Daily News Brief

January 18, 2024 (Thursday)

Asia Pacific

1.       In Davos, Chinese Premier Takes Aim at Trade ‘Barriers. Chinese Premier Li Qiang told the world’s political and business elites in Davos that “discriminatory” trade barriers were a threat to the global economy, but the United States defended its restrictions on microchips as a national security measure.                                           

2.       U.S., South Korea and Japan Conduct Naval Drills. The United States, South Korea and Japan conducted combined naval exercises involving an American aircraft carrier in their latest show of strength against nuclear-armed North Korea, South Korea’s as the three countries’ senior diplomats were to meet in Seoul to discuss the deepening standoff with Pyongyang.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Ukraine Says Controlling Skies ‘Priority’ in War against Russia. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said his country’s priority for 2024 is to gain control over its skies as Russia’s invasion nears its third year.

4.       Russia Got Components Worth $2.9 Bln from West Despite Sanctions: Kyiv. Western companies supplied Russia with $2.9 billion worth of components that can be used for military production in the first 10 months of 2023 despite sanctions on Moscow, the Ukrainian president’s office said.

India/South Asia

5.       Two Indian Army Men Killed in Manipur Attack. The Indian army men identified as Wangkhem Somorjit Meetei and Takhellambam Sailesh were killed after they were attacked by guerilas in Moreh town.

6.       Indian Navy is Aggressively Going After Piracy: Admiral Hari Kumar. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said the Indian Navy is tackling piracy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) aggressively, and has increased the deployment of warships in the area.

7.       Indian Navy Announces New Appointments in Key Positions. Vice Admiral AN Pramod has taken on the role of Director General of Naval Operations (DGNO), Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh has assumed the position of Controller of Personnel Services (CPS), and Vice Admiral Vineet McCarty has assumed the role of Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy as of 15th January.

IIOJK

8.       Modi Regime Using Judiciary to Get Illegal Actions Validated. According to Kashmir Media Service, a handpicked one-judge tribunal has been constituted to validate the ban on the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir under draconian law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.                  

9.       Women Worst Victim of Indian State Terrorism in IIOJK. An analytical report released by the Research Section of Kashmir Media Service, said at least 685 women have been martyred by the Indian forces’ personnel in the occupied territory since January 2001.

Afghanistan

10.      Islamic Emirate Denies Intention to Access Nuclear Weapons. Earlier, a congressman asked Thomas West, the US representative for Afghanistan, about the Islamic Emirate envoy’s visit to North Korea to "access nuclear weapons."

11.      Explosive Device Blast Kills 2 Children, Injures 7 in North Afghanistan. Two children have been confirmed dead and seven others injured as an explosive device went off in north Afghanistan's Baghlan province, reported the state-run Bakhtar news agency.

Middle East/Africa

12.      US Officially Relists Iran-Backed Houthis as Terror Group. The Biden administration backtracked on one of its first foreign policy moves and redesignated Yemen’s Houthis as a terrorist organization due to the Iran-backed group’s ongoing attacks on ships in the Red Sea.

13.      Blinken Says Israel Needs to Help Palestinian Authority. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel to help rather than hinder the Palestinian Authority, saying that Israel’s long-term security was at stake.

Iran

14.      Iran Attack Didn't Target Pakistani Nationals, But Iranian Terrorists: FM Amir-Abdollahian.  Iran's foreign minister says the Iranian missile attack on areas in Pakistan adjacent to Iranian borders was directed at the so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group and no Pakistani national was targeted.

15.      Pakistan to Recall Ambassador from Iran Following ‘Unprovoked Violation’ of Airspace. The Foreign Office (FO) said Pakistan has decided to recall its ambassador from Iran and suspend all high-level visits ongoing or planned between the two countries following the “unprovoked violation of its airspace” by Tehran.

PAKISTAN

Security

16.      CTD Arrests SRA Associated Suspect. The Counter Terrorism Depart­ment (CTD) has arrested an al­leged terrorist associated with the Sindh Revolutionary Army (SRA) in a raid that was conduct­ed in Tando Allahyar district.

17.      Afghan Taliban Chief Asks TTP to ‘Revisit’ Pak Strategy. The Afghan Taliban chief has asked the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates to revisit their strategy towards Pakistan following his recent meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl.

Economy

18.      UAE Has Confirmed Rollover of $2bn Deposits: SBP. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed rollover of its two deposits of $1 billion each placed with the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for another one year, which were maturing in January 2024, a SBP statement said.

Politics

19.      China Urges Iran, Pakistan to ‘Exercise Restraint’ after Deadly Air Strike. China urged Pakistan and Iran to show “restraint”, after Islamabad said Tehran had carried out an air strike on its territory that killed two children and injured three girls.

20.      PTI Founder Among Other PTI Leaders Out of Election Race. The Lahore High Court (LHC) upheld the election Appellate Tribunal’s decision that dismissed the appeals of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and other party leaders regarding the rejection of nomination papers by the returning officers (ROs) for upcoming general elections.