Daily News Brief

 

January 11, 2024 (Thursday)

Asia Pacific

1.       US, Ukraine, Dozens More Condemn Alleged Russia-North Korea Arms Transfers. Dozens of countries have joined Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States in condemning alleged ballistic missile transfers between North Korea and Russia, which they said were in breach of United Nations sanctions.

2.       US-China Conclude Two Days of Military Talks in Washington. The United States and China concluded two days of military talks in Washington, the Pentagon said, the latest engagement between the two countries since they agreed to resume military-to-military ties.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       Zelenskyy on Surprise Baltics Tour to Rally Support Against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Lithuania as he starts a previously unannounced tour of three Baltic states to discuss his country’s war against Russia and Kyiv’s plans to join NATO and the European Union.

4.       Canada Yet to Send Promised Air Defense System to Ukraine. Canada has yet to deliver NASAMS air defense systems to Ukraine a year after promising them to the war-ravaged nation, CBC News has reported.

India/South Asia

5.       Modi Govt Sanctions Security Cover of Over 150 Armed CISF Commandos for Ayodhya Airport. The Indian government has sanctioned a security cover of more than 150 personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the Ayodhya airport, days before the inauguration ceremony at the Ram temple on the 22nd of this month.

6.       Egypt Evaluates India's Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System. Egypt is considering India's Akash missile system, a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile product of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).

7.       As West Condemns Bangladesh Election, China and Russia Embrace Dhaka. That contrast between the West’s condemnation and the welcoming embrace of China and Russia is a window into potentially dramatic foreign policy consequences of Hasina’s return to power, say political analysts and economists.

IIOJK

8.       Review Petition Submitted in Indian Supreme Court Against its Controversial Decision on Article 370. A review petition has been filed in the Indian Supreme Court against its verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370, which granted a special status to occupied Jammu and Kashmir despite New Delhi’s illegal occupation of the territory.   

9.       APHC Concerned Over Surge in Indian State Terrorism in IIOJK. According to Kashmir Media Service, the APHC spokesman in a statement in Srinagar said since 1947 India has been using military might to break the will of the people and suppress their freedom sentiments but has utterly failed in achieving its nefarious designs.

Afghanistan

10.      Explosion in Kabul Kills at Least 3 Civilians. Police spokesman Khalid Zadran said the explosion occurred in a minivan in the eastern part of the city, in Alokhail area. Police have launched an investigation and one suspect has been detained, he said.

11.      Air Arabia Resumes Flights to Afghanistan. The Taliban government in Afghanistan confirmed the resumption of Air Arabia flights to Kabul’s international airport, two years after service stopped following the collapse of the Western-backed government.

Middle East/Africa

12.      Antony Blinken Meets Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas in Occupied West Bank. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after pressing Israel’s leaders to offer a pathway to a Palestinian state.

13.      Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Launch Drone and Missile Attack on Red Sea Shipping. Yemen’s Houthi rebels unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles targeting shipping in the Red Sea, though it initially appeared no ship was damaged in the attack, authorities said.

Iran

14.      Iran Develops New Drone for Russian War in Ukraine.  Iran has developed a new drone that could be used by Russia to strike Western air defense systems in Ukraine, Sky News reported.

15.      Attack Claimed by Extremists Kills Policeman in Southeast Iran. An attack, which was later claimed by Jaish-e-Adl a Sunni Muslim extremist group, killed a policeman in restive southeastern Iran, state media reported.

PAKISTAN

Security

16.      PM Kakar Vows Befitting Response in Case of Aggression from India. Caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, has warned that with a renewed determination and defence capability, Pakistan would befittingly respond if India resorted to any 2019-like aggression, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

17.      Three Cops Among Four Martyred in Late Night Attack in Kohat. Three cops among four were martyred in a late night attack on a police checkpost in Kohat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Economy

18.      Remittances Increase to $2.38 Billion in December 2023. The inflow of workers' remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis increased by 13% to $2.38 billion in December 2023 as funds were dispatched through official channels following the return of stability in the rupee-dollar parity and the crackdown against illegal currency networks.

19.      IMF Board to Meet for Pakistan Loan Program Approval. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board meeting for Pakistan will be held in which the board is scheduled to consider the first review of Pakistan’s $ 3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA)

Politics

20.      PTI Gets Back ‘Bat’ Symbol as PHC Annuls ECP Order. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) got back ‘bat’ as its election symbol after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) order of stripping the party of using the ‘bat’ symbol.