Daily News Brief

 

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April 4, 2024 (Thursday)

GLOBAL

Asia Pacific

1.       China Launches First of New Series of Yaogan Reconnaissance Satellites. China launched its first Yaogan-42 satellite, adding to the country’s growing military satellite reconnaissance capabilities.

2.       North Korea Says It Tested a New Hypersonic Intermediate-Range Missile That's Easier to Hide. North Korea said Wednesday it had tested a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile powered with solid propellants, extending a run of weapons tests that’s deepening a nuclear standoff with neighbors and the United States.

Russia/Europe/West

3.       NATO Countries to Start Planning New Ukraine Aid Structures. NATO countries have not yet taken a decision on the structure of future aid for Ukraine, but agreed to move forward with planning on the matter, NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.

REGIONAL

India/South Asia

4.       Modi Government Plans to Double Defence Exports. The Modi government is planning to double the defence exports, the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials said and added that the defence exports will reach up to Rs 50,000 crore by 2028-29.

5.       Muizzu Says All Indian Troops Will Leave Maldives by 10 May. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has reportedly said all Indian troops stationed in the country will be withdrawn by 10 May. He said the withdrawal process is already underway and that the troops stationed on the second platform will be withdrawn within the current month, while those on the third platform will be withdrawn by 10 May.

IIOJK

6.       Police Officer, Civilian Killed in Shoot-Out at Medical College in Jammu. According to reports, the incident unfolded between the Indian Police and a group of what police claimed ‘a group of gangsters’ on the premises of Government Medical College (GMC), Kathua. The exchange of fire resulted in the death of a civilian, whose identity has yet to be confirmed.

Afghanistan

7.       Nearly 2,000 Afghan Migrants Return Home from Iran, Pakistan. The Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reported that 1,719 Afghan migrants have returned from Iran, while Pakistan deported 148 Afghan refugees.

Middle East/Africa

8.       Rishi Sunak Facing Pressure over UK Arms Sales to Israel. Rishi Sunak is facing growing pressure over UK arms sales to Israel, after the killing of seven aid workers by an Israeli strike in Gaza.

Iran

9.       Palestinian Fatah Group Says Iran Trying to Spread Chaos in West Bank.  The main Palestinian faction in the occupied West Bank accused Iran of trying to spread chaos in its territory and said it would oppose operations from outside that had nothing to do with the Palestinian cause.

INTERNAL

Security

10.      CJP Isa Among Three SC Judges Also Receive Threatening Letters. According to sources, all four letters contained powder and were in threatening forms, and they have been referred to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

Economy

11.      Pakistan Seeks Technology Transfer in Agri Sector from Netherlands. Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Pakistan Henny Fokel de Vries called on Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to discuss matters of mutual interest during which the minister highlighted that Pakistan is interested in technology transfer and leveraging the expertise of the Netherlands in agriculture, dairy, and farm production which would lead to increased production and exports, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s economy.

Politics

12.      JUI-F Announces Sit-In Against Govt in Karachi. Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) announced a sit-in against the incumbent government in Karachi on 2 May.