Daily News Brief
February 16, 2024 (Friday)
Asia Pacific
1. Indonesia
President Congratulates Poll Winner Prabowo. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said he had
congratulated Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto after unofficial counts showed
the ex-special forces commander winning this week’s presidential election in a
single round of voting.
2. Putin Says Biden
is Better For Russia Than a Trump Presidency.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that his country would prefer to see the
“more experienced” Biden in the White House for a second term than the
Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.
Russia/Europe/West
3. US Warned
Allies About Russian Space, Nuclear Capabilities. The United States has told Congress and allies
in Europe about new intelligence related to Russian nuclear capabilities that
could pose an international threat, a source briefed on the matter.
4. Azerbaijan Planning ‘Full-Scale War,’ Armenia Warns. Azerbaijan is planning a “full-scale war” against Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, two days after a skirmish on their border left four Armenian troops dead.
India/South Asia
5. India-Qatar Ties
Growing Stronger and Stronger: PM Modi After Talks with Emir. India-Qatar ties are growing “stronger and
stronger” and both sides are looking at collaborating in futuristic sectors,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said following his talks with Qatari Emir Sheikh
Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani that came days after the Gulf nation freed eight
former Indian Navy personnel who were sentenced to death.
6. Two
Including Indian BSF Man Killed, Arms Looted in Violence-Hit Manipur. An Indian Border Security Force soldier and a
Village Volunteer were killed in different incidents while a considerable
number of arms and ammunition were looted from the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion
in Imphal East district in conflict-hit Manipur.
7. Protesting Farmers
Fighting for Country, just Like Soldiers Do on Borders: Rahul Gandhi. In his address during
a rally in Aurangabad district, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi staunchly asserted
that the ongoing farmers’ protest is akin to the valiant battles fought by
soldiers on the country’s borders. Gandhi’s statement comes in the wake of the
'Delhi Chalo' protest march where farmers are pressing the central government
for their demands, including a law on minimum support prices for crops and loan
waivers.
IIOJK
8. JKLF Expresses
Concern over Deteriorating Health Condition of Yasin Malik The Jammu and Kashmir
Liberation Front (JKLF) strongly condemning Indian government’s inhumane
behavior towards its incarcerated party chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik has
expressed deep concern over his worsening health condition.
9. APHC Pays Rich Tributes to Martyred Freedom Leader
Ghulam Muhammad Bulla. In Indian
Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), APHC paid rich tributes to noted
freedom leader Ghulam Muhammad Bulla on his 49th martyrdom
anniversary.
Afghanistan
10. Azerbaijan Opens Diplomatic Mission in
Kabul. Ambassador
of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Afghanistan Ilham Mammadov paid a courtesy
call to Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to present the official letter from
Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry regarding the opening of their embassy in Kabul,
the ministry said in a statement.
11. Meeting on
Afghanistan Held in Bishkek, Islamic Emirate Not Present. The Meeting of EU and Central Asia Special
Representatives on Afghanistan was held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
Middle
East/Africa
12. Canada, Australia, New Zealand Call for Ceasefire in
Gaza as Israel Intensifies War.
The leaders of Canada, Australia and New Zealand called for an immediate
humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, according to a joint statement released in
response to reports about Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah.
13. Hezbollah Says Israel Will ‘Pay Price’ after Deadly
Attack in Southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said Israel would pay “the price” for
killing 10 people including five children in southern Lebanon, the deadliest
day for Lebanese civilians in four months of hostilities across the
Lebanese-Israeli border.
Iran
14. US Announces Sanctions Over Smuggling Tech to Iran’s
Central Bank. The United States announced a new package of
sanctions over a technology procurement network linked to the Central Bank of Iran,
which has been finding ways to evade the measures.
15. Iran Orders Social Media Influencers to Get
Advertising License. A recent
mandate requiring advertising licenses for social media accounts boasting over
5,000 followers in Iran has raised concerns over government control and
taxation motives.
PAKISTAN
Security
16. Chief of the
Naval Staff Reviews Naval Exercise Seaspark 2024. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf
visited Naval Ships at sea, creeks areas on the coastal belt of Sindh and
Baluchistan to review the conduct of Naval Exercise Seaspark 2024. He also met
the troops deployed in the exercise. Exercise Seaspark 2024 is a major maritime
exercise of Pakistan Navy which is regularly conducted after every two years.
17. Electoral Process
Internal Sovereign Affair: FO. The
Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that the electoral process in Pakistan is
an internal sovereign matter and that the country is committed to fulfilling
its constitutional obligations.
Economy
18. PM to Prioritize
Investment for Development of New Iron Ore Deposits in Country. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar
has asked the companies associated with the steel industry to prioritize
investment for development of new iron ore deposits in the country. He was
talking to a delegation of Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers led by
Senator Nauman Wazir in Islamabad.
19. KSE-100 Index
Plunges 1,100 Points on Political ‘Ambiguity’. Bears dominated the Pakistan Stock Exchange
(PSX as shares witnessed a spike in selling pressure, with analysts attributing
the losses to “ambiguity on the political landscape.
Politics
20. Imran Khan Nominates Omar Ayub as Candidate for Prime Minister. PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser announced that the party's founding chairman Imran Khan has picked Omar Ayub as the party's candidate for the slot of prime minister.
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