Daily News Brief

 

January 30, 2024 (Tuesday)

Asia Pacific

1.       North Korea’s Kim ‘Guided’ Submarine-Launched Cruise Missile Test. North Korean state media say the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un, oversaw the launch of two submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM), the second test of the weapon within days.

2.       Russian Warship Conducts Anti-Submarine Drill in South China Sea. Russia’s Pacific Fleet Frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov has conducted an anti-submarine exercise in the South China Sea, Russian news agency reported, citing the fleet’s press service.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Armenia PM Proposes Non-Aggression Pact to Azerbaijan. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that he has proposed the signing of a non-aggression pact to Azerbaijan, pending a comprehensive peace treaty between the arch-foe Caucasus neighbors.

4.       Russia Claims Control of a Village in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region. A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said that units of the “Western” troops took control of the village of Tabaivka near the city of Kupiansk, a point of major clashes in the Russia-Ukraine war.

India/South Asia

5.       India, France Team Up for Joint Defence, Space Cooperation. India and France have agreed to work together on the joint production of defence equipment including helicopters and submarines for the Indian armed forces and production for friendly countries, New Delhi has said.

6.       Massive Turnout as Over 127,000 in San Francisco Vote for Khalistan. Over 127,000 American Sikhs cast their votes for the Khalistan Referendum on American soil, following the US government’s prevention of an assassination attempt on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent pro-Khalistan leader.

7.       Indian Navy Frees Iranian Fishing Boat Hijacked Off Somalia. India’s navy said it had freed an Iranian fishing vessel that had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia in the latest attack against shipping in the Indian Ocean.

IIOJK

8.       Indian Police Seize Property of Youth in Budgam. According to Kashmir Media Service, the house belonging to Mohammad Ramzan Mir was seized by the police under black law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in Magam area of the district.

9.       Indian Police Book Two Youth Under PSA in Baramulla. According to Kashmir Media Service, the youth, Fayaz Ahmad and Safeer Ahmad Butt, were booked by the police under stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Baramulla town and lodged them in Kot-Bhalwal jail Jammu.

Afghanistan

10.      Kabul Hosts 'Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative'. The summit named “Afghanistan’s Regional Cooperation Initiative” was held with the participation of envoys of regional countries in Kabul.

11.      Daesh No Longer Threat for Afghanistan: Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that Daesh is not a threat for Afghanistan and that the Islamic Emirate’s forces have tightened the security across the borders.

Middle East/Africa

12.      Pro-Iran Fighters Among 7 Dead in Israeli Strikes Near Damascus. Pro-Tehran fighters were among seven dead in Israeli strikes south of the Syrian capital, a war monitor said, with Iranian media reporting the attack targeted an “Iranian advisory center.”

13.      US Vows ‘Consequential’ Response to Deadly Drone Strike Blamed on Iran-Backed Groups. The White House vowed a “very consequential response” to a drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three American troops, with President Joe Biden blaming Iran-backed militants.

Iran

14.      Iran Denies Links to Jordan Drone Strike That Killed 3 US Troops.  Iran denied US and British accusations that it supported militant groups behind a drone strike in Jordan that killed three US military personnel, Tehran’s official IRNA news agency reported.

15.      UK PM Sunak Urges Iran to De-Escalate Tensions after Jordan Drone Strike. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was concerned about tensions in the Middle East and urged Iran to de-escalate, after an attack that killed three US service members in northeastern Jordan near Syria’s border.

PAKISTAN

Security

16.      Iran’s FM Sees Third Party’s Support for Militants Operating in Pak-Iran Border. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said he is sure that a third country is ‘involved’ in patronising the militants located on the Pakistan-Iran border.

17.      Pakistan, Iran Agree to Enhance Military Coordination Amid Tensions. In the aftermath of recent unprecedented missile exchanges and the tragic killing of nine Pakistani laborers in Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province, Pakistan and Iran announced their agreement to operationalise a mechanism deploying military liaison officers in each other's country to bolster coordination and efficiency in responding to common threats.

Economy

18.      SBP Maintains Key Rate at 22%. Pakistan's central bank held its key rate at 22% for the fifth policy meeting in a row due to elevated inflation levels, the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said.

19.      Port Qasim Industrial Complex Set to Expand. Port Qasim Industrial Complex is poised to expand as more investors have shown their interest in setting up their units in it for its ideal location being close to the Port Qasim, said its director.

Politics

20.      Ministers, Officials Barred from Making Foreign Visits till Elections. Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaarul Haq Kakar has withdrawn permission granted to federal ministers, advisers and government officials for foreign visits till completion of general elections, slated for 8 Feb 24.