrangements, three Egyptian security sources said.

13.      Nine Israeli Troops Killed and At Least Six Injured. Israel announced that nine of its troops were killed and six were seriously injured as a result of the ongoing ground battles with the Palestinian Resistance in the south and center of the Gaza Strip.

Iran

14.      Iran Aided Hamas Cruise Missile Production Capability: Israel.  Israeli soldiers said they located an underground manufacturing plant housing components that allegedly prove Hamas operates and builds precision weapons under Iranian guidance.

15.      Iran Backs Iraqi Call to End Presence of US-Led Force. Iran threw its weight behind calls from neighboring Iraq to oust the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition from its territory after a U.S. strike killed a pro-Iran commander in Baghdad.

PAKISTAN

Security

16.      Two Cops Martyred in Attack on Polio Team in Bannu. As per details, DIG Qasim Ali Khan said that exchange of fire took place between terrorists and police in Bannu, resulting in the death of two cops while injuring two others.

17.      CTD Official Martyred in Firing Inside Judicial Complex. A constable of the Counter-Terrorism Department embraced martyrdom and another sustained injuries in a firing incident, which took place inside the Peshawar judicial complex, the police said.

Economy

18.      Pakistan ‘Requests’ UAE to Rollover $2bn Loan. As per details, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has penned a letter to the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, seeking rollover of the loan.

19.      Caretaker Govt Formally Launches ‘Pakistan Startup Fund’. In a bid to facilitate dwindling startup investment in the country, the interim government has formally launched the ‘Pakistan Startup Fund’ (PSF) under which the government will invest up to Rs2 billion a year in the sector.

Politics

20.      PTI Founder Also Arrested in GHQ Attack Case. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan, who is already imprisoned in Adiala Jail in multiple cases, has been arrested in GHQ attack case relating to the 9 May violent protests.