Daily News Brief
March 15, 2024 (Friday)
GLOBAL
Asia Pacific
1. Philippines'
Marcos to meet Blinken next week as South China Sea tensions rise. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will
meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 19 March to tackle cooperation
and security matters.
2. Vietnam Arms
Imports Drop to a Trickle Despite Regional Tensions. Vietnam’s imports of weapons last year slowed
to a trickle as it worked to diversify supplies away from Russia, data released
show, while experts warned the country could be vulnerable during a regional
conflict.
Russia/Europe/West
3. Kremlin Says
Putin Didn't Threaten To Use Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Took Him Out Of Context. The Kremlin said that comments on nuclear
weapons that Russian President Vladimir Putin made in an interview with state
media did not constitute a threat to use them, and accused the U.S. of
deliberately taking the remarks out of context.
4. Tiktok Ban: China Attacks 'Bandit Logic' Of House
Vote. China has attacked a bill going through Congress that could ultimately
see TikTok banned in the US, accusing it of “unjustly” behaving like a
“bandit”.
REGIONAL
India/South Asia
5. 'One Nation
One Election In 2029': Ram Nath Kovind-Led Panel Submits Report. Simultaneous elections would lead to a
“fundamental transformation” in the electoral process and overall governance, a
high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, recommended in
its over 18,000-page report on ‘One Nation One Election’. Sources said the
panel recommended amending the Constitution so elections for the Lok Sabha, all
state assemblies and local bodies can be held by 2029.
6. 21 Indians Arrested
in Sri Lanka for Working Illegally While on Tourist Visa: Report. Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 21 Indian
nationals for illegally operating an online marketing centre in the island
nation, violating the relaxed tourist visa norms.
7. 294 People
Arrested During Police Raids in Violence-Hit Manipur. An Indian police
spokesperson informed the media that a large deployment of Indian forces has
been made in the sensitive areas of the state, and 139 pickets and check-posts
have been established in the hills and valleys of different districts.
IIOJK
8. APHC Urges
World to Facilitate Kashmir Solution for Lasting Regional Peace The All Parties
Hurriyet Conference (APHC) has appealed to the international community to
facilitate the just settlement of the longstanding Kashmir dispute in the
interest of peace in South Asia.
9. Shooting Stones, Mudslides Shut Srinagar-Jammu
Highway. The shooting
stones and mudslides amid inclement weather blocked the Srinagar-Jammu Highway
at many places between Ramban and Banihal in Indian illegally occupied Jammu
and Kashmir.
Afghanistan
10. Muttaqi, Qomi Talk Trade, Enhanced Power Supply.
Acting Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir
Khan Muttaqi and Iranian Special Representative Hassan Kazemi Qomi have
discussed bilateral ties, trade, transit and recent regional developments.
11. US:
Detention of Americans 'Significant Obstacle' to Relations with Kabul. Matthew Miller, the State Department
spokesperson, said in a press briefing to reporters that US officials have
consistently called for the unconditional release of American citizens in
meetings with “Taliban” representatives.
Middle
East/Africa
12. At least 31,341 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza
since 7 Oct: Ministry . At least 31,341 Palestinians have been killed
and 73,134 wounded since October 7 in Israel’s military offensive on the Gaza
Strip, the enclave’s health ministry said.
13. Report Claims Yemen’s Houthis Have Hypersonic Missile.
Yemen’s Houthis claim to have a new, hypersonic
missile in their arsenal, Russia’s state media reported, potentially raising
the stakes in their ongoing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding
waterways against the backdrop of Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Iran
14. Biden's Sanctions Waiver Can Award Billions To
Iran. Republican lawmakers are outraged by President
Joe Biden’s decision to renew a US sanctions waiver that benefits Iran, despite
the regime’s continued attacks on US interests.
15. IRGC Deploys
New Warships in Combined Drills in Northern Indian Ocean. Three homegrown warships, recently added to
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) naval fleet, have taken part in a
combined naval exercise at the northern tip of the Indian Ocean, and conducted
major maritime maneuvers.
INTERNAL
Security
16. Faizabad Probe
Commission Recommends Action against Responsible. The Faizabad probe commission has completed its
final report. Sources said the commission head Akhtar Ali Shah has submitted
the final report to the Cabinet Division including the statements of 28
important personalities including the retired army generals and government
officials in the Faizabad sit-in probe.
17. US Navy Ship
Arrives at Karachi Port. The
US Navy Ship USS Indianapolis, Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ship arrived at
Karachi Port today where it was received by senior officials of Pakistan Navy. During
stay at Karachi, it will participate in the activities included professional
interaction with PN officials and Ship’s crew in the form of table top
discussions on contemporary issues.
Economy
18. France Expresses
Interest to Invest in Pakistan's Energy Sector. France has expressed interest to invest in the
energy sector of Pakistan. The interest was expressed by a French delegation
headed by its Deputy Head of Mission Guillaume Dabouis during a meeting with
Minister of Energy Dr. Musadik Masood Malik in Islamabad.
19. IMF Asks Pakistan
to ‘End Subsidised Gas’ to Fertilizer Producers. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has
demanded ‘do more’ from Pakistan during the first round of talks for the second
review of SBA programme.
Politics
20. PHC Dismisses SIC Petitions Seeking Reserved Seats In Assemblies. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) dismissed petitions of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) over reserved seats in assemblies. A five-member bench of the high court given unanimous decision on the petition as Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim read the reserved verdict.
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